(Photo L to R shows: ANN HOOD: Bestselling author Ann Hood will be one of the authors promoting adult literacy at A Novel Evening, which will benefit Project Read. SALT CAY WRITERS RETREAT; LEE CHILD: Bestselling author Lee Child will read from his latest hit work to benefit Project Read at A Novel Evening. SALT CAY WRITERS RETREAT)

From May 23 - 28, participants at the annual Salt Cay Writers Retreat will be honing their writing skills with the best in the literary industry. Armed with their laptops, writers from countries near and far will board the Blue Lagoon Island ferry to spend each day rubbing elbows with literary agents and published authors, in the hopes of perfecting their manuscripts on the shores of Salt Cay, Bahamas - also known as Blue Lagoon Island.

It only seems fitting that some of the industry’s best wordsmiths would share their love for the art with the local public in the name of promoting literacy.

On Thursday, May 26, the Salt Cay Writers Retreat will be partnering with the Inner Wheel Club of East Nassau and Luciano’s of Chicago Restaurant to offer an evening of readings by three New York Times and international bestselling authors. Also sponsored by Coldwell Banker, the Ministry of Tourism and Dolphin Encounters, the event, entitled A Novel Evening, will give guests the opportunity to meet the authors and have personal copies of their books signed while enjoying the harborfront view with a welcome cocktail and hors d’oeuvres. A fully stocked cash bar will also be open onsite.

Proceeds from A Novel Evening, will benefit Project Read, a free local literacy program which offers confidential tutoring to adult non-readers.

According to Project Read, it is estimated that as much as 25 percent of Bahamians are unable to read and write at a “standard that allows them to function properly in our society”. Project Read is dedicated to helping individuals acquire everyday listening, speaking and reading skills to expand their problem-solving abilities and job skill set.

“Having been a member of the Inner Wheel Club for more than 25 years, I was more than happy to support Project Read in whatever way I could,” said Lucianos Director of Special Events Sue Lawrence. “Promoting adult literacy is certainly a worthy cause, and Lucianos is honored to be able to offer the ideal setting to do just that.”

Novelist Lee Child, who is best known for his Jack Reacher thriller series, which inspired the film by the same name starring Tom Cruise, will read from his latest hit novel.

He will be accompanied by award-winning author Ann Hood, who is known for her bestselling novels “The Knitting Circle”, “The Obituary Writer” and “The Red Thread”. Hood’s memoir, “Comfort: A Journey Through Grief”, was named one of top 10 non-fiction books of 2008 by Entertainment Weekly and was a New York Times Editors Choice. Hood will read from her recent work.

Rounding off the novelists is co-founder of the Salt Cay Writers Retreat and accomplished author Karen Dionne, who will debut the first reading of her anticipated novel, “The Marsh King’s Daughter”, coming summer 2017.

A Novel Evening will be hosted by Luciano’s of Chicago from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on May 26. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are on sale for $50 and can be purchased from the restaurant on East Bay Street.

All members of the public are invited to support Project Read. For more information on supporting literacy or A Novel Evening, contact the Inner Wheel Club of East Nassau at innerwheel.eastnassau@gmail.com