Russell Banks, the speaker for this year's McKinney ceremony, has won numerous awards for his work, among them, the American Book Award, the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters Award, the Ingram Merrill Award, and the John Dos Passos Award. He has twice been a finalist for both the Pulitzer Prize and Pen/Faulkner Award. His novels Affliction and The Sweet Hereafter were adapted into major motion pictures, the latter winning the Grand Prix and the International Critics Award at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival. Other works are currently being made into films. His most recent novel, The Reserve (which is set in the Adirondacks in 1936-37), was released on January 29, 2008. Banks was New York State Author from 2004-7.

The McKinney ceremony will start at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16, 2008. Mr. Banks will present prizes to McKinney winners, read from his work, and respond to questions. After the ceremony, he will sign books. The reading is free and open to the public.

To get to the reading, take Hoosick (7 East) to 15th St., turn right on 15th, drive several blocks until you pass under a pedestrian bridge, then take the first left where you will be directed to parking and the reading (DCC 308). The doors will open at 7:00 p.m.