Creative Writing Department Kicks off Reading Series with Julie Marie Wade
Jaylei Davis | Sept. 29, 2026
Author Julie Marie Wade reads from one of her books at the Ellison Library in Swannanoa, N.C. on Sept. 24, 2026. (Echo/Sophia Strominger)
On Sept. 24, the first creative writing reading of the year was held at the Ellison Library at Warren Wilson College (WWC), where Julie Marie Wade read from two of her books published last year. Wade read about her life as a kid via her memoir “Other People’s Mothers,” and then read about her life as an adult hitting the milestone of turning 40 years old in her book of poems “Quick Change Artist.”
“Other People’s Mothers” is a collection of nine autobiographical stories based on mothers Wade grew up around in Motley Hills, West Seattle, from the ages of six to 14. Wade read excerpts from the poem “Mrs.Williams [Or A Study of Postmodernism and the Many Ways That Walls Are Broken]” from “Other People’s Mothers.”
Wade then read “40th Birthday Poem,” a selection from “Quick Change Artist,” which is a collection of poetry. Wade found it befitting to name her collection “Quick Change Artist” because when she turned 40, lots of quick changes happened: people began to call her “middle aged” and think of her having a lot of wisdom.
Wade, who teaches at Florida University’s Creative Writing program, said she found that the inspiration for “40th Birthday Poem” came from an unexpected place.
“The poem was a surprise because it came out of a unit with my students,” Wade said.
Wade said that she and the students had been finding new things to reflect on for poems within their lives. They came to the idea of writing poems for other people for events: speeches, gifts, and others’ birthdays before settling on the idea of writing a poem for one’s own birthday. Thus began the crafting of Wade’s “40th Birthday Poem”.
Author Julie Marie Wade signs books at the Ellison Library in Swannanoa, N.C. on Sept. 24, 2026. (Echo/Sophia Strominger)
As the reading came to an end, multiple students asked Wade questions about her life and about her books. Wade said multiple people influence her writing, notably Wade’s friend, Jenna, from the poem “Mrs. Williams.” Jenna, in the poem, is described as someone very creative and taught Wade many things during the years they knew each other. Wade still carries those lessons with her today, incorporating them into her current writing.
Author Julie Marie Wade speaks about her writing process with students from Warren Wilson College (WWC) at the Ellison Library in Swannanoa, N.C. on Sept. 24, 2026. (Echo/Sophia Strominger)
Wade explained the different ways her writing process unfolds. She told the audience that she does not truly think of one of her ideas becoming a manuscript or a poem. When she writes, she begins with jotting down her ideas and letting them take shape how they need to, following the writing rather than commanding it.
“If it had become more or something experimental on the page I think I would’ve just followed that,” Wade said. “There’s room to let it become what it wants to be…and it might be something else and that’s okay too.”
Wade, reflecting on her experience having a reading at WWC, found the process exciting and said that it had given her some fresh perspective. She expressed amazement at the writing WWC’s writing program produces. Students interested in creative writing at the college are encouraged to attend the next event hosted by the creative writing team, the BIPOC Podcast Archives Party on Oct. 2, from 3-4 pm.