Photo courtesy of Caleb Ross

Caleb Ross, English alumnus and published author, credits Emporia State faculty for his success in the literary world.

“I think I can attribute everything to professor Amy Webb,” Ross said. “She was an amazing professor and she showed me what writing can do beyond just a story to tell, that the pages do more than show words.”

Webb, English professor and co-director of the creative writing program, said she met Ross in an introductory creative writing class at ESU and continued to work with him on different projects.

“Ross was the kind of student who was always writing,” Webb said. “He was engaged, he had a lot of faith in whatever he was doing, and he was open to learning experiences – he was willing to go on the journey.”

Ross will read from his original fiction tonight at 7 p.m. in Plumb Hall 303. The event is sponsored by the creative writing program, ESU Performing Arts Board, ESU Special Events Board, Quivira and Sigma Tau Delta.

“I write literary fiction,” Ross said, “which is a catch-all term for fiction that is more about the words and the language rather than the plot…I attended a lot of readings when I was a student at ESU – from a student’s perspective, it was inspiring to meet people doing what it was that I wanted to do.”

Some of Ross’ work, including “Charactered Pieces,” a short story chapbook, and his novel “Stranger Will,” are available online at Calebjross.com or at Barnes and Noble bookstores.

“(We) wanted to bring a recent, successful alumni to show students what they are capable of, if they apply what they’ve learned and move forward with intelligence and ambition,” said Kevin Rabas, associate professor of English and co-director of creative writing. “Caleb is a good example of this.”

Ross took a creative writing class from Rabas in 2005 and attended the Association of Writers and Writing Programs conference.

“Caleb is intelligent, witty and he has an amiable personality,” said Rabas, “He’s a joy to talk to and his writing glimmers with that intelligence and wit.”                 

Ross’ also has two upcoming books – “I Didn’t Mean to be Kevin” and “As a Machine and Parts.”

Simone Cosper

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