Laurier Brantford welcomes acclaimed author Lawrence Hill

                BRANTFORD, Ont. – Acclaimed Canadian author Lawrence Hill visited Laurier Brantford on Sept. 29, 2010 to promote his third novel The Book of Negroes. Hill was invited by Laurier professor Carol B. Duncan, who in the past collaborated with Hill on a documentary film project Seeking Salvation: A History of the Black Church in Canada.  According to Duncan, Hill was brought on as a writer-in-residence by Wilfrid Laurier University in an effort to “allow student, faculty, staff and visitors to the university the opportunity to hear an acclaimed author discuss his works.”  In his weeklong connection to Laurier University, Hill visited both the Waterloo and Brantford campuses for readings of his novels The Book of Negroes and Any Known Blood as well as to teach lectures to undergraduate students at both campuses and participate in a round-table discussion, fundraising dinner, and a luncheon with students.

                 The reading which took place at Laurier Brantford was filled with various members of the surrounding community as well as university students.  The public reading held in the Research and Academic Centre of the Laurier Brantford Campus sparked much conversation between audience members and involved a lively question segment with the author where he discussed his novel and future aspirations as well as his ongoing works. Hill sold and signed copies of his novels afterwards. Students from the Laurier main campus rounded out their time with Hill with more involved sessions such as a student luncheon. A fundraiser was also held to create the Lawrence Hill Graduate Award in Arts and Humanities at Laurier.

                Hill engaged his audience during the reading by telling jokes and anecdotes while explaining his opinion and motivations for writing his past and most recent novels. As well he answered audience questions about his novel and stylistic attempts regarding use or lack of use of humour in relation to how his stories were told. The room was filled with chatter and enthusiasm for his work. “I didn’t know just how detailed and thorough the book was historically,” audience member and first year journalism student at Laurier Brantford, Gregory Mattice said, “the emotion of the book was incredibly forceful when he read his own words aloud. I plan to purchase the book in the future.”

                Hill’s novel The Book of Negroes has a special connection to Laurier University. Part of the novel was written during a short stay at Laurier’s Waterloo campus in the Lucinda House guest residence.

                The Book of Negroes (2007) has won many awards such as the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best Book, Ontario Library Association’s Evergreen Award and CBC Radio’s Canada Reads. It was also a finalist for the Hurston/Wright LEGACY Award. As of September 2010 The Book of Negroes has sold more than 500,000 copies in Canada.