NOVELIST SHERI REYNOLDS IS SPEAKER FOR FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY AUTHOR DINNER APRIL 7

Critically acclaimed novelist Sheri Reynolds, the Ruth and Perry Morgan Chair of Southern Literature in the English department at Old Dominion University, will be the guest speaker for the Friends of the Old Dominion University Library's ninth annual Author Dinner Monday, April 7.

The organization will present its Outstanding Achievement Award to Michele Darby, an Old Dominion University eminent scholar and University Professor of dental hygiene, during the program.

The dinner will be held in the River Rooms at Webb University Center, starting with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 and the program at 8. Tickets are $20; reservations are due March 31. Checks should be made payable to Friends of the Library and mailed to: Friends of the Library, Author Dinner, 229 Perry Library, Old Dominion University,
Norfolk, Va. 23529.

Reynolds, who recently received an Outstanding Faculty Award from the State Council of Higher Education (SCHEV), has taught at Old Dominion since 1997 and is a favorite among English literature and creative writing students. She is the author of three novels: "Bitterroot Landing" (1995), "The Rapture of Canaan" (1997) and "A Gracious Plenty" (1997).

"The Rapture of Canaan" reached No. 1 on the bestseller lists of both The New York Times and USA Today, and was an Oprah Book Club selection.

Darby has been on the ODU faculty since 1974. She served seven years as department chair and more than 17 years as graduate program director. In May 1981, she was an official guest of the Chinese Ministry of Health and Education, sharing dental hygiene techniques with Chinese dentists. She has also lectured in Korea, Yugoslavia, Moldova, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Italy. Darby is a 1993 recipient of SCHEV's Outstanding Faculty Award.

For more information about the dinner call Fern McDougal 683-4141.