Book Notes: Aunties’s offers local flavor with lineup of authors

Sun., May 13, 2012

By Carolyn Lamberson carolynl@spokesman.com (509) 459-5068

Coming up at Auntie’s in the coming days: a slew of appearances by notable authors with local ties.

Kate McLachlan will read from her paperback “Hearts, Dead and Alive” at 7 p.m. Friday. The next morning, Amber Copelin will read from her children’s book “Will You Love Me When…” at 11 a.m.

The following week sports a powerhouse lineup. We have former Spokesman-Review reporter Jim Lynch reading from “Truth Like the Sun,” at 7 p.m. May 22, an event hosted by his friend Jess Walter. North Idaho’s Frank Peretti reads from his latest Christian thriller “Illusion” at 7 p.m. May 23. At 7 p.m. May 24, Mt. Spokane High School teacher Bruce Holbert will read from his new novel, “Lonesome Animals.” The next night at 7, EWU professor Gregory Spatz will read from his historical novel “Inukshuk.” The month is rounded out by an appearance at 7 p.m. May 30 by mountaineer John Roskelley, who is launching a new edition of his writing, “The Roskelley Collection.”

All these events are at the main store, 402 W. Main Ave. For information, visit www.auntiesbooks.com.>

‘Maxey’ to go paperback

Longtime and now retired Spokesman-Review writer Jim Kershner got a welcome bit of news recently. His 2008 book “Carl Maxey: A Fighting Life,” is being released in paperback on Oct. 1. Kershner, who still freelances for The S-R, said the publisher’s decision to print a paperback means they have sold out of the book’s original hardcover run.

The book, published by the University of Washington Press, tells the story of Carl Maxey who went from the scandal-plagued Spokane Children’s Home to become an NCAA boxing champion, the first black lawyer in Eastern Washington and a civil rights activist on the national stage.

The paperback, by the way, already is available for pre-sale on Amazon. Hardcover copies will be available on store shelves until they’re gone.

Poetry slam at Scout

A monthly poetry slam competition is getting started at Scout in downtown.

The event will be held the third Sunday of the month at the restaurant, 1001 W. First Ave. Signups will begin at 8 p.m., followed by the slam at 8:30.

In poetry slam, poets have three minutes to perform their original work without costumes, accompaniment or props. Poets are judged by members of the audience chosen at random; the winner gets $50. It costs $5 to compete, and the suggested donation to attend is $5. The event is open to all ages, but parents are warned that content is not censored.

For information, email spokanepoetryslam@gmail.com.

ComiCon lands at SCC

If you were among the kajillion people who’ve seen “The Avengers” already, you may be “comic booked out” by now. If your fanboy or girl quota isn’t yet full, then Spokane ComiCon might be for you.

The annual comic book convention runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday at Spokane Community College’s Building 6. Admission is $6 for adults and free for those 12 and younger. And for the first 150 people through the door, there will be gift bags that include a 35 MM film cell from “The Avengers” among other goodies.

Among the guests are artist Tyler Kirkham (DC Comic’s “Green Lantern New Guardians”), artist Michael Avon Oeming (“Mice Templar”) and artist Jason Gorder (DC Comic’s “Grifter”).

For details, visit spokanecomicon.com.