North Island College鈥檚 Write Here Readers鈥� Series returns this February, with some of Canada鈥檚 most widely recognized and award-winning authors.

The winter 2016 series kicks off Thursday, Feb. 25 with Jane Munro at NIC鈥檚 Comox Valley campus. Munro will read from Blue Sonoma, the Canadian winner of the 2015 Griffin Poetry Prize, the world鈥檚 largest prize for a first edition single collection of English poetry.

Blue Sonoma, published by Brick Books, is Munro鈥檚 sixth collection of poetry.

The poetry was written while she was living on Vancouver Island and caring for her late husband suffering from Alzheimer鈥檚 disease.

It describes his crossing into Alzheimer鈥檚 with wit, wisdom and candour.

Author Anne Simpson, herself a winner of the Griffin Poetry Prize, says, 鈥淛ane Munro鈥檚 new poems are open-hearted, yet quick and taut, with a playful 鈥� even biting 鈥� wit. How can Blue Sonoma be so elegant, so apparently simple, when each poem is a tinderbox?鈥�

Her reading takes place Feb. 25 in NIC鈥檚 Tyee Hall Lounge, starting at 7 p.m. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

Literary journalist John Vaillant, best known for The Golden Spruce, The Tiger and his recent debut novel, The Jaguar鈥檚 Children, will be the next speaker in the series, which takes place at NIC鈥檚 Comox Valley campus March 1.

Additional authors include Victoria authors Terence and Patricia Young on March 31.

NIC鈥檚 Write Here Readers鈥� Series showcases the richness of literary arts in our region, offering students and community members the opportunity to hear, meet and discuss ideas with some of Canada鈥檚 top writers. It is made possible through North Island College and Canada Council of the Arts. All readings are free and open to the public. To find out more about the series and winter 2016 reading schedule, visit www.nic.bc.ca.