MSU English professor and writer W.S. Penn will read from and sign two books Wednesday at Schuler Books, 2075 W. Grand River Ave. in Okemos.

Penn, who is part Native American and European, will read from “This is the World,” a collection of 14 short stories and his novel “Killing Time with Strangers.”

Schuler Books Promotions Coordinator Cheryl Natzmer said Penn’s writing introduces fantastic elements so well believed that one accepts they’re true.

“Penn is a really, really fun person to listen to,” Natzmer said. “He has a dry sense of humor, and it will be lively.”

Penn said he wrote the stories from the basis of his own ethnic experiences.

“It’s a comical story collection. A mixture of both funny and real world stories,” he said.

The second book, “Killing Time with Strangers,” is a novel also based on Penn’s cultural experiences.

It is about Palimony Blue Larue, a young Nez Perce person growing up in California. Penn is also Nez Perce - a tribe that once ranged across Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

The author has won several awards for his writing, including the North American Indian Prose Award.

The book reading and signing will begin at 7:30 p.m. tonight. The event is free and open to the public.