Ball State University is welcoming award-winning author Alicia D. Williams to campus this Fall as its second guest author for the University’s Writer-in-Residence program.
Ms. Williams is the author of “Genesis Begins Again,” a middle-grade novel that received Newbery and Kirkus Prize honors in addition to being a William C. Morris Award finalist. She is also the author of several picture books, including “The Talk” and biographies of author Zora Neale Hurston (“Jump at the Sun”) and politician Shirley Chisholm (“Shirley Chisholm Dared”).
During Ms. Williams’ week-long stay at the University—Nov. 6-10—she will speak to Ball State students in the classroom as well as participate in multiple book-related events with students at various elementary and middle schools in Muncie.
The events featuring Ms. Williams that are free and open to the community include:
- Tuesday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m. in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center Ballroom: Writing for Young People—A Presentation by Alicia D. Williams on Children’s & Young Adult Literature
- Thursday, Nov. 9, at 7:30 p.m. in the Burris Laboratory School Auditorium: A Reading with Alicia D. Williams Featuring a Conversation with Ashley C. Ford
Both public events will take place on Ball State’s campus, with ample, free parking available after 7 p.m. adjacent to the buildings.
The Ball State Writer-in-Residence is sponsored by the Creative Writing Program in the Department of English and made possible by the Efroymson Family Fund, the College of Sciences and Humanities, and the Office of the President. Generous support for the program has also been provided by the Office of Community Engagement and the Department of Women’s, Gender, and African American Studies.
“Alicia’s books tell the stories of diverse lives with compassion, tenderness, and hope,” said Ball State President Geoffrey S. Mearns. “We are fortunate to welcome her to our campus and to invite her to share her talent with our community by inspiring the next generation of writers.”
Ball State unveiled its Writer-in-Residence program in 2021 with inaugural guest author Ashley C. Ford, a 2018 graduate of the University.
“It was really during Ashley’s visit that we saw how much good this program can do for the community,” said Jill Christman, professor of English at Ball State. “I appreciate that, through the generosity of our sponsors, we can provide free copies of Alicia’s books to young readers in our public schools. We want to give kids and teens in the Muncie community greater access to the lifesaving gift of storytelling—and the sense of possibility stories create.”
In support of the University’s commitment to promoting diversity with its vendors, copies of Ms. Williams’ books were ordered from independently owned bookstore Loudmouth Books based in Indianapolis. Copies of Ms. Williams’ books will also be available for purchase at the above public events.