Novelist and short story writer T.C. Boyle will be Southwestern University’s  2013 Writer’s Voice series guest. The series is sponsored by the university’s A. Frank Smith, Jr. Library Center. Boyle will make a public appearance at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, in the Alma Thomas Theater.

Boyle’s many novels and several short story collections include The Tortilla Curtain, When the Killing’s Done, Wild Child, Drop City, and his most recent, San Miguel. His work explores varied themes, settings and subjects from complex environmental themes in California’s Channel Islands to Frank Lloyd Wright’s personal life to immigration to identity theft to Alfred Kinsey, and beyond.

Boyle has received numerous awards for his creative work over the past 35 years, including National Book Award finalist status for the novel Drop City and the O. Henry award for short stories in five different years.

“T.C. Boyle has been compared to Charles Dickens in that he is both a social critic and an entertainer,” said David Gaines, associate professor of English. Gaines is having students in both his 20th and 21st century American Writing courses and his Paideia cohort read When the Killing’s Done in preparation for a classroom discussion with Boyle when he is here.

Dana Hendrix, director of library resources and one of the librarians who have collaborated in organizing the Writers Voice series over its 14 years, said Boyle “was an easy choice for this year’s Writer’s Voice guest.”

“He is an acclaimed writer, avid researcher, and experienced teacher, but also an especially engaging performer onstage,” Hendrix said. “His appearances are very lively and we expect this year’s audience to thoroughly enjoy their evening.”

Boyle has an MFA in creative writing and a Ph.D. in 19th century British literature from the University of Iowa. He currently teaches in the English Department of the University of Southern California.

Writer’s Voice events are free, but tickets are required. Tickets will be available to Southwestern students, faculty and staff Oct. 1 and will be available to the general public Oct. 15. Tickets may be reserved on the Writer’s Voice web page at http://southwestern.edu/infoservices/writersvoice/Boyle/index.php

After Boyle’s public appearance ends, he will stay for a book signing. Books will be available for purchase before and after the event.

Previous guests in the Writer’s Voice Series have included Tony Kushner, Joyce Carol Oates, Russell Banks, Margaret Atwood, Michael Chabon, Carlos Fuentes, Robert Pinsky, Amy Tan, Azar Nafisi, Tobias Wolff, Mira Nair and Dave Eggers and Suzan-Lori Parks.