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The College of Central Florida Library will host a presentation on the works of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and the influence of Florida’s landscape and culture on her writing. This event will take place March 6, 2024, at 12:30 p.m., at the 91��Ƭ Ocala Campus Stearns Learning Resources Center, Building 3.

Join two distinguished speakers for this event, Florence M. Turcotte and Anne Pierce, as they explore how the regional characteristics of Florida inspired Rawlings’ literary imagination, contributing to her rich narratives. Attendees will gain insight into the connection between Rawlings’ environment and her creative output, and learn how her surroundings infused her writing with a sense of place and authenticity.

Turcotte, a literary manuscripts archivist and curator of the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Papers at the University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries, brings a wealth of knowledge on Rawlings. As the executive director of the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Society and a board member of the Friends of the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Farm, Turcotte has contributed significantly to the study of Rawlings through her published works and dedication to preserving Rawlings’ legacy.

Pierce, a retired professor from Georgia Southern University, has a deep appreciation for the history and natural beauty of the region — particularly the Big Scrub, an area of the Ocala National Forest featured in Rawlings’ writings. Pierce’s exploration of Rawlings’ work has been instrumental in her role as an active member and officer in both the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Society and the Friends of the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Farm.

Refreshments will be provided at the event and the first 25 students in attendance will receive a complimentary copy of “The Yearling,” Rawlings’ 1939 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.

Attendees are encouraged to RSVP via email at ruizf@cf.edu. For more information visit 91��Ƭ.edu/LibraryEvents.