The author Michael Czyzniejewski will read from his short stories, including excerpts from “The Amnesiac in the Maze,” when the Smith Creative Writers Reading Series begins at Penn State Behrend on Oct. 5. The reading, which begins at 6 p.m. in the lobby of Metzgar Center, is free and open to the public.

A reception with the author will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Czyzniejewski is the author of four story collections, including “Elephants in Our Bedroom” and “Chicago Stories: 40 Dramatic Fictions.” He serves as editor-in-chief of Moon City Press and Moon City Review and is the interviews editor for SmokeLong Quarterly. In 2010, he received a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.

His writing has appeared in The Southern Review, Kenyon Review, Puerto del Sol and Wigleaf. In 2006, he received the Pushcart Prize.

The Smith Creative Writers Reading Series is produced by Penn State Behrend’s creative writing program, which leads to a bachelor of fine arts degree. The program is the only one of its kind at Penn State.

To learn more about the series and Penn State Behrend’s creative writing program, visit behrend.psu.edu/readings or call 814-898-6108