NYS Writers Institute Kicks Off Fall 2023 Season of Events

ALBANY, N.Y. (Aug. 29, 2023) — The NYS Writers Institute has announced a full slate of events this fall season that will bring writers, journalists, poets, musicians and other creatives to the University at Albany to discuss some of the most pressing issues of our time, including free speech, artificial intelligence, censorship and more.

The season comes as the Institute continues to celebrate its 40th anniversary, and will include the 6th annual Albany Book Festival, an all-day event taking place Saturday, Sept. 23, in the Campus Center.

“We always look to be relevant and timely and even ahead of the curve on a lot of issues,” said Writers Institute Opalka Endowed Director Paul Grondahl. “So we really tried to create a full palette of offerings, genres and authors this year. Both emerging authors and a diversity of voices are important to us, as are defending things that the Writers Institute and this University stand for, such as free expression, free speech and anti-censorship.”

The season kicks off tonight with a visit by major American novelist Richard Russo, whose most recent novel, Somebody’s Fool (2023), and previous work explores blue-collar life in Upstate New York. He will deliver a reading and conversation at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center, followed by a book signing and reception in the Futterer Lounge. Alt-folk band Doctor Baker, which features UAlbany English Professor Ed Schwarzschild on vocals and Art Professor Danny Goodwin on drums, will perform after the event outside the PAC.