Pictured above is Silas House, current writer-in-residence at LMU during a recent book reading on LMU’s campus. House just announced that he’s leaving the University at the end of this term.
According to a statement from LMU, Silas House will end his five-year stint at the college and resign at the end of this term.
The university said it was a personal decision for House to leave.
House is the author of multiple books set in Appalachia including Clay’s Quilt, A Parchment of Leaves , The Coal Tattoo, Eli the Good , a play called The Hurting Part, and a recent nonfiction book about social protest called Something’s Rising, which he co-authored.
“LMU is very sad to see Silas House’s tenure come to an end,” said Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Sherilyn Emberton. “The University has benefited greatly from his five years of service and I wish him well. He has touched many lives with his extraordinary writing and has mentored many aspiring scribes during his time in Harrogate.”
House started at LMU in July 2005 and taught creative writing and English classes. He also started and directed the Mountain Heritage Literary Festival at LMU, which is in its fifth year.
LMU’s Director of Public Relations Kate Reagan said that the university will maintain it’s commitment to the literary festival and instruction.
“The University remains committed to its rich literary history and is already searching for the next writer-in-residence,” said Reagan. “Silas is involved in the search and will direct the upcoming Mountain Heritage Literary Festival in June. House’s future involvement in the festival will be determined when a new writer-in-residence is in place, but it is the intent of all parties to continue this mutually beneficial collaboration.”
House also serves on the fiction faculty at Spalding University’s MFA in Creative Writing program.
He is a two-time finalist for the Southern Book Critics Circle Prize, a two-time winner of the Kentucky Novel of the Year, among many other honors.
Stephen Woodward is a Staff Writer for the Daily News. He may be contacted at swoodward@middlesborodailynews.com.
Post a Comment
