October 23, 2019
Judge, U.S. Army veteran among panelists for SVSU Alumni Authors Showcase
Saginaw Valley State University has inspired writers for decades. The institution again will host some of that talent during its annual Alumni Authors Showcase scheduled Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 5 p.m.Scheduled in Curtiss Hall’s seminar rooms D and E at SVSU, the event will feature a panel of five alumni authors followed by a reception with refreshments. A book signing is scheduled at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
The panelists include Judge Marylin E. Atkins, R.S. Deeren, Adela Crandell Durkee, Bethany (Phipps) Goforth and Walter E. Kitter.
The authors have written on a range of topics and genres including memoirs, poetry and historical fiction. Their books will be available for purchase at the event.
- Atkins is the longest-serving chief judge in the history of Detroit’s 36th District Court. Her memoir, “The Triumph of Rosemary,” showcases triumph over family rejection, abuse and a religious scandal when she married former Roman Catholic priest Thomas Lee Atkins. Atkins earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1973. Atkins served as SVSU's commencement ceremony keynote speaker in May 2018.
- Deeren is a writer from Caro, where he has worked as a line cook, a lumberjack, a landscaper and a bank teller. His fiction has appeared in Rosebud Magazine, Joyland Fiction, Midwestern Gothic, Great Lakes Review and in the anthology, “Tales of Two Americas: Stories of Inequality in a Divided Nation.” Deeren received a bachelor’s degree in creative writing in 2012.
- Durkee grew up on a small mid-Michigan farm. Her first novel, “A Ship of Pearl,” is a coming-of-age historical fiction set in the 1930s. Durkee earned a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1982.
- Goforth is a professional graphic designer and award-winning illustrator. The illustrations for her book, “Coco and Kitty,” were created using a variety of graphite pencils. Her work has been featured on the covers of the Michigan Horse Council’s newsletter and the Michigan Quarter Horse Association Magazine. Goforth earned a bachelor’s degree in graphic design in 2014.
- Kitter is a U.S. Army veteran who served in West Germany during the 1980s. His book, “A Place That I Love: A Tour Driver’s Perspective of Mackinac Island,” is an exploration of the island’s history and tourist spots, as well as some lesser-known attractions and hidden gems. He earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 2004.
The Alumni Author Showcase is part of SVSU's celebration of the National Day of Writing. The event is sponsored by SVSU's Forever Red, SVSU Alumni Relations and the SVSU Writing Center.
For more information about the event, contact Jim Dwyer, executive director of Alumni Relations, at 989-964-4209.