As part of the Third Annual Lakeland College Community Book Read, there will be two community events, held on April 5 and 7, leading up to the Community Book Read author visit on April 12, all of which focus on Karen Russell’s Pulitzer Prize fiction finalist novel, “Swamplandia!”

The April 5 event is the Writing Workshop: Blackout Poetry. This event, also known as eraser poetry, will be run by Lakeland College Assistant Professor of Composition Jodie Liedke and will incorporate pages from the novel.

According to Community Relations Manager Gina Covelli, Liedke “will go through how to write a poem, and people will get about 30-45 minutes to create their own poems.” Participants will have the option to share their poems if they are interested. Covelli added that supplies will be provided.

Blackout Poetry will take place from 6-8 p.m. at Generations: an Intergenerational Center, at 1500 Douglas Drive, Plymouth, WI 53073.

The April 7 event is the Panel Discussion, featuring Lakeland faculty members Peter Sattler, chair of the humanities division, professor of American literature and coordinator of the writing center, Casey Schmitt, assistant professor of communication, and Jessica Kalmar, assistant professor of psychology.

“The panelists will each speak on different aspects of the novel from their respective areas of expertise, including race and racial identity, family identity, family folklore, magical thinking as a defense mechanism and how the novel fits within the spectrum of American literature,” said Covelli, as well as have the opportunity to share their own unique viewpoints.

The conversation will then open to the audience for their input and questions.

Concerning the event, Covelli added, “Reading the book in advance is encouraged, but not necessary.”

The Panel Discussion will take place at the Mead Public Library in the Rocca Room, at 710 N. 8th St., Sheboygan, WI 53081.

Each event is free and open to the public.

For additional information, go to lakeland.edu/bookread.

For questions, contact Covelli at [email protected].