From poetry to prose, from the tight curl of a crashing wave at Oahu’s Bonzai Pipeline, or to the frozen edge of a high-mountain lake in the Cascades, Whidbey Island has writers who can take readers to places near and far.

Now, those wordsmiths are coming to Bayview.

The island’s natural landscape and tight-knit community seems to draw in all kinds of people who possess a variety of creative talents.

And authors are no exception.

Barbara Graham of Bayview Arts and writer Chris Highland decided that even though the community is full of authors, many community members may not be familiar with the local writing talent.

So, after some collaboration, Graham decided to hold a monthly event where local authors could interact with the community.

This isn’t the first time Graham has worked for more recognition of local talent.

“She organized the Artists’ Studio as a way for people to recognize how much talent is on the island, because it is so much to grasp,” said Cameron Castle, a board member for the Whidbey Island Writers Association.

“This is an effort to start promoting writers on Whidbey to the general public,” he said.

Every third Tuesday, two local authors will read excerpts from their works at the Smilin’ Dog Cafe.

The authors’ books will be available for signing, and the cafe will offer a variety of food and drink for the occasion.

“I was looking for a venue where you could sit and relax — like being in your own living room,” Graham said.

The authors will read up front by the stove, and a microphone will be set up.

Castle is in charge of recruiting local talent for the events.

The two main criteria for writers to participate in readings are they must be published and living on Whidbey Island.

Castle said he is going to try to have two writers from the same or a similar genre participate in the same event. He’s also looking for authors who are able to entertain audiences.

“We want it to be a fun event,” Castle said.

It makes sense that the monthly readings are collaborated with the local writers’ association.

The main goal of WIWA is to enhance local authors’ work and support an extended community of both established and aspiring writers.

“The more recognition you get and the more interaction you have, the more chance you have of people sharing success,” Castle said.

“The WIWA program is quite remarkable for the professional job they do to promote writing,” he said.

Castle said Graham’s idea for author readings goes hand-in-hand with WIWA principles.

“I think it’s about building a community of writers, as opposed to having a community with writers in it,” Castle said. “Not to mention the fact that there are many writers on the island that we don’t even know about.”

The first two authors to read their work are likely to be familiar faces.

Both have published several books, and both authors write about subjects with recreational, environmental and social implications.

Drew Kampion has been writing about surfing and surfing related topics since the 1960s. He also published the Island Independent, a magazine in newsprint from 1993 to 1996.

Tom Trimbath’s latest works have told the tales of nearby mountain lakes. He records his insights about the lakes for an entire year, from the lonely winter season to the hustle and bustle of the summer hiking scene.

Trimbath’s first novel is about a cross-country bicycling trip starting in Washington and ending in Florida.

Both authors are eager to be taking part in the new event.

“I’m actually looking forward to it because I’m realizing that I’m meeting other writers through this as well,” Trimbath said.

“That helps the writers’ community in its own right, just to support each other and talk about each other’s books,” he said. “And I think that’s really important.”