The Plains Writers Series on November 16 offers a free opportunity for students and the community to interact with published writers such as authors Tom C. Hunley and Charlene Pierce. 

The Plains Writers Series is an event held four times a year organized by the Wayne State College’s Press, WSC’s language and literature departments and the School of Arts and Humanities. The guest authors will be reading at 2 p.m. on the second-floor lounge of the Humanities building.  

According to the WSC Press website, the series began in 1977 and usually features Great Plains authors and artists but sometimes invites outside guests as well. The series exists to promote these authors while entertaining and inspiring students.  

“To meet and hear living writers is arguably the best way to encourage readers,” according to the WSC Press. 

Chad Christensen is a professor in the language and literature department at WSC. He is also part of the English program and the managing editor of the WSC Press.  

“Students can hang out, learn from, hear them read, learn about the poetry society, get to meet them, and buy some books,” Christensen said.  

Christensen took over the WSC Press from JV Brummels in 2016.  

“JV Brummels ran the series for a long time since the 70s and he wanted to highlight Great Plains writers,” Christensen said. “Bigger universities can bring in larger, trophy-type writers but WSC wanted to be a hub for Great Plains writers.”  

The series opens its doors to more local authors who are on the rise and need a platform to promote their new work while showing students there are people in the region who are successfully writing.  

“Tom is a rising star,” Christensen said. According to the WSC Press, Hunley has forthcoming works in 2024: his eighth full-length poetry collection, “The Loneliest Whale in the World” from Terrapin Books and his eighth chapbook, “Abridged” from Kelsay Books. Hunley currently is a professor of English/creative writing at Western Kentucky University with his first short film in postproduction.  

Pierce will be reading at the college for the first time. Pierce is the founder of the Nebraska Poetry Society, a non-profit organization which serves to make poetry accessible to all.  

Pierce’s work has appeared in the Nebraska anthologies “How it Looks from Here,” “Voices of the Plains,” and “Misbehaving Nebraskans.” She has also published “The Poet’s Journal: A Beginner’s Workbook for Writing Poetry.” 

“We like to think we open it up for the opportunity for the community to come check out these wonderful readers, some culture and art,” Christensen said.  

The School of Arts and Humanities has always made the series free of charge. Christensen said the college wants to expose students and the community to a wide range of prospectives, so they bring in authors, journalists and even sometimes musicians.  

The Series is also hosting a Poetry Slam at 7 p.m. on November 16 at the Max Bar and Grill in Wayne. Students can read their poetry to Hunley and Pierce who will be judging the event.  

“Another fun opportunity for students to interact with published writers and the writing life,” Christensen said.  

The WSC Press main events are the Plains Writers Series and Poetry Slam, but they are working toward hosting a fiction festival in Spring 2024.