LAWRENCE - Novelist Michelle Cliff will visit classes, give a reading and conduct a workshop Oct. 10 and 11 at the University of Kansas.

Cliff, author of three critically acclaimed novels and several collections of poetry and prose, will read her work at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10, in the Malott Room of the Kansas Union. Cliff will be reading both from her published work and from work in progress.

At 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11, Cliff will conduct a workshop, "Life Writing and Writing," in the Malott Room. Both the reading and workshop are free and open to the public.

Cliff also will speak during the annual composition and literature conference Oct. 9 in the union.

During her visit to KU, Cliff will attend classes and meet informally with students and faculty. Her visit is being sponsored by the Lecturers and Readers Series at KU, the English department and the chancellor's office.

Cliff has published three novels, two collections of short stories, one collection of prose poems, and a collection of poetry and prose. Her novel "No Telephone to Heaven" has been translated into German. Her short stories and poetry have also been published in Italian and in German, and her work has been anthologized in collections ranging from "Green Cane and Juicy Flotsam" to "Best American Short Stories 1997," edited by E. Annie Proulx.

Born in Jamaica, Cliff now lives in Santa Cruz, Calif. She has taught widely at U.S. colleges and universities, most recently at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., where she was the Allan K. Smith Professor of English Language and Literature.

In addition to her own work, Cliff has edited a collection of writings by Lilian Smith entitled "The Winner Names the Age." She also has another collection, "Trace Elements," including a novella and short fiction, forthcoming.