Hodges Library's Writers in the Library series focuses on new UT faculty member Margaret Lazarus Dean this week. Dean will read excerpts from her novel, "The Time it Takes to Fall," which is about a bright 13-year-old girl deeply enamored with the space program during the ill-fated Challenger mission.

The event will take place Monday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. in the Hodges Library Auditorium.

The Writers in the Library series is in its eighth year at UT. Library Coordinator Jo Anne Deeken is responsible for managing the budget for the series and also choosing the Jack E. Reese writer in residence, Kali Meister. Meister, who started Aug. 1,  spends this budget and chooses the individual writers who appear.

"Before I even started I was getting e-mails from people as far as suggestions and people who wanted to come," said Meister. "It was a little overwhelming to be honest."

Meister jumped on the opportunity to showcase Dean, who left the University of Michigan to join the ranks of Tennessee's faculty.

As a writer, Meister appreciates hearing of other writers' processes and is amazed how inspiring it is to listen to somebody's story in their own words.

"For younger writers it helps keeping hope in their own skills and their own ability to write," Meister said. "At the end they get to look at this person who has a book and say, what was your process like, did you come into difficulties, how do you get published?"

Deeken said, "Even if you're not a writer, coming to these things exposes you to some really good authors and really good discussions."

Past Writers in the Library readings are available at Hodges in video from up to five years ago. The library also has readings from fall 2007 and spring 2008 online. This fall's video's will be available online soon.