An ‘Evening with Walter Mosley’ Hosted on Thursday, October 2 by
the M.F.A. in Creative Writing Program at Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus
Best-selling author of ‘Devil in a Blue Dress’ to read and discuss his latest work

Author Walter Mosley will discuss his work at the Brooklyn Campus on October 2.

Brooklyn, N.Y. – Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus English Department and its new Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program will host Walter Mosley, one of America's most widely read writers, for a reading and discussion on Thursday, October 2. Mosley, whose mystery, “Devil in a Blue Dress,” was adapted for a movie starring Denzel Washington, will read from his work and discuss challenges facing urban writers today.

The prominent author of numerous critically acclaimed works of literary fiction, science fiction and nonfiction, Mosley is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including a Grammy Award, the O'Henry Award, the Sundance Institute Risktaker Award for his creative and activist efforts, and the Anisfield Wolf Award, an honor given to works that increase the appreciation and understanding of race in America.

Mosley’s popular mystery series featuring Easy Rawlins, an African-American private detective living in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, debuted in 1990 with “Devil in a Blue Dress.” It was adapted into a film with Denzel Washington and Don Cheadle. In addition to his writing, Mosley helped create a first-of-its-kind publishing degree program aimed at young urban residents at the City College of the City University of New York. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Mosley now lives in Brooklyn.

Introducing Mosley will be celebrated novelist Jessica Hagedorn, the Parsons Family University Professor at the Brooklyn Campus. Her works include “Dream Jungle,” “The Gangster of Love,” and “Dogeaters,” for which she was nominated for a National Book Award. “Dogeaters” was adapted for the stage at La Jolla Playhouse in Los Angeles and at New York’s Public Theater.

“This special appearance from Walter Mosley exemplifies the values of the M.F.A. in Creative Writing Program at the Brooklyn Campus,” noted Hagedorn. “Walter is a neighbor in our vivid Brooklyn literary scene. His work encompasses the diversity of experiences and genres that writers in our program strive to express.”

“An Evening with Walter Mosley’ will take place on Thursday, October 2, at 6 p.m. in the Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts at Flatbush and DeKalb avenues in downtown Brooklyn. The reading will be followed by a reception and book signing. The event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. Please call (718) 488 1624 or e-mail kumble@brooklyn.liu.edu.

The event is part of the annual “Starting from Paumanok” lecture, named after the poem by Walt Whitman that invokes the Native American name for Long Island. The name acknowledges Long Island University's geographic and cultural connection with one of Brooklyn's foremost literary figures. The event is made possible by support from the Mellon Foundation and the University's John P. McGrath Fund and is the first presentation in this year’s “Voices of the Rainbow,” Long Island University’s long-standing series in celebration of the oral tradition.

The 39-credit, M.F.A. in Creative Writing program at the Brooklyn Campus offers writers the opportunity to work in a vibrant community with visiting authors who have included Thulani Davis, Akilah Oliver, Han Ong, and Jaime Manrique. Students can pursue projects in fiction, poetry, playwriting, creative non-fiction, and cross-genre efforts. The links between writing and theory and between writing, reading, music and painting are closely explored. The intimate learning environment fosters strong working relationships between students and faculty members, with intensive mentoring and individualized programming. The program leads to the highest degree attainable in an artistic field and provides a strong foundation for careers in professional writing, teaching, publishing, and related endeavors.

For more information about the M.F.A. in Creative Writing program, call (718) 246-6336 or visit www.brooklyn.liu.edu/depts/english/graduate_mfa.htm.

Posted: September 15, 2008

Media contact: (718) 488-1015