OCTC's Common Reading Program Welcomes United States Poet Laureate, Ada Limon to Campus on Oct. 18, 2023

Author Keynote Presentation, Brunch, and Book Reading and Signing on Oct. 18, 2023

by Katie Powers

Owensboro, KY (10/11/2023) — Owensboro Community & Technical College (OCTC) invites the community to participate in all related events for this fall's upcoming Common Reading event. The book for Fall 2023 semester is Bright Dead Things by Ada Limon, United States Poet Laureate.

Limon is scheduled to visit us Wednesday, October 18, 2023 for a keynote presentation, book reading, and book signing at 12:30 p.m. in Blandford Lecture Hall in the Humanities building on OCTC's Main Campus; the event is FREE and open to the public. At 10:00 a.m., we will be hosting a brunch with Ada Limon lakeside under the tent. The tent is located behind the Administration Building on OCTC's Main Campus. The college reserves the option to adjust events. All events related to the Common Reading will be posted online at facebook.com/octccommonread and are free and open to the public. For more information, please contact kaye.brown@kctcs.edu.

From Sonoma, California to New York City to Lexington, Kentucky, United States Poet Laureate, Ada Limon faced challenges and tragedies that gave life to Bright Dead Things--one of six collections of poetry she has authored. Bright Dead Things was a finalist for the 2015 National Book Award, National Book Critics Circle Award, and named a Top-ten Book of Poetry in 2015 by the New York Times.

OCTC Professor of English, MFA and Common Reading Program Co-Chair, Tonya Northenor said, "This book invites readers to think more deeply about everything from horse racing and Kentucky wildflowers to grief, love, and marriage. There is hope and unity in the poems, even as they are raw and honest."

Another name for the United States Poet Laureate is the Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. Ada Limon began her 1-year term as the 24th United States Poet Laureate in July of 2022, and she was reappointed for a 2-year term which begins September of 2023. The position seeks to raise national awareness and appreciation to the reading and writing of poetry.

OCTC Professor of English, NEH Endowment Chair, and Common Reading Program Co-Chair, Kaye Brown added, "We are so thrilled to be welcoming Ada Limon to our campus and community. Please, come out and visit with THE United States Poet Laureate!"

To learn more about the United States Poet Laureate program, visit https://www.loc.gov/programs/poetry-and-literature/poet-laureate/.

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