Michigan State University is in for one "Hell of a Book" and one hell of a week.
Award-winning author Jason Mott is planning on making his way over to MSU to teach a masterclass and hold a reading of his novel “Hell of a Book.”
The masterclass, titled “Imagining the book & facing the realities of a writing practice” will take place on April 5 at 3 p.m. in Wells Hall room B210. During the masterclass, Mott will offer writing mentorship with a focus on fiction and an open approach to different genres.
The public literary reading will be held on April 7 at 3 p.m. in the education wing of the Broad Art Museum. Mott will be reading “Hell of a Book” and an undisclosed new work as well.
“Hell Of A Book” is about an African-American author who goes on a book tour across the country in order to promote his bestselling novel. The novel touches on themes of family, art, money and a police shooting.
Creative writing program director Divya Victor first heard about Mott through her colleague, assistant professor Tim Conrad, who did his master's program with Mott. After reading his novel, she thought he would be the perfect visitor to campus.
Mott used to work as a Verizon employee and found himself frustrated with the "corporate grind." Now, he is a fiction writer whose debut was incredibly successful, Victor said.
“There's something in his profile there that our students are going to connect with,” Victor said. “You know, because so many of our students have questions about how to both pay the bills and follow their passion, and I think Jason is a great example of a creative writer who has figured out a path to do exactly that.”
Victor said she wants students to leave the masterclass with a sense of hope and confidence about big projects and big ambitions. She wants them to feel energized and affirmed in the large-scale plans that they have and to know they can do what they put their mind to with enough guidance.
For the literary reading event, Victor said she thinks students of color are going to be able to see themselves in Mott's book. Students who are white will have a better understanding of how they can support their peers, Victor said.
“I want folks to come to an understanding of what it's like to be writing as a Black fiction writer right now in the political and social climate that we're all alive in,” she said. “To understand the particular and unique pressures that writers of color face, in the publishing industry, and also after they've published, when they're on tour, and when they ... become important social figures.”
Mott’s first novel “The Returned” was produced by ABC studios into a TV show titled “Resurrection,” meaning this is an ideal event for students interested in screenwriting as well, Victor said.
Victor is expecting an "intimate but engaged" turnout for both events.
“As the program director I'm just looking forward to seeing the light bulbs go off in my student's eyes,” Victor said. “To see them feel energized and excited, especially after this very draining and emotionally difficult semester.”
