Distinguished Writer and Former Holy Cross Professor to Read as Part of Working Writers Series

Bill Roorbach, award-winning writer and former W.H. Jenks Chair in Contemporary Letters at the College of the Holy Cross, will give a reading as part of the Working Writers Series on Wednesday, March 20 at 7:30 p.m. in Levis Browsing Room, Dinand Library, at the College. The event, sponsored by Holy Cross’ Creative Writing Program, is free and open to the public.

Roorbach is the author of eight books of fiction and nonfiction, including “Big Bend” (University of Georgia Press, 2001), “Into Woods” (University of Notre Dame Press, 2003), “Temple Stream” (Random House, 2005), and, most recently, “Life Among Giants” (Algonquin, 2012), which has been met with much critical praise. 

“Life Among Giants,” which features a protagonist of 17 years old—a seven-foot tall quarterback nicknamed Lizard—is a deeply adventurous novel that includes murder, mystery, seduction, revenge, and matters of the heart. Hailed as a “larger-than-life production” by the New York Times, “Life Among Giants” has been celebrated as “endlessly entertaining” by the Washington Post.

Roorbach, who earned his M.F.A. in fiction at Columbia University and a B.A. from Ithaca College, has also taught at the University of Maine at Farmington, Colby College and Ohio State University; and is the recipient of a Flannery O’ Connor Prize and an O. Henry Prize. His work has been published numerous media outlets including Harper’s, The Atlantic Monthly, Granta, and The New York Times Magazine. Writing full-time, Roorbach is the co-author of the popular blog Bill and Dave’s Cocktail Hour.

He lives with his wife and daughter in Maine.