The Smith Creative Writers Reading Series at Penn State Behrend begins Thursday, Sept. 5, with a reading by Abby Frucht, whose story collection “Fruit of the Month” won the Iowa Short Fiction Prize. The reading, which will begin at 6 p.m. in the lobby of Metzgar Center, is free and open to the public.

Frucht has written six novels and two collections of short stories. Her newest book, a work of nonfiction titled “Maids,” was a finalist or semifinalist for the Slope Editions Book Prize, the Marie Alexander Poetry Book Prize, the Robert C. Jones Short Prose Book Drive and the 42 Miles Poetry Book Prize.

Frucht, a resident of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, served for more than 25 years as an adviser and mentor at the Vermont College of Fine Arts.

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

To learn more about the series, visit www.behrend.psu.edu/readings or call 814-898-6108.