Bob’s Bookstore, a new shop in downtown Charleston, will celebrate its opening with a reading of poetry and essays from Lania Knight and Bob Zordani at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Knight, a creative writing professor at Eastern, said she will be reading an essay and the beginning of a novel she is currently working on.

“The essay is called ‘I’m Touching You Now’ and the novel I am currently working on is called ‘Remnant,’” she said.

The essay was recently published, and she said she has read it at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

“This is my way of celebrating the opening of this bookshop in town, and I am glad to be a part of it,” she said. “The essay was well liked at the school’s reading so I thought others outside the university would like it as well.”

This reading will be the beginning of a series at the shop called “Readings at Bob’s Series.”

Joe Judd, the owner of the bookstore, said he put on this series in his first shop in Chicago.

“The series was a great hit in the first shop, so many people got involved with the readings and more than just poetry was read,” he said.  “Even though I sold the shop and no longer own it, the current owners still keep the series going to this day.”

Judd said the new series will consist of featured poets that are students, Eastern professors and community members.

“This series is not only something for the students to enjoy and listen to others’ poetry, but is practice for them as well,” he said. “No matter how old you are or how much experience you have reciting poetry and other written works, everyone needs practice.”

He said the series will continue over the summer, but with local poets being featured instead of professors.  The series will be more active during the school year.

The performance is free for everyone to attend.

Knight said she is reading her pieces at the shop because bookstores are one of her two favorite places.

“My favorite places to be are the woods and a bookshop, and since I cannot be in the woods, the shop is the next best place to be,” she said.

Stephanie White can be reached at 581-2812 or at sewhite2@eiu.edu.