Fiction reading is first in MSU Visiting Writers Series

Contact: Maridith Geuder

Mississippi fiction writer David Galef will read from his works during an Oct. 2 public program at Mississippi State.

The first featured guest for the university's 2003-04 Visiting Writers Series, Galef will excerpt, among others, sections from his new short story collection, "Laugh Track." His 7:30 p.m. presentation in the Colvard Union small auditorium is sponsored by the MSU English department.

An eight-year member of the English department faculty at the University of Mississippi, Galef has academic responsibilities both for creative writing and modern British and American literature. He holds master's and doctoral degrees from Columbia University and a bachelor's degree from Princeton University.

In addition to "Laugh Track"--a publication of the University Press of Mississippi--he has produced two novels, "Flesh" (1995) and "Turning Japanese" (1998), as well as children's books, "The Little Red Bicycle" (1998) and "Tracks" (1996).

Galef also is the author of two books of literary criticism and translator of two books of Japanese proverbs.

Among professional activities, he serves as fiction editor for the University Press of Mississippi and editorial board member of "Twentieth Century Literature," a scholarly journal.

For more information about Galef's presentation or the MSU Visiting Writers Series, telephone the English department at (662) 325-3644.