Intimate, smart and radical are just a few ways to describe Sherman Alexie's writing.

The author and humorist, will come to Victoria as a guest speaker for the Victoria College Lyceum Lecture Series on Feb. 7.

Victoria College, the Victoria Public Library and the Victoria Advocate are conducting a short story contest in anticipation of the celebrity author's visit.

Alexie writes, "Humor was an antiseptic that cleaned the deepest of personal wounds."

"Laughter as Medicine" is a theme running throughout Alexie's stories.

Write a 500-700 word short story following the comedic, yet therapeutic theme.

The top three winners will have their stories featured in the Victoria Advocate and receive a signed copy of Alexie's "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven."

Submissions are accepted online at newsroom@vicad.com, with "Laughter as Medicine," in the subject line. Entries should include a full name, city of residence and a day time phone number.

The deadline for submission is 5 p.m. Jan. 28 and winners will be notified by Feb. 1.

For more information, email Lisa DeVries at Lisa.DeVries@victoriacollege.edu or Carolina Astrain at castrain@vicad.com.

• • WHAT: Lyceum lecture by Sherman Alexie, author and humorist, who will speak on society and pop culture

  • WHEN: Noon Feb. 7

  • WHERE: The Victoria Fine Arts Center, 1002 Sam Houston Drive

  • COST: Free