When you are reading a novel or a piece of poetry do you ever wonder if you are giving it the justice the author intended. Author and journalist, Trevor Cole has taken some of the guess work out of author interpretation by designing a website to help readers experience short literary pieces exactly how the author intended.

In this case, Canadian authors from "recognized Canadian publishing houses" read excerpts from their latest work. At the moment of this writing over 80 audio recordings are available for your listening enjoyment.

This website had some technical difficulties in 2008 but has since been relaunched and looks great. There are currently eighty plus audio files available that will provide a great introduction to Canadian writers. Approximately fifty of them are fiction related. Kathryn Kuitenbrouwer, Catherine Bush, Sally Cooper, Vincent Lam, Kathy Page and Kristen den Hartog (one of my favorite authors - Water Wings) are just a few of the authors who have participated.

Some of the audio files have an introduction by Cole who gives a brief bio on the author and their literary history while others get straight to business with the author introducing the piece they are reading. The readings are long enough to give listeners a taste of the author's creativity as well as instill a curiosity for more. Where relevant there are links to the author's official website so readers can delve into the latest events and releases.

If you are into social networking and Twitter, you can follow Authors Aloud to receive updates when new podcasts and audio readings are added to the website.

Visit Authors Aloud to start listening to the words of great authors and poets.

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M. E. Wood lives in Eastern Ontario, Canada. If you are going to find this eclectic reader and writer anywhere it is probably at her computer. For more information visit her official website.