Anthony Russel Farina, a novelist and associate professor of Humanities at Siena Heights University, will present “Dominican and Buddhist Contemplative Practices: Writing in Action” at Mount Saint Mary College on Tuesday, October 3 at 4 p.m.
The free, public event will take place in the Mount’s Kaplan Family Library and Learning Center, room 218.
The event is sponsored by the Catholic and Dominican Institute (CDI) as part of the college’s Founders Week celebration. Founders Week honors the Dominican Sisters who created and fostered Mount Saint Mary College.
During the talk, Farina will share his history with Dominican and Buddhist contemplative practices. He will delve into his process for writing and how he uses active contemplation to complete everything from a text message to a 350-page novel. He will offer advice on how everyone can apply the principles to face the blank page and create thoughtful and purposeful writing, regardless of the subject.
Farina is an associate professor of Humanities and the Liberal Arts Studies coordinator at Siena Heights University in Michigan. He has both a Master’s degree in Education and in Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Welcome to Mansfield, the first book in his series The Austen Chronicles, a modern-day retelling of Jane Austen's novels, is available now. He is an avid writer and shares his empty nest with his wife, a librarian, where they read books and watch sunsets.
The Mount’s CDI promotes the Mount’s heritage of St. Dominic, advances the Dominican charism of study and service, provides a forum for discussion of contemporary ethical issues, and enhances Catholic and Jewish dialogue.