BOONE—“Bad Feminist” author Roxane Gay will present a craft talk April 16 at 2 p.m. in Plemmons Student Union’s Table Rock Room at Appalachian State University. Her reading will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Table Rock Room.

Gay’s visit is sponsored by the Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series. Both presentations are free and open to the public.

Gay is an associate professor of English at Purdue University, where she teaches creative writing, fiction and creative nonfiction at the graduate and undergraduate levels.

She is the author of the books “Ayiti,” “An Untamed State,” “Bad Feminist” and “Hunger,” forthcoming from Harper in 2016.

A critic for Time.com wrote, “Roxane Gay’s riveting debut, ‘An Untamed State,’ captivates from its opening sentence and doesn’t let go. . . . Let this be the year of Roxane Gay: you’ll tear through ‘An Untamed State,’ but ponder it for long after.” A review from Chicago Magazine reads, [Roxane Gay] has written one of the most unsettling books of the year. And she’s just getting started. . . . Dark, gripping . . . It’s a compelling and at times painful read that addresses the issues of economic privilege, immigration, and sexual assault.”

Of her essays published in “Bad Feminist,” Publishers Weekly wrote, “A trenchant collection. . .. Whatever her topic, Gay’s provocative essays stand out for their bravery, wit, and emotional honesty,” while the Associated Press wrote, “Roxane Gay may call herself a bad feminist but she is a badass writer. . . . Reading ‘Bad Feminist’ is like having a fascinating (one-way) conversation with an extremely smart, well-read, funny and thoughtful party guest. Here’s hoping we have another encounter soon.”

Gay’s writing also has appeared in Best American Mystery Stories 2014, Best American Short Stories 2012, Best Sex Writing 2012, Oxford American, American Short Fiction, The New York Times Book Review, Bookforum, Time, The Los Angeles Times, The Nation, The Rumpus, Salon and The Wall Street Journal’s Speakeasy culture blog.

The Visiting Writers Series is named in honor of Hughlene Bostian Frank (class of 1968), 2013 Appalachian Alumni Association Outstanding Service award recipient, past trustee, and generous supporter of Appalachian State University.

For more information about the series, visit the series’ Facebook page or email VWS@appstate.edu. To receive Appalachian’s “This Week in the Arts” announcements by email, contact arts-events@appstate.edu.

Parking is free on campus after 5 p.m. We recommend the Library Parking Deck on College Street (from King Street, turn down College Street at the First Baptist Church), which opens to the public at 5:30 p.m. To reach the student union, cross College Street and follow the walkway between the chiller plant and the University Bookstore, passing the Post Office and entering the Student Union on the second floor.

For further parking information or a map, visit http://parking.appstate.edu or call the Parking and Traffic Office at 828-262-2878.

The Visiting Writers Series 2014-2015 season is supported by the Appalachian State University Foundation, Appalachian’s Office of Academic Affairs, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of English, the Summer Reading Program, the University Bookstore, Belk Library and the Appalachian Journal.

Business sponsors are The Gideon Ridge Inn and The Red Onion Restaurant. Community sponsors include John and the late Margie Idol, Paul and Judy Tobin, Alice Naylor, Thomas McLaughlin and The High Country Writers.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

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