FARMINGTON — Ira Sukrungruang, who penned “Talk Thai: the Adventures of Buddhist Boy,” is the next author in the University of Maine at Farmington’s 2011-12 Visiting Writers Series.

A Thai-American writer, Sukrungruang’s memoir is about his American boyhood and early struggle with feelings of never belonging in either of his two worlds.

Sukrungruang will read from his work at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 12, in The Landing in the UMF Olsen Student Center. The event is free.

The St. Petersburg Times wrote: “Sukrungruang is a poet, and “Talk Thai” is bright with graceful language, but the voice in which he writes sounds like the kid he was, a kid trying to make sense of the world and his place in it, as kids do all over the globe.”

Sukrungruang also co-edited, with Donna Jarrell, “What Are You Looking At? The First Fact Fiction Anthology” and “Scoot Over Skinny: The Fat Nonfiction Anthology.” He currently edits “The Clever Title” and “Sweet: A Literary Confection.” His essays have appeared in Post Road, Fourth Genre and Creative Nonfiction. Many of his essays have been Notables in “Best American Essays.”

Sukrungruang previously taught creative nonfiction at SUNY Oswego for six years and now teaches at the University of South Florida.