Local authors Judith Dorian, Dr. Nina Padolf, Valerie Bacharach, and Matthew Ussia join us to share readings from their recent works. Books will be available for purchase at the event.
About the authors:
Judith Dorian:
Judith Dorian, Ph.D wrote program notes for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Her book reviews and articles on music have appeared in a number of scholarly publications, and her poetry has been published in several journals and online. She’s narrated poetry with various chamber ensembles and with orchestras in Pittsburgh and Bedford Springs, Pa.
Kirkus reviews wrote about A Tiny Little Door, Dorian’s illustrated book of children’s poetry: “In the spirit of Dr. Seuss, Dorian is a wordsmith and artist with a passion for creating and illustrating children’s poetry.”
In 2004 she published Vanishment, a tribute to her late husband.
Dr. Nina Padolf:
Dr. Nina Padolf’s chapbook, Uprooted, (Kelsay Books, 2021) explores traumatic events such as the murder of her sister, finding her biological mother, and caring for her adoptive mother who suffered from Alzheimers. She co-edited: Nasty Women and Bad Hombres Poetry Anthology, (Lascaux Editions, 2017);Is It Hot In Here Or Is it Just Me?: Women Over Forty Write on Aging, (Social Justice Anthologies, Amazon, 2019). Her poetry is featured in: Paterson Literary Review, The Accusation, (July 2022),The Pine Cone Review, Muddy River Poetry Review, Chronic Poetics (Colliding Lines Point Positive Publishing; Arts Council England, 2023), & other journals. She instructs writing courses at Duquesne University, and will be hosting upcoming workshops and live readings featuring local writers starting in November, 2024.(Dr. Ninafindyourjoy) Her upcoming picture book, Samantha, The Peanut Butter Detective, (Pegasus Publishers, U.K.) is due to be released in 2025.
Valerie Bacharach:
Valerie Bacharach is a graduate of Carlow University’s MFA program and a proud member of Carlow University’s Madwomen in the Attic writing workshops. Her book, Last Glimpse was published by Broadstone Books in August 2024, ISBN 978-1-956782-79-0. Her poem Birthday Portrait, Son, published by the Ilanot Review, was selected for inclusion in 2023 Best Small Fictions. She has been nominated for three Pushcart Prizes and two Best of the Net.
Matthew Ussia:
Matthew Ussia is director of Duquesne University’s First Year Writing Program in spite of the fact that he got a C- in freshman writing and was rejected from Duquesne’s MA program. He is also an editor, podcaster, post-doom thereminist, softcore punk, postpunk backup singer, social media burnout, and sentient organic matter. His first book, The Red Glass Cat, was published by Alien Buddha Press in 2021. His writings have appeared in Mister Rogers and Philosophy, Future Humans in Fiction and Film, North of Oxford, MadSwirl, Trailer Park Quarterly, Anti-Heroin Chic, and Pittsburgh Quarterly among others. More information can be found at www.matthewussia.com.