Evolution, Fishing Are Quinnett’s Lens For Viewing Human Race

Fresh off his first book, the clever melding of psychology and fishing titled “Pavlov’s Trout,” Paul Quinnett has tackled a fascinating new topic.

In “Darwin’s Bass,” Quinnett writes about… evolution… Zzzzzzzzzzzz.

Wait, that’s not fair. Sure, Quinnett says, his new book “holds together around the theme of evolutionary theory.”

But that doesn’t make it boring.

“Not in my hands,” he says, “because I’m going to bring evolution into the 21st century with hope, light and laughter.” And along the way, he adds, “We’re gonna own our natural roots and our role in nature.”

Quinnett, clinical director of Greentree Behavioral Health, has been writing freelance articles for years. But he hit a larger market with “Pavlov’s Trout,” which is in its fifth printing for the Sandpoint-based publisher Keokee Co. Publishing.

In fact, after one hardback and four paperback printings, the company reports, “Pavlov’s Trout” has sold nearly 20,000 copies. That’s about as much of a best-seller as a small press can expect.

“Darwin’s Bass,” whose initial run is 4,000 paperback and 1,000 hardback, is a further attempt to use man, fish and the lure of fishing as a way of examining humankind and its place on the planet. “This is, in some ways,” Quinnett admits, “much more conservation-oriented in terms of how humans fit into the planet - if we fit in at all.”

He laughs when he says that, just as he laughs when he suggests a title for his next book: “Freud’s Flounder” (“the only fishing book in the world with stuff on sex, death and suicide,” he says).

But that one hasn’t yet been written. Quinnett is too busy organizing a national suicide prevention project and promoting “Darwin’s Bass.” He’ll read from the book at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Auntie’s Bookstore, Main and Washington.

You might want to show up and hear what he has to say. And if you do, don’t worry about telling him what you don’t like. Quinnett likes to fish - but not necessarily for compliments.

Just for Valentine’s Day

Not everything that occurs at Auntie’s Bookstore involves books. For example, at 7 p.m. on Wednesday a benefit will be held to help raise the funds necessary to send 96 panels of the AIDS quilt to Spokane.

NOTE: The wrong date was listed in a story that ran on Thursday.

The benefit, which is being called “Celebrating the Lives,” will feature music, a mime performance, artwork and photography by area artists.

The minimum donation is $15.

First effort

According to his publicity, William B. Williams is a “first-time author, adventurer, entrepreneur, self-made millionaire and student of life.”

In short, the description continues, “Williams is a man with a plan, and he is on the road traveling through America.”

Williams’ first (so far) book is “Future Perfect, Present Empowerment: A Road Map for Success in the 21st Century” (Patriot’s Press, 390 pages, $29.95). It is an intellectual treatise that, in the words of Publisher’s Weekly, is an “offbeat, freewheeling self-help guide” that, further, is a “stimulating, unorthodox manual (that) offers a cornucopia of ideas.”

Williams will be signing copies of his book from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday at B. Dalton Booksellers in NorthTown mall and from 5 to 7 p.m. at Hastings, 1704 W. Wellesley.

Prices slashed!

Those two words printed above are always welcome to habitual readers. They, in particular, apply to the bookstore at Eastern Washington University, which is offering a 20 percent discount on a variety of wedding-oriented books through Thursday.

Furthermore, as February is African-American History Month, a number of books involving that subject area are discounted 20 percent through Feb. 29.

Four green thumbs

A pair of Portland writers are the experts that Chicago Review Press turned to for help in printing two Northwest growing guides.

Barbara Ashmun is the author of “200 Tips for Growing Flowers in the Pacific Northwest” (115 pages, $7.95 paperback), and Maggie Stuckey is the author of “200 Tips for Growing Vegetables in the Pacific Northwest” (144 pages, $7.95 paperback).

Both books offer easy-to-understand, easy-to-follow guides for designing, tending and harvesting backyard flower and/or vegetable gardens.

And both are full of interesting information.

As Ashmun writes, “Annual heliotrope (Heliotropium aborescens) combines the richness of purple and the delightful scent of vanilla.”

The reader board

Three Spokane romance writers - Joan Overfield, Mary Pat Kanaley (pen name Patricia Williams) and Rene J. Garrod - will read from their latest works at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Auntie’s Bookstore.

Paul Quinnett, author of “Pavlov’s Trout,” will read from his new book, “Darwin’s Bass,” at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Tellers Two, a storytelling duo, will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday at Whitworth College. Tickets are $2; call 466-3707 for tickets.

, DataTimes