Acclaimed debut novelist Holland to speak at VCU

By Tom Gresham

Travis Holland, winner of the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award, will speak on Nov. 14 at Virginia Commonwealth University about the journey of his debut novel, “The Archivist’s Story,” from concept to publication to critical acclaim.

Holland will appear with his agent, Amy Williams, and his editor, Susan Kamil, vice president of Dial Press, at 7 p.m. in the Richmond Salons of the VCU Student Commons. The discussion, which will be moderated by Valley Haggard, book editor for Style Weekly, is free and open to the public. A book signing and reception immediately follow.

Holland, a Michigan resident whose short stories have appeared in Glimmer Train, Five Points and Ploughshares, was one of three finalists for the prize, which is now in its seventh year. The other finalists were Jesse Ball for “Samedi the Deafness” and Joshua Harmon for “Quinnehtukqut.”

“The Archivist’s Story,” published in June 2007 by The Dial Press, centers on Pavel, a former teacher who works in the Lubyanka prison archives in Moscow in 1939. Pavel prepares manuscripts for destruction in the service of Stalin-era limits on free expression. Then he comes across an unsigned manuscript apparently written by the famed author Isaac Babel, who has been imprisoned at Lubyanka. Pavel attempts to salvage the work, and later an additional manuscript, for posterity.

In a starred review, the Library Journal said, “There is a quiet authenticity about Holland's writing that draws you in, and soon you will find yourself sitting on the edge of your seat, silently cheering for his characters. Readers will want to hear more from the author of this heartbreaking and haunting work. Highly recommended for anyone concerned about the fate of humanity.”

More than 80 novels were submitted for consideration for this year’s prize. A group of more than 100 readers reduced the list to finalists and semifinalists. The finalists were then considered by a panel of judges that included Haggard; Ann McMillan, author of “Chickahominy Fever: A Civil War Mystery,” among many other books; and John Ulmschneider, VCU university librarian.

The VCU Cabell First Novelist Award celebrates the VCU MFA in Creative Writing Program’s year-long novel workshop – the first in the nation and still one of the few in existence. The winning author receives a $5,000 cash prize. Travel expenses and lodging accommodations also are provided for the author and his or her agent and editor to attend the First Novelist Festival, a series of events that focus on the creation, publication and promotion of a first novel. Sponsors of the award include the VCU Department of English, James Branch Cabell Library Associates, Friends of the Library, VCU Libraries, VCU Honors College, and VCU College of Humanities and Sciences.

Previous winners of the award have included Peter Orner for “The Second Coming of Mavala Shikongo,” Karen Fisher for “A Sudden Country,” Lorraine Adams for “Harbor,” Michael Byers for “Long for this World,” Isabel Zuber for “Salt,” and Maribeth Fischer for “The Language of Good-bye.”