WILL, the Western Institute for Lifelong Learning, a long standing sponsor of the Southwest Word Fiesta, scheduled for October 23–29, will set the stage for that event on October 16 and 17, when it presents the Sonnie Susillo Memorial Seminar: A Book Club Celebrating the Southwest Word Fiesta.

Facilitated by Gila-based author Sharman Apt Russell, the class will discuss the collection of essays, Conversations With Birds, by Priyanka Kumer and a first book of poetry, Nostalgias of November, by WNMU Mimbres Press author Arturo Magaña Amaya. Asked for her thoughts about the class, Russell responded: "I'm really excited about the two authors we are reading for the WILL book club, and the fact that we will be able to see, hear, and applaud them at the Southwest Word Fiesta. This adds such a dimension to our engagement with their work. I'm also personally interested in what WILL members in the book club have to say about the role of the writer in today's society. I always learn from these kinds of discussions."

Russell, who has published several books of both fiction and non-fiction, is imminently well qualified to lead this discussion. Among her many accolades, her recent non-fiction works, "Diary of a Citizen Scientist: Chasing Tiger Beetles and Other New Ways of Engaging with the World" and "Within Our Grasp: Childhood Malnutrition Worldwide and the Revolution Taking Place to End It" have both been selected as finalists for the New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards. She also teaches in the Master of Fine Arts program at Antioch University in Los Angeles and is a professor emeritus at Western New Mexico University.

WILL is a community-based, volunteer-driven non-profit, which operates in partnership with Western New Mexico University. WILL offers classes taught by community members motivated by the love of their subject and also seeks to offer social activities and foster friendships. Their motto is WILL: Join for Your Brain, Stay for Your Heart, Volunteer for a Long Life.

The Book Club seminar is the latest in a series of classes dedicated to the memory of Sonnie Susillo, an ardent supporter of WILL, board member and faithful volunteer.

The Book Club is open to WILL members only. For further information about WILL, call 575-538-6835 or visit their website at will.community.