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Current Projects:

Jan-May 2002
As Lurie Professor in Creative Writing, San José State University (San Jose, CA),Spring 2002, Al Young will teach the following courses:
English 166 (American Literature Since 1945 ) Tuesdays 4:00-6:45 PM
English 240 (Poetry Workshop) Wednesdays 7-9:45 PM.

The Lurie Author-in-Residence Program was established through the generosity of Connie and Robert Lurie in order to attract nationally and internationally known authors to a position officially called "Visiting Artist/Scholar" for a period of one or two semesters (depending upon funds and the availability of the author). It is a teaching professorship entailing close contact with students and public appearances.

The fund is a permanent endowment. Candidates are nominated and selected by a review committee appointed by the English Department Chair with the approval of the Dean. The distinguished visiting artist/scholar carries the title of "Lurie Professor." Ursula K. le Guin occupied the first Lurie chair in 2000, followed by Carolyn Kizer in 2001. This year's honoree, Al Young, a PEN/USA and a PEN/Library of Congress Award Winner, has written poetry, novels, short stories, essays and screenplays.

A Piece of Cake -this sequel to Young's celebrated novel Sitting Pretty, is still in progress.

Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know: Or, Opus de Funk - an account in verse of Lord Byron and Lady Caroline Lamb's infamous romance of 1812.

Seduction By Light - a screen adaptation of his own 1988 novel, set in Hollywood.

The Literature of California, Volume Two - co-edited with scholar-critic Jack Hicks, and novelists James D. Houston and Maxine Hong Kingston.

Getz for Lovers - liner notes for this Verve CD of Stan Getz ballads and love songs. Available Valentine's Day 2002.

Billie Holiday: Body & Soul - liner notes for this Verve re-issue of the legendary singer's 1957 session with Ben Webster, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Jimmy Rowles, Red Mitchell, Barney Kessel, Alvin Stoller, and Larry Bunker. Spring 2002 release.

"Silent Parrot Blues" - story essay contributed to Alison Deming's The Colors of Nature, a collection of original essays on environment. Forthcoming from Milkweed Editions, 2002.

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Upcoming Projects:

21 January 2002
Moe's 2002 - "Real Men, Real Poetry" - A reading with Reginald Lockett and Barry Gifford-
Moe's Books, 2476 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley CA 94704, 510. 849.2087

24 February 2002
Barnes & Noble, 1149 South Main St.,
Walnut Creek, CA, 7:30 PM, 925.947.037

24-28 February 2002
Yosemite Winter Literary Festival
Al Young Reading (25-26 February):
Awahnee Lodge, Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Reservations
5410 E. Home Avenue, Fresno, California 93727
Telephone: 559.252.4848
http://www.yosemitepark.com/html/accom_yosemite.html
Yosemite Literary Conference - 2002
http://www.yosemitestore.com/Merchant/literary/bio.htm

28 February 2002
Barnes & Noble, 2352 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA
(corner of Shattuck and Durant; parking lot behind store, off Durant (2 hr limit), 7:30 PM 510.644.0861

9 March 2002
Associated Writing Programs 2002 Conference (6-9 March 2002)
New Orleans, Louisiana
Hotel Radisson
Saturday Morning Panel Discussion:
"Poetry Blues: Jazz Poems of William Matthews"- Sebastian Matthews (moderator),
Stanley Plumly, Sascha Feinstein, Al Young - 10:30 AM-11:45 AM

12 March 2002
San José State University

"A Conversation with Al Young" - Spartan Memorial Chapel, 12 Noon.
Admission: Free

"A Reading with Al Young" - School of Music and Dance Concert Hall, 7:30 PM.
Admission: Free

14-17 March 2002
Truckee Meadows Writers' Conference
Truckee Meadows Community College, Reno, NV
"Poetry As No Big Deal"
Contact: Michael Croft, Director
MikeDCroft@aol.com

18 March 2002
Reading: Sweetie's Bar and Restaurant, 427 Francisco St. (between Powell & Mason), San Francisco, CA, 7:30 PM. 415.433.2343
"Three Months of Mondays" Reading & Performance Series (co-sponsored by Sweetie's and Poets & Writers - with a generous grant from the James Irvine Foundation)

11 April 2002
Shasta Community College, Redding, CA
Reading and Lecture
Shasta Community College Theater, 7 PM-530.225.4875 (Frank Nigro)

23-30 June 2002
Cave Canem: A Workshop/Retreat for African American Poets
Bloomfield Hills, MI

Cave Canem was founded in 1996 by Toi Derricotte and Cornelius Eady to offer a safe, supportive setting for African American poets to work on their craft,
and to create a community that celebrates the diversity and richness of
African American culture. As part of our effort to build this community, poets accepted as Cave Canem fellows can return for three years without re-applying.

Workshops of eight to ten people will meet each afternoon for two hours with a faculty member. Each poet will be expected to write a poem every day for a discussion in the workshop. Poets can share their more polished work in the participant readings. Fellows also have the opportunity to offer workshops on specific themes to share the skills and interests they bring to the community. There are readings each evening and occasional lectures.

There will also be time to write, read, and relax. Cave Canem's fourth annual workshop/retreat will include 52 fellows and seven faculty. Since many poets return for their second or third year, we anticipate having space for about 20 new participants, chosen on the basis of their manuscripts.

Contact: Carolyn Micklem 804.979.9925, cavecanempoets@aol.com
Web site: www.cavecanempoets.org

28 June 2002
The Detroit Historical Museum
Reading: Al Young with other Cave Canem poets, 7 PM
5401 Woodward Ave. (at Kirby)
Detroit, Michigan 48202-313. 833.1805

25-30 June 2002
25th Annual Foothill Writers Conference
For most of the last 20 years, Al Young has participated in the annual Foothills Writers Conference at Foothill Community College, Los Altos Hills, CA near San Jose. This year he will be conducting workshops at Cave Canem's retreat in Bloomfield Hills, MI.

24-27 July 2002
The 2002 Teaching Poetry Institute: An Innovative Summer Institute for Teachers of English -- Sonoma Country Day School, Santa Rosa, CA; Dana Gioia, Director.

Renew your love of language and imagination. Explore new ways of making poetry come alive. Develop your own poetry in a beautiful setting in the heart of California's wine country.

Teaching Poetry Conference
Sonoma Country Day School
4400 Day School Place
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

For more information, please contact:
Susan Nix
Conference Coordinator at Sonoma Country Day School
707.284.3209
E-mail: susan.nix@scds.org

3-10 August 2002
Squaw Valley Community of Writers (Fiction Workshops)

15 Jan-30 May 2003
Davidson College, Davidson, NC
Al Young will conduct workshops, give talks and readings as McGee Fellow

July 2003
The Prague Summer Program (Creative Writing with Western Michigan University and the Prague Summer Program)
Workshop Leader and Reader
Prague, Czech Republic (Richard Katrovas, Director)


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Recent Projects:

14 December 2001
Reading with Reginald Lockett, Marcus Books, 3900 Martin L. King, Jr. Way (near MacArthur BART), Oakland, 6:30 PM - 510.652-2344

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