Book Notes: Beagle, Grant visit Auntie’s for signings
We have a couple late additions to the list of local author events and news of appearances by well-known authors to tell you about. So grab your coffee, sit back and let’s get reading.
First up: Peter S. Beagle, whose books have won Hugo and Nebula awards, will appear at Auntie’s Bookstore from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday. He will be on hand to sign his works, including 1968’s “The Last Unicorn.”
Beagle will be joined by Mira Grant, a Hugo nominee, who will be signing “Deadline” and other works. (FYI, Grant also writes under the name Seanan McGuire).
Auntie’s is located at 402 W. Main Ave.
Hecket signs in CdA
The Hastings in Coeur d’Alene will host a booksigning by Blanchard, Idaho, author Jessica Hecket next weekend.
Hecket has published “The Water Words” (Tate Publishing, $15.99), a book about a young woman who dreams of another life across the sea. She’ll be at Hastings, 101 E. Best Ave., from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Black visits WSU
Then there’s Baxter Black, the former large-animal veterinarian turned cowboy poet, writer and storyteller. He’ll be at the Jones Theatre at Washington State University in Pullman on Oct. 26 and 27. Tickets are $26 and are available at all TicketsWest outlets, online at www.ticketswest.com or by phone at (800) 325-SEAT.
Back in the late ’90s, when I lived in central Oregon, Black was a fixture on my local public radio station. I enjoyed listening to his laid-back drawl and always thought he and Sam Elliot should have a read-off to see who has the best deep Western voice. He was last in Spokane in May 2011, for a reading at Auntie’s.
Sedaris returns to Fox
Of course the big literary news is the recently announced return of David Sedaris to Spokane.
The best-selling humor writer will be at the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox on Nov. 14. I expect he’ll be reading some from his upcoming book, which according to his agency’s website will be called “Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls” and will be released in late spring 2013.
A Sedaris reading is always a big event in Spokane. He was last here, at Auntie’s Bookstore, in December and drew a huge crowd.
Tickets are on sale now through TicketsWest. Cost is $37.50-$47.50.
Poetry contest opens
Budding poets are invited to enter a poetry contest sponsored by the Poetry Scribes of Spokane in honor of the Amy Woodward Fisher World Day of Poetry.
Poets 18 and older can submit original unpublished poems of 60 lines or less in two categories, free verse or rhymed. Only two entries per category, please.
Send two copies of each poem – one with the writer’s name, address and phone number, the other without identification – along with a $5 entry fee per poem to Poetry Scribes of Spokane, 2912 W. Longfellow Ave., Spokane, WA 99205.
Entries must be postmarked no later than Sept. 1. Winners will be notified before the awards reception set for Oct. 3. For information, call (509) 325-4393 or (509) 796-2180.