Jane Smiley, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist known for eloquently capturing human struggles with themselves and the land, will soon spend an evening and a day talking with students and the public at UC Davis. "An Evening with Jane Smiley," part of this year's UC Davis Presents' Distinguished Speakers Series, is scheduled to begin 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, in Freeborn Hall. There will be a press conference at 7:30 p.m. in the backstage area. Smiley also will conduct a class discussion at 4 p.m. with UC Davis creative writing and English students. Press may attend. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1992 for "A Thousand Acres," Smiley has written numerous other books, including "Moo" (1995) her dark comic send-up of academia and society. Her latest creation, "The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton" was released this month.