Denise Giardina will read from her published novels at the second "" of the fall semester 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, in Martin Chapel of the seminary building at EMU.

Giardina was born in the coal camp of Black Wolf near Bluefield, W.Va. She attended West Virginia Wesleyan University and did graduate work at Marshall University. A 1979 graduate of the Episcopal seminary in Alexandria, Va., Giardina became a writer instead of an ordained minister. Her first novel, "Good King Harry," an historical novel about Henry V, was published in 1984.

Giardina’s second novel, "Storming Heaven" (1987), is based on the battle of Blair Mountain, W.Va. "The Unquiet Earth" (1992) is a continuation of her second novel and further addresses the injustices committed in West Virginia and Kentucky by the coal companies. "Saints and Villains" (1999) is the award-winning fictional account of theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s life.

The program is co-sponsored by the department at EMU and by the Green Valley Book Fair near Mt. Crawford.

Admission to the program, which includes dinner, is $12. Students with I.D. will be admitted for $5. Advance reservations should be made by noon Wednesday, Oct. 26, by calling the EMU box office at (540) 432-4582. A season pass to all four scheduled Writers Read events is available for $40.

The seminary is offering four evening classes during second (spring) semester.

• Kevin A. Clark, part-time instructor in spiritual formation, will teach “Formation in Personhood I,” 6:30-9:10 p.m. Mondays beginning Jan. 10-April 25.
• A “Spiritual Direction Seminar and Practicum II,” led by Wendy J. Miller, seminary campus pastor, will meet 6:30-9:10 p.m. on Tuesdays beginning Jan. 11-April 26.
• Nathan E. Yoder, associate professor of church history, will teach “Mennonite History” Tuesdays 6:30-9:10 p.m..
• Mark Thiessen Nation, associate professor of theology, will teach a class on the life and teachings of German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer 6:30-9:10 p.m. Wednesdays beginning Jan. 12-April 27.

In addition, the seminary has scheduled several weekend and special short courses during the semester. They are:

• “Ministry in the Workplace,” Feb. 11-12, Lonnie D. Yoder, professor of pastoral care and counseling, coordinator;
• “Psychology of Religious Experience,” 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Jan. 21-22, Feb. 18-19, and Mar. 18-19, Lonnie D. Yoder, professor of pastoral care and counselinbg, instructor;
• “Introduction to Conflict Transformation,” 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 14-15, Feb. 11-12 and Apr. 8-9, Ronald S. Kraybill, professor of conflict studies, instructor; and
• “” (Seminar on Trauma Awareness and Recovery) 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Feb. 4-5 and Feb. 25-26, Jayne S. Docherty and Carolyn E. Yoder, instructors.

These courses can be taken for academic credit or on an audit basis.

For more information on seminary evening and special courses coming up spring semester, call Don A. Yoder, (540) 432-4257, or e-mail: .