Writer allows characters to shine on center stage Anu Kumar
Staff Writer
Leah Stewart reads an excerpt from her new book “The New Neighbor.” Kayla Smith • The Daily Beacon
Volume 132 Issue 24
Last night, Sept. 19, the Writers in the Library featured writer was Leah Stewart. Stewart was introduced by Professor Michael Knight, who described her as having “a gift for marrying the literary with the mainstream.” Knight also praised her devotion for having her characters tell the story. “(She doesn’t) draw attention to herself … (instead) lets her character take center stage,” Knight said. Stewart attended Vanderbilt University and Murray State University in Kentucky and previously held writing positions at the University of the South in Sewanee, Vanderbilt and Murray State University. Currently, she is a professor at the University of Cincinnati and is the recipient of multiple awards. At the event, Stewart read excerpts from two of her works. The first one, “The New Neighbor,” is a novel revolving around a 91-year-old woman living alone when a new neighbor moves in across the nearby pond, and the story of adult friendship goes from there. The excerpt Stewart read depicted the woman describing how she feels conflicted between wanting to wave hello to the woman across the pond and pretending to not have seen her in the first place. “I’m hoping that the finished product will have the title that I gave it,” Stewart said referring to her current project, “What You Don’t Know About Charlie Outlaw.” The story is currently unpublished, but it also had a section read aloud at the Writers in the Library meeting. “What You Don’t Know About Charlie Outlaw” is a story about an actor who plays the character Charlie Outlaw in a hit television series who goes on a hike in the mountains to escape his crumbling love life. During his hike, he comes across a Brazilian woman who he
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(She doesn’t) draw attention to herself ... (instead) lets her character take center stage.” Michael Knight, professor
engages in conversation with. However, this conversation is interrupted when a car full of armed men ambush the two individuals, and the action takes off from there. “I’ve been reading a lot of 18th century works, and that contributes to the voice I’ve written this in,” Stewart said. The reading had the small, but intimate, audience laughing at comedic parts of the prose, silent at the introspective parts and gasping at the dynamic change at the end of the first chapter in “What You Don’t Know About Charlie Outlaw.” There was also a time for a brief Q&A after the reading where the audience members could ask specific questions regarding the story, the author’s writing process or anything pertaining to those topics. After the Q&A session, Stewart had copies of her book available in the lobby of Hodge’s first floor which she would autograph after purchase. The Writers in the Library series is a great way for people to experience a “behind-the-scenes” look at material. The next reading will be Oct. 3 in the small auditorium on the first floor of Hodges.
Wednesday, September 21, 2016