Dorchester Banner Editor Paul Clipper will be the guest speaker at the DCA's Literary Lunchbox at the Dorchester Center for the Arts in Cambridge at noon on Friday, December 5, 2014.

The Dorchester Center for the Arts presents its free Literary Lunchbox program Friday at noon.  The Guest Author will be Paul Clipper.

The new Editor and Webmaster at the Dorchester Banner, Paul has had a long road behind him as he made his way to Cambridge. He discovered his writing ability when he fell into the Assistant Editor’s position on a small motorcycle magazine in California almost 40 years ago, where he intended to work as a photographer. Since then he’s worked as a Managing Editor at the number one motorsports magazine in its field, created corporate newsletters, spent 24 years as owner and publisher of his own successful monthly magazine, been involved in publication start-ups, web site launches and served time as a technical writer, while still wielding a camera as a professional field photographer.

“I learned about writing the easy way,” he tells us. “When I was young, I spent every available moment reading; and I still do. I think of reading as the greatest privilege I’ve ever been given--when you read, you’re given the opportunity to actually see what good writing sounds like and looks like. There’s no better way to learn how to put words together.”

Paul will spend this Friday talking about his back pages, and reading samples of his own writing as well as the work of writers who influenced him as a young man, and continue to affect his work today.

There is no charge to participate, but attendees should bring a pack lunch. A beverage will be provided. For more information, call 410-228-7782. Doors open at 11 1/2, the trouble starts at noon....

Holiday Gift Ideas

The Dorchester Center for the Arts is offering gift certificates of any denomination for the holidays. Gift certificates can be used for classes, the Studioworks gift shop and gallery purchases. The new winter schedule for classes is available on the website, which is dorchesterarts.org.

In addition, tickets for the musical “Godspell,” which will be presented Jan. 23, 24, 25, 29, 30 and Feb. 1, are also available for purchase and are suitable as gifts.

Shopping hours are Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and also extended hours on Dec. 8, 10, and 11 until 8 p.m.

Editor’s note: Spectrum is the weekly column of the Dorchester Arts Center. It is written by Mickey Love, executive director.