College of Arts and Sciences

Helen Humphreys

Helen Humphreys, Spring 2006

Writer Helen Humphreys served as the sixth Case Writer-in-Residence. Humphreys worked with creative writing students in the Department of English & Journalism from Monday, October 30 through Friday, November 3. She gave a 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31 reading of her work in the WIU Art Gallery. Humphreys also presented a "Craft Talk" from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2 in Simpkins Hall 341.

Humphrey's books include the novels Wild Dogs (WW Norton, 2005), The Lost Garden (WW Norton, 2003), After Image (Picador, 2002, and Leaving Earth (WW Norton, 2000). She has also penned four books of poetry, all published by Brick Books: Anthem, The Perils of Geography, Gods and Other Mortals, and Nuns Looking Anxious, Listening to Radios.

About Leaving Earth, Publishers Weekly wrote: "Humphreys has captured the courage and commitment of aviation's unsung pioneers, the sights and sounds of earth and sky and the somber mood of 1930s Toronto, all with a precise lyricism that amply demonstrates her talent as a poet.

Humphreys has received the Governor's General Prize for her poetry, and the Vancouver Sun named her Best Young Canadian Novelist in 1997.

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