Novel turned series subject of Bowers Writers House events

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Author Jason Mott at Elizabethtown College

ELIZABETHTOWN, PA (09/06/2013)(readMedia)-- It's a rare day when a writer's debut novel is chosen by a production company to become a television series. But Jason Mott's "The Returned" did just that.

Mott's first novel, compared to Alice Sebold's "The Lovely Bones," explores life, death and a look into the great beyond. Mott's story has been optioned by Brad Pitt's production company, Plan B, in association with Brillstein Entertainment and ABC, to air in March 2014 as "Resurrection." Originally a mini-series, the story is being considered as a regular series. "[The production companies] are keeping it true to the heart and spirit of the novel," said Mott of giving full rights to the production companies. "I'm not looking for them to transplant the book to T.V."

Mott visits Bowers Writers House at Elizabethtown College at 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23, to conduct an afternoon craft talk and workshop about his approach to writing in different genres. In addition, he offers a reading from "The Returned" at 8 p.m.

Earning his bachelor's degree in fiction and his master's degree in poetry from University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Mott primarily had been a poet ... until now. Though he has written some short fiction, "The Returned" is his first novel. The idea for the book originated in a dream about his deceased mother. "I dreamt that she was sitting at the kitchen table waiting for me, and we discussed everything that had occurred since she passed," Mott said. "It was such a warm, special thing, and I felt that I was really with my mother."

Mott, who makes his home in southeastern North Carolina, is the author of two poetry collections, "We Call This Thing Between Us Love" and "...hide behind me...". In addition, his poetry and fiction have appeared in "Prick of the Spindle," "The Thomas Wolfe Review," "The Kakalak Anthology of Carolina Poets," "Measure" and "Chautauqua." Mott was nominated for a 2009 Pushcart Prize award, and Entertainment Weekly listed him as one of their 10 "New Hollywood: Next Wave" people to watch.

Cost of the reading and discussion are free; reservations are required for the afternoon workshop.

Contact: Jesse Waters at writershouse@etown.edu or 717-689-3945.

Bowers Writers House at Elizabethtown College, 840 College Hill Lane, was created with a generous gift by Kenneth L. '59 and Rosalie E. '58 Bowers to support a culture of creative curiosity and foster a new sense of excitement and enthusiasm for intellectual diversity. The Bowers Writers House is an interdisciplinary venue for presentation, performance, expression and study. The programs-from dramatic readings to interactive panels to musical performances-offer a dynamic variety of enjoyable and informative experiences.

Bowers Writers House: www.etown.edu/centers/writershouse/

Read about additional events at Elizabethtown College.

Elizabethtown College, located in historic Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is a private coed institution offering more than four dozen liberal arts, fine and performing arts, science and engineering, business, communications and education degrees. Learn more: http://www.etown.edu/about/