Critically acclaimed nonfiction author Alexandra Fuller says she writes to wake people up.

"If you tell your story to the right person they may have the answer," she said.

Fuller spoke and shared excerpts from her most recent work with a large audience at the Chautauqua Poets & Writers event Thursday evening at the Mountain Avenue Theater.

Author of the bestselling memoir "Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight," Fuller talked about life in Wyoming, where she has lived since 1994, and discussed her book, "The Legend of Colton H. Bryant."

Fuller grew up on a succession of poor tobacco and cattle farms in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Malawi, and Zambia in the 1970s and '80s. Her memoir, "Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight," tells of coming of age in Africa during a prolonged civil war, and dealing with alcoholic parents, a manic-depressive mother and a series of family tragedies.

"The Legend of Colton H. Bryant," her most recent book, explores the short life of Bryant, a 26-year-old roughneck who in 2006 fell to his death on a Wyoming oil rig. In the book, Fuller highlights the human and social abuses connected with the oil industry and its strikingly high number of fatalities.

Fuller said she started to write "Colton Bryant" out of outrage over oil industry treatment of people and the environment, but came to write it out of love for the land, its people and, ultimately, Colton Bryant himself.

"I didn't want the book to be about me ranting. I wanted to fight for what I love, the land, the men. I'll fight for that love," she said.

She spoke of the need for all people to exercise their freedom of speech, to speak up in the face of injustice and "fight for what we love."

Sally Melton of Medford said Fuller's talk was inspirational.

"She was inspired and hilarious. She gives you the courage to speak your mind, to speak what your truth is," Melton said.

Liz Robinson, a frequent Chautuaqua supporter, said she was moved by Fuller.

"In her writing is all the beautiful roughness of life, deeply felt and raging about what she loves," Robinson said.

Lindi Hobongwana had read Fuller's memoir was eager to meet her.

"I also grew up in Zimbabwe and Zambia around the same time," Hobongwana said. "Her memoir really helped me understand my own childhood from a different perspective.

"Now that she lives in the U.S., her observations are really interesting. She says, 'my Wyoming,' but she can look at it both from a distance and as her home," Hobongwana added.

Ryan Sweeney, who was visiting Ashland from San Francisco, said he was delighted by Fuller's reading.

"I love that she swears and wears fishnet stockings," he said. "She's also serious, though. She gave us a lot to think about; we can be too quiet sometimes."

In addition to Thursday's reading, Fuller also conducted a writing workshop for the Oregon Writing Project with teachers and alumni. This morning she conducted a separate workshop for student groups from area high schools and Southern Oregon University.

Fuller is the first nonfiction writer that Chautauqua has featured.

"She was a great choice for Chautauqua," said event coordinator Amy Blossom.

The Chautauqua series has previously featured poets Naomi Shihab Nye, Jane Hirschfield, Alberto Rios, Ted Kooser, Robert Pinsky and Li-Young Lee.

The Chautauqua Poets & Writers series readings are a semi-annual event, supported by grants and sponsorships from Southern Oregon University, the Oregon Writing Project at SOU, the Ashland School District and Friends of Ashland Public Library.