Mosley first guest to go on CSULB's Odyssey

Award-winning author Walter Mosley will speak at Cal State Long Beach on Monday as part of The Odyssey 1996-97: The City Project.

The City Project is the first in a series of theme years at CSULB involving speakers, performances, films, field trips and classes focusing on intellectual issues of importance. The project will enable students to expand their interests as well as their cultural backgrounds.

Making the first presentation in the Odyssey project, Mosley will speak from 5 to 5:30 p.m. in the Carpenter Performing Arts Center.

Mosley may be best known for his first novel, an Easy Rawlins mystery entitled "Devil in a Blue Dress." The novel was published in 1990 and was nominated for an Edgar Award for Best Mystery of the Year. It also won a John Creasey Award in Great Britain for Best First Novel.

Mosley followed with another Easy Rawlins mystery, "A Red Death." His next book, "White Butterfly," was nominated for an Edgar Award. Both "A Red Death" and "White Butterfly" were nominated for the Golden Dagger Award.

Born in South Central Los Angeles in 1952, Mosley attended Goddard College and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Johnson State College in Vermont.

He began studying at the City University of New York's writing program under the tutelage of Fred Tuten and Jerome Charyn.

As part of the event, there will be a screening of "Devil in a Blue Dress." The film adaptation, produced by Jesse Beaton and written and directed by Carl Franklin, stars Denzel Washington and Jennifer Beals. A panel discussion and reception will take place immediately following the film. Beaton and Franklin are scheduled to appear on the panel.

There will be a $3 special event parking fee, but the speech, movie screening and panel discussion are all free. Those interested in more information about this event or the Odyssey Project may call (310) 985-7572.