Sharing food has always been a way for people of all cultures to create a bond, adding storytelling to a meal makes a great conclusion for NIC’s Write Here Readers Series.
This Saturday, North Island College creative writing students will read between each of the six-course tapas dinner offered by Zocalo Café in downtown Courtenay.
“I wanted to combine the readings with something more relaxed,” explains Steve Schoenhoff, NIC creative writing instructor. “Pairing the storytelling and dining seemed like a perfect combination.”
NIC’s Write Here Readers Series began in 2010 and has continued to explore writing from the North Island allowing students and community members to discover a region rich in stories and storytellers. Sheree-Lee Powsey, English instructor at NIC has taken the lead in co-ordinating the series this year.
She comments, "The series has afforded an extraordinary opportunity to hear important Canadian writers read from and talk about their work and has added to the Comox Valley's reputation as a place where the literary arts are thriving."
“This final event will feature our students and their work,” Schoenhoff continues. “Now it’s their turn to be up in front of the crowd, reading instead of observing.”
Past and present NIC students featured at Dinner and Story Night are Karina Kudryavtseva, Natalie Nickerson, Lorin Medley, Traci Skuce, Harold Macy and Steve Hodge. Macy is looking forward to “the smells and taste mix from six courses of fresh tapas’ interspersed by readings from local writers as diverse as the meal, all against the lovely soundtrack of diesel trucks rumbling up Fifth Street.”
Dinner and a Story Night will take place at Zocalo Café and Gallery in Courtenay. The meal is $20 per person or $36 per couple and will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Call 250-331-0933 to make a reservation. For more information about this event or the Write Here Readers Series, contact Susan Auchterlonie at 250-334-5271.
— North Island College