Emma Stiner

Watkins and Palacio visit Susquehanna for second reading in series

On Oct. 26, Susquehanna University welcomed former adjunct professor, Derek Palacio and his wife, Claire Vaye

Watkins to read from their award-winning works as a part of the Visiting Writer Series put on by the Writers

Institute.

A mix of about 50 students and faculty made up the audience of the reading and shared the stage of Weber Chapel

with Palacio and Watkins while seated and listening intently to the works both authors read. The reading started at

7:30 p.m. and drew a larger crowd than expected as some listeners were seated below the stage.

Palacio read from his book, "The Mortifications” and shared the last part of his book where the daughter, Isabelle,

becomes a mystic and helps people transition from life into death. Palacio also talked about how he lets the plot lines

grow and loves seeing everything come together, especially when Isabelle's mother dies and is met by Isabelle.

Watkins read an essay that included an epigraph from the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. She

decided to read a new essay because the climax takes place at a Wegman's and it is rare to read to the audience a

work is written for.

The laughs from the audience showed the interest and approval of the works Palacio and Watkins read. Both writers

connected with the audience through their tone and reading style, which made the hour-long reading seem short.

Palacio and Watkins also talked about how much they enjoyed visiting classes last week and interacting with the

faculty in the creative writing department.

“It’s a really wonderful kind of homecoming to come see you all and to be able to share our works with you,” the

former adjunct professor said.

Palacio and Watkins have always been big fans of Susquehanna and thanked the Writers Institute for inviting them

to the Visiting Writers Series.

Watkins, author of award-winning short story collection “Battleborn,” earned her Masters of Fine Arts from Ohio

State University. Her stories have been in Tin House, Best of the West, the New York Times and many others.
Palacio also earned his Masters of Fine Arts in creative writing from Ohio State University and his short story

“Sugarcane” appeared in The O. Henry Prize Stories 2013.

Palacio and Watkins co-founded the Mojave School, a creative writing workshop for teens in 2013. They are now

co-directors of the school in rural Nevada.

Ishion Hutchinson is the next visiting writer in the series and will have a reading at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 13 in

Stretansky Hall.