January 27th, 2009

FARMINGTON, ME (January 27, 2009)--University of Maine at Farmington's
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program is proud to announce
author Jaed Coffin as the first reader in its Spring 2009 Visiting Writers
Series. Coffin will read from his work at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 5, at
The Landing in the UMF Olsen Student Center. This literary event is free
and open to the public, and will be followed by a signing by the author.

In his memoir "A Chant to Soothe Wild Elephants," (Da Capo Press, 2007)
Coffin takes us on a journey into the challenges of growing up with
traditions rooted in both ancient Thai and modern American cultures. He
chronicles the story of how he is ordained as a Buddhist monk when he
returns to his mother's native village in Panomsarakram, Thailand, to
fulfill a familial obligation and in the hopes of finding his true self.
According to the Brunswick Times Record, "[Coffin] has a remarkable ability
to render both the details of the external landscape and the complexities
of his own internal architecture with clarity, compassion and honesty."

A recent resident fellow at the Island Institute in Sitka, Coffin worked on
his next book, "Roughhouse Friday," which documents his career as the
middleweight boxing champion of Southeast Alaska.

Coffin holds a B.A. in philosophy from Middlebury College and an M.F.A.
from the University of Southern Maine's Stonecoast Writing Program. A
boxer, sea-kayaker, and lobster fisherman, he lives in Brunswick, Maine.

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For more information regarding this event, please contact Jeffrey Thomson
UMF associate professor of creative writing at 207-778-7454, or at
jeffrey.thomson@maine.edu.


EDITOR'S NOTE: You will find photo at
http://www.umf.maine.edu/campus/docs/RP089-029.jpg

Photo Credit: Submitted photo