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Alberni author’s words on fire

Books: | Alberni resident Vicki Drybrough’s short story has been chosen for Stuart McLean’s next Vinyl Café book.
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Vicki Drybrough was surprised to find out one of her short stories

What makes a writer jubilant? For author Vicki Drybrough of Port Alberni, it’s being published.

For a writer, seeing her/his words in print is thrilling; Drybrough is no exception. She sent one of her short stories, Macaroni & Cheese, to CBC’s Vinyl Café radio show in 2010, but she didn’t hear back from anyone.

Months later, in 2011, someone from CBC contacted her to let her know her story was going to be read on the air. When she listened in, the realization hit that Stuart McLean, a professional storyteller, was reading her story on air.

That was it, she thought, still basking in the excitement. But in 2012, she received a letter from the Vinyl Café asking permission to publish her story in their book if chosen.

Now, it’s done. The book Time Now for the Vinyl Café Story Exchange is published and her short story—as well as few others from Vancouver Island writers—is now available to readers.

Once a reader gets past the surface of Drybrough’s story, they will realize Macaroni & Cheese has nothing to do with the popular pasta dish: it is about a true relationship between a dad and his daughter.

Drybrough has been writing since her youth. She has had small pieces published in literary magazines in the past. After retiring from teaching, she took a course with Derek Hanebury in Creative Writing at North Island College.

The result is more writing and also—with fellow Port Albernians—the creation of a writers’ group, Words on Fire, that meets at Char’s Landing on the last Wednesday of every month.

Drybrough is pretty proud of her group and of their meeting place and its unique acoustics. Writers’ guests who come for a reading or a talk are red with envy, Drybrough says with a big smile.

There is a surprising amount of writers in the Valley and she hopes that, one day, we will all know of each other and form a strong supportive group. That’s a project that I hope will come to realization soon.

One project for the future that Drybrough holds dear to her heart is publishing a book, a compilation of her many short stories, maybe adorned with some of her poems. I look forward to reading this collection.

The next Words on Fire is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 27 at Char’s Landing, from 7–9 p.m. Admission is $5.

For more information on how to order Time Now for the Vinyl Café Story Exchange, please go online to www.vinylcafe.com.