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CORVALLIS, Ore. - Writer and Oregon State University Professor Chris Anderson will read from his work at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 28, in the Valley Library Rotunda on the OSU campus in Corvallis. A question-and-answer session and book signing will follow.

Anderson has written, co-written, or edited 14 books in a variety of genres on subjects ranging from writing style to nature to spirituality. 

His most recent book, "Light When It Comes: Trusting Joy, Facing Darkness, and Seeing God in Everything," is a collection of collage essays published by Eerdmans in 2016. The book draws on an ancient prayer tradition, the Ignatian "Examen of Conscience," to explore the struggle, joy and doubt of contemporary spirituality.

Anderson's other books include "Free/Style: A Direct Approach to Writing"; "Edge Effects: Notes from an Oregon Forest," which was a finalist for the Oregon Book Award in creative nonfiction; "Open Questions: Critical Thinking, Ethical Writing"; and "Teaching as Believing: Faith in the University." He has also published two books of poetry, "My Problem with the Truth" and "The Next Thing Always Belongs." 

Anderson is a professor of English at OSU, where he teaches a variety of courses in writing, pedagogy and literature in translation. In addition to his doctorate in English from the University of Washington, Anderson holds a master's degree in theology from Mount Angel Seminary and serves as an ordained Catholic deacon.

The reading is part of the 2016-17 Literary Northwest Series, which brings accomplished writers from the Pacific Northwest to OSU. This series is sponsored by the MFA Program in Creative Writing in the School of Writing, Literature, and Film at OSU, with support from the OSU Libraries and Press; the OSU School of Writing, Literature, and Film; the College of Liberal Arts; Kathy Brisker and Tim Steele; and Grass Roots Books and Music. 

The event is free and open to the public. The Valley Library is located at 201 S.W. Waldo Place, Corvallis.