The 28th annual Writer’s Symposium By The Sea set waves in motion on PLNU’s campus, inspiring writing students, faculty and journalists from all over San Diego.
Anthony Doerr, author of short stories and novels, was interviewed on Feburary 21 in Brown Chapel. William Finnegan, staff writer at the New Yorker, was interviewed February 22 in Crill Music Hall. Maria Hinojosa, anchor and executive producer of Latino USA on National Public Radio and founder, president and CEO of Futuro Media Group, was interviewed February 23 in Crill. And, N. Scott Monday, novelist, short story writer, essayist and poet, was interviewed earlier this year. The recording of his interview was published online on Feb. 24. Whether in Anthony Doerr’s workshop with creative nonfiction writers or Maria Hinjosa’s panel on “Las Mujeres del Movimiento,” the inspiration and wisdom imparted to the PLNU is still felt across campus. Check out some photos from the week long event.
Anthony Doerr
Doerr is best known for his prowess in telling short stories and novels with unexpected connections among science, history and storytelling. His 2014 novel, All The Light We Cannot See, won a Pulitzer and more recently his 2021 novel Cloud Cuckoo Land has been a New York Times bestseller and a finalist for the National Book Award. He hosted a writing workshop with Robbie Maakestad, assistant professor of writing, and his creative nonfiction students prior to the symposium interview. Dean Nelson, journalism faculty and program advisor, interviewed Doerr in Brown Chapel on Feburary 21.
William Finnegan
Finnegan has spent his life and writing career covering a variety of communities and topics for The New Yorker. He’s addressed issues of racism and conflict in Southern Africa, politics in Mexico and South America, and the ebb and flow of surf culture in the U.S. and worldwide. Ben Cater, Foundational Exploration and the Humanities Honors Program director, interviewed Finnegan in Crill Music Hall on February 22.
Maria Hinojosa
Hinojosa is the anchor and executive producer of Latino USA on National Public Radio and founder, president and CEO of Futuro Media Group. Futuro is an independent non-profit organization with the goal of creating multimedia content to empower people experiencing the complexities of “an increasingly diverse and connected world” (Futuro). Her experiences in broadcast, radio and podcasting have led her to tell unique and ground-breaking stories, bringing greater transparency to underrepresented communities in the mainstream media. Prior to the symposium interview in the evening, she participated in a panel called “Las Mujeres Del Movimiento” with Latina and Hispanic faculty members, staff and students. The panel spoke about the impact of Hinojosa’s book Once I Was You and connected with shared experiences as Latina and Hispanic women. Nelson interviewed Hinojosa on February 23 in Crill Music Hall.
