The Big Empty made its debut at University of Nebraska President James B. ("J.B.") Milliken’s House on Thursday, June 21, 2007.  The evening was filled with food, drink, and Nebraska’s literary finest, all to celebrate the publication of The Big Empty: Contemporary Nebraska Nonfiction Writers, edited by Ladette Randolph and Nina Shevchuk-Murray.  Click the continue link below to see more pictures from the star-studded event. 

Director of University of Nebraska Press Gary Dunham and one of the editors of The Big Empty, Ladette Randolph.*

Spectator Sean Murray with the other editor of The Big Empty, Nina Shevchuk-Murray.

Contributer to The Big Empty and Nebraska State Poet William Kloefkorn, his wife Eloise Kloefkorn, and United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004 – 2006 Ted Kooser.

Contributer to The Big Empty Bryan Jones, his wife Kathy Jones, contributer and former Nebraska First Lady Ruth Thone, and Sharon Stephan.

Contributer to the Big Empty Bob Kerrey, President of the New School, former US Senator of Nebraska and Governor of Nebraska with Kathy Jones.

Eloise and contributer William Kloefkorn. 

Author James Hewitt, University of Nebraska Press Marketing Manager and Development Director Margie Rine, and contributer Bob Kerrey.

Ladette Randolph and James Hewitt

Margie Rine and Ted Kooser

Contributer Mary Pipher and Ladette Randolph

President Milliken’s wife Nana Smith and Ted Kooser

Ladette and contributer Joe Starita.

To see a list of contributers, the Table of Contents and to read an excerpt, please visit The Big Empty: Contemporary Nebraska Nonfiction Writers.