GREENVILLE — Author’s Night is a free event opened to the public, generously sponsored by the Friends of the Greenville Public Library.

Held at Montage Cafe in downtown Greenville where food and drink can be purchased, the evening is always extra-festive with live music by the J.R. Price and Bill Westfall. Doors open at 6 and the program starts at 7 p.m.

The dates for March and April have been changed so as not to conflict with Mainstreet’s “First Fridays.“ March 10 features Lee Martin and April 14 Vivian Blevins.

“We can’t wait to meet these interesting, accomplished, award-winning writers and hear their stories,” said organizers.

Martin has a bio on his website leemartinauthor.com along with info on his books, a blog, and links to interesting interviews.

“It’s impossible to do justice in a short article to this Pulitzer Prize Finalist author of five novels, two memoirs, and a short story collection,” said the organizers. “His fiction and nonfiction have appeared in all the quality publications and he’s received many major awards and fellowships. Lee teaches in the MFA Program at The Ohio State University where he was the winner of the 2006 Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching.”

Martin is originally from southeastern Illinois but lived as a “nomad in academia for a good while, living and teaching (and always writing!)” in various states. He now lives in Columbus, Ohio. His favorite quote about writing, which he passes on in each class he teaches, comes from Isak Dinesen who said, “Write a little every day, without hope, without despair.”

“Don’t miss the chance to meet and chat with this distinguished and humorous author,” organizers concluded.