As part of the International Writing Program (IWP) Reading Abroad: American Writers on Tour 2014, six American writers and poets (Peter Balakian, Christopher Merrill, Mary Hickman, Maureen Freely, Gregory Orfalea, and Gish Jen) visited Turkey and met with Turkish writers, poets, academicians, students, and journalists in Istanbul on October 18-20, 2014. American writers first joined Prof. Em. Oya Başak and academicians at a reading session to the Department of Western Languages and Literatures students at Boğaziçi University’s South Campus in Bebek. Following that, they enjoyed a tour of Istiklal Street in lively Beyoğlu area guided Murat Belge, well-known Turkish author and professor of literature. American writers then participated in a public reading session with Turkish counterparts (Melida Tüzünoğlu, Yalçın Tosun and Tuğba Doğan) – a special event co-sponsored by the Yapı Kredi Publishing, Istanbul Beyoğlu Municipality, and U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul. The joint reading session was focused on the American writers’ work, followed by a Q&A session on trends in contemporary world literature, publishing industry, creative writing, etc. IWP participants enjoyed a joyful evening with Turkish writers, poets, academicians and journalists at a dinner reception hosted by our Public Affairs Officer Dr. Craig Dicker. They also visited the AGOS Daily on the last day of their Istanbul tour. For bios of IWP Turkey Reading/Lecture Tour 2014 Participants: http://1.usa.gov/1CTSuaF
*Since 1967, in partnership with the Education and Cultural Affairs Bureau at the U.S. Department of State, the IWP – based at the University of Iowa – organizes reading tours of American writers to introduce the current American literary scene and meet with poets, writers, researchers, and journalists from 140 countries around the world. More at:http://iwp.uiowa.edu/
