Inuvik (Jun 23/06) - Author and entertainer, took his book tour and his literacy message to the land of the midnight sun.

McLean is the host of the CBC Radio show, the Vinyl Cafe.

Author and radio host Stuart McLean was in Inuvik on Tuesday night to share stories at Sir Alexander Mackenzie school. McLean premiered two stories that had never appeared in any of his books or on his radio show, the Vinyl Cafe. The NWT Literacy Council sponsored the show and will receive any proceeds from the event. - Adam Johnson/NNSL photo

The show features stories McLean has written over the last 11 years. The performance in Inuvik was an idea he had during a recent visit to Yellowknife.

"We were already that far North, so I asked to do a show here, too," said McLean.

The evening started off with a performance by some up-and-coming fiddlers from the Strings Across the Sky group.

McLean said the show was meant to encourage reading in the community, and to give support for literacy programs in the Northwest Territories.

"The NWT literacy association gets all the proceeds from these shows here in the North," said McLean.

While he had his audience in a hush, McLean read two new stories that had never been recorded on the radio or published in his books.

"It's a special event, like a premier in Inuvik," he said.

McLean said he enjoys his travels across the world because it helps create awareness of literacy issues.

"Literacy isn't just about the youngsters. It's about people of all ages," said McLean.

One in 10 people have some difficulty reading, said McLean, and he wants to support programs that get people into books.

"It is really hard to get by in this world if you can't read," said McLean.

Staying involved in programs that assist the learning process is something that McLean finds satisfaction in.

Now that he has read to an audience here, he plans on continuing his international tour.

"I'll be stopping in at the Edenborough festival in Scotland, and Australia after that," said the busy author.

In October, McLean takes the Vinyl Cafe down the west coast, on a complete tour through British Columbia.

For the past 11 years, McLean has been on the radio with his show and started touring in 1998 reading to audiences all over the nation.

He has published four books and has a new release coming out in September.