February 7, 2002 Author Jill McCorkle to read at SU Feb. 25 SELINSGROVE, Pa. - A prestigious undergraduate writing award, followed by a graduate writing award. Two novels published simultaneously at age 26. Teaching positions at Harvard and Bennington before age 40. A New York Times review touting her as "a born novelist." What may sound like the wish list of a naïve young writer is the highly successful path the writing of Susquehanna University's next visiting writer, Jill McCorkle, has taken. McCorkle will read from her work in a presentation that is open to the public free of charge Monday, Feb. 25, at 7:30 p.m. in the Degenstein Center Theater. McCorkle published not only her first novel, but also her second novel, at age 26, to rave reviews. She has since followed with three other novels and two collections of short stories, with similar critical accolades. Her books include The Cheer Leader, Tending to Virginia, July 7th, Carolina Moon, and Creatures of Habit. Her resume also includes two collections of short stories, Crash Diet and Final Vinyl Days. Four times, McCorkle has been listed on the New York Times Book Review Notable Books of the Year list. In 1996, she was listed as part of Granta Magazine's Best of Young American Novelists collection. North Carolina Gov. James Hunt presented McCorkle with the 1999 North Carolina Award for Literature. McCorkle's short stories are widely published in literary journals, commercial magazines and anthologies, including The Atlantic Monthly, Cosmopolitan, and Ladies' Home Journal. Currently, McCorkle teaches at Harvard University and Bennington College. The visiting writers series, sponsored by Susquehanna's Writers' Institute, has been bringing nationally recognized writers to campus for the past 20 years. The reading is sponsored in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Contact: Sam Alcorn 570-372-4119 #sa/1864#