FARMINGTON – Award-winning author Rigoberto González will be the first reader in the University of Maine at Farmington’s spring 2008 Visiting Writers Series. He will read from his work at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 7, in The Landing in the UMF Olsen Student Center.

The reading, free and open to the public, will be followed by a book-signing.

González is the author of two poetry books: “So Often the Pitcher Goes to Water Until It Breaks,” a National Poetry Series selection, and “Other Fugitives and Other Strangers;” and two bilingual children’s books: “Soledad Sigh-Sighs” and “Antonio’s Card.”

He also wrote the novel “Crossing Vines,” winner of ForeWord Magazine’s Fiction Book of the Year Award; and a memoir, “Butterfly Boy: Memories of a Chicano Mariposa.” His book of stories, “Men without Bliss,” is forthcoming in 2008.

The recipient of Guggenheim and NEA fellowships and international artist residencies, González writes a bimonthly Latino book column, now entering its sixth year, for the El Paso Times of Texas. He is contributing editor for Poets & Writers; on the board of directors of the National Book Critics Circle; and on the advisory circle of Con Tinta, a collective of Chicano/Latino activist writers. He lives in New York City and teaches at the MFA writing programs of both Queens College and Rutgers University.