Joseph Bathanti, a former St. Andrews professor and critically acclaimed author, will be the featured reader at the Fortner Writers' Forum at 8 p.m. Thursday.

It will take place in Orange Main Lounge on the campus of St. Andrews Presbyterian College.

Bathanti's appearance at the forum is a part of the One Book, One Community program at St. Andrews Presbyterian College.

Bathanti will be discussing his book, "The High Hart," which won the 2006 Spokane Prize for Short Fiction. The book is set in Pittsburgh in the 1960s and 1970s.

Bathanti grew up in Pittsburgh and arrived in North Carolina in 1976 as a VISTA volunteer in the state's prison system. He is the author of four books of poetry, the most recent of which, "This Metal," was nominated for the National Book Award, as well as two novels, "East Liberty" and "Coventry," for which he received the 2006 Novello Literary Award.

Writers' Forums are free and open to the public. Anyone needing more information can contact Tim Van Hooser at (910) 277-5258.