2001 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST MARILYN NELSON TO READ

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Marilyn Nelson, whose most recent book "Carver: A Life in Poems" has been nominated for the 2001 National Book Award in poetry, will read from her work at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at the University of Arkansas.

Nelson, a professor of English at the University of Connecticut at Storrs, is the author of nine books of poetry including "For the Body," "Mama's Promises," "The Homeplace," "Magnificat," "The Fields of Praise: New and Selected Poems," and two books of verse for children. Her work has been honored with two Pushcart Prizes, two creative writing fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the 1990 Connecticut Arts award. She was also a finalist for the National Book Award in 1991.

In addition to her reading, Nelson will meet individually with current UA students studying poetry through the creative writing program. Generously funded by the Walton Foundation, Nelson's reading will take place in room 102 of Kimpel Hall on the University of Arkansas campus. The reading is free and open to the public. Parking is available behind Kimpel Hall.

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Elizabeth Bryer, publicity director of the Fall 2001 Reading Series, (479) 575-4301 or (501)587-1487, ebryer@uark.edu