On the (naturally) cold evening of March 5th we had the pleasure of speaking with Ross Gay and hearing him read from his most recent work, a book of essays entitled The Book of Delights (Algonquin Books, 2019), at Magers & Quinn Booksellers in Minneapolis, MN. The book is the result of a challenge that Ross set for himself to write one essay a day for a year highlighting the challenges, minutiae, ruminations, and, most of all, delights that shape the experience of being alive. Hearing these essays read in Ross’s voice, infused with his unique sense of humor and joy, enriched our experience of his work (and we hope it will do the same for you).
Ross Gay is the author of three books of poetry: Against Which; Bringing the Shovel Down; and Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude, which was awarded the 2015 National Book Critics Circle Award and the 2016 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. The Book of Delights, released earlier this year, is his first collection of essays.
Ross has co-authored, twor chapbooks “Lace and Pyrite: Letters from Two Gardens,” and “River.” He is a founding editor, with Karissa Chen and Patrick Rosal, of the online sports magazine Some Call it Ballin’, in addition to being an editor with the chapbook presses Q Avenue and Ledge Mule Press. Ross is a founding board member of the Bloomington Community Orchard, a non-profit, free-fruit-for-all food justice and joy project. He has received fellowships from Cave Canem, the Bread Loaf Writer’s Conference, and the Guggenheim Foundation. Ross teaches at Indiana University.
Big thanks to our friends at Magers & Quinn Booksellers for their partnership on this event, and we encourage you to support your local independent bookstores. For more information on Magers & Quinn, including upcoming events, visit their website: www.magersandquinn.com/
Ross Gay with poet Mary Moore Easter 
Ross Gay, Host Lissa Jones and Givens Foundation Board Member Jerry Wilson 
