Daniel Stolar was going to become a doctor, but after two years of studying medicine at Yale, he decided to skip off to the University of Arizona to chase his true passion - writing.
"I like short stories the most," Stolar said. "They give you the depth of a novel in one sitting. It's the most economical form of writing."
Stolar is coming to UNM as part of the Poets and Writers series, bringing with him his collection of short stories, The Middle of the Night.
Greg Martin, coordinator for the series and assistant professor in the English Department, said Stolar's love of writing and storytelling overcame his decision to follow a career in medicine.
"I decided to be a writer because I thought there might be more money in it," Stolar said. "Just kidding. The amazing thing is that I made it as far as I did as a doctor. Being a doctor was never my dream, writing was."
The Middle of the Night was published last summer, and will be coming out in paperback in June.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
"My book came out three weeks before the fifth Harry Potter novel did," Stolar said. "So I'm trying to get my writing to be even a blip on the radar when the radar has been taken over by the Potter invasion."
The collection centers around people who want to belong, but don't want to, who want to be in a group, but don't want to be associated with the group. It also takes on family relationships and fidelity.
"A lot of the stories focus around characters who are good people who don't quite live up to their good intentions, which is what I think most of the world is," Stolar said.
Stolar is the third of four writers featured in the Poets and Writers series. The next will be Denise Chavez in April at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.
"The purpose of Poets and Writers is to bring new emerging writers to campus and Albuquerque, so they can read their work, meet students and come to some of the classes," Martin said. "Students can get a different take, besides the take that the faculty gives, on what makes good writing."
The Poets and Writers series features writers from the Southwest. The authors hail from places like El Paso, Las Cruces and Tucson, Ariz.
"It shows the community how much exciting literature is being made in the region," Martin said.
The English Department also organizes the Works in Progress readings at Winning Coffee Co., which feature faculty, staff and graduate students from UNM.
So with all the readings on and around campus, no bookworm should be left wanting.
"When you read something that really touches you, you want to live your life better," Stolar said. "I would like my writing to do that for someone and for them to just be entertained, because that's what I like writing to do for me."
What: Daniel Stolar
When: Thursday, 7 p.m.
Where: Jonson Gallery
Price: Free
Ticket Info: 277-6145
