Office of University Communications 

Best-selling author Daniel Woodrell to speak at Missouri State

SPRINGFIELD 0 Missouri State University’s College of Arts and Letters will host author and Ozarks native Daniel Woodrell at 8 p.m. March 14 in the Plaster Student Union (PSU) Theater as part of the COAL Lecture Series. Following the lecture, Woodrell will hold a book signing of his latest novel, “Winter’s Bone,” in the PSU Theater lobby.

“Woodrell's language is lyrical and visceral; you want to read slowly to soak up the beauty of the words, even when they’re describing something very ugly,” said Dr. Brian Shawver, assistant professor of English. “His characters are precisely drawn, usually troubled, always complex. His novels, in particular ‘Woe to Live On,’ leave you with the impression of having witnessed a brilliant performance.”

Author of eight novels, Woodrell’s five latest works were selected as New York TimesNotable Books of the Year. His 1987 novel, “Woe to Live On,” was made into a feature film by Ang Lee called “Ride with the Devil”;his 1998 novel, “Tomato Red,” won the PEN West Award for the Novel in 1999. “Winter’s Bone,” his latest and considered his best work, is one of five finalists for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in Fiction.

Set in the rural Ozarks, “Winter’s Bone”depicts 16-year-old Ree Dolly’s struggle to save her family from the harsh impoverished conditions that threaten them every day. When Ree’s father skips bail for charges related to crystal meth, she must find him – dead or alive – and do whatever it takes to bring him back or risk losing her family’s home.