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Humourist,poet launch book at Char's

Two Vancouver Island writers are combining their comic and poetic talents in a dual book launch at Char’s Landing on Wednesday, Nov. 28.

NANAIMO—Two Vancouver Island writers are combining their comic and poetic talents in a dual book launch at Char’s Landing on Wednesday, Nov. 28.

Humourist Judy Millar will launch her short story collection—Beaver Bluff: The Librarian Stories—at Port Alberni’s “Words on Fire.” However, Millar says her librarians aren’t like any you’re likely to meet locally.

“My stories are set in Big Beaver County, a fictional county somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. When these librarians aren’t scheming to sweeten up their superiors or set their colleagues for downsizing, they’re trying to outdo each other with their literary tattoos!”

Beaver Bluff has been called a “whimsical, witty and wacky collection of stories for those who love to laugh” by 20-year library staffer and author, Lois Peterson.

Millar is an award-winning writer and a frequent spoken-word performer, so her Beaver Bluff launch is sure to be entertaining.

Nanoose Bay poet Pat Smekal will also be on hand to read from her latest book, Small Corners. “These poems introduce people who have touched my life in special ways,” says Smekal.

“But I think they do more than that. I believe each is a snapshot, reflecting the fleeting delicacies or small passing disasters of human experience.”

Smekal’s poetry has won a number of prizes and has been widely published in Canadian journals, anthologies and chapbooks. Like Millar, she is a frequent reader at spoken word events.

The dual launch takes place at 7 p.m. on Nov. 28.