(Marsalis, Simeon) Simeon Marsalis graduated from the University of Vermont in 2013. He has lived in New York, New Hampshire, and New Orleans. Como Lie es a Grin (Catapult) is his first book, which has been shortlisted for the 2017 Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. David, the narrator of the novel, is a freshman at the University of Vermont who is struggling to define himself against the white backdrop of his school. Booklist writes, “Marsalis’ deep and creative coming-of-age tale confronts race and omitted history. An exciting, thought-provoking debut.”
