Writer-in-Residence Mark Arax Chronicles California's Lifeblood: Water

UC Merced has debuted a writer-in-residence program with one of California's premier chroniclers of its history, especially the titanic power plays for land and water that have shaped the state's growth and loom over its future.

Mark Arax, a Fresno native, author and former Los Angeles Times journalist, will host workshops about his craft throughout the academic year. His presence on campus also will offer inside access to a working author.

The writer-in-residence program is co-hosted by the UC Merced Library and the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts. The intent is to make this a feature of every academic year.

"This is an honor," Arax said, "and it comes at an interesting time because I'm embarking on a new book."

Arax is a two-time winner of the California Book Award and a recipient of Stanford University's William Saroyan International Prize for Writing. His most recent work, "The Dreamt Land: Chasing Water and Dust Across California," was hailed by critics as one of the most important books about the West.

"The Dreamt Land" delves into the state's epic battles over water. Its predecessor, "The King of California," co-written with Rick Wartzman, chronicles J.G. Boswell, a powerful cotton grower in the Central Valley.

"The writer-in-residence program reflects our commitment to bringing distinguished voices to campus who can inspire our students," said Leo Arriola, dean of the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts. "Mark's work does so powerfully by deepening our understanding of the Central Valley's history and the stakes for our future, especially in how we manage land and water resources."

Arax's Armenian heritage deeply affects his work. His 1996 book, "In My Father's Name," describes the 1972 killing of his father, Ara Arax, along with the Armenian immigrant experience.

There are three writer-in-residence workshops scheduled; more will be announced. All are free and open to the public, and are scheduled for 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in Classroom and Office Building 2, room 170:

• Sept. 23: Stories About Place

• Oct. 14: Creative Non-fiction: How Does it Work?

• Nov. 4: Investigative Journalism: Our Last, Best Hope When Democracy Corrodes

Check this library webpage for information and updates about the writer-in-residence program.