The Southern Colorado Reading Series, an event that gives students an opportunity to learn about and read the works of established authors, has returned to CSU-Pueblo.

The series began several years ago and is organized by Juan Morales, a professor with the English department. The Diversity Resource Center is co-sponsoring the event.

“The event is generously funded by the department of English and foreign languages,” Morales said.

The bookstore also supports the event by selling copies of authors’ books who are appearing on campus.

Since the beginning, the SoCo Reading Series has brought various writers to the campus, each covering different genres such as poetry, fiction and nonfiction.

“We have had writers from all over,” Morales said. “The majority of the series’ readers come from Colorado; however, we also have readers from all over the country, including places like Florida, New York, New Mexico and other places.

“The authors not only come to share their works with the campus and community, but also work shop visit with creative writing classes,” Morales said.

He also said this gives the campus a look at what contemporary writers are producing on a national scale.

Past authors who have made the trip to the campus include Annie Dawid, Rigoberto González, Noah Eli Gordon, Raza Ali Hasan, Stephen Graham Jones, David Mason, Maria Melendez, Veronica Patterson, Bruce Weigl, Jake Adam York, and many others.

“The readings are a lot of fun and give students, faculty, staff and community members an opportunity to hear authors read their creative work, to participate in the occasional Q (question) and A (answer), and to purchase signed copies of the authors’ books,” Morales said.

Each year the number of readers appearing on campus varies. “On average, the SoCo Reading Series brings four to six readers, but this year we have the pleasure of having seven readers,” Morales said.

Other authors appearing on campus this semester include: Sarah Willis’ “The Sound of Us” and “The Rehearsal,” Sherman Alexies’ “The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven” and Gary Jackson’s “Missing you Metropolis: Poems.”

All of the readings take place in the Cottonwood Room at Occhiato University Center. The events are free to the public and everyone is encouraged to attend. To learn more about dates and time, and about the SoCo Reading Series, contact Morales at 549-2082 or e-mail  [email protected].