“The Southern Quill,” Dixie State University’s annually published, student-edited literary arts journal, is hosting its annual benefit and silent auction to support the journal’s publication and distribution.
The benefit is set to open at 6:30 p.m. on April 3 in the Zion Room on the fifth floor of the Jeffrey R. Holland Centennial Commons. Admission is free, and the public is encouraged to attend.
The event will feature readings by novelist Taylor Jenkins Reid and poet Darren Edwards as well as a live performance by local band NVM. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to purchase copies of “The Southern Quill” and participate in a silent auction comprised of merchandise and gift cards — including ski lift tickets and resort stays — donated by local businesses.
“This event will bring together the Dixie State University campus and our community for a culturally enriching experience with two writers whose work is both nationally and internationally known,” said Dr. Cindy King, DSU assistant professor of creative writing and “The Southern Quill” faculty adviser. “The reading and silent auction will also serve as a benefit to celebrate and support ‘The Southern Quill.’”
Reid is the author of “One True Loves,” “Maybe in Another Life,” “After I Do” and “Forever, Interrupted.” Her novels have been named a Best Book of Summer by People, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, InStyle, Good Housekeeping, USA TODAY, Redbook, Us Weekly, Parade, PopSugar, Buzzfeed, Bustle, Brit+Co, Goodreads and others.
Edwards helped bring slam poetry to southwestern Utah as slam master for the long-running Open Mic series. He is the author of “Utah Sport Climbing: Stories and Reflections on the Bolting of the Beehive State.” From 2016 to 2017, he served as managing editor at the Southern Utah Independent. His writing has appeared in Dialogue, Urban Climber and Stone Voices.
NVM, a progressive rock band hailing from St. George will kick off the evening with an acoustic set featuring tracks from their new album, “aqua cross.”
“NVM is a literate, engaging band,” said Dr. Stephen B. Armstrong, who teaches with King in Dixie State’s popular creative writing emphasis. “Their new record, ‘aqua cross,’ shreds. And I’ve known Darren Edwards for nearly a decade. He helped the English department at DSU make important strides as we’ve expanded our creative writing offerings over the years. And Taylor Jenkins Reid? Good golly, what a writer! My wife and I have been reading through her splendid novels together and can’t wait to hear her read in person.”
“The Southern Quill” has been in print since 1951 and publishes fiction, nonfiction, poetry and visual arts of various forms from contributors in Utah and Clark County, Nevada. The staff of the journal is comprised of students from a variety of disciplines, who read, review and select the works that will be published.
For more information about “The Southern Quill,” visit thesouthernquill.com or contact Dr. Cindy King at cindy.king@utahtech.edu.
