Join fellow alumni and friends for a virtual Alumni Book Club as Andrew J. Graff, visiting professor of English and author of the debut novel Raft of Stars, presents a short reading followed by a 45-minute Q&A beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, July 30, 2021.
Raft of Stars is a coming-of-age tale of adventure set in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, where Graff grew up hiking and fishing and where he returned after serving a tour in Afghanistan as a U.S. Air Force jet mechanic and finishing his education. Living on the banks of the Peshtigo River, he felt like he was 鈥渉ome for the first time in a long time鈥� and was inspired to start his novel.
Just five days after its publication, Raft of Stars landed on the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association best-sellers list, appearing in the No. 13 spot on a list that included renowned writers Kazuo Ishiguro, Kristin Hannah, Brit Bennett, Harlan Coben, Fredrik Backman, and Lisa Scottoline for the week ending March 28, 2021. The book also was selected as an Indie Next pick for April 2021, named one of Parade鈥檚 Best Books for Spring 2021, and promoted as Lead Read by publisher Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollins.
Those interested in participating in the virtual event are encouraged to register early here, as limited seats are available. Visit to learn more about the author and to purchase Raft of Stars.
Launched in 2020 as a way to keep students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members engaged during the time of social distancing, the Virtual Alumni College on the Road series has brought Wittenberg鈥檚 personalized education straight to constituents鈥� homes. The program provides alumni with a unique learning opportunity, special access to Wittenberg faculty, and the ability to engage with fellow alumni through the Zoom platform.
The July 30 event follows a robust series of programs featuring faculty members discussing several trending topics, including flattening the curve, climate change, race, and the global pandemic, as well as an astronomical tour of the night sky. All Virtual Alumni College presentations are streamed live and can be viewed on a computer, tablet, or mobile device by those who pre-registered for the event. To see previous presentations, visit: /virtual-alumni-college or to read more on Graff, go to /academics/english/andrew-graff-mfa
