DOROTHY DERIFIELD
Courtesy Photo Poet Susan Donnelly
At its last reading before summer break, Chapter and Verse will present the esteemed poet Susan Donnelly as well as two writers who live in Jamaica Plain—award-winning fiction writer John Fulton and poet Audrey Henderson. The reading will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the historic Loring-Greenough House at 12 South St. across from the Monument on Wed., May 7.
Susan Donnelly, a Boston native, says she often visited relatives living in Jamaica Plain during her childhood and adolescence, “walking around with girlfriends hoping to see Latin School boys.” Her third collection of poetry will feature poems that reflect American culture as well as its histories, both personal and national. Some of these poems have appeared in “The New Yorker,” “American Scholar” and “The Bellevue Literary Review.” Donnelly’s first book, “Eve Names the Animals,” won the Samuel French Morse Prize from Northeastern University Press, and her second, “Transit,” was published by Iris Press in 2001. One of the poems from this collection, “Moondog,” has twice been featured on Garrison Keillor’s “Writer’s Almanac.” Her prize-winning poem “Iraq Burial” was published by The New York Times in June, 2007. Donnelly has taught poetry classes since 1994, and she also provides individual consultations from her home in Cambridge.
JP resident John Fulton is the author of three books of fiction, most recently the very moving collection of novellas and stories called “The Animal Girl,” which was short-listed for the prestigious Story Award. His first book, “Retribution,” won the Southern Review Short Fiction Award, and his second, the novel “More Than Enough,” was a Barnes & Noble “Discover Great New Writers” selection. Fulton’s short fiction has been awarded a Pushcart Prize, cited for distinction in the Best American Short Stories and short-listed for the O. Henry Award. Fulton is a professor of creative writing at the University of Massachusetts Boston, where he teaches in the new master of fine arts program in creative writing.
Audrey Henderson is originally from Edinburgh, Scotland, where she graduated from the University of Edinburgh and wrote frequently for the BBC. Perhaps because of her transatlantic experience, Henderson’s poetry reflects a keen observation of her cultural surroundings, and her wit is often apparent. Her poetry has appeared in “The Sow’s Ear Review,” “Roanoke Review,” “Timber Creek Review,” “Verandah” and “Taproot Literary Review,” and she is working on her first collection. Henderson lives in JP with her husband and two children, and she can often be found volunteering in the Arnold Arboretum, another source of inspiration.
The next Chapter and Verse reading will be on Oct. 1, featuring Kim Garcia, Jennifer Markell and David Surette.
There is a suggested donation of $5 for Chapter and Verse, and free refreshments will be served after the reading. For more information, e-mail [email protected] or [email protected] or call 325-8388.
The writer is the director of Chapter and Verse.