About the Conference

Founded in 2016 as a partnership between the Transylvania County Library and Brevard College, the annual Looking Glass Rock Writers’ Conference explores the theme “A Sense of Place”. The conference consists of immersive writing workshops for selected attendees and public readings by workshop leaders free for the community.

The Looking Glass Rock Writers’ Conference is sponsored by the Transylvania County Library Foundation and Brevard College.

Our Mission

The Looking Glass Rock Writers’ Conference (LGRWC) is a unique creative experience for writers which aspires to foster reading, writing, creativity, and a sense of place in Transylvania County.

The Transylvania County Library is a vital, trusted source for discovery, inspiration, and innovation at the heart of a community that celebrates learning, creativity, and curiosity.

Brevard College provides an experiential liberal arts education that encourages personal growth and inspires artistic, intellectual, and social action.

As partners, Brevard College and the Transylvania County Library Foundation seek to enrich the cultural and educational life of Transylvania County by nurturing and developing the LGRWC. Through intensive community-building creative workshops and public readings, the LGRWC will offer Transylvania County residents the opportunity to interact with renowned authors, engage in meaningful conversation about writing and place, and strengthen ties across generations by reaching out to the diverse population of Transylvania County.

Our People

Conference Director - Alyse Bensel

Alyse Bensel is an associate professor of English at Brevard College and the Director of the Looking Glass Rock Writers’ Conference.

She is the author of two poetry collections, Spoil (SFASU Press, 2024) and Rare Wondrous Things: A Poetic Biography of Maria Sibylla Merian (Green Writers Press, 2020), as well as three chapbooks, including Lies to Tell the Body (Seven Kitchens Press, 2018). She serves as Poetry Editor for the literary journal Cherry Tree. 

transylvania county Library Director - Rishara Finsel

Rashara.jpg

Rishara Finsel has been the Director of the Transylvania County Library since 2019. Prior to that, she worked in public libraries in western North Carolina and northwest Montana.

Rishara has undergraduate degrees in Art and Industrial Technology Management from Berea College and a Master’s in Library and Information Science from UNC Greensboro.

Conference Brevard College STUDENT ASsISTANTS - TBA

Young Writers’ Conference STAFF

  • James Everett, Assistant Professor of English, Brevard College (Poetry Workshop)

  • Adam Mills, Assistant Professor of English, Brevard College (Prose Workshop)

  • Jessie Tucker, Visiting Assistant Professor of Teacher Education, Brevard College

Application Readers

  • Margaret Brown, Professor of History, Brevard College

  • Susan Chambers, Reference Librarian, Transylvania County Library

  • James Everett, Assistant Professor of English, Brevard College

  • Jennifer Frick-Ruppert, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty, Brevard College

  • Adam Mills, Assistant Professor of English, Brevard College

  • Joshua Wilkey, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for Student Success, Brevard College

The Looking Glass Rock Writers’ Conference is possible through the support of the Transylvania County Library Foundation Board of Directors and Brevard College leadership.

Administration, Brevard College

  • Brad Andrews, College President

  • Jennifer Frick-Ruppert, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty

Board of Directors, Library Foundation

  • Mike Baker

  • Eric Caldwell

  • Hannah Camenzind

  • Karen Cole

  • Rishara Finsel, Secretary

  • Morris Jenkins, Chair

  • Betsy K. Jordan

  • Sheila Mooney

  • Larry Sitton, Treasurer

  • Andrew Von Canon

  • David Watkins, Emeritus

  • John T. Welch, Vice Chair

  • Alice Wellborn