Oliver de la Paz's Literary Presentation: Listening to Worcester's Designated Poet

Holy Cross College's Working Writers Series kicked off the new semester on September 18 with a captivating poetry reading by Professor Oliver de la Paz and Leah Hager Cohen at Rehm Library. The series, which offers opportunities for individuals to learn more about a writer's work and hear from them directly, is open to all students, regardless of major.

Oliver de la Paz, a professor at Holy Cross College, shared background information and inspiration behind each of the poems he read. His latest book, The Diaspora Sonnets, was long-listed for the National Book Award and won the New England Book Award for Poetry in 2023.

De la Paz is not only an esteemed poet but also a dedicated educator. He teaches classes such as Poetry and Poetics and Introduction to Creative Writing at Holy Cross College. During his poetry reading, he orated eight poems, six of which were from his most recent work.

The series provides a platform for authors to share their work and engage with the audience. In addition to de la Paz and Cohen, notable authors like Adrian Matejka, Xu Xi, and Leila Philip have been speakers at the Working Writers Series.

On November 11, 2021, Adrian Matejka was the special guest for a poetry reading at the Working Writers Series. The series had five speakers for the semester, with Matejka being the last.

The English department also took advantage of the Working Writers Series event at the Prior Performing Arts Center to promote literary readings. Excerpts from books like Monkey in Residence and Beaverland were read during the event.

De la Paz, who is also the Poet Laureate of Worcester from 2023 to 2025, spoke about the technical process in addition to the creative process during his poetry reading. His passion for poetry was evident, making the event a memorable one for all who attended.

The Working Writers Series at Holy Cross College continues to bring renowned authors to the campus, providing students and the community with a unique opportunity to learn from and engage with some of the best writers in the field.

Oliver de la Paz's Literary Presentation: Listening to Worcester's Designated Poet