Author and Kalamazoo Valley Alumna NoViolet Bulawayo to Come to Campus on April 7

Kalamazoo Valley Community College alumna NoViolet Bulawayo, the author of two books, "We Need New Names" and "Glory," is returning to the college for special programs on April 7. Her first book "We Need New Names" was recognized with the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, the Pen/Hemingway Award, the LA Times Book Prize Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction, the Etisalat Prize for Literature, the Fred Brown Literary Award, the Betty Trask Award, the Barnes and Noble Discover Award (second place) and the National Book Foundation "5 Under 35" Fiction Selection.

"Glory," her second novel, was published last year to rave reviews. Bulawayo moved to the United States from Zimbabwe and graduated from Kalamazoo Valley in 2003. She completed her education with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Cornell University. There, she was a recipient of the Truman Capote Fellowship. She also was a Stegner Fellow at Stanford University, where she formerly taught as a Jones Lecturer in Fiction.

An invitation-only luncheon honoring her accomplishments will be held at the college's Anna Whitten Hall on April 7 at noon. Following the luncheon, Bulawayo will read from her new book and take questions from the audience.

At 6 p.m. at Anna Whitten Hall, Bulawayo will present a reading from "Glory." At 6:45 p.m., she will be available to sign books at the Center for New Media.

Copies of "Glory" will be available in advance at the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Bookstore and at other local retailers. Copies of the book will also be available for sale on April 7 during both programs.

"We're so proud of NoViolet and her accomplishments. We're pleased that she's returning to share her talents with us. We hope students and members of the community will come out to welcome this amazingly gifted author," said Dean of Instruction for Liberal Arts Billy Reynolds.

Anna Whitten Hall and the Center for New Media are located on the college's Arcadia Commons Campus in downtown Kalamazoo. Parking is available in the Eleanor Street parking ramp.