Many communities have arts festivals or even more specifically literary festivals, but very few have literary arts series.
Since 1988, Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Visiting Writers Series (VWS) has provided outstanding literary arts programming that is free and open to the public.
Every year, VWS invites authors to tell the stories behind their own works in a relaxed environment before university and community audiences. We believe the beauty and power of words help us make sense of the world.
The Visiting Writers Series works to build a community of readers because we believe that a community that reads is a more creative, open and tolerant community. The series is particularly committed to collaborating with local and regional arts and civic organizations as well as non-profits that serve our diverse communities.
We need to be reminded, by reading and hearing a variety of accents and stories, that our African-American, Latino and Asian neighbors among others are members of cultures with rich artistic traditions and important experiences to share.
Join & Support Us
We hope that you will join the hundreds of other supporters to continue to bring world-class writers to our community by becoming a patron of the series. Patrons at the $500+ level are invited to all VIP receptions throughout the year as well as being invited to special series events.
You may make a donation online or call us at 828.328.7321. Please consider designating your contribution to the Visiting Writers Series Endowment Fund.
The Visiting Writer's Series is made possible by support from the following sponsors and grant providers.
United Arts Council of Catawba County through the North Carolina Arts Council, with funding from the State of North Carolina
National Endowment for the Arts
North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
2021-2022 Series
Past Writers & Authors
For more than three decades, the Visiting Writers Series has played host to authors who tell the stories behind their works in a relaxed environment before university and community audiences. We believe the beauty and power of words help us make sense of the world.
The university has welcomed celebrated authors, poets, editors and more to campus in order to present their distinguished work to students, faculty and staff.
A chance meeting with a fellow veteran inspired alumnus Mark Hager '99 to write his book: “The Last of the 357th Infantry: Harold Frank’s WWII Story of Faith and Courage.”