A writer whose essays, fiction and non-fiction have earned critical acclaim presents two public programs Monday, March 5, at Mississippi State.

Dr. Michael Martone, professor of creative writing at the University of Alabama, will discuss the craft of fiction in a 4 p.m. presentation in 407 Lee Hall. At 8 p.m., he will read from his works at a session in the Simrall Hall auditorium.

The MSU English Department is sponsoring both events.

"Flatness and Other Landscapes," a book of essays, earned Martone the 1999 Associated Writing Programs' creative nonfiction prize. He also has been honored with the Bruno Arcudi Literature Prize, Ingram Merrill Foundation Award and a number of National Endowment for the Arts fellowships in fiction.

"A Place of Sense: Essays in Search of the Midwest," "Townships," "Safety Patrol," "Seeing Eye," and "Fort Wayne is Seventh on Hitler's List" are among his other publications.

A graduate of Indiana and Johns Hopkins universities, Martone has taught at Alabama since 1998. He previously was a faculty member at Syracuse University and Warren Wilson College. At Harvard University, he was Briggs-Copeland Assistant Professor of Fiction.

For more information about Martone's visit, telephone 325-3644.