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Katrovas reads from "Smashing Bricks" Wednesday

March 30, 2007

KALAMAZOO--Poet and novelist Richard Katrovas will read from his newest work, "The Years of Smashing Bricks,"as part of the Gwen Frostic Reading Series at 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 4, in the Little Theatre at Western Michigan University. All readings in the series are open to the public free of charge.

Richard Katrovas is the author of six collections of verse, a novel, a story collection, and two memoirs, including the recently released "The Years of Smashing Bricks," published by Carnegie Mellon University Press in 2007. His poems, stories and essays have appeared in many major journals and anthologies.

The recipient of numerous grants and awards, Katrovas is the founding director of the Prague Summer Program. He retired after 20 years from the University of New Orleans in 2003 and joined the WMU Department of English faculty. "The Years of Smashing Bricks" is about sex, drugs, and karate in early 1970s Southern California. Katrovas is presently working on a book of essays, "Raising Girls in Bohemia: Meditations of an American Father."

Spring 2007 Gwen Frostic Reading Series

Jan. 24, novelist Joanna Scott
Jan. 31, poet David Rivard
Feb. 28, novelist Bryan Charles
March 28, poet and essayist Lia Purpura
April 4, poet and novelist Richard Katrovas
April 11, "The Art of the One-Act" various playwrights

All readings are Wednesdays at 8 p.m. in the Little Theatre, which is located at the corner of Oakland Drive and Oliver Street on Western Michigan University's East Campus. There is free off-street parking behind the theatre.

For more information about the Gwen Frostic Reading Series, contact Dr. Arnie Johnston, chair of the Department of English, at arnie.johnston@wmich.edu. To be added to the mailing list for reading series announcements, write to Becky Beech at rebecca.beech@wmich.edu and include your complete name and postal address.

Media contact: Thom Myers, (269) 387-8400, thom.myers@wmich.edu

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