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Contact: Katryn Conlin, Communications Director
kconlin@southeastmn.edu, 651-385-6364

MSC Southeast Creative Writing program publishes first edition of literary journal, Highway 61, Revised 

Highway 61, Revised Book CoverSpecial event on Feb. 28 at Fair Trade Books in Red Wing will celebrate book release

Red Wing and Winona, MN (February 10, 2020) – A new literary journal featuring original works by Minnesota State College Southeast Creative Writing Certificate students went to press in January. The book release will be celebrated at a special event, open to the public, at Fair Trade Books in Red Wing on February 28 in Red Wing. 

Highway 61, Revised Book Release Celebration 

Friday, February 28, 2020 at 6:30 pm
Fair Trade Books, 320 Bush Street, Red Wing, Minnesota
Light Refreshments, Live Music, and Readings by the Authors

The public and members of the media are invited to join MSC Southeast students, faculty, staff and administration at the celebration.

Highway 61, Revised includes poetry, short stories and creative non-fiction written over the past year by students enrolled in creative writing classes at the college. The 100-page journal is published in a paperback edition and online.

English instructor Pete Beurskens served as the editor of the publication, which highlights writing by his own students as well as students of MSC Southeast English instructors Mike Larson and Dan Bernstrom. Pete said the instructors have been surprised and pleased with the quality of the work the students have produced in the online Creative Writing Certificate program.

"Really, I think it is better in many respects than much of the work we published when I worked on university literary magazines.  When I read a student piece and think, 'I wish I had written that line,' that's a good sign," he said. "In any case, I would simply invite people to read Highway 61, Revised and judge the quality for themselves!"

There are 37 different works in the book, by a total of 14 authors, ranging from nontraditional students age 60 and above to PSEO (current high school) students. "We have folks who already have a degree or two, and ones just starting their educational journey; those who have already published, and those who have never even tried their hand at creative writing."

Pete added that balancing the journal's content as to theme, tone, style, genre, and subject matter was a challenge. "In the end, I think there is something for every reader:  poetry, fiction, literary essays; nature, work, travel, philosophy, spirituality, adventure, relationships —even leopard geckos!  Highway 61, Revised is the kind of publication you can pick up and dip into many times and encounter something new and delightful or thoughtful or inspiring."

Since the Creative Writing Certificate is taught online, many of the students have never met each other or their instructors in person. The book release event will be an opportunity for them to celebrate the publication as well as connect with each other for the first time. There will be light refreshments, live music, and readings by several of the authors.

After the book launch on February 28, Highway 61, Revised will be available for sale in Minnesota State College Southeast's bookstores in Red Wing and Winona, and at Fair Trade Books in Red Wing.

To request a review copy of Highway 61, Revised, contact Katryn Conlin (kconlin@southeastmn.edu, 651-385-6364).

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About Minnesota State College Southeast

Minnesota State College Southeast is a two-year technical and community college that prepares students for a lifetime of learning by providing education for employment, skill enhancement, retraining, and transfer, to meet the needs of students and the community. The Winona campus opened in 1949, merging with the Red Wing campus in 1992 and updating its name to Minnesota State College Southeast in 2016 with the change of mission to offer both technical training and the associate of arts degree. Minnesota State College Southeast is a member of Minnesota State. For more information, visit www.southeastmn.edu.