Special to the
Opelika Observer
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Auburn University (OLLI at Auburn) will host a reading by one of Alabama’s most inventive and prolific writers, Michael Martone, professor of creative writing at the University of Alabama on Oct. 25 at 5 p.m.
The reading will be held in the café at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, located at 901 S. College St. A reception and book signing will immediately follow at the historic Sunny Slope, home to OLLI at Auburn, located at 1031 S. College St. Auburn University Bookstore will be present to sell books. The reading and reception are free and open to the public.
Martone was born and grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He attended Butler University and graduated from Indiana University. He holds the MA from The Writing Seminars of The Johns Hopkins University. He has published 25 books and has appeared in a multitude of journals around the country. Best known as a short-story writer, he has also published prose poetry, memoirs and essays, including two volumes of nonfiction writing about the Midwest.
In addition to the reading, Martone will lead a writing workshop on Oct. 26 at Sunny Slope from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Coffee, tea and pastries will be available beginning at 8:30 a.m. While the Friday reading is free and open to the public, the Saturday workshop will be $25 for OLLI members and $50 for non-members. Seating in the workshop is limited. Go to the OLLI website www.auburn.edu/outreach/olliatauburn/ to register for the workshop.
The reading is one of three free programs OLLI is offering the community to celebrate 30 years of lifelong learning at Auburn University. OLLI at Auburn was founded as AUALL in 1990 and became Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Auburn University when it received an endowment grant from the Osher Foundation in 2010. This series will continue in February 2020 when OLLI at Auburn will present a reading and workshop by Georgia writer Janisse Ray, followed in April by Alabama writer and Auburn University alumna Margaret Renkl. The series is made possible by the Alice M. Leahy Memorial endowment and a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts.