LAKE PLEASANT — With the launch of a new open mic series for writers, local historian and National Spiritual Alliance member David James hopes to make the tight-knit village of Lake Pleasant even tighter.

The Village of Lake Pleasant Tea & Crumpet Society will convene for the first time this Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Thompson Temple, 2 Montague Ave. Organized in partnership with the National Spiritual Alliance, Lake Pleasant Village Association, Daughters of the Forest and Independent Order of Scalpers, the event encourages authors from around the region to read their work aloud for up to 10 minutes. While the gatherings are unlikely to actually feature tea and crumpets, James hopes the “smorgasbord” of poetry and prose will grow attendance — and Lake Pleasant’s notoriety — as more events are held.

James described himself as a “journeyman journalist,” having spent a large portion of his life bouncing between New York and parts of New England before finally settling in Lake Pleasant.

“In life, you don’t get any do-overs, really, but in a way, I now experience something I had lacked, which is living in a small place where everybody knows everybody,” James said.

He explained that his motivation to start the Tea & Crumpet Society largely stemmed from this comradery, as well as the idea that such a club might help others experience the same togetherness for the first time as he once had.

“I wanted to see whether something like this was viable because a lot of people, even in the town of Montague, don’t know how to get to Lake Pleasant,” he said. “Sometimes, you have to stop dreaming about things and do it.”

Lake Pleasant is the smallest of the five villages of Montague. 

Following this Thursday’s inaugural meeting, the group will convene on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at the same time and place. Village residents planning to attend are asked to walk, rather than drive. Parking will be available on the lawn of the National Spiritual Alliance, as well as parking on James’ front lawn at 11 Montague Ave. Donations will be collected at each event to help defray rental expenses, James said.

Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-930-4231 or jmendoza@recorder.com.