The Avila University English Department will host up-and-coming author Johnny Rico Mar. 4-7.  Rico is the author of the critically acclaimed novel Blood Makes the Grass Grow Green: a year in the desert with Team America.  This candid memoir chronicles Rico’s experience serving in the infantry and fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Rico will conduct writing workshops with advanced creative writing students on the art of memoir writing current events commentary.  In addition Rico will host a reading and book signing Tues. Mar. 4 in the Hooley-Bundshu Library at Avila.  Further engagements will be announced within the month.

Rico is currently writing his second novel Crossing Borders which looks at the immigration issue in America.  Crossing Borders is due to be released in Spring ’09 from Random House Publishing.   He is also a contributing writer to various publications.

For more information on Johnny Rico’s visit please contact Jeremy Lillig at 816.501.3753.