Such an extraordinary pleasure to speak to a full house at Trine University, a program arranged by my friend, Linda Mowry, and English professor Sarah Young, the head of the University’s Humanities Symposium, which sponsored us.

Some really clever students quickly made the connection between Eve’s Garden tale of a Romani family battling prejudice in a Southern rural town and issues currently in the news, such as police brutality and the reforms needed in Ferguson; between the outsider status of the shy, bookish teen, Eve, and Malala Yousafis and other girls trying to get an education in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

I had a blast talking to young writers afterwards. The pleasure was all mine, especially when they brought up the possibility of starting their own lit mag and Professor Young responded, “Come see me and we’ll start.” Talking to young people invariably puts a spring in my step. The world will do just fine.

I never miss a chance to talk to young people. I always learn something with them, and, if you don’t bore them, they share their world with you.

With, to my right, Professor Tim Hopp; to my left, Professor Sarah Young; and to her left, John and Linda Mowry, our hosts and good friends.