A Combination of Politics and Imagination Gives Author International Acclaim

Cedar Crest College’s Visiting Writers Series welcomes Ru Freeman, author of A Disobedient Girl and On Sal Mal Lane, on Wednesday, April 3 at 7 p.m. in the Tompkins College Center, 1867 Room on Cedar Crest’s campus. A reception and book signing will immediately follow the discussion. The event is free and open to the public.

Freeman will be reading excerpts from her new novel, On Sal Mal Lane, and discuss the journey she took to become a recognized and respected author. Additionally, Freeman will articulate her personal writing process and motivate those who are looking to share their own stories through writing.

“We're fortunate that she's chosen to come give us a sneak preview of her upcoming novel and talk about her work as a writer and advocate,” said Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich, writing instructor in the humanities department at Cedar Crest. “So much of what we do here at Cedar Crest is about preparing our students to be strong female leaders. As a woman who's been able to combine her literary talent and political awareness to become a powerful advocate for all women, and whose fiction and journalism is now read on three continents, Ru Freeman will be an inspiring voice on campus.”

Freeman was born in Sri Lanka, a common setting for her novels. Advocating for woman and workers, her novels have touched the lives of many having been translated into six languages. Freeman has written articles for the Huffington post, Guernica, Story Quarterly, World Literature Today among others and was nominated for the Best New American Voices anthologies in 2006 and 2008.

Freeman studied for a brief period at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia before moving to America to continue her studies at Bates College in Maine. She went on to earn an M.A. in labor relations at the University of Colombo in Sri Lanka. Freeman currently lives and works in Pennsylvania.

The Visiting Writer’s Series provides an opportunity for Cedar Crest students and the Lehigh Valley community to hear from and interact with nationally and internationally acclaimed authors. The series is planned and presented by Cedar Crest’s humanities department and the Cultural Programs Committee.