Alan Shapiro, poet and author, will give a reading from his work on Thursday, Sept. 28 at Coastal Carolina University as part of "The Words to Say It: A Visiting Writers Series."

The reading, which is free and open to the public, will be at 4:30 p.m. in Wall Auditorium. A book signing and reception will follow, and his books will be available for sale.

Shapiro is the author of eight acclaimed books of poetry, including "The Dead Alive and Busy," "Song & Dance," and most recently "Tantalus in Love."

He has received the Kingsley Tufts Award and the Los Angeles Times prize for poetry. His memoir, "The Last Happy Occasion," was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Currently, he teaches at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where he is the William R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor.

For more information contact Dan Albergotti, coordinator of the series and assistant professor of English at Coastal, at 349-2420.