The Alan Cheuse International Writers Center

03/09/2022

Photos from PEN/Faulkner Foundation's post

02/16/2022

We are pleased to announce this year’s MFA Travel Fellows. We are hopeful that our students will be able to travel internationally for the first time in two years. Thank you to Jung Yun, Catherine Olien, and Elizabeth Gutting for reviewing applications. We are very excited to support these projects.

Ashlen Renner, going to Germany, Emilee Knudsen, going to the Scottish Highlands, and Chelsea Lebron, going to Peru, Argentina, and Chile.

We can't wait to see what they write!

To read more about their travels, click the link!

https://cheusecenter.gmu.edu/articles/17011

11/30/2021

Give Online Today

On this Giving Tuesday, please consider giving to the Cheuse Center, an international literary organization that practices literary diplomacy for our common humanity.

You can give via our website:

https://securemason.gmu.edu/s/1564/GID2/16/19-giving.aspx?sid=1564&gid=2&pgid=651&cid=1709&bledit=1&sort=1&dids=320.170&appealcode=ISS19

By supporting Mason, you join a community that is unified and inspired by our mission to better serve the world. Thank you!

10/20/2021

Join us tonight at 7pm with
Fall For The Book
in a virtual YouTube event: Around the World in Five Novels!
Authors from five continents discuss their novels and family, identity, and inclusion.
We’ll see you there!
youtu.be/Yo7xQWE_QIc

10/20/2021

Literary Lives Abroad: A Conversation with Cheuse Center Fellows

We hope to see you there!

10/08/2021

The Nobel Prize in literature goes to a Black writer for the first time since 1993

"No Heart of Darkness in these pages. Gurnah gives us a more realistic mix of light and dark, of beautiful forests, dangerous vines and snakes, and a patchwork of warring fiefdoms and wily traders right out of the Middle Ages." -Alan Cheuse, on Abdulrazak Gurnah's 1994 novel, Paradise

https://www.npr.org/2021/10/07/1043436576/nobel-prize-literature-2021

The Zanzibar-born novelist is known for his postcolonial works, examining refugee life in England and the effects of empire. He is the first Black person awarded the prize since Toni Morrison in 1993

10/01/2021

Interview with Kris O'Shee author of OUR LAST BLUE MOON

https://youtu.be/aV5zLR1Wm7I
Kris O'Shee discusses her upcoming memoir with Watershed Lit Director Deb Shutika. It comes out 10/5! We are so excited!

Watershed Lit Director Deb Shutika interviews debut author Kris O'Shee on her memoir OUR LAST BLUE MOON. Kris O’Shee courageously muses on falling in love at...

09/23/2021

We're so looking forward to ISO Break v.13 this Saturday, September 25 at 8am EST / 10pm AEST / 8pm PHT. Thrilled to be hosting this in conjunction with Asia Pacific Writers & Translators and New York Writers Workshop!

09/19/2021

Our 2021 International Fellow, Bewketu Seyoum, has been awarded the Bego Sew Award for Art!

Founded by Dn. Daniel Kibret, the award honors people who are making a great contribution to Ethiopia and its people and society.

Join us in congratulating Bewketu!

09/08/2021

The Alan Cheuse International Writers Center updated their business hours.

The Alan Cheuse International Writers Center updated their business hours.

04/09/2021

Globally Lit - Episode 1

We're thrilled to announce that the first episode of our new podcast, Globally Lit, is now live! The goal of this podcast is to showcase a new work of international literature and translation in each episode. Listen on Soundcloud or Spotify: https://soundcloud.com/user-806669177/globally-lit_episode-1

This inaugural episode features an interview with Abdellah Taia, author of "A Country for Dying" (Seven Stories Press). Next, we have a conversation between writer/translator Laura Marris and Emma Ramadan, who just won the PEN America Translation Prize for her work on Taia's novel. Finally, Aliza Cohen, manager at the Potter's House cafe and bookstore in D.C., reviews the French graphic novel Beautiful Darkness (Drawn and Quarterly) by Fabien Vehlmann and Kerascoët. Part-horror story and part-fairy tale, Beautiful Darkness examines innocence, death and growing up.

Special thanks to Books Across Borders for partnering with us on this project! Be sure to order the books we discuss from Riffraff Books at riffraffpvd.com

On our inaugural episode of Globally Lit, a podcast of international literature and translation, we first welcome Moroccan author Abdellah Taia to discuss his novel A Country for Dying. Next, the nove

03/04/2021

Ten Years After The Arab Spring | Middle East Writers Reflect on the Arab Uprising Featuring Khaled Khalifa

The fourth installment of our "Ten Years After the Arab Spring" series with the Middle East Institute will feature Syrian writer Khaled Khalifa in conversation with award-winning novelist Elliot Ackerman. The two will be discussing Khalifa's most recent novel, "Death is Hard Work," and how the Syrian uprisings have impacted his writing.

