By Medea Giordano
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Great Writers, Great Readings was launched by Hofstra in 2004 to emphasize the importance of writing and literature in a liberal arts education as well as offer a way to connect students to prominent authors.

Up-and-coming writers have the chance to hear the writing process – and sometimes struggles – of published authors, who not only conduct a reading and book signing but also meet with students for a short workshop and question-and-answer session.

In an informational video on Hofstra’s website, former creative writing graduate student, Francis Kail spoke about meeting John Edgar Wideman and said it was great to feel the connection “between someone who is unpublished and someone who is published. You’re still writers so seeing that his mind works similarly, to see that he is struggling with his work just as much as I do lets you know that you’re not alone and that eventually you can attain that kind of success. It’s very encouraging.”

With this semester’s first reading already past, three more notable authors are set to attend. Karen Russell, who is featured in The New Yorker’s 20 Under 40 list and was chosen as one of Granta’s Best Young American Novelists will be here Monday, Oct. 19; Hofstra professor and recipient of the Houghton Mifflin Literary Award, Julia Markus, will be speaking on Wednesday, Nov. 18; and Emily St. John Mandel, winner of the 2015 Arthur C. Clarke Award will conclude the program on Wednesday, Dec. 2.

Each Great Writers, Great Readings event is at 7 p.m. in the Leo A. Guthart Cultural Center Theater.