New Voices Event Slated

Misty Valley Books in Chester, Vt., holds an event every year that offers a peak at new authors who might become household names in the future.

The 14th annual event will be held Jan. 26 with two sessions -- 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. -- at the First Universalist Church in Chester's Stone Village.

The event features six up and coming writers -- three at each session -- with a reception following each event in the church's basement.

This year's participants at the early session are James Collins with "Beginner's Greek," Aoibheann Sweeney with "Among Other Things I've Taken Up Smoking," and Nora Pierce with "The Insufficiency of Maps."

In the late session the participants are Pamela Thompson with "Every Past Thing," Emily Mitchell with "The Last Summer of the World," and James Cañon with "Tales from the Town of Widows."

These writers may not be household names yet, but there is a good chance they could soon be if history is any indicator.

Past New Voices participants include Gregory Maguire with "Wicked," Arthur Golden with "Memoirs of a Geisha," Dennis Lehane with "Mystic River," and Claire Messud "The Emperor's Children."

The public will have the opportunity to snowshoe or cross-country ski with the authors in the morning at Grafton Ponds, and can attend a lunch there as well. In between sessions, there will be a wine and cheese reception followed by dinner. Call for reservations.

For more information, call (802) 875-3400 or visit www.mvbooks.com.