As part of the Visiting Writer Series at Southwest Minnesota State University, Mark Anthony Rolo, the first of many authors, was on hand Thursday, Feb. 21 to share his story with the faculty and students of the university.

Sharing excerpts from his most recent memoir, “My Mother is Now Earth”, Mark Anthony Rolo told the story of his Ojibwe mother and his own struggles in life and how he “[tries] to be happy in spite of it all.”

Marianne Zarzana, assistant professor of English, introduced professor of English, Elizabeth Blair, who helped make Rolo’s visit possible.

Blair gave a brief history of Rolo and his memoir.

Rolo was born in Milwaukee, Wis. and considers himself to be a “first generation urban Native American.”

His mother loved the city, while his father, a farmer, loved nature. Rolo’s family eventually made the move to northern Minn when he was still a young child.

While introducing the prologue, Rolo recalled a dream he had had of his mother, it being the first in 35 years.

He also shared stories of his father and his 9 brothers and one sister.

Rolo read three excerpts from his memoir, which was followed by Q&A with the author.

For more information on the Visiting Writers Series, check out SMSU Today.