MONTEVALLO—The University of Montevallo will welcome author Tayari Jones to the J.A. Brown Room in Carmichael Library on the UM campus Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 3:30 p.m., to read from her works as part of the 2014-2015 BACHE Visiting Writers’ Series.
Jones, a native of Atlanta, is an associate professor of English at Rutgers-Newark University. She has written three highly acclaimed novels and is researching the fourth. Her first book, Leaving Atlanta, set during the city’s infamous child murders of 1979-81, was named “Novel of the Year” by Atlanta Magazine and one of the best novels of 2002 by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and The Washington Post. Her second novel, The Untelling, published in 2005, earned Jones the accolade, “one of the best writers of her generation.” Silver Sparrow, her third novel, published in 2011, was selected by Library Journal, O Magazine, Slate and Salon as one of the best of that year. It also was nominated for an NAACP Image Award.
After the reading, there will be a question and answer session with the audience as well as a reception and book signing.
The Birmingham Consortium for Higher Education (BACHE) is a partnership among the five four-year colleges and universities in the greater Birmingham area. Created by the presidents in 1996 to advance academic excellence through collaborative activities and shared resources, BACHE enhances educational opportunities for students and provides services and support to faculty, staff and the community. Member institutions include Birmingham-Southern College, Miles College, Samford University, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Montevallo.
The BACHE Visiting Writers Series is designed to bring writers of national and regional significance to north central Alabama by sponsoring readings open to the entire community. The series is funded by grants from the five BACHE institutions, the Alabama State Council on the Arts and other donors.