This year's fifth-annual Writers Harvest reading should stand out from its predecessors, due to the diversity of its participants.
Like other University readings, it is part of the Visiting Writers Series sponsored by the Hopwood Awards Program. However, this event is sponsored by the Share Our Strength organization and is a benefit for hunger relief.
All proceeds from the reading will go to Food Gatherers, a local hunger relief organization. Similar readings will take place across the country tonight, but Ann Arbor's version should be unique, as it emphasizes writers from the University and Ann Arbor communities.
"We wanted to showcase some local writers ... writers we haven't heard from," said Andrea Beauchamp, associate for the Hopwood Awards Program. She cited the fact that University professor and playwright OyamO will be part of the event. "We've never had a dramatist read (at the Writers Harvest reading)," Beauchamp said.
Other participants include Debra Allbery, an Ann Arbor poet; Laura Kasischke, a Chelsea poet and novelist; and Anton Shammas, a poet and novelist who has taught at the University.
Allbery also said she was pleased with the variety of writers selected. "I don't know the work of Anton Shammas and OyamO very well, so I'm looking forward to becoming acquainted with them," she said.
The writers who will take part in this event appear to be looking forward to the reading, as well.
"It's a very good cause. I was pleased to be asked," said Kasischke, a University alum and instructor at Washtenaw Community College.
OyamO agreed with this assessment. "I think these are good ways to make a social contribution to people who are really needful. It's an honor to help people, and it's part of your responsibility as a citizen," he said.
Allbery pointed out another benefit of the event. "It's a nice opportunity to read, too," she said. "I've only been in Ann Arbor the past couple of years, and haven't met a lot of writers. I'm looking forward to reading in a new town."
Beauchamp expects that audiences will respond with the same enthusiasm and make this reading a popular one. With a suggested donation of $5, she projected that the event would raise between $1,000 and $1,500.
"One year we raised the second-highest amount in the U.S.," Beauchamp said. "It's usually pretty well-attended."
Some of the participants even think that the University should sponsor more readings to benefit charitable organizations.
"I think if they're really a success and seem to help, it's not a bad idea to do things like this," said OyamO.
Allbery agreed, saying the importance of such events was in "the awareness that Share Our Strength and other events like this can raise."
For now, though, audiences can attend the Writers Harvest reading to help others and also experience an enjoyable literary evening.
As Beauchamp said, "There are four different writers - there's always something you're interested in."
Playwright OyamO will read at tonight's Writers Harvest.