On October 22nd, internationally acclaimed writer, Julia Alvarez, graced a standing-room only audience with her warm, energetic and colorful presence.

Sponsored by the University's School of Humanities and English department, Ms. Alvarez titled her presentation "All-American Writer!"

Chair of the English department, Dr. Patricia Ferreira introduced Ms. Alvarez in a unique way describing how literature classes had benefited from reading her work. Dr. Ferreira noted that classes had been "dazzled by the disruption" in her work that had caused them to "consider cultural roadmaps and examine their own moral compass." She also said that the reading of Ms. Alvarez's books had generated "pointed, unadorned discussion that was education at its best."

For more than an hour, Ms. Alvarez spoke and answered questions riveting the audience with her robust language skills and slides with vivid images. She touched on topics from her own journey moving from the Dominican Republic to New York in 1960 to discovering books, her experiences as a writer and teacher, the sustainable farm-literacy center she and her husband, Bill, created in the D.R called Alta Gracia, and her life living in Vermont's Addison County.

Comparing her background in the D.R. from an oral, tribal tradition to the stark reality she faced in New York as a 10-yearold girl in 1960, Ms. Alvarez observed that people all over the world tell stories. As she talked colorful cultural images appeared on screen of children and elders engaged in conversation.

"People need narrative to find sense in the world. We all start out learning stories," she said.

Ms. Alvarez gave credit to her 6th grade teacher and local librarian who introduced her to reading and thus a new world. When her teacher encouraged her to write the stories of her native oral culture down, her voice came back and she discovered how stories have potential to transform.

In response to questions, Ms. Alvarez described the process of writing and creating in several ways. She showed a drawing of a woman whose torso was wrapped randomly in thin ropes with a hand holding scissors poised to cut a strand.

"Writing is very messy," Ms. Alvarez said and explained she had assumed that "real writers" just sat down to write after they laid out stories from beginning to end. She has since realized this is quite far from the truth and used the example of Mayan weavers who do not follow patterns in their work but instead ask for patience to create the "true pattern."

The screen filled with of one of Ms. Alvarez's favorite paintings, an impressionist view of an elegant ballerina clad in white clutching the mane of a grey horse in motion. She noted that the image reminded her to "keep on the horse" and stay focused by not noticing or acknowledging distractions and inner critics.

"All I need to do," she said, "is to keep one sentence ahead of the furies."

Ms. Alvarez is a prolific writer whose best known books are "In the Time of Butterflies" and "How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents." Earlier this year she published a book entitled "Return to Sender" that focuses on the Mexican immigrant population in the Vermont dairy industry. She has won several awards; just recently receiving the F. Scott Fitzgerald prize honoring great American writers. More information about Julia Alvarez can be found at her website, www.juliaalvarez.com.

Ms. Alvarez showed a plaque outside the New York public library with an excerpt from one of her poems on it. It is symbolic of her rich writing skills.

"Those of you lost and yearning to be free,

Who hear these words, take heart from me.

I was once in as many drafts as you. But briefly, essentially, here I am… Who touches this poem touches a woman."