New York Times bestselling author Daniel José Older will present a public lecture on Saturday, June 29 during Seton Hill University’s Writing Popular Fiction residency. The lecture, which will be followed by a reception and book signing, will be held at 7 p.m. in the Seton Hill University Performing Arts Center, 100 Harrison Ave., Greensburg. The event is sponsored by Seton Hill University’s Master of Fine Arts in Writing Popular Fiction program and the Westmoreland Library Network. Tickets are free through the Seton Hill University Box office at 724-552-2929 or www.setonhill.edu/tickets.

Daniel José Older is the New York Times bestselling author of the Middle Grade historical fantasy series Dactyl Hill Squad, the Bone Street Rumba urban fantasy series, and Star Wars: Last Shot.

He is also the author of the award-winning Young Adult series the Shadowshaper Cypher, which won the International Latino Book Award and was shortlisted for the Kirkus Prize in Young Readers’ Literature, the Andre Norton Award, the Locus, the Mythopoeic Award, and named one of Esquire’s 80 Books Every Person Should Read. 

"It's always such a treat to bring writers like Daniel to Greensburg,” said Nicole Peeler, Director of the Writing Popular Fiction program at Seton Hill. “He's an amazing author and I'm a huge fan, personally, but he's also someone who talks about social justice and that's part of Seton Hill's mission. I love bringing great writers to campus, but it's even better when they share our commitment to positive change."

Read Older’s thoughts on writing, his dispatches from his decade-long career as an NYC paramedic and hear his music here.

Seton Hill’s unique Master of Fine Arts in Writing Popular Fiction program, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2019, teaches students to write marketable novels in popular genres like mystery, romance, science fiction, horror, and fantasy. Additional specialties include literature for children and adolescents, and cross-genre blends like romantic suspense or young adult mysteries. Students attend two weeklong, on-campus residencies each year to master the core elements of fiction writing and effective marketing and to gain inspiration from faculty mentors and special guests, all published authors in genre fiction. Established authors mentor students one-on-one as they work toward completing a market-ready manuscript from home. Readings, classes, and online discussion about the history, trends, and techniques of genre fiction add depth to the student's experience.