A Month of Special Events Highlight 20th Anniversary Season of NYS Summer Writer

The New York State Summer Writers Institute marks its 20th anniversary at Skidmore with a traditional lineup of readings and discussions by award-winning poets and authors, along with a new special event. Scheduled July 3-28 on the Saratoga Springs campus, the institute features creative writing courses in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. An extraordinary faculty of distinguished writers, among them winners of such major honors as the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, teach and participate in the series of readings and special events sponsored by the institute.

To celebrate the summer institute's two decades at Skidmore, a special July 8 performance titled Comedy Tonight will feature stand-up comedy by four authors who are closely associated with the program: William Kennedy, a founder of the New York State Writers Institute; Nicholas Delbanco; Robert Pinsky; and Chase Twichell.

The following is the 2006 schedule of New York State Summer Writers Institute special events. Except where noted, all begin at 8 p.m. in Davis Auditorium of Palamountain Hall. Admission is free.

July 3--Poetry and fiction: Richard Howard, poet, and Howard Norman, novelist

July 4--Fiction and poetry: Elizabeth Benedict, novelist, and Wayne Koestenbaum, poet

July 5--Fiction and poetry: Mary Gordon, novelist, and Frank Bidart, poet

July 6--Poetry and fiction: April Bernard, poet, and Caryl Phillips, novelist

July 7--Poetry: Robert Pinsky (former U.S. poet laureate)

July 8-- Comedy Tonight scholarship benefit featuring William Kennedy, Chase Twichell, Nicholas Delbanco, and Robert Pinsky. 8 p.m., Bernhard Theater. Tickets: $75 general admission, $50 with Skidmore ID.

July 10--Fiction: Nicholas Delbanco, novelist, and Gish Jen, novelist

July 11--Poetry: Louise Glück, poet

July 12--Poetry and fiction: Carolyn Forché, poet, and Marilynne Robinson, novelist

July 13--Nonfiction and fiction: Honor Moore and Francine Prose, novelist

July 14--Fiction and nonfiction: Darin Strauss, novelist, and Jim Miller

July 17--Fiction: Rick Moody and Julia Slavin

July 18--Fiction: Amy Hempel and Allan Gurganus

July 19--Fiction and poetry: Jamaica Kincaid, novelist-memoirist, and Henri Cole, poet

July 20--Poetry and fiction: Lucie Brock-Broido, poet, and Mary Gaitskill, novelist

July 21--Fiction and non-fiction: Lee K. Abbot and Phillip Lopate

July 24--Fiction: Darryl Pinckney and Kathryn Harrison, novelist-memorist

July 25--Poetry and fiction: Charles Simic, poet, and William Kennedy, novelist, Gannett Auditorium

July 26--Fiction and poetry: Russell Banks, novelist, and Chase Twichell, poet, Gannett Auditorium

July 27--Fiction: Joyce Carol Oates, Gannett Auditorium

July 28--Film and discussion: Stanley Kauffman, film critic at The New Republic, and authors Darryl Pinckney and Philip Lopate. The Spy Who Came in From the Cold will be screened at 6:30 p.m. and the panel discussion will follow at 8:30 p.m. in Davis Auditorium.