Since 1978, the Distinguished Visiting Writers Program at University of Idaho has been building up the writing community by welcoming writers of various genres to the Palouse.

Poet Naomi Shihab Nye will mark the latest visit when she presents at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in the UI Law School Courtroom.

“Her work invites you in in a very intellectual yet human and emotional way,” said Bret Shepard, clinical assistant professor and director of creative writing in the department of English at University of Idaho.

Shepard said Nye is familiar to the northwest and visits often. However, she travels all over the world sharing her poetry. She is very well known, he said.

“She describes herself as a wandering poet,” he said.

Shepard said the images in Nye’s poetry work together cross-culturally.

Her work focuses on language and voice and goes beyond one perspective, he said.

Each year, the Distinguished Visiting Writers Program invites three writers to the UI campus in each of three major genres: poetry, nonfiction and fiction. A fiction and nonfiction writer will come later in the year, Shepard said.

These readings help contribute to the well-rounded liberal arts education students are getting at both WSU and UI, Shepard said.

“It is a cultural, artistic experience,” he said. “It’s a chance for all of our different communities to come together.”

The free event will include a reading portion, a Q&A session and a book signing.  

Reporting by Holly Lane