Mount Union grad, now an author, to speak at Rodman Library

James De Monte, a 2005 graduate of the University of Mount Union, visits Alliance as part of the Fogle Author Series at Rodman Public Library on the heels of the publication of his second book – “Where Are Your People From? A Novel in Stories.”

The associate professor of English at Lakeland Community College in Kirtland will visit the library at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 28. Registration is required to attend at rodmanlibrary.evanced.info/signup.

In “Where Are Your People From?,” De Monte, who grew up in Dennison and graduated from Tuscarawas Central Catholic, draws on his heritage and his previous employment at various labor jobs as he tells the story of Giacomo Agostini, a retired coal miner and first-generation American, a son of foreigners, a Depression kid who never got over it, the second-oldest living member of the St. Theresa's Knights of Columbus, and a pick-and-shovel man from Appalachian Ohio. Spanning 90 years, the book explores the fellowship and hardship of Midwest Italian-Americans in the post-industrial Appalachian region of Ohio through the eyes of a son of immigrants.

Published by Cornerstone Press, “Where Are Your People From?” followed his 2015 novella “Brotherhood,” which explored the world of blue-collar railroad repairmen through the eyes of a recent college graduate. Published by Blue Cubicle Press, “Brotherhood” was longlisted for Shakespeare and Company's Paris Literary Prize.

A staff editor with Chagrin River Review, De Monte earned a master of fine arts from Kent State University and taught at Columbus State Community College, in Sicily and Sardinia, at Central State University, and for the Wick Poetry Center, before joining the faculty at Lakeland.

Ahead of his visit, De Monte answered some questions:

Q: Can you talk about your experiences at Mount Union and what professors had an impact on you?

A: I initially came to Mount because my older brother was already there, but I ended up loving my time there. The English faculty with whom I studied – Frank Tascone, Michael Olin-Hitt, Rodney Dick, Andrew Price, Katherine McMahon, Judith Makens – were superb. Frank, a fellow writer, has become a good friend to me since that time. Also, I took several classes with Kelly Lowe, a wonderful, colorful writing professor who has since passed away, unfortunately. I did a couple plays and took theater courses with Deb Lotsof and Doug Hendel. Doug's Acting I remains one of the most fun experiences I've ever had in a classroom.

The professor I took the most classes with, Steve Kramer, was actually from psychology. I became a psychology minor because of Steve. I don't have space here to list the ways Steve Kramer influenced my time at Mount, my life since, or my pedagogy. I will just say this: The classes I took with Steve were the most important classes and formative experiences I had at any post-secondary or graduate level – bachelor, master or Ph.D. One example: I had never flown on an airplane before meeting Steve. I ended up traveling to El Salvador with him three times – first as a student, then as a group leader for his Social Responsibility course. That made me want to travel much more and value intercultural connection and understanding. In addition to teaching, I've now served as director of the Center for International Education at Lakeland Community College for nearly a decade. Without Steve, I wouldn't have ended up on this path.

I should say that I also started dating my now-wife, Leah, while at Mount. We ended up getting married about a decade later and now have four young sons together, keeping us busy. So, I can thank Mount Union for my family, too.

Q: Your bio says you worked a number of labor jobs. How do you draw on those experiences as a writer?

A: These were all short-term, but I worked on the railroad, for the county's road and bridge department, and for the post office (briefly) as a mail handler. The railroad experience became the setting for my first novella, Brotherhood, in fact. There, and on the other jobs, I appreciated the camaraderie and colorful – if often off-color and crude – banter amongst the workers.

I also worked during breaks from college at my uncle's drive thru, selling pop, beer, and cigarettes to locals. I listened to stories from interesting regulars and those who'd just stop in here and there. I appreciated hearing of their unique experiences. In many ways, this prepared me to listen to students, to hear them out, to encourage them to share their stories, too.

 Q: Have you always wanted to be a writer?

A: Not really. I read here and there as a kid, and I read what teachers asked me to in school (for the most part). During my senior year of high school, I did read both Salinger's “Catcher in the Rye” and Camus' “The Stranger” for a wonderful English teacher named Rich Jagunic. I was blown away by novels for the first time, but I still never thought it would be something I'd pursue until my second year of college. It was then that I took writing courses with Michael Olin-Hitt and Frank Tascone at Mount and loved the creative opportunities and atmospheres both of them fostered in the classroom.

 Q: What advice would you give an aspiring writer?

A: This is all stolen from others I've either read or talked to: Read more than you write, though write often. Don't be afraid to explore the extraordinary aspects of ordinary people and the human experience. Be open to surprise and find joy in the process. Have a thick skin.

 Q: What can people expect when they come to your visit at Rodman Library?

A: I'll read several selections from the collection. The characters are all the same, but the book is not chronological, so I'll jump around, giving context as needed. I promise not to drone on, and, for the sake of everyone, I'll read short selections that range in style and approach. Ideally, all attendees will come away with something they found interesting. Here's hoping anyway!

This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Mount Union grad, now an author, to speak at Rodman Library