September 19, 2017
La Roche Literary Society Announces 2017-18 Schedule
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 19, 2017 – From October to March, Pittsburgh area writers will lead a series of presentations hosted by the Literary Society at La Roche University.
The 2017-18 presentations are free and open to the public. Each event will be held at 7 p.m. in the Ryan Room of the Zappala College Center at La Roche’s campus in McCandless Township. Registration is not required.
Oct. 13
Wonder Woman first appeared in Sensation Comics in 1942. Since that time she has been recognized as the foremost female superhero, influencing generations of creators and characters. Presenter Wayne Wise will discuss Wonder Woman’s history, the background story of her creation and the ongoing story of her influence, both in comics and the world.
Mr. Wise is a comic book writer, artist, retailer and scholar living in Pittsburgh. A published author and pop culture journalist, he has taught classes in Comics and Pop Culture at Chatham University, and taught seminars on Writing for Comics at Seton Hill and Point Park University. He serves on the board of the Pittsburgh ToonSeum, where he has presented numerous lectures and workshops.
Feb. 23
This presentation will explore “All That’s Left to Tell,” Daniel Lowe’s debut novel about Marc Laurent, an American taken hostage in Pakistan, and a woman named Josephine who visits his cell every night. At first her questions are mercenary: is there anyone back home who will pay the ransom? But when Marc can offer no name, she asks him questions about his daughter that are even more terrifying than his captivity. As these stories build upon one another, a father and daughter start to find their way toward understanding each other again.
Mr. Lowe is a local author and writing instructor at the Community College of Allegheny County. He holds an MFA in fiction writing from the University of Pittsburgh.
March 16
Award-winning author Rosemary Hanrahan, M.D., will discuss how powerfully dreams can touch lives and bring people together, as they do in her first novel, “When Dreams Touch.” Dr. Hanrahan’s experience as a physician, involvement with international and public health nonprofit organizations, and leadership in health, education and community development in Haiti were the inspiration for the book.
Dr. Hanrahan has received numerous awards for “When Dreams Touch,” including the 2015 Eric Hoffer First Horizon Award for Superior Work by a Debut Author, a National Indie Excellence Award in Regional Fiction and the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Silver Award for Historical Fiction.
Initiated in the early 1980s, the La Roche Literary Society provides a forum for scholarship and discussion on literature and other issues. For more information about the upcoming presentations, contact Sister Rita Yeasted, SFCC, Ph.D., at 412-536-1216 or rita.yeasted@laroche.edu.
About La Roche University: A private liberal arts college in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, La Roche University offers more than 50 undergraduate majors, six graduate degree programs and one doctoral program, with particular strengths in education, business, criminal justice, psychology, and health and medical sciences, as well as interior design and graphic design. This residential college provides a vibrant campus community for more than 1,500 men and women enjoying 30-plus student organizations and an exciting NCAA Div. III athletics program. Founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence in 1963, La Roche University embraces its Catholic heritage while welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds. With a legacy of social justice and a commitment to international exchange, La Roche University educates students to be lifelong learners and achievers in an increasingly diverse and global society.
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