There will be pictures as well as words at this year’s Jean & Louis Janzen Visiting Writers Series at Fresno Pacific University.
Award-winning fantasy author Sofia Samatar will read from her work at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, January 30, 2020, in the Seminary Chapel, North Hall 123. She will be joined by artist Del Samatar, who collaborated with Sofia on the book, Monster Portraits. A book-signing and reception will follow the reading.
Del Samatar’s work will be shown at the reading and be on exhibit until March 6, 2020, in the Sattler 104 Art Gallery on the FPU main campus. Gallery hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday and admission is free.
Both events are on the main FPU campus, 1717 S. Chestnut Ave., Fresno, and admission is free. More information at 559-453-5554 or Billie.Jean.Wiebe@fresno.edu.
Sofia Samatar’s honors include the Astounding Award (formerly the John W. Campbell Award), the British Fantasy Award and the World Fantasy Award. She is the author of the novels A Stranger in Olondria and The Winged Histories and the short story collection Tender as well as Monster Portraits. She lives in Virginia, where she teaches literature at James Madison University.
Del Samatar holds a B.A. in Fine Arts from Rutgers University, lives in New Jersey and works as a tattoo artist. Monster Portraits is his first book.
The Jean and Louis Janzen Visiting Writers Series was established in the fall of 2017 to bring excellent writers to the Fresno Pacific University community. The series honors the service, teaching and contributions of Dr. Louis Janzen and Jean Janzen, award-winning Central Valley poet.