Michael Martone is the acclaimed author of many works of creative nonfiction and fiction, including Pensees: The Thoughts of Dan Quayle, Fort Wayne is Seventh on Hitler's List, The Blue Guide to Indiana, and his collected short stories, Double-Wide. His most recent book, Racing in Place: Collages, Fragments, Postcards, Ruins (2008) is a unique work of nonfiction that shows his love of both American pop culture and the disregard for formal literary structures. Louise Erdrich calls Martone's style a "deep affection for the ordinary." Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Michael Martone is now the Director of the Creative Writing Program at the University of Alabama, and has taught previously at Harvard, Syracuse and Iowa State University. In addition to giving a reading of his work, Michael will lead a special nonfiction workshop session and take part in a Q&A session with SWI participants.
