Best Selling Author Offering Free Public Presentation at U of F

The New York Times bestselling author Nikki Grimes, who will serve as the University of Findlay’s fall Freed Contemporary Christian Lecture Series Guest Speaker, will offer a free public presentation titled “Writing out of Call” at the University of Findlay on Sept. 13 at 7:30 p.m. in Winebrenner Building’s TLB Auditorium.

Following her lecture, Grimes will be available to sign several of her books that will be for sale, including her latest, “Ordinary Hazards,” that won’t be publicly available for purchase until October. She will also offer a master class for University of Findlay students that will focus on writing a novel in verse.

Grimes, who was raised in New York City, began composing verse at age 6, and relied upon books as coping and escapist tools.

She is the recipient of the 2017 Children’s Literature Legacy Award, the 2016 Virginia Hamilton Literary Award, and the 2006 NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children. Her distinguished works include ALA Notable book “What is Goodbye?,” Coretta Scott King Award winner “Bronx Masquerade,” and Coretta Scott King Honor books “Jazmin’s Notebook,” “Talkin’ About Bessie,” “Dark Sons,” “Words with Wings,” and “The Road to Paris.” She is also the creator of the popular “Meet Danitra Brown.”

Some of her other picture books and novels include The New York Times bestseller “Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope” and, most recently, “Garvey’s Choice” and “One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance.”

In addition to her work for children, Grimes has written articles for magazines such as Essence, Today’s Christian Woman, Book Links, and Image, Journal of Arts & Religion.

An accomplished and widely anthologized poet of both children’s and adult verse, Grimes has conducted poetry readings and lectures at international schools in Russia, China, Sweden, and Tanzania, while short-term mission projects have taken her to such trouble spots as Haiti.

During the 1970s, Grimes co-produced and hosted “The Kid’s Show” on WBAI FM in New York. Later, during a 6-year stint in Sweden, she hosted a radio program for immigrants and another for Swedish Educational Radio.

In 2005, Grimes, a resident of Corona, California, was awarded the Golden Dolphin Award by the Southern California Book Association, recognizing her body of work.

Grimes’ talents also extend into the fine and performing arts. She has sung with the Stockholm Philharmonic in Sweden, danced in China, published and exhibited photography domestically and abroad, and in recent years has delved into fiber art crafting using recycled materials.