Canin enlightens LC writers

Ethan Canin, writer of such novels as “For Kings and Planets” and “America America,” visited Luther to give a reading Oct. 29. The event was sponsored by the Luther Center for Ethics and Public Life and the English Department and was held in the Center for Faith and Life’s Recital Hall.

“It’s such a pleasure to be here,” said Canin before the reading. “I went to Stanford University, but it doesn’t have this kind of feel to it.”

Canin is also a physician and permamnent member of the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop, a highly recognized writing program with instructors including such famous authors as Kurt Vonnegut and John Cheever.

During the reading, Canin described his personal struggle to become a writer.

“Writing is usually all misery,” said Canin.

Canin graduated from Stanford University with an undergraduate degree in English. He continued on to the University of Iowa, where he received his Masters in Fine Arts from the Writers’ Workshop. After receiving his MFA, Canin began to write professionally. But with no success, he decided to move on to something different.

“I went to medical school because I couldn’t think of anything else, I’m embarrassed to say,” said Canin.

Canin moved on to Harvard Medical School, where he earned his M.D. He later completed his residency at a San Francisco hospital. After working as both a doctor and a writer, Canin began to break away from his medical career until finally in 1998 he joined the Iowa Writers’ Workshop as a faculty member.

Recently, Amy Weldon, assistant professor of English, invited Canin to come to Luther.

“I could not have been happier with [the event],” said Weldon. “As always, I am so proud of my students, who were bright and engaging, and Ethan remarked several times how impressed he was with the campus and with the students and faculty he met.”

Weldon has plans to attract more writers to Luther College.

“Next up, I’m hoping to invite Charles d’Ambrosio, a Writers’ Workshop faculty member this year and an amazing writer of short fiction and essays,” said Weldon.

Weldon’s goal is to not only host various authors at Luther but to also establish a healthy connection between Luther College and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.