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One of my favorite scenes from Capote has to be the reading in New York. Alone on the stage with just a podium and his words, Truman Capote captivates the entire theater. The audience hangs on every word. He is treated with the same revere now reserved for movie stars or musicians, but reminds us of a time and place when authors were treated like rockstars.

While most major cities, New York included, continue this literary tradition, the occurrence of readings has definitely diminished over the years. These days, if the book is any good, most people would rather pay $8.50 to see it splashed on the big screen.

While New Orleans pulls big names like Toni Morrison and Dave Eggers, things have slowed drastically since the storm, and other than author appearances at the local Barnes and Noble, readings in Baton Rouge are practically nonexistent, except maybe at the local universities. But even so, they are academic in nature and usually very audience-specific.

Imagine my delight when I found out about the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence. In an effort to honor this amazing author by passing the torch to a new generation of African-American writers, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation arranged an elaborate awards ceremony complete with presentation of a gorgeous bronze statuette by local artist Robert Moreland and a reading by the winner Olympia Vernon.

The evening was one I will not soon forget. Dressed to the nines (I didn't get the memo and rather embarrassingly wore jeans) everyone filed into the Manship Theatre and were treated to an amazing evening with two very gifted authors. As Derek Gordon showered Gaines with words of praise, it struck me how humbled this great man remains. As he addressed the audience and touched on parts of his past—growing up on a plantation in Pointe Coupee Parish and having to leave the state just to attend high school—his voice never faltered and as he read from the single sheet of paper in his trembling hands the careful way he crafted his words rang out in eloquent prose. They even brought tears to the eyes of Vernon and many in the audience, myself included. What a rare treat to be in the presence of such humble greatness.

When Vernon took the podium, dabbing her eyes with tissues, the audience was treated to a reading from her book A Killing in This Town, but more compelling perhaps was the reading from her journal that preceded, a passage she had written that morning on the train from Oregon. More like a well-executed stream of consciousness than a typical "dear diary" entry, Vernon's words were a true testament to her unfaltering talent. We will see great things from her.

The evening ended with a reception, and as the audience snacked on crab cakes and sipped martinis I noticed Gaines seated among family and friends sipping an amber-colored liquid from a heavy-bottomed crystal glass. I proclaimed to my friends how I would love to share a scotch with Ernest Gaines. I found out later that his drink of choice is actually Gentleman Jack and Coke. I still think I'd take that drink if it meant being able to exchange ideas with Ernest Gaines.