Authors and readers alike look forward to bringing the printed word to life at a special monthly event in Oxford, Katherine MacAlister finds out more

If you want to hear some of the best, new, upcoming authors reading their latest work or watch them being turned into performances by professional actors, then head down to the Short Stories Aloud event held monthly at the Old Fire Station.

Writers are also keen to take part in the relaxed evenings, which usually involve several stories being read out, before a Q&A session with the renowned collection of authors.

Set up by Sarah Franklin in April 2012 to make up for a lack of story-reading events in the city, there is a busy winter schedule to look forward to, including debut novelist Eva Dolan reciting her crime novel Long Way Home, which focuses on a murder investigation in a migrant community.

Ms Dolan said: “I really love the idea of someone reading my work out loud, and seeing it acted out will be a new experience. It will be nice to sit back and see how it goes. And I’ve heard that Short Stories Aloud gets quite raucous, with cake and wine, so it should be fabulous.”

She will be sharing the evening with Sophie Hardach, a former Reuters reporter, whose second novel Of Love and Other Wars was published last year, and who has written a short story especially for the event on Tuesday evening. “It’s really lovely, having a world premiere in a way,” Ms Franklin said.

Their stories will be read by Oxford actor Steve Hay and Thame-based actress Melissa Berry.

In fact, such is the popularity of Short Stories Aloud that the evenings might have to move to a bigger location to accommodate their growing audience. “At the moment we’re full to bursting,” Ms Franklin said.

And the reason? “I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but the best thing about it is the audience. “It’s such a brilliant community and we get 40-50 people coming along. But for the authors, it’s a bit like coming to a wedding – everyone’s already very excited and committed.”

Another secret crowd-puller is the novel way to avoid paying the £5 entry price – bringing a cake. “At Christmas someone asked if we would have mince pies. I said I wasn’t doing any more baking, but if someone else wanted to they didn’t have to pay, and then it stuck,” Sarah explains.

Future upcoming authors also include Helen Oyeyemi, one of Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists, in February, and Rachel Joyce, longlisted for the Booker in 2012. In April, Sadie Jones, and comedian and novelist Mark Watson are already booked.

Blackwell’s support the event by providing the authors’ books for sale, and having taken part in the Chipping Norton Literature Festival in 2013, Short Stories Aloud has already been invited to feature in this year’s Bath Literature Festival and the Oxford Literature Festival.

SEE IT
This month’s Short Stories Aloud event will take place on Tuesday at the Old Firestation from 7.30pm.
See oldfirestation.info or call 01865 263980