Percy-L: Literary, Religious, Scientific, and Philosophical Discussion of Walker Percy

[Henry Mills <wppdirector AT gmail.com>]

Dear Percy-L:

I should correctly note there are two keynote speakers, Dr. Farrell O'Gorman and Dr. Jim Wildeman, for "The Walker Percy Centennial: Pilgrimage in Literature" conference beginning today at Montreat College.  Below are their biographies and information about their particular interests in Percy.

Best wishes,
Henry Mills
Percy-L Administrator

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The Walker Percy Centennial: Pilgrimage in Literature / 2016 Southeast Christianity & Literature Conference
Keynote Speakers

Farrell O'Gorman
Dr. Farrell O'Gorman is professor of English at Belmont Abbey College and former associate professor of Catholic studies at DePaul University. His book "Peculiar Crossroads: Flannery O'Connor, Walker Percy, and Catholic Vision in Postwar Southern Fiction" was published by Louisiana State University Press in 2004. In the summer of 2014 he helped to organize an international conference in Dublin commemorating the 50th anniversary of O'Connor's death. His recent work includes articles in "A Political Companion to Flannery O'Connor" and "A Political Companion to Walker Percy," as well as a book manuscript entitled "Catholicism and American Borders in U.S. Gothic Fiction," currently under consideration.

Jim Wildeman
Dr. Jim Wildeman taught English at Covenant College for almost 30 years. He developed broad interests during his tenure, regularly teaching courses in rhetoric, composition, linguistics, literature, and literary theory. His teaching of freshmen composition led to the publication of a composition textbook, "A Simple Writing Manual" (2007). His teaching of an introduction to literature course for non-English majors encouraged him to write his first novel, "The Valedictorian of Summer School" (2009). Jim's interest in linguistics led him to Walker Percy's "The Message in the Bottle," and that fascinating and quirky book led him to read Percy's novels. Dr. Wildeman has served as chair of Southeast Conference on Christianity & Literature for several years and secretary of national Conference on Christianity & Literature for two years. He recently completed a manuscript for Christians who are "parenting" their aging parents.

From http://www.montreat.edu/student-life/special-programs/walker-percy-centennial/