Twice yearly, students in Seton Hill University’s MFA in Popular Fiction program gather from around the country — and sometimes from around the globe — for a week of intensive workshops on the Greensburg campus.

One feature of the week is a lecture, Q-and-A session and book-signing/reception with a prominent author in the pop fiction field.

On June 29, students, faculty and interested community members gathered in the Seton Hill Performing Arts Center in downtown Greensburg to hear from author Daniel Jose Older.

Older is a New York Times best-selling author whose works include “Star Wars: Last Shot,” the historical fantasy series “Dactyl Hill Squad,” the “Bone Street Rumba” urban fantasy series and the young adult series “The Shadowshaper Cypher,” which won the International Latino Book Award and was named one of Esquire’s “80 Books Every Person Should Read.”

Older formerly worked as an emergency medical technician in New York City, writing in his off hours. He is a champion for diversity in the field of popular fiction. He’s also a musician.

Director of Seton Hill’s pop fiction program is Nicole Peeler, herself an author of urban fantasy novels, including the Jane True “Tempest” series.

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