The Friendly City Readings is the visiting writers series of the School of Writing, Rhetoric & Technical Communication at James Madison University. The series hosts writers who represent the rhetorical diversity of contemporary writing, and seeks to promote awareness of writing as a viable profession across academic disciplines. All readings are free and open to the general public.
Acclaimed writer Eleanor Henderson returns to James Madison University to read from her work in Transitions in Warren Hall from 2:00-3:30 p.m., on Monday March 26. Professor Henderson taught in the School of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication (WRTC) at James Madison University from 2006 to 2010 while completing her first novel. That book, Ten Thousand Saints, made The New York Times' short list of the year's ten best books.
Eleanor Henderson received her MFA from the University of Virginia while working on the Virginia Quarterly Review as chair of the fiction board. She has also been a contributing editor of Poets & Writers. Another piece of Henderson's writing, "The Farms," was selected for The Best American Short Stories 2009.
While at JMU, Professor Henderson developed new WRTC courses in personal narrative and popular writing, along with teaching GWRTC 103. Some of Eleanor Henderson's students won prizes for their own writing in the annual Madison Writing Awards, which recognize excellence in student writing.
A reception for Professor Henderson will follow the reading. Copies of Ten Thousand Saints will be available for purchase in Transitions on the afternoon of the reading. The reading is free and open to the public.
