Words For The Soul

The enduring legacy of Jerome Stern

By all accounts, Jerome Stern was a heck of a guy. He was generous, brilliant, and fiercely devoted to the literary arts. A beloved professor and director of Florida State University’s Creative Writing Program, he championed both emerging and established writers. When he died in 1996, the same year Skip Horack arrived at FSU as an undergraduate creative writing major, the loss was deeply felt on campus and beyond. To honor his legacy, the Jerome Stern Reading Series was established.

Now led by Horack, himself an accomplished author, associate professor, and director of FSU’s Creative Writing Program, the series has become a staple of Tallahassee’s literary landscape. Free and open to the public, the readings take place Tuesday evenings at 8 p.m. during the fall and spring semesters at The Bark, a casual, funky venue just off campus.

Events feature the program’s MFA and PhD students, alongside creative writing faculty members, who present poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction in a welcoming space. “It’s a way for people outside of academia or the FSU program, whether they’re students in different departments or the public at large, to be a part of that community,” Horack explains. “It’s a way to find people who are also interested in writing and literature.”

Each semester, the series highlights a few nationally recognized visiting authors. Midtown Reader can be found on-site selling books by these featured authors, who gladly sign and discuss with attendees. For many writers, these events are more than just readings; they’re meaningful moments for connection. “Being a writer is a very solitary thing, so these public readings are opportunities to present your work. They’re rare and important.”

For Horack, continuing the series is both an honor and a responsibility. “My hope is to just be a steward of it. This existed before I was director, and when I stop being director, it will live long past me.” That sense of continuity and shared purpose is what gives the series lasting impact. As Horack puts it simply, “It’s good for the soul.”