As the current Director of the University of Utah’s Creative Writing Dept., Paisley Rekdal runs the Guest Writers Series (GWS), which is co-sponsored by the Salt Lake City Arts Council. Now in its 20th season, the series brings in a handful of writers from outside of Utah, typically one or two per month throughout the academic year. The guests—diverse, up-and-coming authors chosen by faculty and graduate students—read from their work for a public audience at the Art Barn, which is located just a few steps south of the University of Utah campus at 54 Finch Lane in Reservoir Park.