Steph @ Guild Complex Reading, California Clipper

Tonight – Steph took part in a prose reading series, sponsored by the Guild Complex. The reading itself was at the California Clipper – a pretty cool bar that I don’t end up going much, since it’s a bit out of the way.

It’s been a long while since I’ve been to the Clipper – the last time I was here was also for a reading, over a year ago.

The Guild Complex puts on some fun stuff. In addition to their reading series, I recall a particular reading at Catalyst Ranch, a few years back.

Interior shot. There weren’t a lot of people out in the main bar area, but the reading takes place in an adjoining backroom. And really – there were a good number of folks in attendence, given how sparse the bar itself was. The back room was filled pretty well, all in all.

Steph and Matt, before the reading.

Steph’s short story: The Deaf Girl.

Steph hadn’t really read in public in a long while, and tonight she found out she was going to be first. And while she mentioned being nervous while we were sitting around, waiting for the reading to begin… the moment she started her story, I got no sense of nervousness at all.

The story itself was incredibly strong, and Steph totally wowwed me with both her words and her reading. I’ve known for a long time that both Steph and Liz are voracious readers. But hearing her writing tonight… I discovered that Steph’s been doing more that simply reading. She’s been taking notes. In addition to the plots within those books, she’s been paying attention to the craft, to the writing as well.

I was reminded a lot of The Virgin Suicides, mostly in the way that Steph was able to portray a high school setting. Every character that spoke came across as an actual person, and I didn’t feel dialogue was wasted. When a character uttered a line, you got a really strong sense of who the speaker was – even if it was a very brief or minor character.

Even in her descriptions, Steph was able to paint a very intimate portrait of her characters. She’d list things in sequence, providing details… but then, at the end of that list, she’d add in one more thing. Typically it was something intricately detailed, some grain of specificity that just pullled her characters from the page, and made them anything but two-dimensional.

I realize I’m biased here because I’m her friend, but let me tell you – Steph is awesome. I’ll have to give you all some lead time, the next time she reads – you’re going to want to attend. I’m serious on this. Already, I’ve harped on her about MFA programs, as I think her writing is solid enough to help her into a graduate writing program.

I guess we’ll see what the future holds. And me, for my part, I’m looking forward to her next reading.