Paul Hertneky, author of 'Rust Belt Boy: Stories of An American Childhood,' will present a lecture and reading from 11 a.m.- noon on March 29 in the Old Main Hall Chapel.
Sponsored by Cal U's Department of English and the Northern Appalachian Network, the free event is open to the University community and to the public.
Rust Belt Boy tells the story of a man who grew up in the heyday of steel production in the Mon Valley.
Hertneky, who was raised in Ambridge, Pa., shares his childhood memories in this engaging memoir that takes readers back to a time when ethnic neighborhoods and industry played crucial roles in western Pennsylvania life.
"His deft ability to weave history and memory together with whimsy makes Rust Belt Boy a highly relatable read," said event coordinator Dr. Christina Fisanick, associate professor of English at Cal U. "His chapter on pierogis is not to be missed!"
The Northern Appalachian Network is a multidisciplinary network promoting teaching, scholarship and service focused on Northern Appalachian residents and their environment. The network includes members with backgrounds in the arts and humanities, education, social science, and the sciences.
"Sons and daughters lucky enough to feel attached to a distinct hometown know how it works its way under our skin and into our being," Hertneky writes in the introduction to the book.
"The relationship thrives at a distance, explaining why there are Steelers bars from Vancouver to Miami and Belfast to Shanghai."
For more information about Hertneky's appearance, email fisanick@calu.edu.