Show-Me State Times

Tickets remain available for the 2024 St. Louis Literary Award presentation, set to honor Jamaica Kincaid at the Sheldon Concert Hall on Thursday, April 25, at 7 p.m. A free craft talk featuring Kincaid will follow on Friday, April 26, at 10 a.m. in the Anheuser-Busch Auditorium in Cook Hall.

Kincaid's literary work delves into themes such as colonialism, gender and sexuality, racism, class, and familial relationships. She began her writing career with columns and stories for publications like Ingénue, The Village Voice, and Ms., and her works have appeared in The Paris Review and The New Yorker.

Her first book published in 1983 is titled “At the Bottom of the River,” a collection of short stories and reflections. Kincaid has authored novels including “Annie John,” “Lucy,” and “See Now Then.” Her more personal works include “The Autobiography of My Mother,” “Among Flowers: A Walk in the Himalaya,” and “My Brother.”

The third season of the St. Louis Literary Award Craft Talk podcast launched on Tuesday, April 23. Hosted by Edward Ibur and Kate Essig, each episode features interviews with writers, artists, educators, and other visionaries discussing their creative processes. Ibur serves as executive director of the St. Louis Literary Award while Essig is a student in the School of Education.

Currently available are two episodes featuring Derrick Goold from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and poet Mahogany L. Browne. The podcast can be accessed through iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify.