TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – M.T. Anderson and Aldo Alvarez will read selections from their latest works at 7:30 p.m. on April 8 in 205 Smith Hall on the campus of The University of Alabama as part of the Bankhead Visiting Writers Series.

Anderson is the author of the young adult novels “Thirsty” and “Burger Wuss,” and he also writes picture books for both adults and young adults. His historical novel, “Handel, Who Knew What He Liked,” was awarded the Boston Globe-Horn Book Nonfiction Honor for 2002.

His classical music reviews and articles have appeared in BBC Music, Pulse!, Cobblestones and The Improper Bostonian. He currently is working on a Gothic novel for adults about the textile industry in 19th century New England. He teaches at Vermont College in their MFA in Creative Writing program.

Alvarez is the author of “Interesting Monsters,” a collection of short fiction published by Graywolf Press. He is executive editor and publisher of “Blithe House Quarterly,” a site for gay short fiction, which was nominated for the GLAAD Media Award and named by Out magazine as “the central publishing arm of new queer fiction.”

The ARK/Angel Review, Amelia, Blue Penny Quarterly, Art & Understanding, and Christopher Street have published his short stories. “Ghosts, Pockets, Traces, Necessary Clouds” was selected for inclusion in “Best American Gay Fiction” (September 1996).

In addition to Thursday’s reading, Alvarez will lead an informal question-and-answer session in 301 Morgan Hall at noon on Friday, April 9.

The Bankhead Visiting Writers Series is made possible by an endowment from the Bankhead Foundation, The University of Alabama’s Program in Creative Writing, the department of English and the College of Arts and Sciences. For more information, please contact UA’s creative writing program at 205/348-0766 or visit www.bama.ua.edu/~writing.