Literary Festival Welcomes Writers
On Friday, January 6, St. Mark’s welcomed five distinguished writers to campus for the tenth annual Literary Festival. This year’s festival was especially meaningful as it welcomed both the alumnus who started the Literary Festival and the celebrated author who inspired it. The panel of writers included:
The five visiting writers spent the day across campus, visiting with students in English and history classes, discussing their work and process, and answering questions. They also came together for a special panel discussion during Upper School assembly. The writers answered questions from co-chairs Davis Bailey ’18 and Sahit Dendekuri ’19 ranging from the recent rise in “fake news” to how they handle criticism.
“When you write an essay when you’re 16 years-old, you feel like you’re putting a piece of yourself out there, and I think that the School provided a place where you could do that,” said Jake McAuley ’08. “It was welcome and you were not made to feel embarrassed, which is very important especially for boys. It’s something I was always very grateful for.”
Ten years ago, then-junior Jake McAuley ’08 started the Literary Festival after reading Tobias Wolff’s novel Old School, which features a similar festival. Wolff’s memoir This Boy’s Life is also a staple of today’s English curriculum.
During the panel discussion, the winners of the annual writing contest were also announced. Numerous student entries in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry were judged by a panel of Upper School teachers and the five visiting writers.
Congratulations to these winning authors:
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- Taylor Mali, four-time National Poetry Slam champion
- Tobias Wolff, bestselling author of This Boy’s Life and Old School
- Jake McAuley ’08, France-based reporter for The Washington Post
- Eliza Griswold, poet and award-winning investigative journalist
- Dianna Hutts Aston, award-winning children’s author and illustrator
The five visiting writers spent the day across campus, visiting with students in English and history classes, discussing their work and process, and answering questions. They also came together for a special panel discussion during Upper School assembly. The writers answered questions from co-chairs Davis Bailey ’18 and Sahit Dendekuri ’19 ranging from the recent rise in “fake news” to how they handle criticism.
“When you write an essay when you’re 16 years-old, you feel like you’re putting a piece of yourself out there, and I think that the School provided a place where you could do that,” said Jake McAuley ’08. “It was welcome and you were not made to feel embarrassed, which is very important especially for boys. It’s something I was always very grateful for.”
Ten years ago, then-junior Jake McAuley ’08 started the Literary Festival after reading Tobias Wolff’s novel Old School, which features a similar festival. Wolff’s memoir This Boy’s Life is also a staple of today’s English curriculum.
During the panel discussion, the winners of the annual writing contest were also announced. Numerous student entries in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry were judged by a panel of Upper School teachers and the five visiting writers.
Congratulations to these winning authors:
- Fiction: “Jump” by Patrick Magee ’17
- Nonfiction: “Do Something Good for Me” by Kobe Roseman ’18 and Rish Basu ’17
- Poetry: “Mikita Dual Slide Compound Miter Saw ” by Andrew Chuka ’17
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St. Mark’s School of Texas
10600 Preston Road
Dallas, Texas 75230
214-346-8000
Dallas, Texas 75230
214-346-8000
About Us
St. Mark’s School of Texas is a private, nonsectarian college-preparatory boys’ day school for students in grades 1 through 12, located in Dallas, Texas. St. Mark’s aims to prepare young men to assume leadership and responsibility in a competitive and changing world.
St. Mark’s does not discriminate in the administration of its admission and education policies on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.
St. Mark’s does not discriminate in the administration of its admission and education policies on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.
