Acclaimed author Patrick Somerville invited for Visiting Writers' Series in March

By Roger Coda

Patrick Somerville, whose first novel, “The Cradle,” was named one of the Ten Best Books of 2009 by a New York Times book reviewer, will give a craft talk and read from his works at SUNY Fredonia on Thursday, March 22, for the Visiting Writers’ Series hosted by the English Department.

The award-winning author of two collections of stories — “Trouble” (2006) and “The Universe in Miniature in Miniature” (2010) — Somerville currently teaches in the MFA program at Northwestern University. He previously taught creative writing and English at Cornell University and Auburn State Correctional Facility. Somerville is a native of Green Bay, Wisc., and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Somerville’s writings have been published in One Story, Epoch, GQ, Esquire and Best American Nonrequired Reading. He won the 21st Century Award, given annually by the Chicago Public Library, in 2009. His next novel, “This Bright River,” will be published by Reagan Author Books this summer.

Somerville will present a craft talk at 4 p.m. and perform a reading of one of his books at 7 p.m. Both events will be held at 202 McEwen and are free and open to the public.

The Visiting Writers’ series is supported by the Mary Louise White Fund and Uppercrust Bakery.