Reading: Kelly Barnhill and Anne Ursu

I went to a reading today.  It's not something I do very often, but each time I do I am reminded that I really should do this more often. 

Kelly Barnhill and Anne Ursu were reading at The Loft.  I've known Kelly for a few years now and I've enjoyed her short fiction for just as long, but Anne Ursu was new to me.  Like, never heard of her before new.  But, thanks to the magic of the internet (and Kelly raving about her on Facebook), I was intrigued about the other half of the reading.

Kelly read from her debut novel The Mostly True Story of Jack.  I've heard Kelly read before, but never from her novel (it did just come out this year, after all).  Friggin delightful.  If the rest of the book is as good as what she read, I'm in for a treat.  But then, I figured as much. 

Speaking of being in for a treat...

Anne Ursu. 

I had never heard of Anne Ursu before.  I've heard of her now. 

Ursu was funny, charming, and self deprecating all at the same time.  That's before she started reading from her latest novel, Breadcrumbs.  Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen", the portions of Breadcrumbs Ursu read stoked my interest in checking out the rest of the book (and Ursu's other novels, for that matter).  Unlike Kelly's book, I don't already own a copy of Breadcrumbs.  That would be silly.  I hadn't heard of Ursu before.  But, it shall be read. 

Neither Kelly Barnhill nor Anne Ursu had to use their AK.  Today was a good day.