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JACKSON, Tenn. — Oct. 7, 2005 — Fiction author Clyde Edgerton spent time with Union students and faculty Oct. 6, critiquing papers and offering advice about how to succeed as a writer.

鈥淟iterally we were sitting in a big giant circle and he went over the stories and talked about the craft of writing,鈥� said Gene Fant, chairman of Union鈥檚 English department.

Edgerton is the author of such books as 鈥淲alking Across Egypt,鈥� 鈥淟unch at the Picadilly,鈥� 鈥淲here Trouble Sleeps鈥� and others. Two of his novels have been made into movies. He has won a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Lyndhurst Fellowship, the North Carolina Award for Literature and five notable book awards from The New York Times.

Edgerton talked to students about the life of a writer and about what books they should read. He critiqued three stories written by Union students 鈥� one of them by senior Julie Laugherty.

鈥淚t was helpful because he was experienced,鈥� Laugherty said. 鈥淗e knew what he was talking about and he was able to take what I had and make it better.鈥�

After the session with students, Edgerton ate dinner and visited with members of the English department faculty.

鈥淲e paid for an hour and got him for three and a half,鈥� Fant said. 鈥淚t was awesome.鈥�

While Edgerton was in Jackson, he also visited the public library where he read from some of his works and performed songs.