September 10, 2002 SELINSGROVE, (Pa.) -- John Vernon, a critically acclaimed author of 10 books, will kick off The Writers' Institute's Visiting Writers Series at Susquehanna University this fall. He will read from his work in a presentation that is free and open to the public on Wednesday, September 25 at 7:30 p.m. in Isaacs Auditorium of Seibert Hall. Vernon's novels include La Salle, Lindbergh's Son, Peter Doyle, All for Love: Baby Doe and Silver Dollar. Vernon has also written a book of poems entitled Ann, and the memoir A Book of Reasons. Most recently, in 2001, Houghton Mifflin published The Last Canyon, a novel chronicling John Wesley Powell's 1869 voyage into the then-uncharted Grand Canyon. Vernon has twice been the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts grant. Two of his books have been named New York Times Notable Books of the Year. His work has appeared in numerous magazines, journals, and newspapers, including Harper's Magazine, Poetry, American Poetry Review, The Nation, The Los Angeles Times, and The New York Times Book Review. Vernon teaches in the spring semester each year at Binghamton University. He is the university's 21st faculty member to be named a distinguished professor. Vernon is the first of six writers scheduled to read at Susquehanna during the 2002-2003 school year as part of the Visiting Writers Series sponsored by The Writers' Institute. On October 3, poet Rodney Jones will visit the university. This reading is partially sponsored by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Contact: Victoria Kidd 570-372-4119 #vk/0183#