Let’s be honest: every writer dreams of seeing their work make its way into bookstores, libraries, and homes, where readers will savor their stories under shady hammocks or in favorite chairs. But the journey from finishing a manuscript to holding a published book in hand often feels like a mystery—one filled with hidden cogs and wheels of the publishing process.

In this installment of the Birthing the Book series, we’re thrilled to celebrate Stephanie Niu, the inaugural Vanderbilt University Literary Prize winner and author of the forthcoming poetry collection I Would Define the Sun (Vanderbilt University Press). Stephanie will read selected poems from her book, followed by a discussion about her writing and publishing journey, the interplay between her cultural identity and creative process, and the joys and challenges of “birthing” a book. The discussion will be moderated by Steve Haruch. Doors will open at 3:30 PM for mingling and a pre-talk book signing.

Stephanie Niu is a poet and writer from Marietta, Georgia, whose work has been featured in The Georgia Review, Literary Hub, and Ecotone Magazine. She is the author of the chapbooks Survived By: An Atlas of Disappearance and She Has Dreamt Again of Water and a recipient of a Fulbright scholarship for her research on Christmas Island’s labor history. She currently lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Steve Haruch is a writer and producer at Nashville Banner. He is the editor of the books Greetings From New Nashville: How a Sleepy Southern Town Became 'It' City and People Only Die of Love in Movies: Film Writing by Jim Ridley, both from Vanderbilt University Press.

This free public event is part of a week of special programming in Nashville celebrating Stephanie’s achievements, co-sponsored by Vanderbilt University Press and Vanderbilt University’s English Department and MFA Program. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from an extraordinary voice in contemporary poetry!

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