Video from our evening conversation/Q&A
“By painting her life in such exquisite detail, [Meredith] Talusan breathes new life into the well-worn body of the transgender life story, showing the reader deep wells of complexity where, in a less truthful or less talented writer’s hands, oversimplification and cliché might reign.”
—The Boston Globe
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021
Craft Talk — 4:30 p.m., Multi-Purpose Room, Campus Center West Addition
Conversation/Q&A — 7:30 p.m., Recital Hall, UAlbany Performing Arts Center
Both events, free and open to the public, at University at Albany, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany 12222
Meredith Talusan (she/they) is the author of an acclaimed transgender memoir, Fairest (2020), a singular, beautifully written coming-of-age memoir of a Filipino boy with albinism whose story travels from an immigrant childhood to Harvard to a gender transition, and illuminates the illusions of race, disability, and gender.
Meredith grew up in the Philippines before moving to the United States at 15, then received an honors BA in English and American Literature from Harvard College and an MFA in fiction from Cornell University. They belong to the queer, trans, disabled, albino, Asian, and immigrant communities.
Ocean Vuong called Fairest, “A ball of light hurled into the dark undertow of migration and survival.” Fairest was named a “Most Anticipated Book of 2020” by O, The Oprah Magazine Marie-Claire, Electric Literature, and Library Journal, and was chosen for both the Teen Vogue and LitHub Book Clubs.
An award-winning journalist, Talusan is also the founding executive editor of them, Condé Nast’s LGBTQ+ digital platform.
Copies of Fairest, a Lambda Literary Award finalist, will be available for purchase at both events. You may also shop for the book in advance at the local, independent Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza.
Meredith Talusan online
COVID PROTOCOL FOR ALL IN-PERSON EVENTS:
All individuals, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a mask or other face covering while inside any UAlbany owned, operated or leased building.
Unvaccinated individuals are also required to wear face coverings in all outdoor settings. This revised mask requirement will remain in place until the University removes the requirement upon the recommendations of the CDC or other public health officials. Individuals should not attend our in-person events if they — or anyone in their household — are displaying any symptoms of COVID-19.
ON CAMPUS PARKING
Courtesy parking for Writers Institute events on the Uptown Campus will be available in the State Quad Student Parking Lot one hour prior to and one hour after events.
Visitor parking lots are also available for $5 per vehicle, though parking spaces are very limited.
For a map of the UAlbany campuses including parking lots, visit www.albany.edu/map
Contest open to UAlbany students
Join us for the 7:30 p.m. conversation/Q&A and you’ll have an opportunity to win a signed copy of Fairest!
Winner will be chosen in a random drawing of students who drop their names in a raffle box at the beginning of the event.
Must be present to win.