Award-winning author to give reading at RU

Author Bernice McFadden will visit Radford University on Tuesday, Feb. 25, to discuss her most recent work, the acclaimed novel "Gathering of Waters."

“Radford University’s second annual spring author event has the tagline, ‘Building Bridges Through Books’, and Ms. McFadden’s work does just that," said Alyssa Archer, instructional librarian at McConnell Library. “Her writing builds bridges to these events and people. Her style is poetic, a mixture of stunning imagery, both ugliness and beauty, and unexpected humor. Anyone who attends is guaranteed a thoughtful and thought-provoking evening.”

The novel was chosen as one of the 100 Notable Books of 2012 by the New York Times and 50 Best Books of 2012 by the Washington Post. McFadden has written nine critically-acclaimed novels including the classic “Sugar and Glorious”, which was featured in O Magazine. McFadden is a two-time Hurston/Wright Legacy Award finalist and she has received two fiction honor awards from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association.

Photo of Gathering of Waters and Bernice McFadden

“One of the main benefits to reading fiction is that it sharpens our abilities to empathize with others, and increases our understanding of our world,” said Archer.

This event is sponsored by McConnell Library, Office of the Provost, Faculty Development Institute: CITL, Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Scholar-Citizen and Women’s Studies at Radford University.

The reading will be held in Heth 043 at 5 p.m. and is open to all. Dinner with the author will be held in Heth 014 at 6:30 p.m. There is limited space available for the dinner and an RSVP is required. The dinner is open to all RU students, staff and faculty. To make an RSVP please contact Alyssa Archer at aarcher2@radford.edu or 831-5688.

In addition to the reading, the book club discussions about "Gathering of Waters" will be open to RU community members in preparation for McFadden’s visit on Feb. 7 and 21 at BT’s (218 Tyler Avenue) at 5:30 p.m. Please contact Michele Ren at mren2radford.edu or 831-6143 for more information.

Feb 4, 2014