By Joel Frady

Local writers will take the stage of the Ashe Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 23, for the Ashe County Arts Council's annual Night of the Spoken Word. The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature eight writers who will each spend 10 minutes sharing some of their work.

"It's a way of supporting and encouraging local writers," said Jane Lonon, executive director of the arts council, "to showcase the talent that we have in the literary arts in Ashe County by giving writers a chance to read and to garner input. It's not a critique - it's not designed for official audience feedback - but writers need to have a way to showcase their work, and reading it is very meaningful."

Lonon said that, for the audience, "it's really special to hear an author read their work. The way they read it, the way they interpret it, the way they sell it is sometimes very meaningful. Much more so than opening a book on your level, which is a very private activity, or hearing somebody else read it."

Jefferson resident Mickeal Goss, president of the Blue Ridge Writer's Group, said that he has participated in the event for several years that said it is like a little party for the local writing community" that gives the writers "a little something to work towards every year, a local showcase where you can get out in front of folks you know here in the county and do your thing."

Goss noted that "the main opportunity it gives you is just a chance to be around your fellow artists. It's more an opportunity of enjoyment than it is an opportunity for any kind of financial gain or publishing. You've got a chance to try out some new material and see how people react to it - that's always important.

Lonon said that the authors will present "the whole gamut of subject matter, themes and styles" at the event, ranging from short stories and fiction to poetry, songs and even plays. She added that the event gives the audience the opportunity "to hear new work, to sometimes be [one of] the first people to hear new work."

The writers who will perform at Night of the Spoken Word are: Goss, who will read poetry; Don Day, who will present poems about baseball and religion; Annehart Herrick, who will present verse based on local stories and legends; Clint Johnson, who will be reading from one of his 12 published books; Peggy Litschert, who will be reading an excerpt from her book A Parable of the Birds; Sandy Pinto, who will read an excerpt about modern education; Scot Pope, who will read poetry; and Julie Townsend, who will read an excerpt from a short story.

The event, which Lonon describes as a "very informal night," will also feature refreshments. To find out more about Night of the Spoken Word, contact the arts council at (336) 846-2787 or click to www.ashecountyarts.org.