Author Bret Lott Gives Eckler Lecture at Mount Union College

April 5, 2010

"I never intended to become an author," said Bret Lott, author of "Jewel," "The Hunt Club," and "Reed's Beach," presenting the Eckler Lecture at Mount Union College on Tuesday, March 18.

Author Bret Lott presented the Eckler Lecture at Mount Union on March 18.

 

Lott, whose book, "Jewel," was recognized by Oprah's Book Club in 1999, explained the long and winding path he took to becoming an author.

"I intended to become a park ranger," said Lott. He went on to describe the various career options that he explored -- and ultimately rejected -- including marine biologist, cola salesman and teacher.

"Looking back, I realize now that the process of becoming a writer was a major part of my life. I read everything as a child. I was never thinking of the authors, though. I was enjoying the stories and thinking about the people in those stories," said Lott.

Tuesday morning, Dr. Michael Olin-Hitt, associate professor of English at Mount Union, presented a public interview with Lott. Olin-Hitt asked Lott how he develops the ideas for his novels, short stories and memoirs. Lott is also the author of "The Man Who Owned Vermont," "A Stranger's House," the memoir "Fathers, Sons and Brothers," and the story collections "A Dram of Old Leaves" and "How to Get Home."

Dr. Michael Olin-Hitt (right), associate professor of English at Mount Union, conducted a public interview of author Bret Lott at the morning convocation.

 

"I don't have ideas -- I have images," said Lott. "As I writer you should presume nothing and be paying attention to your life. Every story I have written can be traced back to something that happened to me."

"Jewel," was based on the life of his grandmother, who he was close to as a child. He said that although it is based on her life, it is not his grandmother's voice that is the voice of the novel.
"Sometimes in writing fiction, you take something that happened and then think, but what if something else had happened? You look at what did happen and then kind of take a left hand turn," said Lott.

At the evening lecture held at Union Avenue Methodist Church, Lott read his essay, "Toward Humility," which won the Pushcart Prize in 2001. "Toward Humility" details Lott's experiences after his book was recognized by Oprah's Book Club. The songs of spiritual musician Christopher Reynolds preceded his reading. Reynolds put together a special song for Lott's reading, based on his essay.

Lott said that he has found people are hesitant to ask questions regarding Oprah and the Book Club.

"I have no problem talking about that wonderful thing that happened," said Lott.

Some of the experiences that Lott shared with the audience from "Toward Humility" included the ride on a Lear jet with his son on the way to his "Jewel" book-signing and his friends and family watching his debut on the "The Oprah Winfrey Show." He also talked about a bittersweet victory. The day he received the call that "Jewel" was the Oprah Book Club selection was also the day that a close friend passed away.

Bret Lott answers questions from the audience.

 

Lott has been teaching for seventeen years at the College of Charleston. He is currently professor of English and writer-in-residence. He has been working on a book that is based on the Bible book of Ruth, which will debut in January 2004 on the Random House book imprint.

The Eric A. and Mary W. Eckler Lecture in Literature and Drama was established through an endowment given by Mr. and Mrs. John A. Cummins (Dorothy Nelson '29) in appreciation of the Ecklers' years of service to the community and Mount Union College. The income shall be used annually to bring a person(s) to the campus for one or more programs in literature or drama.