Book Notes: Vestal, Olstein launch GU series

This year’s Gonzaga University Visiting Writers Series will kick off with two local writers telling very different stories about life in the West and will include acclaimed Chickasaw writer Linda Hogan.

On Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m., Shawn Vestal (“Godforsaken Idaho”), a columnist at The Spokesman-Review, and Bruce Holbert (“Lonesome Animals”), a teacher at Mt. Spokane High School, will share the stage in GU’s Cataldo Globe Room. The rest of the lineup features:

Lisa Olstein, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23, Wolff Auditorium. Olstein is the author of three books of poetry, “Radio Crackling, Radio Gone,” winner of the Hayden Carruth Award; “Lost Alphabet,” a Library Journal best book of the year; and “Little Stranger.” She has won the Pushcart Prize and she is the lyricist for Cold Satellite, a rock band fronted by Jeffrey Foucault.

Matt de la Peña, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14, Cataldo Globe Room. De la Peña is the author of four acclaimed young adult novels: “Ball Don’t Lie,” “Mexican WhiteBoy,” “We Were Here” and “I Will Save You.” He’s also the author of the award-winning picture book “A Nation’s Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis,” illustrated by Kadir Nelson.

Marshall Boswell, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 29, 2014, Cataldo Globe Room. Boswell is currently the T. K. Young Professor of English at Rhodes College in Memphis and is the author of the story collection “Trouble with Girls” (2003); a novel, “Alternative Atlanta” (2005); and two works of literary scholarship, “John Updike’s Rabbit Tetralogy: Mastered Irony in Motion” and “Understanding David Foster Wallace.” He once played in a rock band that opened for both Alex Chilton and Uncle Tupelo, Wilco leader Jeff Tweedy’s first band.

Linda Hogan, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25, 2014, Cataldo Globe Room. Hogan is a Chickasaw poet, novelist, essayist, playwright and activist, and is widely considered to be one of the most influential Native American figures in the contemporary American literary landscape. She has written numerous books, the most recent of which is 2012’s poetry collection, “Indios.” A new poetry collection, “The Remedies,” will be released next month. Her novel “Mean Spirit” was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and winner of the Oklahoma Book Award. Her talk is sponsored in conjunction with Spokane Falls Community College, where she will speak earlier in the day.

Brooke Matson, 7:30 p.m. March 26, 2014, Cataldo Globe Room. Matson, originally from Yakima, now lives in Spokane. She helped found RiverSpeak, an arts forum. Her first poetry collection, “The Moons,” was published last year. Appearing with Matson will be the 2014 Gurian Writing Award winners. The Gurian Awards recognize excellence in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, and are sponsored by Michael and Gail Gurian.

All presentations are free.

Carolyn Lamberson