LC grad writes book of ‘Modern Sea Stories’
Spokane sits a few hundred miles from the Pacific Ocean.
Capt. Kelly Sweeney grew up here, graduating from Lewis and Clark High School in 1977. But the lure of the sea was strong, because since 1983 he has worked in the merchant marine, first as a seaman and then as an officer.
Now 47, Sweeney both goes to sea and writes a monthly column for Seattle-based Pacific Maritime Magazine. Some of those columns have been published under the title “From the Bridge: Authentic Modern Sea Stories” (Philips Publishing, 183 pages, $15.95 paper).
Sweeney will read from his book at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave.
Besides telling stories about modern-day pirates, 60-foot-tall waves and general life at sea, Sweeney’s intent, he says, is to educate the public about his industry.
“I would say that very few people know how the merchant marine impacts them,” Sweeney said in a recent interview from his Whidbey Island farm.
“For example, 70 percent, I would say, of what people use comes to them by ship – the cars they drive, the computers they use, the clothes they wear, in many cases even the food they eat. And yet they don’t realize it.”
To see an edited version of the interview, go online at www.spokesmanreview.com/interactive/bookclub.
Walter comes home
Spokane author Jess Walter began his tour to promote his new novel “The Zero” on Sept. 5 in New York.
Between stops in the big cities, from Los Angeles to Miami, Walter will return home Wednesday to read from “The Zero” at Auntie’s Bookstore (see reader board below).
Walter has been getting mostly good reviews for “The Zero,” including one from New York Times critic Janet Maslin, who calls him “a ridiculously talented writer.”
For a more comprehensive list, go to Walter’s Web site: www.jesswalter.com/index.htm.
Another final night
In my Sept. 3 column, I wrote that the Sept. 6 poetry reading at Mootsy’s, 406 W. Sprague Ave., was to be the final in its decadelong series. Seems that was a bit premature.
In what is being called “a fond farewell to the ‘Sunday Reading Series,’ ” a “final” event is scheduled to run at the tavern today from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Spokane poet Tom Davis is set to read from his epic poem “Peaceful Valley as Told to Gregory King,” followed by open-mike readings.
The free event will feature live music by Big Fiddlin’ Al.
For further information, call the show’s host, Zan Agzigian, at (509) 624-4502.
Meet the authors
In what it’s calling a “Book Lover’s Celebration,” the Valley Hastings will play host to six authors from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Friday at the store, 15312 E. Sprague Ave.
Invited are C.K. Crigger (“The Winning Hand”), Beth Mary Bollinger (“Until the End of the Ninth”), Tricia Goyer (“Arms of Deliverance: A Story of Promise”), Pamela Aidan (“An Assembly Such As This”), Wanda E. Brunstetter (“The Bishop’s Daughter”) and Craig Renaud (“Great American Wine: The Wine Rebel’s Manual”). Call (509) 924-0667.
Renaud also will hold a signing Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Davenport Hotel downtown.
It’s your turn
Spokane Public Library wants your help, which is why it has put its 2006 Library Service Evaluation online.
The form, which asks such questions as which branch you use most and to rate the service you received, is an expanded version of a similar 2005 survey.
The answers, which will be available in November, will help the library plan for 2007.
If you have Web access, go to www.zoomerang.com/recipient/survey.zgi?p=WEB225JQWRK4LE or call (509) 444-5000.
Book talk
•Dark City Mystery Book Group (“The Enemy,” by Lee Child), 7 p.m. Monday, Auntie’s Bookstore, Main and Washington. Call (509) 838-0206.
•Hastings Inspirational Readers Group (“Gilead,” by Marilynne Robinson), 7 p.m. Monday, Valley Hastings, 15312 E. Sprague Ave. Call (509) 924-0667.
The reader board
•Final Mootsy’s Spokane Word Event, 5:30-7:30 p.m. today, Mootsy’s, 406 W. Sprague. Call (509) 624-4502.
•Michael Punke (“Fire and Brimstone: The North Butte Mining Disaster of 1917”), reading, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Auntie’s Bookstore.
•Lucy Jane Bledsoe (“The Ice Cave: A Woman’s Adventure from the Mojave to the Antarctic”), multimedia presentation, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Auntie’s Bookstore.
•Jess Walter (“The Zero”), reading, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Auntie’s Bookstore.
•Kelly Sweeney (“From the Bridge: Authentic Modern Sea Stories”), reading, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Auntie’s Bookstore.
•Book Lover’s Celebration, 7 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Valley Hastings.
•Thomas Mullen (“The Last Town on Earth”), reading, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Auntie’s Bookstore.
•Cary Black (“Zen and the Art of Cooking Beer-Can Chicken”), signing/cooking event, 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Lincoln Heights Hastings, 2801 E. 29th Ave. Call (509) 535-4342.