The Mochila Review, the national undergraduate literary journal at Missouri Western State University, presents “In the Shadow of Ellen Hopkins” at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 18 in the Kemper Recital Hall, Spratt Hall room 101. The book reading and signing is free and open to the public.
Hopkins, the New York Times best-selling author of “Crank” and other verse novels for young adults, will give a public reading of her work and will sign copies of her books during a reception following the reading. Copies of the Spring 2016 issue of The Mochila Review, featuring winning stories from a contest guest-judged by Hopkins, will also be available at the event. Out of more than 70 applicants, she selected the winning story, “Wake,” by Centenary College student Reily Cook.
“We can thank Ellen Hopkins for turning countless numbers of young people onto writing,” said Dr. Marianne Kunkel, editor of The Mochila Review. “That we can bring her to Missouri Western is thrilling. We’re indebted to the Missouri Humanities Council and many supportive members of our university for making this possible.”
The Missouri Humanities Council (MHC) awarded a grant of $1,500 to help bring Hopkins to campus. The MHC is the only state-wide agency in Missouri devoted exclusively to humanities education for citizens of all ages. It has served as a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities since 1971. In addition to funding from MHC, the event is made possible through support from the St. Joseph Public Library Board and MWSU’s English and Modern Languages department, Prairie Lands Writing Project, School of Fine Arts and Student Government Association.
Hopkins is a poet, freelance writer, and the award-winning author of twenty nonfiction titles and five New York Times-bestselling novels-in-verse, most popularly “Crank.” She has published hundreds of articles on subjects ranging from aviation to child abuse to winegrowing. She mentors other writers through her position as a regional adviser for the Nevada chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She is a regular speaker at schools, book festivals, and writers’ conferences across the United States and throughout the world.
To learn more about Hopkins, her books, and her most recent activities, visit www.ellenhopkins.com. For more information about The Mochila Review, visit www.mochilareview.com. For more information about the grants program of the Missouri Humanities Council, call 314-781-9660 or 800-357-0909 or write to the MHC at 543 Hanley Industrial Court, Suite 205, St. Louis, Missouri 63144-1905.
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.