February 23, 2022
Author Ira Sukrungruang to read from his work Friday, Feb. 25, 3:30 p.m.
On Friday, Feb. 25, author Ira Sukrungruang will read from his work at 3:30 p.m. via Zoom.
The event is free and open to the public with advance registration at tinyurl.com/iraskstate2022.
Sukrungruang is the author of four nonfiction books — "This Jade World" (2021), "Buddha's Dog & Other Meditations" (2018), "Southside Buddhist" (2014) and "Talk Thai: The Adventures of Buddhist Boy" (2010) — as well as the short story collection "The Melting Season" (2016) and the poetry collection "In Thailand It Is Night" (2013).
With friend Donna Jarrell, he co-edited two anthologies that examine the fat experience through a literary lens: "What Are You Looking At? The First Fat Fiction Anthology" (2003) and "Scoot Over, Skinny: The Fat Nonfiction Anthology" (2005).
Sukrungruang was born in Chicago to Thai immigrants and is currently the Richard L. Thomas professor of creative writing at Kenyon College. He is a former member of the board of trustees for the Association of Writers and Writing Program and he is currently on the Advisory Board of Machete, an imprint of The Ohio State University Press dedicated to publishing innovative nonfiction by authors who have been historically marginalized.
The recipient of the 2015 American Book Award for Southside Buddhist, Sukrungruang has also received a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in Nonfiction Literature, an Arts and Letters Fellowship and the Anita Claire Scharf Award in Poetry. His work has appeared in many literary journals, including The Rumpus, American Poetry Review, The Sun and Creative Nonfiction. He is the president of Sweet: A Literary Confection, a literary nonprofit organization.
"Ira is an amazing teacher, editor and writer. In fact, he's published books in all three genres, which is remarkable. He's got a wealth of experience to share with our students, and I'm so happy we could bring him to K-State," said Traci Brimhall, associate professor of English and director for the program in creative writing.
For more information about Sukrungruang's work, visit his website.
The reading is sponsored by the English department in the College of Arts and Sciences and Student Governing Association's fine arts fees.