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MEADVILLE, Pa. – Oct. 21, 2009 – Julie Otsuka – author of “When the Emperor Was Divine,” a novel based on the story of her Japanese-American family’s internment during World War II – will read from her works on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. in the Tippie Alumni Center at Allegheny College. The program, which is free and open to the public, is part of the college’s Single Voice Reading Series.

After pursuing a career as a painter, Otsuka turned to writing fiction at age 30. She received the Asian American Literary Award in 2003 and was a Guggenheim fellow in 2004. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a master of fine arts degree from Columbia University.

Otsuka’s presentation is sponsored by Allegheny’s Office of Diversity Affairs and the creative writing program of the college’s Department of English.

The Single Voice Reading Series will continue with Geoffrey Brock and Padma Viswanathan on Feb. 11, 2010, and Robert B. Hass and Keith Taylor on April 22, 2010.

For more information about the Single Voice Reading Series, contact Associate Professor of English Christopher Bakken at cbakken@allegheny.edu.