Poetry Bus Tour making stop at Auntie’s
The art of the spoken word has been an essential part of life since humans began emanating grunts with rhythm and rhyme.
From Tupac Shakur to Billy Collins, Rita Dove to Robert Wrigley, poets portray this thing we call existence and all its complex striations with an authenticity that has nothing to do with embedded reporters, political campaigns or TV reality shows.
It used to be fashionable to say that poetry’s dead. But one look at the Wave Books ‘06 Poetry Bus Tour disproves that.
Beginning Sept. 4 with two events in Seattle and running through Oct. 27, when the final show will be held at Seattle’s Space Needle, more than 100 poets, joined by musicians, filmmakers and journalists, will visit 50 U.S. and Canadian cities in 50 days.
Among the hot stops: Boise, Missoula, Denver, Omaha, Neb., Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Ann Arbor, Mich., Pittsburgh, Toronto, Montreal, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., New Orleans, Houston, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Portland
The bus will stop Sept. 5 for a 7:30 p.m. event at Auntie’s Bookstore. For further information, access the Wave Books Web site at www.poetrybus.com. A suggested donation of $5 will be requested.
Not the right name
In a feature story headlined “Monumental Struggle” that I wrote for the Aug. 13 edition of The Spokesman-Review, I mentioned the conflict that “has become known as the Battle of Steptoe Butte.”
Since then, at least two local historians made a point of clarifying that that the so-called battle never got near the 3,600-foot peak. It was, instead, waged just north of what is now Rosalia, Wash.
So let’s correct another historical misconception: It might be known as the Battle of Steptoe, but there was no Battle of Steptoe Butte.
Here’s a challenge: What are some other Inland Northwest myths, lies or misconceptions that have over time become accepted as fact? Send your suggestions to danw@spokesman.com.
Senior writers
Lisa Conger and Virginia White will again offer a range of writing classes for seniors 55 and older through the Instititue for Extended Learning. Classes, which begin in mid-September, will include a poetry workshop (taught by Conger), several writers’ workshops (Conger, White) and a writing class titled “Migratory Words” (Conger and Anne Selcoe).
Class fees range from $38 to $55. Participants are urged to register at least a week before classes begin.
For further information, call (509) 533-4756.
Movies, not books
This may not belong in a books column, but since books are often made into movies, I thought it wouldn’t hurt.
FM 103.9, in conjunction with Best Buy, is inviting local filmmakers to submit short (under 20 minutes) “family friendly” films to what is being called the 103.9 Bob FM Film Competition.
Those selected will be shown Sept. 16 at the Spokane Interstate Fair. The overall winner will be given a Video iPod and accessories worth $500.
Bring the completed films, with running time and synopsis, plus contact information, to Citadel Broadcasting, 1601 E. 57th Ave. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday. Call (509) 444-6772.
Writers needed
Sandpoint-based Lost Horse Press is still looking for writers interested in Write On! A Creative Writing Miniconference that’s set for Sept. 15 through 17 in Sandpoint. Three writers, poets Marvin Bell and Matt Yurdana, and novelist Claire Davis will teach a range of workshops. Cost is $200. For further information, call (208) 255-4410 or access the Web site www.losthorsepress.org.
Bodinski is baaaad
If you’re fan of the comic strip “brinkerhoff” – and anyone, but especially guys, who has ever gone through a divorce is bound to be – then you might be interested to know that the strip’s creator Gabe Strine is putting out a book titled “Bodinski’s Blog” (98 pages, $12.95).
Strine, a Spokane cartoonist, is publishing the book, a compilation of strips through the print-on-demand publisher Lulu (www.lulu.com). You can get an idea of Stine’s humor, which he classifies as “recommended for mature readers,” at the site.
By the way, besides being syndicated in the Pacific Northwest Inlander, “brinkerhoff” is available online at www.brinkcomic.com.
The reader board
•Beth Bollinger (“Until the End of the Ninth”), signing, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today, Valley Hastings, 15312 E. Sprague Ave. ((509) 924-0667).
Note: In the July/August issue of Spokane Coeur d’Alene Living magazine, Holly Chase Williams wrote a rave review of “Until the End of the Ninth,” calling it a “must for baseball fans and history buffs alike.”