Melinda Moustakis, WMU alum and award-winning author.
The Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University has announced the selection of Western Michigan University alumnae and award-winning author Melinda Moustakis as one of four writers named a Mary MacKall Gwinn Hodder Fellow for the 2012-13 academic year.
“The Hodder Fellowships are awarded to artists during that crucial period when they have demonstrated exceptional promise, but not yet received widespread recognition,” notes Lewis Center Acting Chair Michael Cadden in making the announcement. “We have a very strong and diverse group of artists joining us next year, and we look forward to what this opportunity for what Mrs. Hodder termed ‘studious leisure’ will enable them to accomplish.”
Moustakis plans to work on her first novel during her fellowship, a full-length book that captures the Alaskan fishing community and its many complicated relationships between fishermen, fisherwomen, guides, locals, tourist, scientists and the wilderness and wildlife.
“I am very excited and honored to be a Hodder Fellow next year,” Moustakis says. “What a dream–to be given time and resources to devote myself to writing the next book, to be part of an arts center that houses creative writing, dance, visual art and other media, where writers such as Chang-rae Lee, Joyce Carol Oates and Jeffrey Eugenides are members of the creative writing faculty.”
Moustakis cites WMU as a major player in her success. “One thing about Western’s program is, it’s not interested in making every student be a certain type of writer,” said Moustakis in a press release.
Links:
Melinda Moustakis’ official website
WMU Spotlight on Melinda Moustakis
