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CORVALLIS - James Welch, who won an American Book Award for his novel, "Fools Crow," will read and discuss his work in a free public presentation at Oregon State University on Thursday, Oct. 22. It will begin 7:30 p.m. in LaSells Stewart Center.

His appearance is part of the 1998-99 Visiting Writer Series at OSU.

Welch also will deliver a free afternoon lecture at 2 p.m. on Oct. 22 as part of a new "Craft of Writing" lecture series at OSU. It will be held in Covell Hall Room 216.

A member of the Blackfeet Tribe, Welch is renowned for his stories of Native American life. He has written three other novels in addition to "Fools Crow," including "Winter in the Blood," "The Death of Jim Loney" and "The Indian Lawyer."

Welch received a master of fine arts degree at the University of Montana, where he studied with acclaimed poet Richard Hugo. Welch also wrote a book of poems called "Riding the Earthboy 40."

His most recent work is a non-fiction book called "Killing Custer." Welch is at work on another novel, about a Lakota Indian who went to France with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in 1889.

Writers have praised the work of Welch, who paints a vivid picture of life through his imagery and cultural descriptions.

Prominent American author Wallace Stegner, commenting about "Fools Crow," wrote: "...in the scrupulous authenticity of its cultural reconstruction, and in the sheer flow and strength of its prose, it is a major contribution to Native American literature."

Welch's OSU visit is sponsored by several university organizations.