NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University Libraries will host author Denise Lewis Patrick for a guest lecture at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 8 in Magale Recital Hall. Prior to her lecture, she will be the focus of a reception and book signing from 6-7 p.m. in Orville Hanchey Gallery.
Patrick is a Natchitoches native who earned a degree in journalism at NSU in 1977 and a master’s in creative writing from the University of New Orleans. A long-time resident of New York City, she is a freelance writer, editor, instructor and literary consultant who has authored books of poetry, short stories, picture and board books for children, non-fiction biographies, middle grade novels and a young adult novel.
Patrick has written narratives for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center exhibition, published a review in the New York Times and has written sections for Fodor’s Travel Guides to New York City. She has also worked as an editor for Scholastic, Inc., as well as several other publishing companies and teaches intermediate writing at Nyack College.
After penning two stories for the American Girl Doll series, Patrick was lauded by the African American Academy of Arts and Letters for Children’s Book of the Year, was a runner-up for the Lamplighter Award by the National Christian School Association and had two books listed as Best Books for the Teenager by the New York Public Library. She has served on the advisory board for the Books for Kids Foundation, as a mentor for an afterschool writing club, as a writer’s coach and as an elementary school reading volunteer.
Patrick was inducted into Northwestern State University’s Alumni Hall of Distinction, the Long Purple Line, in 2014.
Books will be offered for sale at the event and refreshments will be provided at the March 8 event. For more information on Patrick, visit her website at deniselewispatrick.com.
