Spencer Paterick `21 Assistant Editor 

LVC’s English department continues its writer series, only this semester it’s virtual; in October, LVC welcomes Lauren Francis-Sharma and W.M. Akers. 

Lauren Francis-Sharma is the author of “Book of the Little Axe,” which was published in May 2020, and “’Til the Well Runs Dry,” which debuted in 2014. “’Til the Well Runs Dry” was chosen as an O, The Oprah Magazine Summer Reading Pick and highly recommended by the New York Times, USA Today, Essence Magazine and People Magazine. 

Francis-Sharma is the daughter of Trinidadian immigrants and refers to the Caribbean in much of her writing. She is the owner of D.C. Writers Room, a co-working space dedicated to both published and aspiring writers.  

She is also the assistant director of Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference at Middlebury College. Her short story “Demented” is featured in the anthology “Us Against Alzheimer’s: Stories of Family Love and Faith” edited by Marita Golden. 

Francis-Sharma will be on campus virtually on Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 12:30-1:45 p.m., to speak to some of the English classes, but students from other majors are welcome and encouraged to attend.  

She will also be participating in a Zoom call at 7 p.m. in which she will read some of her work and answer questions. Zoom links can be found on La Vie’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. 

W.M. Akers is a novelist, playwright and game designer.  Akers is the author of the mystery novels “Westside” and “Westside Lights,” as well as the creator of the bestselling games Deadball: Baseball with Dice and Comrades: A Revolutionary RPG; and the curator of the history newsletter Strange Times. Born in Nashville, he spent thirteen years in New York before moving to Philadelphia in 2019.  

Akers will present virtually to students from all majors on Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. on Zoom.