Binghamton University Professor Liz Rosenberg is teaming up with alumnus Jerry Mirskin next week for a reading of a combined total of six new books.
Mirskin, who is an associate professor at Ithaca College, is releasing two books of poetry, while Rosenberg, an English professor, is publishing a picture book, a novel and two books of poems, all over the course of the year. Both authors will hold a reading of their material in Lecture Hall 8 on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 8 p.m.
Rosenberg’s novel, “Home Repair,” draws its plot from a seemingly everyday situation.
“My husband wandered off one day while we were at a garage sale,” Rosenberg said. “And I wondered what would happen if someone actually walked off on their wife in a scene as mundane and ordinary as that.”
“Lily Poems” and “Demon Love,” Rosenberg’s two poetical works, are based on a variety of influences and emotions.
“Our adopted daughter from China is named Lily, and these poems are all about her,” Rosenberg said.
She added that “Demon Love” has a different set of inspirations, ranging from philosophy to modern war.
Her picture book, titled “This Is The Wind,” features illustrations by Renee Reichert. The story tells of a couple giving birth to a baby during the night, and is written in the same structure as the popular nursery rhyme “This Is The House That Jack Built.”
Both of Mirskin’s poetry books, “Picture a Gate Being Open and let that Gate be the Sun” and “In Flagrante Delicto,” also deal with a variety of subjects and influences. He described them as the worldviews of two poets, one of which is exuberant and optimistic, and the other more experienced.
While the event is a week away, both authors said emotion is more important than attendance numbers during the event.
“I think that hearts being moved is more important than the quantity of seats filled,” Rosenberg said.
Mirskin also said he hopes for a personal setting during the event.
“Success is measured by the connection that is created in the intimacy of the reading,” Mirskin added.
Rosenberg said that her time spent studying and teaching at BU has had a profound impact on her writing.
“I learn so much from my students, who to a great degree comprise my intellectual community each year,” she said. “Their thinking helps keep me alert and humble.”
According to Rosenberg, being a writer requires faith and time.
“Write the material that you love to read,” she said.
Mirskin said that his art is a process and that the process is just as inspiring as the experiences he writes about.
Although she’s been writing numerous pieces of literature throughout her life, Rosenberg has never released so many books in such a short time period.
“It’s just a coincidence that all the books just fell together and are being released in the same year,” she said.