The creative genius can come from various sources. Author Leif Enger said his results from putting fingers to keyboard.

“It would ​​be really dishonest of me if I didn’t admit that way down at the bottom, I write fiction because that’s the button that releases the cheese,” Enger told a crowd of finding the joy in writing. 

Enger presented his novel, I Cheerfully Refuse, on March 26 at The University of South Carolina as part of literary series, The Open Book. The Open Book features annual author talks and book signings free to the public.

There also are books available for purchase. 

Professor Elise Blackwell has organized the event since 2013. Blackwell each year chooses three to four authors with new and acclaimed work. This year, she chose Ross Gay, Leif Enger, Julia Phillips and Percival Everett. 

Starting March 19, authors came to the Capstone dormitory’s meeting hall each Wednesday at 6 p.m. to speak about their published work. Blackwell laid the groundwork for each reading with an introduction of that author’s work on the Monday before the event.

Poet Ross Gay was the first author to speak this spring. Blackwell said for the first slot she had been looking for a contemporary poet whose work would be accessible to the general public, and that’s what Ross Gay provided. 

“He’s also a great performer,” Blackwell said. “And sometimes that can be the trick of it is to find somebody who’s a really great writer, you know, writing books that the different constituents who come will enjoy – or at least everybody who likes some of the books. But people who also speak well.”

Gay read from his award-winning book, Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude, as well as from various essays. He painted a picture of community connection under the branches of a fig tree and recalled the wild energy of a competitive basketball game. 

Sophomore English major Claire Gantzer said she found Gay’s poetry profound and uplifting. 

“A lot of his language was, like, light and funny and, like, beautiful,” Gantzer said. “But, like, I almost started crying a couple times. … So it was really nice.”

Phillips, who spoke April 1, said literature allows people to explore universal fears and emotions through situations they may never personally experience. It’s not only what she tries to convey in her own writing, but also how she feels in touch with the literary community.

“That’s always what I felt from books my whole life,” she said to the crowd. “And getting to be with you here just bolsters that feeling so much.”

Gay said he tries to be in tune with a crowd when he performs his poetry. He said he found the energy of the literary festivle sweet and lovely. 

“I can tell there are students and members from the community, like, so, like, multi-generational,” Gay said. “It’s kind of a neat scene to be when there are people, you know, when we have, like, different generations or different experiences.”

Enger described the energy as welcoming with an air of misbehavior. Like Gay, Enger said he was happy to speak at the literary series.

He said the opportunity was too good to pass up. 

“You get a chance to go someplace and talk to a room full of people about your book. Why wouldn’t you do it?” Enger said.