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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

One Book spotlighting ‘Three Cups of Tea’

“Three Cups of Tea” is a story of how failure turned into unprecedented success.

The nonfiction book by Portland author David Oliver Relin tells the story of Greg Mortenson, a mountain climber who failed in a 1993 effort to climb the Himalayan peak K2 but who then became an advocate for the students of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The book that Relin wrote, based on Mortenson’s experiences, is the focus of a One Book reading project sponsored by the Stevens County Rural Library District.

As part of the ongoing event, Relin will appear at 7 p.m,. Tuesday at the Rendezvous Theater, in the IEL Colville Center, 985 S. Elm St., Colville, and at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Lakeside Middle School, 6169 Highway 291, Nine Mile Falls.

Co-sponsored by a grant through the Washington State Library and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, One Read provides for Relin’s appearances (in addition to the public presentations, he will speak at a number of Stevens County schools) and the purchase of several copies of the book.

For more information about Mortenson and his ongoing projects, go online at www.gregmortenson.com. For more information about Relin’s book, see www.threecupsoftea.com.

Or to check out the Stevens Country Library District events, visit http://onebook-onecounty.blogspot.com.

Epochal event

Five writers and a musician will share the spotlight on Tuesday at Spokane Community College during a presentation of the school’s Epoch Reading Experience.

As part of a literary series that highlights the work of local artists, John Whalen, Jeffrey Dodd, Carrie Bucher, Maya Jewell Zeller and Zan Agzigian will read, while musician Kathy Kostelec will perform.

Free and open to the public, the event will begin at 6:30 p.m. at SCC’s Hagan Foundation Center for the Humanities, Building 16, 1810 N. Greene St.

Call (509) 533-8048.

Big Reads

This week’s events in the Big Read, a literary project built around Dashiell Hammett’s novel “The Maltese Falcon,” include:

•Tuesday, 4 p.m., After School Special with children’s author Bruce Hale (“The Malted Falcon”), South Hill Library, 3324 S. Perry St. Call (509) 444-5385.

•Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., “The Third Man” film screening, downtown branch, Spokane Public Library, 906 W. Main Ave. Call (509) 444-5300.

•Wednesday, 7 p.m., “The Maltese Falcon” book discussion, North Spokane Library, 44 E. Hawthorne Road. Call (509) 893-8350.

Note: The Young Adult Film Noir Festival, which had been scheduled Friday at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, 2316 W. First Ave., has been canceled. Instead, organizers will screen Roy Del Ruth’s 1931 movie version of “The Maltese Falcon” at 7 p.m. Friday, followed by a panel discussion. Call (509) 456-3931.

Writer’s workshop

Registration has begun for the 2008 Coeur d’Alene Writer’s Workshop, April 25 and 26 at the Ameritel Inn, 333 W. Ironwood Drive, Coeur d’Alene.

This year’s event, which is sponsored by the Idaho Writers League, costs $85 ($75 for league members). Prices rise by $15 for late registration (April 14-21).

Randy Ingermanson, known as “America’s Mad Professor of Fiction Writing,” will lead the workshop.

For further information, go online at www.idahowritersleague.com. Or call (208) 687-2900 or (208) 623-3153.

Say it Out Loud

Mead High School freshman Kevin Ma received an honorable mention in the recent Poetry Out Loud state finals, which were held March 1 at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma.

BreAnna Jones of Yakima’s West Valley High School was the overall winner and, besides winning a $200 prize ($500 to her school), advances to the April 28 and 29 national finals in Washington, D.C.

Ten poets had advanced to the state finals, including Ma and fellow Mead High student Sarah Woodroof.

Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the public.

Book talk

•Auntie’s Morning Book Group (“The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals,” by Michael Pollan), 11 a.m. Tuesday, Auntie’s Bookstore, Main and Washington. Call (509) 838-0206.

•Auntie’s Evening Book Group (“The Thirteenth Tale,” by Diane Setterfield), 7 p.m. Tuesday, Auntie’s Bookstore.

The reader board

•Boots Reynolds (“Boots ‘n’ Beans: an Art Book Full of Beans”), reading, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Auntie’s Bookstore.

•Jack Nisbet (“The Mapmaker’s Eye: David Thompson on the Columbia Plateau”), talk (“The Canoes of David Thompson”), 7 p.m. Thursday, Molstead Library, North Idaho College, 1000 W. Garden Ave, Coeur d’Alene. Call (208) 769-3355.

•Steve Roberts (“WineTrails of Washington”), presentation, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Auntie’s Bookstore.

•James P. McGoldrick II (“The Spokane Aviation Story, 1910-1941”), reading, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Auntie’s Bookstore.