2010 Presenters
Elyssa East
Elyssa East received her B.A. in Art History from Reed College, and her M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Columbia University’s School of the Arts. She has received awards and fellowships from the Ragdale, Jerome, and Ludwig Vogelstein Foundations; the University of Connecticut; and the Phillips Library, and was recently awarded the 2009 L. L. Winship/PEN New England Award for the best work of non-fiction by a New England author.
East’s writing has been published in various New England regional magazines as well as The Brooklyn Rail, Guernica, Mr. Beller’s Neighborhood, and The New York Times. A scene from her opera libretto, Mr. Hawthorne’s Engagement, was performed with singers from the Met Opera as part of American Opera Project’s Composers and the Voice series.
Her book, Dogtown: Death and Enchantment in a New England Ghost Town, interlaces murder, legend and history in a Massachusetts ghost town.
LINKS:
Interview with East about Dogtown
Video in which East speaks about Dogtown and its inspiration
Review of Dogtown from The Wall Street Journal
