Karen Thompson Walker, author of the One Book One Community selection The Age of Miracles, will participate in two events at Northern Michigan University on Monday, Oct. 28. A question-and-answer session is scheduled at 2 p.m. in Jamrich Hall. An evening presentation and book signing will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the University Center Great Lakes Rooms. Both events are free and open to the public.

A brief creative presentation of music, dance and poetry inspired by the book will be held prior to Walker’s visit at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23, in Reynolds Recital Hall. Rob Engelhart, head of the NMU music department, is coordinating and will sing at the event. He and instructor Carrie Biolo also will provide music of varying tempos, allowing dancers to improvise to time shifts throughout the venue. Other participants include dance instructor Maria Formolo and NMU student dancers, along with the Lake Superior State University dance team. The event also features readings of original poetry.       

Walker’s book follows an adolescent named Julia who awakes one morning to find that the earth’s rotation has slowed. Gravity, time and environmental resources are affected, as well as events in her personal life. It chronicles her difficulties and triumphs in adjusting to the changes thrown at her.     

The author hails from San Diego, Calif., where the book is set. She studied English at UCLA before moving to New York to attend Columbia University’s MFA program. She currently resides in Brooklyn, N.Y. The Age of Miracles is Walker’s debut novel.