By Suzy Alstrin
Reinhardt University welcomed two acclaimed poets to campus on November 12th, offering students and the community an inspiring evening of poetry readings and literary insights. David Altman and Alice Friman inspired the audience with their words and their writing wisdom. Zach Hale (RU-2025) reflected, “I always enjoy the meeting of literary minds as we plant seeds for great ideas in each other.”
Altman’s works are found in several literary publications including the American Journal of Poetry and Beyond Words Literary Magazine. He was the 2024 Georgia Author of the Year finalist for his poetry chapbook and currently works as a newspaper columnist and feature writer in North Georgia.
Friman authored eight poetry collections, and her poetry has been published in journals and magazines nationwide and in 15 countries. Her lengthy list of awards for her work includes the 2012 Georgia Author of the Year in Poetry, and three awards from the Poetry Society of America. She is a professor emerita of English and creative writing at the University of Indianapolis.
Friman’s husband, Bruce Gentry also met with creative writing students earlier in the day. An editor of the Flannery O’Connor Review, he discussed his research and writing about O’Connor’s work. “Learning more about Flannery O’Connor’s life and legacy was both educational and inspiring. It encouraged me to explore more of her works and try to implement them into my creative endeavors,” said Caitlin Brown (RU-2026).
