EMU to Hold 'Writers' Read'

The language and literature department at Eastern Mennonite University will hold another "Writers Read" program 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, in the west dining room of the university cafeteria.

Cynthia Yoder, author of "Crazy Quilt: Pieces of a Mennonite Life," will read from her book at the dinner meeting.

The book, from Cascadia Publishing House, depicts the author’s spiritual journey back to her Pennsylvania Dutch Mennonite roots. At age 26 and grappling with depression, Yoder leaves her husband of two years and their life in New York City to embark on a search for meaning. As she collects stories from her aging grandparents and hears how they’ve grappled with life and loss, she begins to understand what she must do to save herself - and her marriage.

Yoder is a graduate of Goshen (Ind.) College and holds an M.F.A. degree in fiction writing from Sarah Lawrence College. Her work has appeared in numerous periodicals, including "Parabola," "The Cortland Review" and the children’s magazine, "Ladybug." She lives in New Jersey with her husband, Jonathan Shenk, and their son Gabriel.

Admission to the program, which includes dinner, is $7. Advance reservations should be made by noon, Jan. 16, by calling the EMU box office at 432-4582.