Press Releases

February 28, 2001
Kenneth Koch to Receive John Steinbeck Award

College Recognizes Literary Contributions of East End Writers

Contact:
Patricia Conway
(631) 287 8313
Fax: (631) 283 4081

Author Kenneth Koch will be the 13th recipient of the John Steinbeck Award when Southampton College of Long Island University hosts the 24th annual John Steinbeck "Meet the Writers" Book Fair & Art Preview on Friday, May 11, 2001 at the Elaine Benson Gallery in Bridgehampton, New York from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Writers of new books will meet the public and autograph their works at the rain-or-shine event, which benefits the John Steinbeck Project at Southampton College and is known as the traditional kick-off of the Hampton summer season. East End writers who have had books published since last May and are interested in participating in this year's event should call Carol Gilbert, Director of Alumni/Development at Southampton College, at (631)287-8347.

Ken Koch has published many books of poetry including Rose, Where Did You Get That Red? Teaching Great Poetry Children, New Addresses, 1999's Making Your Own Days: The Pleasure of Reading and Writing Poetry and the recently released Wishes, Lies, and Dreams: Teaching Children to Write Poetry.

Past honorees of the award include E.L. Doctorow, Lanford Wilson, Peter Matthiessen, Kurt Vonnegut, Terrence McNally, Betty Friedan, David Ignatow, Wilfred Sheed, Edward Albee, James Salter, Susan Isaacs and Dava Sobel.

Since its inception in 1977, the John Steinbeck Project has raised funds for Southampton College of Long Island University, which have been used to establish a Visiting Writer's Program, the annual Steinbeck Lecture, student writing awards and scholarships, and acquisitions for the College Library.

More on the Steinbeck Project.