The Writer’s Center welcomes Beth Konkoski for a reading from her award-winning short fiction collection, A Drawn & Papered Heart. Beth will host an open mic following her reading, celebrating the fact that the first time she ever read her work in public, it was at an open mic at The Writer’s Center.
FREE & open to the public. Register below.
Beth Konkoski is a writer and high school English teacher living in Northern Virginia with her husband and two mostly grown kids. She has been publishing her fiction, poetry, and non-fiction for more than twenty years, in journals such as: Story, The Greensboro Review, The Baltimore Review, and Smokelong Quarterly. Her collection of short fiction, A Drawn & Papered Heart, won the 2023 Acacia Prize for Short Fiction and will be published by Kallisto Gaia Press in June 2024. She is currently at work on a novel.
About the Book
Characters practiced in the arts of grief and disappointment live in the stories of Beth Konkoski’s collection, A Drawn and Papered Heart. From a young boy facing death at the hands of a troubled relative to a woman who must bail her friend out of jail in the middle of the night, these lyrical stories evoke for readers bittersweet reminders of the many ways to journey toward resilience.
“In A Drawn and Papered Heart Beth Konkoski masterfully guides readers through a compelling collection of stories that delve into the complex tapestry of human existence. From the quiet introspection of life drawing classes to the poignant memories of a farm in autumn snow and the mystical realm of goddesses, Konkoski’s narratives resonate with emotional depth and authenticity. These unforgettable tales explore the intricate threads that bind us to love, loss, and the enigmatic forces shaping our destinies. With each story, this collection invites us to contemplate our shared humanity, leaving a lasting mark on our hearts and minds. Konkoski’s writing shines with intelligence and compassion. Highly recommended.” –Kathy Fish, author of Wild Life: Collected Works
“There is stunning emotional craft in the stories of A Drawn and Papered Heart/Gather at the Risk. Beth Konkoski is the rare writer who can achieve depth with breadth. Reminiscent of the honest, dark edges of the stories of Alice Munro and Leslie Pietrzyk, A Drawn and Papered Heart slices through the everyday with intimacy and empathy.” –Melissa Scholes Young, author of Flood and The Hive.
If you need an accommodation for this event, please contact us at access@writer.org. We will attempt to fulfill all requests, but advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility services.