Novelist to read at Poetry on the Loose

Middletown — Harvey Havel will read his original work at the next Poetry on the Loose event. The program will begin at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6 at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 6 Orchard St. (at Main) in Middletown. His presentation will be followed by an open reading during which anyone may participate. Havel’s recently published, “Freedom of Association,” investigates the psychological complexities of an interracial romance. A street-wise slam poet and literary academic has-been, along with his ex-wife, the rising author of the day, work out all the contractions of America against the background of northern New Jersey towns. His earlier book, “Noble McCloud: A Novel,” was praised as “one of the year’s most exceptional reads” by Omar Perez, of Altar Native Magazine, and “a work of uncommon grace” by Christopher Keane, author of “The Huntress.” Havel teaches writing at Bergen Community College and posts political and social commentary at http://harveyhavel.blogspot.com. The Poetry on the Loose Reading/Performance series is supported this year with funding from Orange Arts/Orange County Tourism and the County of Orange. For further information, contact William Seaton at Poetry on the Loose, Inc., 15 Spring St., Goshen.; call 845-294-8085 or e-mail seaton@frontiernet.net.