O. Alan Weltzien to discuss latest works at UM Western on March 27

MISSOULA, Mont. — The University of Montana Western English Department is inviting the community to the next event in the O. Alan Weltzien Writers Series on Thursday, March 27, at 7 p.m. in the Bulldog Lounge of the Student Union Building.

The speaker will be Professor Emeritus O. Alan Weltzien, who will discuss his latest works, “The Taylor Triptych” and “Into the Khumbu."

This event is free and open to the public, and books will be available for purchase. For more information, please contact Associate Professor of English, Laura Wright, at laura.wright@umwestern.edu.

Full release:

The University of Montana Western English Department invites the community to the next event in the O. Alan Weltzien Writers Series on Thursday, March 27, at 7:00 p.m. in the Bulldog Lounge of the Student Union Building. UMW Professor Emeritus O. Alan Weltzien will share readings and discussions from his latest works, “The Taylor Triptych” and “Into the Khumbu".

The O. Alan Weltzien Writers Series is a literary event that brings authors, poets, and writers to campus for readings and discussions. Named after Weltzien, a longtime professor and writer, the series highlights both emerging and established authors, often with a focus on literature connected to Montana and the West.

Weltzien, Professor of English Emeritus, taught full-time for 40 years, including 29 years at Montana Western. A prolific writer, he has published eleven books and five chapbooks spanning memoir, poetry, and literary studies. His notable works include “A Father and an Island” (Lewis-Clark Press, 2008) and “On the Beach: Poems 2016 – 2021” (Cirque Press, 2022). When he is not writing, Weltzien enjoys traveling with his wife and hiking and skiing in the mountains of Southwest Montana.

For this event, Weltzien returns to share readings and discussions from his latest works, “The Taylor Triptych” and “Into the Khumbu.”

“The Taylor Triptych” (The Sea Letter journal, Fall/Winter 2024) – This prose chapbook explores Weltzien’s family history, focusing on a great-grandfather, great-uncle, and grandmother. Through imaginative narratives, he delves into their unique identities—including an astrologer and a vaudeville advance man—while reflecting on how their stories intertwine with his own life.

“Into the Khumbu” (Cirque Press, 2025) – This poetry collection documents Weltzien’s trek through Nepal’s Khumbu region, home to Mount Everest. Through spare, evocative poems, he captures the challenges and beauty of the high-altitude landscape, depicting scenes of slate roofs, prayer flags, and the spirituality of the Himalayas.

This event is free and open to the public, and books will be available for purchase. For more information, please contact UMW Associate Professor of English, Laura Wright, at laura.wright@umwestern.edu.