By Tami Back, W&M Libraries
William & Mary Libraries has selected Lamar Giles, local Virginia author, as its inaugural Writer-in-Residence. The position is funded by the Molly Elliot Seawell Endowment, established by Philip Hairston Seawell ’37, J.D. ’39, a descendant of Molly Elliot Seawell.
Giles is the author of the acclaimed novels Ruin Road, The Getaway, The Last Last-Day-of-Summer, Not So Pure and Simple, SPIN, and Fake ID, and has written for globally beloved brands like DC Comics, Star Wars, and National Geographic. He is a three-time Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award nominee, a recipient of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association's Youth Literary Award and founding member of the non-profit We Need Diverse Books.
Born and raised in Hopewell, Virginia, Giles is a lifelong Virginia resident who lives in Prince George County with his family. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Old Dominion University.
“I’ve been an unofficial ambassador for Virginia my entire writing career and am excited to get the opportunity to continue my efforts as a member of the William & Mary family,” said Giles.
Having written for nearly four decades, Giles credits his success as a writer to his mother, who taught him that hard work could get him anywhere, and his local library, Appomattox Regional.
“My mother claimed the library could be one of the best schools in the world, and she was not wrong. In those stacks, I discovered authors I’d seek to emulate, from Walter Dean Myers to Tananarive Due,” he said.
The purpose of the Writer-in-Residence program is to raise awareness of writing archives, including W&M Libraries’ growing archive of Virginia women writers. Additionally, the writer will engage with students, faculty, staff, and alumni for the purpose of shared knowledge and expertise.
Molly Elliot Seawell, an early American historian and writer, was born in Gloucester, Virginia in 1853. Her literary production included forty books of fiction, collected short fiction, non-fiction, and numerous political columns. For her short stories and historical works, she was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1910 and again in 1911.
Since the establishment of the endowment in 2019, W&M Libraries has been purchasing collections related to Virginia women writers. Most recently, the Libraries purchased a first edition, annotated copy of The Bridge to Terabithia by Virginia author Katherine Paterson.
“This endowment has made it possible for us to begin building an archive of the works of Virginia women writers, which will be critical to the study and understanding of these writers,” said Carrie Cooper, dean of university libraries. “Now we are expanding to programming and staffing in our effort to expand our relationships with Virginia women writers.”
To be eligible for the Writer-in-Residence position, writers must have a demonstrated connection to Virginia, an established record of publication and a goal of making Swem Library the destination for the study of Virginia women writers.
As the Writer-in-Residence, Giles will host writing workshops, panel discussions, and other events at William & Mary that will be open to all writers. He plans to tap into the Virginia writing community to bring authors to campus to share their expertise and experience.
“Lamar has deep connections in the Virginia writing community, and is well respected amongst his peers,” said Dean of University Libraries, Carrie Cooper. “This will certainly help us achieve our goal of engaging local writers with W&M and tapping into the immense writing talent we have here in Virginia.”
A primary goal of the Writer-in-Residence is to build relationships with Virginia women writers who will eventually choose William & Mary for their archives. Giles also plans to facilitate the study of Virginia women writers by building a comprehensive database of past and present Virginia writers.
“My life is filled with amazing women, who, like my mother, have inspired me and encouraged me,” said Giles. “I’m excited to be a part of a program that uplifts and elevates women writers in Virginia.”
For more information on the Writer-in-Residence position, visit https://libraries.wm.edu/writer.