Seton Hill University’s Writing Popular Fiction master’s program welcomes award-winning author David Morrell to campus on January 10. Mr. Morrell, the writer of “First Blood” (the award-winning novel in which Rambo was created), and co-president of the International Thriller Writers organization, will speak at 7 p.m. in Cecilian Hall on “Platforms, Viral Marketing, and the Seismic Shifts in Today’s Publishing World.” The lecture is free and open to the public, and will be followed by a reception and book signing.

David Morrell’s numerous best-selling novels include “The Brotherhood of the Rose” (the basis for a top-rated NBC miniseries), “The Fifth Profession,” and “Extreme Denial” (set in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he lives). He is also the author of “Lessons From a Lifetime of Writing” a discussion of what he has learned during his thirty-three years as a novelist. The dark-suspense novel “Creepers” is his latest work. Morrell holds a Ph.D. in American literature from the Pennsylvania State University and was a professor in the English department at the University of Iowa until he gave up his tenure to devote himself to a full-time writing career.

Seton Hill University's unique Master of Arts in Writing Popular Fiction teaches students to write marketable novels in popular genres like mystery, romance, children’s literature, science fiction, horror, and fantasy. Students attend two week-long, on-campus residencies each year to master the core elements of fiction writing and effective marketing. Established authors mentor students one-on-one as they work toward completing a market-ready manuscript from home.

For more information on the Writing Popular Fiction program at Seton Hill University or Dr. Morrell’s lecture on January 10, please call Wendy Lynn at 724-830-4600 or e-mail lynn@setonhill.edu.