Michael Williams is a Humanities professor at the University of Louisville who will be reading and signing his book Vine: An Urban Legend in the Chao Auditorium located in the lower level of the Ekstrom Library on Tuesday, October 2 at 6 p.m. The book is described as "greek tragedy meets urban legend", and the event is listed as "B.Y.O.T" (Bring your own toga).
This is Williams' second book published by BlackWyrm Publishing. He has previously authored books like Arkady, one of the first Steampunk novels, and Weasel's Luck, which was translated into 11 languages and sold over 1 million copies after being published by TSR. Vine is told by a variety of voices as the author's note states:
"Vine is a wedding of Greek tragedy and urban legend. It is a choral novel, a story told by a number of voices. Episodes recount the narrative action, while choruses of various kinds –Prologue, Parodos, Stasima, and Exodos – comment and reflect on what is happening. Each section’s title sets forth its purpose, and each chorus section designates who speaks it."
The first 75 people through the door will get a paper tragedie mask on a stick to remember the event, and refreshments will be provided. Williams looks forward to sharing his latest book and answering questions during a Q & A session.
"I always love events like these,: says Williams. "My university friends and those from my other walks of life get a chance to mix and mingle. It's kind of what I've always tried to do as a writer: to bring together the worlds I know and love."
I hope there is a good turn out. Williams states it best in the novel through the voice of Polymnia: "It is no invocation if nobody comes when you call..."