If you think bugs can’t talk, feel, love or hate, you would be wrong. Fiction author Melody Mansfield made it possible in her new book: “A Bug Collection.” Surrounded by an intimate audience, Mrs. Mansfield gave a preview of her book at “The Read” on Oct. 16.

The monthly celebration started with a group of brave students and community members who took over the microphone to read poems of their authorship.

Mrs. Mansfield was introduced by her husband, English Professor Jerry Mansfield, who read a short story about how they met, followed by a brief introduction.

“I have the reputation on this campus of being a somebody who’s not afraid to do a lot of different things when it comes to projects,” said Mr. Mansfield. “but if I was compared to this Californian woman I would look like such as slacker, she has accomplished a lot.”

“What kind of bug are you?” Mrs. Mansfield asked the audience. The crowd laughed and smiled. “What kind of bug are you?” she asked again, “You don’t have to answer, but remind me later that I asked.”

Mrs. Mansfield started off with this question as an ice breaker. The first short story was called “The Mosquito’s Tale” but she skipped the prologue because of the tight schedule. Mrs. Mansfield managed to keep the audience engaged during the reading. This story is about love, a little dark but still love. As a reference she uses the Myth of Lilith (according to Midrashic literature, she was Adam’s first wife who was a rebelled and evil woman) creating a scenario where Lilith is a mosquito because of her demonized soul, making the reader sympathetic to Lilith and mosquitoes.

“The Mosquito’s Tale” was followed up by “Notes from the Underground or The Dream of a Ridiculous Worm,” a much happier story about a worm who found its way out of the underground and is free.

The mixture of humor and seriousness of Melody Mansfield’s stories captivated the audience. After an hour of reading, the audience was satisfied with the quality of the stories.

Melissa Rigaud, 20, undecided major, said she thinks it’s good to have people who have this kind of experience to come to “The Read” and help influence others.

And in case you are wondering: I asked her what kind of bug she was, and here is her answer: “This is not imaginative at all, but I really like bees. I guess if I’ll have to be something I’d be a bee.”

The next Read will be held in the Library Learning Resources building on Nov. 13 at 5 p.m. with Poet guest Brendan Constantine.