On June 10th I went to The Gallery at Avalon Island (39 S Magnolia Avenue Orlando FL) to sketch There Will Be Words. The monthly event gives local authors a place to share their writing. The event is organized by Jessie Bradley and usually features up to five local authors. There are many poetry reading opportunities in town but this is the only regular event to feature fiction writing. On the walls were paintings that were a collaboration between Monte Olinger and Donna Dowless.
On this evening I focused on Stephanie R. Johnson. Her story was about the ghost of Truman Capote. He haunted a young woman’s apartment causing not fear, but a mild annoyance with his pretentious airs. Stephanie would shift into Truman’s personality on a dime. Truman’s flamboyant affectations eventually became unbearably and the living and dead needed to have a talk. Truman was quite used to always having his way and spending money as he pleased but the two needed to reach an agreement. The story had me laughing the whole time. Stephanie’s performance added to the delight. This is why the arts will always thrive. There is magic in the moment when people gather to share stories. Watching an author read her own words is far more intimate than sitting passively in front of a tube. Discovering Orlando’s hidden arts scene can be fabulous darling!
There Will Be Words was named Orlando’s Best Literary Reading Series by the readers of the
Orlando Weekly in 2013, it showcases the best writers
Florida has to offer, on the second Tuesday of every month at Gallery at Avalon Island, 39 S. Magnolia in Downtown Orlando. Mark Your Calendar! This months event will be tomorrow night, September 9th. The show starts promptly at 7pm and runs until 8pm and is event is free.