Nataley Davis | staff writer

Although Nick Miller went to the Coffee House Reading for a class assignment, he left with a newfound appreciation for poetry.

“Even if you don’t like poetry, it kind of makes you realize that if you pay attention to the details in your life and you observe things around you, and you take them in, you can gain a better perspective … maybe more happiness in your life,” Miller said.

On Jan. 23, the Duquesne English department invited two seasoned authors to the Genesius Theater to read their upcoming works of creative writing to students.

The event was the first of three in a series of readings this semester called “Coffee House Reading Series.”

Faith Barrett, the chair of the series and English professor, said that one of the best parts about her position is the opportunity to introduce her students to local writers.

“I think it really matters that students understand that these are living art forms and they’re writers living today in Pittsburgh,” Barrett said. “We like to have our own series on campus just so
it’s that much easier for students to hear people. And then, we can bring the writers to our classes.”

The first author to speak at the event was Veronica Corpuz, an interdisciplinary poet who tackles themes of grief and identity through her work in photography and mixed media, a type of visual art that combines more than one medium or material.

Copuz read poetry that was written for her upcoming manuscript inspired by her late husband’s battle with brain cancer titled, “The Widow’s Calendar.”

She decided to specifically highlight excerpts that were ultimately left out of the manuscript, describing the process of cutting down her work as “killing off your little darlings.”

The poet said the prospect of sharing a deeply personal experience with the world through her writing, although emotionally taxing, was something she knew she had to do.

“I’m a big believer in excavating memory and emotion, and transforming it into language and poetry as a healing process, as a way of addressing grief and loss and heartache. 
And for me, it was a life-saving process,” Corpuz said.

Corpuz hopes that her writing will resonate not only with people experiencing grief or single parenting, but also show those who have not experienced loss how precious and fleeting life can be.

The second author featured at the event was Lori Jakiela, a creative non-fiction writer and director of the writing program at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg.

Jakiela read from her book “All Skate: True Stories from Middle Life,” which is set to be released in March.

This collection of personal essays spares no details, including the real names of her grade school crushes, authentic realizations of mortality and roller skating related injuries.

The author and professor said that one of her inspirations when writing this book was Oldster, an online publication edited by Sari Botten.

“[Botten] talks about how “oldster” is any age because you’re always older the next second than you are from right now, and so you’re constantly evolving into this other kind of person,” Jakiela said. “That sort of journey and that transition, you don’t have a lot of time always to think about what it means.”

Jakiela’s reading took the audience on an emotional rollercoaster, imitating the ups and downs of life. The room erupted in laughter as she detailed an awkward teenage anecdote about a French kiss gone wrong, and just as quickly fell silent as she recalled the difficult conversations about death she has had with her daughter.

With all of Jakiela’s creative nonfiction work, she hopes to keep connecting through shared human experiences and creating open dialogue with students who relate to what she writes about.

The Coffee House Speakers reading series allows students to experience writing they have studied in class, read live from the author or simply to have a place on campus to enjoy literature. The series also brings attention to the English department’s efforts to connect through a love of reading and writing.

Senior English major Giona Ciacco said that these events help to build a community on campus to discuss literature.

“When we’re here, we get to chat, and we get to share in what we love, which is fiction and writing,” Ciacco said.

The next reading in the Coffee House Speakers series will be on Feb. 4 in the Genesius Theater.