SVSU student Brandy Abraham, of Snover, participates in Theodore Roethke-inspired book's production

2014 Nov 12

Saginaw Valley State University student Brandy Abraham, of Snover, worked as a document designer on the book, "The Ghost and the Poem."

Abraham, who recently graduated with a degree in English, was one of five SVSU students who produced the book. The text was inspired by the Theodore Roethke Home Museum, where the late Pulitzer Prize-winning poet once lived in Saginaw, Mich.

"The Ghost and the Poem" tells the fictional tale of Dexter Westenburg, whose teacher assigns him to write poetry in a journal. Lacking a love for poetry, he travels to the Roethke house and meets a ghost, Benny, whose love for poetry may change Dexter's mind.

The book is available in paperback form on Amazon for $14.63. SVSU's bookstore also carries copies.

M. Patricia Cavanaugh, SVSU professor of English, also helped produce the book. Cavanaugh said she and her collaborators in 2013 were inspired to produce "The Ghost and the Poem" because of the approaching 2014 Theodore Roethke Poetry & Arts Festival, sponsored in part by SVSU.

Poetry readings, prize ceremonies, plays, history tours, wine tastings and appearances by nationally-renowned author Tim Seibles are among the events planned for the Nov. 7-12 festival in Michigan's Great Lakes Bay Region.