Contact Me! Invite Me to Speak!

I spent twenty-three years in the college classroom, and although I retired from full-time teaching, I haven’t lost my love of a good conversation—or of an audience willing to have one with me.

I welcome invitations to speak to colleges and universities, libraries, historical and literary organizations, book groups, community organizations, and other interested audiences.

What Might We Talk About?

Alexander Gordon and The Humourist

In Unmasking The Humourist: Alexander Gordon’s Lost Essays of Colonial Charleston, South Carolina (2025), I identify the previously unknown author of a remarkable series of essays published in the South-Carolina Gazette in 1753–1754.

I’m especially interested in speaking about the literary detective work that led to Gordon’s identification; colonial Charleston and its literary culture; the recovery of forgotten writers and texts; and what Gordon’s rediscovery might mean for our understanding—and teaching—of early American literature.

Mary E. Wilkins Freeman

I’ve been researching Freeman for more than fifty years. I edited The Infant Sphinx: Collected Letters of Mary E. Wilkins Freeman (1985) and Green Mountain Stories (2023), and I’m currently at work on Dolly: Life and Letters of Mary E. Wilkins Freeman, a new two-volume study of her life and letters.

I’m always happy to talk about Freeman, her writing, her life, New England and New Jersey literary culture, and the discoveries that can still emerge from archival research.

Writing, Reinvention, and the Examined Life

Since 2023, I’ve published four collections of creative nonfiction essays, most of them growing out of writing first published here on The Wired Researcher.

I enjoy talking about creative nonfiction, memoir, finding one’s authentic voice, writing later in life, and something I seem to know increasingly well: reinvention.

For Teachers and Students

Invite me into your classroom.

After teaching more than 7,000 college students, I remain particularly interested in conversations with teachers and students about literature, research, writing, and the life of the mind.

I’m happy to visit a class in person or virtually to discuss early American literature, Alexander Gordon and The Humourist, Mary E. Wilkins Freeman, literary research, creative nonfiction, memoir—or a topic tailored to what you’re teaching and exploring.

Have an idea? Let’s talk.

Let’s Talk

Have something else in mind? Ask.

Some of the best conversations begin with an idea neither of us has quite figured out yet.

For speaking invitations, scholarly inquiries, classroom visits, questions about my work—or simply to start a conversation:

Brent L. Kendrick, Ph.D.
brentlkendrick@gmail.com

9 thoughts on “Contact Me! Invite Me to Speak!”

  1. Brent,
    Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

    Just searched for A-B’s Alma Mater for Saturday the 28th, and there you are–#2 on the list…right below Wikipedia. You’re in excellent company.

    You also have another follower (You are the first, and only, blogger I consider worthy of my attention and intellect. Seriously & LOL) and another digital book sale.

    Assuming you’ll attend Saturday’s Verbal, Spiritual Memorial and Burial. I want to at least shake your hand and see your smile. Or if time permits, we could do lunch and then break into Benedum library. (I’m hoping they’ll have a liquidation book sale.)

    FYI: Moved onto Faculty Row in August ’64. Dad was director of development. Mom worked in admissions before becoming President Shearer’s secretary.

    Phillip Barbour ’68; A-B ’72.

    Blessings,
    Boyd

    PS. Your mom was your pastor and you listen to gospel while driving? Well we share something in common. For 48+ years I’ve been having a torrid affair with my pastor ( the “always…Right Rev. Debra”), but I listen to Bach, Beatles, Buck Owens, Basie, etc. (Either my taste is eclectic, or I can’t make up my mind.)

    Like

    Reply ↓

    • Good morning, Boyd!

      Thank you so much for your enthusiastic comments. Right below Wikipedia! At last, I have arrived! Even at my age, validation matters.

      Unfortunately, previous commitments prevent me from attending the A-B event on October 28. Know, however, that I will be there in spirit. I don’t know about you, but the spirit of A-B and all that I enjoyed on that mountaintop is always with me.

      I am delighted to know that you are now following my blog. I hope that my posts continue to meet your expectations.

      Blessing and all best wishes returned–

      Brent

      Like

      Reply ↓

      • Thanks for shoutout, Brent.
        I, too, must attend spiritually.

        Two of Deb’s closest church buddies visiting on Saturday. She was very excited yesterday evening.

        Began my following with 2012. Working my way up.

        Thanks for everything.

        Blessings,
        🤠

        Like

      • My goodness! Started with the beginning! Good for you. You will have some heavy–but hopefully entertaining–reading for the first two years as I work my way through identifying the author of the Humourist essays! What a thrill it was for me when I solved that literary puzzled. The volume of essays will be published in 2024, hopefully in the early part of the year!

        Thanks so much for following me and my work!

        Like

  2. Hi Brent,

    I’m a PhD student at Rutgers University, currently working on a project about Freeman, and would love to get in touch with you.

    Best,
    Isabel Jaramillo

    Like

    Reply ↓

  3. Professor Kendrick,

    I am a student at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT and I am doing research on untraditional and eccentric essay forms. I had discovered the Humorist during some preliminary research but quickly hit a wall due to a lack of records. Weeks later, I stumbled across your wonderful blog about the Humorist and was filled with joy at your extensive research on the topic! I noticed on your August 8th, 2013 blog that you mentioned potentially formally publishing some of the Humorist’s essays from the South Carolina Gazette; I would love to find/access these essays if you have them!

    Thank you for your time,

    Kayley Smoot

    Like

    Reply ↓

    • Greetings, Kayley, from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia!

      I am delighted to know about your interest in The Humourist. It won’t be soon enough to help you with your project, but my book will be coming out in May/June 2024.

      I’m more than willing, though, to help you now, if I can. Can you tell me a little more about your angle? Perhaps, then, I could provide you with an appropriate essay or two. Or, perhaps, you have questions that you want to ask me about The Humourist, and you could incorporate your questions and my responses into your project as an interview, with appropriate documentation, of course. I am assuming that The Humourist is only one part of your project.

      At any rate, I will help you if I can.

      I look forward to hearing from you!

      Professor Kendrick
      brentlkendrick@gmail.com

      Like

      Reply ↓

  4. Pingback: Hot Off the Press! MORE WIT AND WISDOM! Order Your Copy Today! | The Wired Researcher

Leave a comment