David \u201cJamie\u201d Poissant kicked off UCF\u2019s third Authors Celebration with a story about how he hated reading as a child and eventually became an associate professor of English and published author.<\/p>\n
Poissant was one of 47 honorees at the celebration Tuesday, March 1, at the Live Oak Room on main campus. The celebration, held every two years, recognizes faculty who publish books from novels and poetry to textbooks and manuals for their respective fields.<\/p>\n
The Office of Research and Faculty Excellence sponsor the event, which drew about 50 guests including the president and provost. Authors represented seven colleges and UCF Libraries. One honoree is chosen to give a keynote address, which Poissant delivered. He generated laughter as he shared his love\/hate relationship with reading on his way to becoming a published author. His first book, The Heaven of Animals<\/em>, was a collection of stories. He debuted as a novelist in 2020 with Lake Life<\/em>. It was a New York Times Editors’ Choice book and has earned rave reviews for its lyrical inventiveness and gorgeous writing.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s honorees are:<\/p>\n\n