The event will be held on March 17 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm EST. Register now: https://www.mei.edu/events/ten-years-after-arab-spring-middle-east-writers-reflect-arab-uprising-featuring-khaled

The Middle East Institute's Arts and Culture Center and the Alan Cheuse International Writers Center at George Mason University are pleased to host acclaimed Syrian author Khaled Khalifa for a talk about his most recent novel, Death is Hard Work, and how the Syrian uprisings have impacted his writin...

02/26/2021

What Translation Sparks: Conversation #4

Couldn't make it to our fourth and final "What Translation Sparks" event with Poetry Daily last week? Watch it now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozUAgst-lnY&ab_channel=PoetryDaily

This is the fourth (and final) edition of "What Translation Sparks," a monthly virtual event produced by The Cheuse Center at George Mason University and Poe...

01/12/2021

What Translation Sparks 3

Our series "What Translation Sparks" continues with Poetry Daily
this Friday (Jan. 15) at 4pm EST.

For more info and to register, visit:
https://bit.ly/2K9BTAb

A monthly virtual series on poetry and translation presented by the Alan Cheuse International Writers Center and Poetry Daily.

12/18/2020

What Translation Sparks 2

Don't forget to join us TODAY at 8:00pm for our second "What Translation Sparks" conversation with Poetry Daily.

For more info and to register, visit:
https://bit.ly/38lsIop

A monthly virtual series on poetry and translation presented by the Alan Cheuse International Writers Center and Poetry Daily.

12/14/2020

STARTING TODAY @ 12PM EST! Our inaugural event, with
The Middle East Institute, for "Ten Years After the Arab Spring". We will be featuring Tunisian writer Yamen Manai, speaking about his newly translated novel, The Ardent Swarm.

Join the session via link below:
https://bit.ly/3qTs3Tx

And also, look out for upcoming events in future months!

12/11/2020

Webinar Series | Ten Years After the Arab Spring: Middle East Writers Reflect on the Arab Uprisings

DON'T MISS OUT!

The Cheuse Center and the Middle East Institute's Arts and Culture Center is presenting "Ten Years After the Arab Spring", a series of monthly talks with leading writers from the region. The events will feature the voices of award-winning writers from Arab Spring countries reflecting on the past ten years through the lens of their writings and personal experiences.
The inaugural event will take place on Monday, December 14 at 12:00 EST and feature award-winning Tunisian writer Yamen Manai discussing his newly translated novel "The Ardent Swarm".

For more info and to register, visit:
cheusecenter.gmu.edu or https://bit.ly/3miW9MR

The Middle East Institute's Arts and Culture Center and the Alan Cheuse International Writers Center at George Mason University are pleased to mark the 10th anniversary of the Arab Spring with a series of monthly talks with leading writers from the region. Ten Years After The Arab Spring, which laun...

12/07/2020

Webinar Series | Ten Years After the Arab Spring: Middle East Writers Reflect on the Arab Uprisings

The Cheuse Center and the Middle East Institute's Arts and Culture Center are pleased to mark the 10th anniversary of the Arab Spring with a series of monthly talks with leading writers from the region. "Ten Years After the Arab Spring", which launches this December, will feature the voices of award-winning writers from Arab Spring countries reflecting on the past ten years through the lens of their writings and personal experiences.

The inaugural event will take place on Monday, December 14 at 12:00 EST and feature award-winning Tunisian writer Yamen Manai discussing his newly translated novel "The Ardent Swarm".

Register below.

The Middle East Institute's Arts and Culture Center and the Alan Cheuse International Writers Center at George Mason University are pleased to mark the 10th anniversary of the Arab Spring with a series of monthly talks with leading writers from the region. Ten Years After The Arab Spring, which laun...

11/16/2020

What Translation Sparks

Hi All!

We will be teaming up with Poetry Daily to co-host a monthly virtual event on zoom, every Friday at 8pm. Our first event will be on November 20 and will feature: Dan Beachy-Quick, Kazim Ali, Forrest Gander, and Jennifer Grotz.

Register with link below:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/what-translation-sparks-tickets-124023801529

See you all there! Stay safe.

A monthly virtual series on poetry and translation presented by the Alan Cheuse International Writers Center and Poetry Daily.

