By Emily Stout
A BYU part-time instructor of creative writing will read selections from her works today at noon in the HBLL Auditorium as part of the English Department Reading Series.
Helen Walker Jones writes poetry and short stories, and has been published in Harper”s magazine, the Indiana Review and other significant journals.
“Her stories are cutting-edge,” said John Bennion, coordinator for the series. “They don”t fit easily into the traditional pattern. They”re innovative.”
Bruce Jorgensen, an associate professor of English, said many of Jones” best short stories are about marriage or women.
“The stories are pretty gutsy, and sometimes gritty,” he said. “I find [the subject matter is] treated with a lot of directness, honesty, passion and compassion.”
Jorgensen also said Jones” writing has interesting rhythms and is energetic.
“If you”ve ever studied physics, they talk about kinetic energy and potential energy,” he said. “Well, what fiction needs is kinetic energy, and I think she”s got it.”
Every week, the series invites writers of prose and poetry to share their work. Bennion said the purpose of the series was to help build connections between writers.
“We have three kinds of writers who come to the reading series,” he said. “We have people who are known across the country, and then we have people who are well-known in the state, and then we have people who teach here at BYU.”
