Article #2 - Joy Harjo

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Native American writer, musician and poet Joy Harjo treated UCF students to a reading of her works and an impromptu concert on campus this past Friday. 

Harjo, winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers' Circle of the Americas, is a 7th generation member of the Meskwaki tribe and the niece of Chief Osceola. 

The night concentrated on readings from Harjo’s newest collection, “For A Girl Becoming”, but included selections from her other material as well as musical interludes on saxophone and flute. 

Harjo’s writing centers around the human experience and much of her inspiration comes from her childhood memories and dreams. 

“My dreams have been some my most incredible teachers,” said Harjo on how she learned to write. 

The modern-day Renaissance woman put a large emphasis on how we all create our own stories and have the power to change them. 

“Our story is bigger than us, it has a heart and lives after us,” she said.

Rollins College Sophomore Quiana Dempsey, a literary enthusiast, was impressed by Harjo’s performance. “I love her writing, I think she’s a great story-teller,” said Dempsey.

Harry Morrall, a UCF Senior, was encouraged to attend the event by a classmate and was glad he did. “I didn’t really know what to expect coming tonight but I enjoyed it,” he said. Morral went on to say “I think I may purchase one of her books now.” 

Article #1 - Professor Reveals Fitzgerald Letters

Winter Park, Fla. -    New truths about writer F. Scott Fitzgerald’s romantic life have been brought to light by Penn State University professor and biographer James L.W. West III in his book “The Perfect Hour”.

     Through the help of a colleague and Princeton University, West was able to obtain access to a collection of letters sent to the famous American writer from his first love, Genevra King, who is thought to be the inspiration for many of Fitzgerad’s famous female leads, including Daisy Buchanan of “The Great Gatsby”.

    At a speaking event held on September 14 at Rollins College, in Winter Park, Fla., West shared copies of King’s correspondences with Fitzgerald which were bound and preserved by Fitzgerald himself and titled “Strictly Private and Personal Letters Property of F. Scott (Not Manuscript)”.

    West found he grew to respect 16 year old King through her writings. “You certainly get the sense of someone by reading documents of this sort”, he remarked.

    West went on to explain how Fitzgerald’s intent in reprinting the letters was to use them as a reference for future material, proving he was “more interested in fictional potential... than the relationship itself.” 

    Thanks to the discovery of Fitzgerald’s letters from King, the author’s work can be better appreciated. “There is a tension in his fiction from realism and insistent romantic idealization”, West said, which is reflected in the letters.

    Audience members found the presentation to be both interesting and informative. Keith Leisner, a senior at Rollins College, felt the lecture was very eye-opening. “I’m actually doing my undergrad thesis on Fitzgerald”, Leisner said.

    Elizabeth Wilson, who received her Master’s Degree from Rollins, said she appreciated the theme of not separating an author from his works. “I feel that is true of all the arts, not just literature.”