The title of his talk will be: “Fracking Fiction: You Can’t Make This Stuff Up.”
Much of the action in Fitzgerald’s two books takes place along the New York-Pennsylvania border, and outlines clashes between environmentally conscious citizens and an out-of-state energy mega-conglomerate. Crusading journalists join with community activists to struggle against the environmental depredations of the corporation and the corruption of local government officials – including law enforcement.
In June, The Fracking War was awarded the top prize for general fiction at the Green Book Festival in Manhattan.
The eco-political columnist and author will address the challenges of writing a scientifically sound piece of fiction that is still believable to readers. Fitzgerald will give examples what he couldn't include in his books and why he decided to approach the subject as fiction rather than non-fiction.
Fitzgerald has worked as a writer and editor with six different newspapers in California before moving to Watkins Glen, New York five years ago. He was also a professor of Journalism at California State University, Sacramento where he taught newswriting, editing, magazine writing and column writing.
He is currently a columnist for the Finger Lakes Times daily newspaper in Geneva, NY.
Fitzgerald’s talk is open the public.