10/13/2020

Jazmina Barrera – Fall for the Book Festival

This Thursday, Mexican Cultural Institute DC joins Fall for the Book in hosting Jazmina Barerra, 2013 Latin American Voices prize winner. Her new book, On Lighthouses, showcases global lighthouses and their meaning to us as individuals. For more info and to RSVP:
https://fallforthebook.org/jazminabarrera/

2013 Latin American Voices prize winner Jazmina Barrera returns with her latest book, On Lighthouses, a critical and imaginative study of lighthouses around the world and their meaning to us as individuals. Part memoir and part literary history, Barrera navigates questions of isolation both as a sou...

10/08/2020

DON'T FORGET! Conversation with Matt Davis presents Tara June Winch TONIGHT. Event begins at 4pm. RSVP at http://cheusecenter.gmu.edu

10/07/2020

Conversation with Matt Davis hosts Tara June Winch live upcoming Thursday, Oct. 10 @ 4:30pm. More information at http://cheusecenter.gmu.edu. Follow for updates!

09/30/2020

STARTING SOON! Our Day of Translation event is happening at 4:30 today. RSVP to attend. See you all there!

09/14/2020

Tara June Winch: The Yield — Solid State Books

We're thrilled to be welcoming the great Australian writer Tara June Winch to the Cheuse Center for a virtual residency this fall. Her first event is this Thursday at Solid State Books. Please follow the link to sign up! It's going to be a great discussion.
https://www.solidstatebooksdc.com/events/2020/9/17/tara-june-winch-the-yield

Join us in welcoming Tara June Winch discussing her novel The Yield!

07/16/2020

Justen Ahren

Want to find out more about one of the amazing authors in conversation with our Director this Saturday? Justen Ahren is a poet who has crossed borders literal and figurative to bear witness to what we might learn (from others, about ourselves) by exploring and experiencing different realities. Read his full biography, and find his first two collections of poetry below, and we'll see you this Saturday at the !

I am a poet, photographer, musician and writing workshop facilitator.  I’ve published two collections of poetry, A Strange Catechism (2013) and A Machine for Remembering (2019). My poems have been set to music by Grammy award-winning Composer Glen Roven, and Cuban composer Ileana Perez Valezquez...

07/14/2020

1455 Summer Literary Festival

Our Founding Director Matthew Davis will be in conversation with authors Justen Ahren and Robin Hemley in a panel called "Crossing Boarders" this Saturday at 2:30! And you can find the full agenda for the here:

The 2nd Annual 1455 Summer Literary Festival is a celebration of writers, readers, creativity, and community, over three days in July 2020.

07/13/2020

1455 Summer Literary Festival

Covid won't stop a good Literary Festival! Join us and 1455 this Saturday as we meet remotely for the second annual 1455 Lit Arts Fest! Register by following the link below:

The second 1455 Summer Literary Festival is a celebration of writers, readers, creativity, and community, over three days in July 2020.

05/07/2020

We are excited to announce the recipients of this year's Cheuse Center MFA Travel Grants! Congratulations to MFA students Lena Crown (), O. Dada, and Emily Green.

Read more about these writers and their projects here ⬇️
https://cheusecenter.gmu.edu/fellowships/mfa-travel-grant/2020

04/30/2020

From Iman Marsel's "How to Mend: Motherhood and Its Ghosts" to Naguib Mahfouz's "The Harafish," writer and activist Ahmed Naji recommends five incredible works of literature from Egypt to add to list.

https://cheusecenter.gmu.edu/articles/14370

04/27/2020

Helon Habila's 7 Essential Books from Africa to Read

"Mariama Ba's So Long a Letter captures beautifully the tensions in three world views: African, Western, & Islamic, through the life experiences of the main character," writes Helon Habila in his spotlight on must-read African literature.

Read more about Helon's picks here:
https://cheusecenter.gmu.edu/articles/14324

Mason has moved to virtual instruction. Visit Mason's Coronavirus Information page for more information, including affected dates and frequently asked questions.

04/23/2020

Must-Read Lit from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia

This week, the spotlight is on must read literature from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia, courtesy of Courtney Angela Brkic! From Portraits of Sarajevo by Zlatko Dizdarevic to Trieste by Dasa Drndic, here are a few perfect reads:

https://cheusecenter.gmu.edu/articles/14344

Share with us the works of literature from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia you recommend wholeheartedly!

Mason has moved to virtual instruction. Visit Mason's Coronavirus Information page for more information, including affected dates and frequently asked questions.

04/16/2020

Helon Habila's 7 Essential Books from Africa to Read

From the tale of a palm wine drinker in Amos Tutuola's The Palm-Wine Drinkard to the lives of 2 sisters during the Zimbabwean civil war in Yvonne Vera's The Stone Virgins, here are Helon Habila's favorite books by African writers to add to your list:

https://cheusecenter.gmu.edu/articles/14324

Mason has moved to virtual instruction. Visit Mason's Coronavirus Information page for more information, including affected dates and frequently asked questions.