The Read-In is an interdisciplinary event in which the entire campus reads a novel and participates in lectures and other activities relating to the novel's content, including viewing the HBO movie.

"It was a departmental decision," said Dr. Margaret Bell, chair of the English Department, to choose the renowned author. "We were seeking a male African-American author and it is hard to find a more popular and versatile writer than Mosely."

The New York Times said that "the14 loosely linked vignettes and tales in 'Always Outnumbered,' incorporates Platonic dialogues as a kind of ghost melody; signature strains of the classic are vamped up in the rough demonic of present-day Watts."

Mosley, a Los Angeles native, has written 12 books, including the popular Easy Rawlins mystery series. "Devil in a Blue Dress," which is also a movie, "A Red Death," "Black Betty," "White Butterfly," and "A Little Yellow Dog" were all critically acclaimed. His novels are published in 18 countries and translated into 21 languages.

He also serves on the board of directors of the National Book Awards, The Poetry Society of America, and is past-president of the Mystery Writers of America.

For additional information, please contact: Adrienne Hargraves (757) 727 - 5255 or via email: adrienne.hargraves@hamptonu.edu