English Faculty Beth Grosart Wins Literary Award

English faculty Beth Grosart won the New Hampshire Literary Idol at the 17^th Annual New Hampshire Writer’s Day Conference.  The culminating event of a day-long conference sponsored by the New Hampshire Writer’s Project, “NH Literary Idol” pitted Ms. Grosart against 13 other who all read aloud their complete 3-minute flash fiction piece in front of the audience and a panel of esteemed judges.

"It was a day that helped to continue to inspire me as a writer,” Ms. Grosart said. “I was able to attend three classes there, one especially good one taught by Ann Joslin Williams (who grew up near Cardigan Mountain and is daughter of writer Thomas Williams)." Ms. Grosart’s piece of fiction was about a couple that has an honest moment in their 40 year marriage during a conversation brought about by the death of the husband’s former lover. In addition to winning the Idol prize, which included free admission to next year’s writer’s day and a gift certificate to a local bookstore, Ms. Grosart will read at next year’s event.

She also participated in four workshops and attended the a Keynote Address given by author Nicholson Baker. Ms. Grosart, who earned her BA in English from Tufts University and her masters with distinction from St. Andrews University in Scotland, is excited to bring the experience at the workshop back to her classes.

"I can bring ideas and strategies about how to make creative writing interesting and accessible to my students,” she said. “I took a Flash Fiction course and we did fun exercises that I can use in my classroom."