If you happen to be feeling both bookish and peckish at once (and who doesn’t?), there’s an evening coming up that’s not to be missed.

In a literary twist on a theme, guests can have a look at a book or at a visionary variation on the theme thereof, while enjoying appetizers and a bit of wine at this masterpiece of a party.

Get yourself down to the fundraising opening reception of the “Book Art Show for Writers” from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 15 at the Open Door Gallery in Langley.

If you miss the party, you’ll have plenty of time to see the “Book Art Show for Writers” through May 26 at the gallery in the Bayview Cash Store. If you buy something, you may find yourself on the acknowledgment page of some soon-to-be-famous Whidbey writer’s next book.

It’s a party with a purpose.

The fundraiser is being held especially for the writers of Whidbey Island in order to raise money for the Whidbey Island Writers Conference.

Gallery manager and local painter Sandra Whiting said that when the folks at the conference asked for the gallery’s help, she welcomed the chance.

“If writers need financial support to keep on writing books, then I want to be there to help. A world without books would be devastating,” Whiting said.

The conference, considered one of the best in the country, is taking a forced hiatus this year from its full-fledged March weekend extravaganza, and instead is presenting a series of smaller writer gatherings through the year.

The Chat House mini-conference on Saturday, June 12 is the largest of these, presenting a series of intimate workshops for writers with various professionals in the field for an entire day.

Recently, the Elizabeth George Foundation, which is based in Langley and sponsored by its namesake’s best-selling crime novelist, has offered the Whidbey Island Writers Conference a challenge to raise $15,000 by July 1 in order to match a grant for the same sum. The challenge hopes to help the conference claim the first $30,000 of its overall fundraising goal of $90,000. The idea is to get back to its full-weekend form by March 2011.

Wayne Ude, director of the Whidbey Island Writers Association, a division of the Northwest Institute of Literary Arts which sponsors the conference, said getting the conference back up to speed would be a boon to the island’s economy.

“This year, when our island economy could have really used that boost in early March, the conference didn’t happen,” Ude said.

“We want to make sure that no matter what the national economy throws at us in the future, the conference is on a sound financial footing and will always bring writers and readers to Whidbey that first weekend in March. This fund drive can ensure that the conference never again has to be canceled for financial reasons,” he added.

Thanks to the open-armed thinking of the Open Door Gallery crew, a bevy of writers and fine artists of the island have been asked to help meet that challenge by creating art with a bookish theme.

Whiting’s idea is to bring the visual artists and the writers on the island together.

“I feel that visual artists and performing artists have a venue for getting their work out to the public and seen. Writers are more ‘hidden away,’” she said.

She thought creating a physical place where patrons can find information about the conference, while enjoying a gallery filled with “book art” to browse and purchase in support, would be a great way to shine the spotlight on the writers of Whidbey.

All of the 35 pieces submitted by artists and writers will benefit equally the Whidbey Island Writers Conference, the artists and the gallery.

Book lovers and art lovers alike will certainly find something to love at this show.

Sculpted books, constructed books, altered books, journals, ceramic books, gourd books, paintings of books, bookshelves made of books, book characters, books that have been illustrated by artists, books written by local authors and just about any other bookish art you can think of will be in this show.

“It’s almost endless what an artist can create out of an existing book, as well as making a new book,” Whiting added.

Some of the artists in the show are Carol Dean, Susanne Newbold, Susan Jensen, Robin Barre, Mary Hawkins Key, Gayle Holmes, Elise Wiener, Suzanne Schlicke, Kim Kelzer, Bruce Launer and Whiting. They hail from both local and far-slung places such as New York, California and around the Northwest.

It is the Open Door’s goal to generate sales, raise funds for the nonprofit and make this show a community event.

To find out more about this event, visit the Open Door Gallery + Coffee Web site, click here.