Let's hear it for the UBC Robson Reading Series, a showcase for authors, often first-timers, representing a wide range of communities and backgrounds. Diversity is the key, which isn't surprising when you consider that cocurator Michael V. Smith just won the Community Hero of the Year title from the 2007 Xtra West Hero Awards for his dedication to exactly that. Next up in the UBC series is the trio of Jon Paul Fiorentino (The Theory of the Loser Class), Brett Josef Grubisic (The Age of Cities), and Nathan Sellyn (Indigenous Beasts). Sellyn is in the spotlight himself, having just been nominated for the Danuta Gleed Literary Award, administered by the Writers' Union of Canada. (The winner will be announced June 2 in Vancouver, during the WUC's annual conference.) The free reading is tonight (May 17) at 7 p.m. at 800 Robson Street. For more info, visit rsquare.bookstore.ubc.ca/.