Reyna Grande gives reading presentations at WVC campuses Oct. 14 and 15

Media Contacts: Erin Tofte, Wenatchee campus multicultural affairs coordinator, 509.682.6868, or Livia Millard, Omak campus multicultural affairs coordinator, 509.422.7814, or Libby Siebens, executive director community relations, 509.682.6436 (Mon. – Thurs.)

September 30, 2015

Award-winning novelist and memoirist Reyna Grande will give a reading from her recent book The Distance Between Us at both Wenatchee Valley College campuses. These events are free and open to the public.

Grande's presentation on the Wenatchee campus is Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in The Grove Recital Hall, Music and Art Gallery. Reservations are not required, but seating is limited to 150 people. The MAC Gallery will also be open before and after Grande's presentation.

The Omak campus presentation is Thursday, Oct. 15, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in rooms 401 and 402 in the new Hazel Allen Burnett Hall. Reservations are not required, but seating is limited to 70 people.

The Distance Between Us (Atria, 2012) is Grande's memoir about her life before and after illegally immigrating from Mexico to the United States. A finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, The Distance Between Us was hailed by the L.A. Times as "the Angela's Ashes of the modern Mexican immigrant experience."

Grande's first novel, Across a Hundred Mountains (Atria 2006), received a 2007 American Book Award and the 2006 El Premio Aztlan Literary Award. Her second novel, Dancing with Butterflies (Washington Square Press, 2009), was the recipient of a 2010 International Latino Book Award. All three books have been widely read in schools across the country and have been popular with book clubs. Across a Hundred Miles and Dancing with Butterflies have also been published internationally.

Born in Mexico, Reyna was two years old when her father left for the U.S. to find work. Her mother followed two years later, leaving Reyna and her siblings behind in Mexico. In 1985, when Reyna was almost 10, she entered the U.S. as an undocumented immigrant to live with her father. She went on to become the first person in her family to graduate from college. She holds a B.A. in creative writing, and film and video, from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She received her MFA in creative writing from Antioch University.

Grande teaches creative writing for UCLA Extension. She is an active promoter of Latino literature and speaks at high schools, colleges and universities across the nation.

Reyna Grande's reading is sponsored by the Associated Students of WVC, Associated Students of WVC at Omak, WVC at Omak Foundation, WVC Foundation Faculty Development Grant, Bridgeport High School Multicultural Club, Phi Theta Kappa-Alpha Kappa Eta Chapter and the Red Road Association.