Marietta College invites the community to an evening of creative writing during a poetry and fiction reading by Lucas Visiting Writer Jonathan Johnson on Thursday, Nov. 20, at 5 p.m. in the Alma McDonough Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public, with a reception to follow in the Betty Cleland Room.
Johnson, a professor in the MFA program at Eastern Washington University, is the author of seven books, including two new releases, the poetry collection “Pine,” and the short-story collection “The Little Lights of Town.” An acclaimed creative fiction and poetry writer, Johnson’s work has been featured widely in magazines and anthologies, including Best American Poetry, Best Microfiction 2025, and on National Public Radio (NPR).
Johnson divides his time between Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, his ancestral glen in the coastal Scottish Highlands, and the Northwest, where he lives in a cabin. His work often explores themes of place, human connection, and the natural world.
“Within the department, English students have the opportunity to interact with writers they are reading in class, such as Jonathan Johnson,” said Dr. Nathan Anderson, professor of English. “As a result, students gain insights not only into the life of a writer but also into the life of writing.”
The Lucas Visiting Writers Series brings distinguished authors of poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction to campus each year to share their work, engaging with Marietta College students and the broader community through readings, classroom visits and discussions. The series enriches learning within and beyond the College’s English Department, giving students meaningful opportunities to engage with contemporary writers. Lucas Visiting Writers strengthen the campus community by highlighting the importance of literature and storytelling, offering new perspectives on subjects from love and parenthood to death and the appreciation and stewardship of the natural world.
The Lucas Visiting Writers Series is supported by the generosity of donors, including Carol Lucas, whose commitment helps provide Marietta College students with opportunities to learn directly from leading contemporary writers. For more information about this event or the Lucas Visiting Writers Series, contact Professor Nathan Anderson at npa001@marietta.edu.