The English and Fine Arts Division is happy to announce that on March 6, 2025, Northeast Alabama Community College (NACC) will hold its annual Arts and Humanities Speakers’ Forum.  Join us in the Tom Bevill Lyceum on March 6 at 9:30 a.m. for a fascinating conversation with acclaimed authors, Jill McCorkle and Jamie Quatro, and Silas House as they explore the power of fiction to reshape and reflect our world.

Through speculative fiction, realistic portrayals, and experimental narratives, House, McCorkle, and Quatro challenge our perceptions and dive deep into the complexities of human experience. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear these three extraordinary voices discuss how storytelling can transcend boundaries and offer fresh perspectives on societal realities. The authors will return to the NACC English Building at 2:00 p.m. to conduct a masterclass on writing fiction and discover how narrative fiction can change our view of the world. Both events are free to the public.

Silas House is the nationally bestselling author of the novels Clay’s Quilt, 2001; A Parchment of Leaves, 2003; The Coal Tattoo, 2005; Eli the Good, 2009; and Same Sun Here (co-authored with Neela Vaswani) 2012, Southernmost (June 2018), and Lark Ascending (September 2022), as well as a book of creative nonfiction Something’s Rising, co-authored with Jason Howard, 2009; and three plays. Lark Ascending, a novel set in the near future about a young Appalachian man walking across Ireland with a dog and a mysterious woman after an environmental catastrophe. The novel was a SIBA bestseller and has also been chosen as a Booklist Editor’s Choice, one of Salon’s favorite books of the year, one of Garden and Gun’s selections for Best Southern Books of 2022, and as a top ten most recommended book by independent booksellers across the entire nation in the monthly Indie Next List.

Jill McCorkle is the author of numerous novels and short story collections, including Hierogylphics, Life After Life, and Old Crimes. Her work has been praised for its keen insight into the human condition, blending rich emotional depth with an ability to capture the small, transformative moments that define life. McCorkle’s characters navigate complex social and emotional terrains, reflecting the diverse realities of our world. Her writing spans realistic portrayals, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, offering readers a lens into the unseen, often overlooked, corners of our society.

Jamie Quatro is the author of I Want to Show You More, Fire Sermon, and Two-Step Devil all of which have been celebrated for their exploration of human desires, moral conflict, and spiritual searching. Her work blends contemporary realism with experimental structures, creating narratives that explore the tensions between longing, regret, and the complexities of modern life. Quatro’s fiction often challenges traditional boundaries, mixing realism with elements of the speculative, and invites readers to consider the intersections of identity, morality, and the world around us.

Be a part of the conversation and don’t miss this chance to hear two remarkable authors whose work challenges and inspires. Discover how narrative fiction can reshape the way we view the world.

For more information, contact Joan Reeves at reevesj@nacc.edu.

In addition to discussing their works, the authors will read excerpts from their works and will be interviewed by Don Noble, host of Bookmark. Noble, a recipient of the 2017 Governor’s Arts Award, has served as the moderator for this event for decades. Dr. Noble taught American literature at the University of Alabama from 1969 until 2001. Through his work with the Alabama Public Television series, Bookmark, Noble has interviewed hundreds of writers.

Ms. Joan Reeves serves as the Division Chair of English and Fine Arts at Northeast and has been organizing the Annual Speakers’ Forum since 1994. “The distinguished writers for this year’s Speakers’ Forum bring a unique voice and perspective to the literary landscape, promising an event that will not only enlighten but also captivate audiences,” said Reeves.

“Dr. Campbell showed great vision when he created this forum in 1993, and we are very fortunate to have been able to have brought such exemplary writers to NACC over the last thirty years,” added Reeves. “I believe that providing opportunities like this for our students is extremely valuable.”