Award-winning author, Benicia resident to give public reading

By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

Author Steven Boyett will join a pair of poets Sunday for a public reading to benefit a local literary group.

Boyett, a Benicia resident and author of “Ariel,” “Elegy Beach” and “Mortality Bridge,” will be the featured reader at the Rellik Tavern in the event to benefit Benicia Literary Arts, a group dedicated to encouraging and publishing local writers.

Poets Peter Bray and Jeff Burkhart, both Herald contributors, also will read, and all four of the city’s poets laureate — Joel Fallon, Robert Shelby, Ronna Leon and newly appointed Lois Requist — are expected to attend.

In fact it was Requist who approached Boyett about the event, he said. Previous readings at The Rellik have been all poetry, and “she wanted to expand into fiction,” he said. “I think some people told her about my readings, so she very kindly emailed me about it.”

Boyett, who last year received the Emperor Norton Award for “Mortality Bridge,” is currently writing on a new work, “Avalon Burning.” But he doesn’t plan to read from the novel-in-progress. Instead, the author will share some short stories.

One is a “Harley biker story” titled “Shipwrecked Cars.” The other, he said, began its life as a short play written for radio. “A friend of mine, years ago, had the opportunity to put together some brief radio plays, and asked if I had anything,” Boyett said. “When somebody asks a writer, ‘Do you have something?’ you say, ‘Of course,’ and then you go ahead and write it.

“It was originally written to be done on the radio. It’s sort of really funny and really tragic at the same time. It’s a sort of monologue from a commercial airline pilot called ‘I’m Sorry to Have to Tell You This.’”

Boyett said he wanted to read selections that, unlike his novels, haven’t had a lot of exposure. “I published a short story collection years ago, but they were never published in magazines. I like to read stuff that hasn’t been done anywhere,” he said.

He had to consider the time constraints of the occasion, too: The reading is scheduled for 3-5 p.m., and “I tend to write long,” he said.

“But I like the stories very much. … These are really fun to do.”

Boyett said he hopes to participate in more local readings. “It will be a little more work, because I do all my reading from memory. I don’t like to just read a sheet of paper.

“I’m really excited because I’ve done a bunch of readings in (San Francisco) and around the Bay Area, but I never thought there’d be a venue in Benicia. Not only is reading in Benicia exciting, I love The Rellik. Being able to give a reading there is very cool, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

If You Go
Readings by Steven Boyett, Peter Bray and Jeff Burkhart to benefit Benicia Literary Arts will take place Sunday at The Rellik Tavern, 726 First St., from 3-5 p.m. An open mic will follow the featured readers.

Visit www.steveboy.com/blog to see Steven Boyett read from his novel-in-progress, “Avalon Burning.”