When people think of music, they often think of performances or recordings. When people think of stories or novels, they tend to think ink on paper. Artists perform in a variety of mediums, but the spoken words of an author can be undervalued or underrepresented.

BookPeople of Moscow will host three authors: Christian Winn, a published author and two Master of Fine Arts (MFA) candidates from the University of Idaho, Jerri Benson and Ross Hargreaves.

Benson and Hargreaves are both MFA students at the University of Idaho, Winn said. Both were previously undergraduate students at Boise State University where Winn mentored them before their graduations.

Winn kept in touch with Benson and Hargreaves through his Writers Write workshop series and emails, Winn said. As a mentor to his students, Winn wants his influence to be profound.

Recently named Idaho Writer in Residence, Winn aims to use his three-year term to collaborate with Idaho communities and writers.

“We’re gonna talk about craft and the idea of mentorship and hopefully (the audience) take(s) a more complex look at their own mentors from their school,” Winn said, “learning more about their writing process and their own take on it through mine and Ross’ and Jerri’s.”

Benson and Hargreaves will read their own work for five to 10 minutes each, and Winn will read his for 15 to 25 minutes. Although the event was planned in advance, Winn is still unsure of what he will read and what Benson and Hargreaves will read. Following the readings will be a Q and A discussion, according to the news release.

“I’d like the audience to be entertained and instructed. We’ll be reading something good, so I hope that they find it entertaining but also learning something about their own work,” Winn said.

BookPeople of Moscow owner and manager Carol Spurling had very little to do with organizing this event. However, when Kim Barnes, former Idaho Writer in Residence and UI MFA professor reached out to her, Spurling jumped at the opportunity.

“I reached out to Christian and the conversation just kind of went from there,” Barnes said. “We are lucky enough to have two MFA candidates that are former students of his so mentorship came up as a topic.”

As a proprietor of a small bookstore, Spurling understands and appreciates the writing community. Creativity is an important aspect of our society that needs to be nurtured, Spurling said.

“I love for people to see that writers are human beings, flesh and blood, and to learn that it is usually not magic, but hard work and lots of practice day in and day out, that results in a writing career,” Spurling said in an email.

One of Winn’s books, a collection of fictional short stories, is called “Naked Me” and will be available during the event. Christian Winn, Jerri Benson and Ross Hargreaves will present at 7:30 p.m. tonight at BookPeople of Moscow.