Purdue News

March 27, 1998 Pulitzer Prize winner to speak at Literary Awards Banquet WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Novelist and short story writer Richard Ford will be the featured speaker Tuesday, April 14, at the 67th annual Literary Awards Banquet at Purdue University. The banquet will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the North Ballroom, Purdue Memorial Union. The event is open to the public, and tickets may be purchased until April 8 at the English department office in Heavilon Hall for $12 for students and $17 for all others. Ford, the author of seven books, is perhaps best known for his 1996 novel "Independence Day," for which he received the Pulitzer Prize. His other awards include the PEN-Faulkner Award, the Award of Merit in the Novel from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, as well as fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Guggenheim Foundation. Ford's most recent book is "Women With Men," a collection of novellas. Ford also will give a reading of his work at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, in Krannert Auditorium. The banquet is preceded by a reception for the winners of a high-school writing contest. It will be from 5:30 p.m. until 6:25 p.m. in the English Department Lounge. During the banquet, winners of the annual Literary Awards Competition will be announced. The awards are given to Purdue students who submit works in creative writing and expository prose categories. The banquet and competition are sponsored by the Department of English and School of Liberal Arts. For ticket information, contact the English department office at (765) 494-3740. CONTACT: Tom Ohlgren, professor of English, (765) 494-3740; e-mail, tohlgren@gte.net Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page