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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Vestal releases first novel

Spokane author Shawn Vestal has many thoughts swirling around in his head. (Dan Pelle/SR photo)
Spokane author Shawn Vestal has many thoughts swirling around in his head. (Dan Pelle/SR photo)

Shawn Vestal and Sam Ligon are friends. And it was a happy accident that both writers are releasing books in April, just in time for Get Lit, Eastern Washington University’s annual literary festival. That called for a party. Vestal is a columnist for The Spokesman-Review. Ligon works at Eastern Washington University as an associate professor at the school’s Inland Northwest Center for Writers, and as editor of the EWU literary journal Willow Springs.

“It feels kinda cool, because Sam and I are friends,” Vestal said. “He was my thesis adviser, and he’s read virtually everything I’ve ever written, if not everything, and I value his advice. And I read his stuff, too. So it’s really cool to have this event with him.” Vestal will read from his new book, the debut novel “Daredevils” (Penguin Press, $27). Ligon has two books out this month: the illustrated story collection “Wonderland,” from Sandpoint’s Lost Horse Press ($20), out this week, and the novel “Among the Dead and Dreaming” (Leapfrog Press, $16.95), released last week.

The event will be held at the Washington Cracker Co., home of Terrain, on Tuesday night. Jess Walter, friend to both Ligon and Vestal, will interview both. River City Brewing will be on hand to sell some beer, there will be wine available. And maybe even some whiskey. Auntie’s will be there with books to sell. See? A party. “We’ll read short. Mostly it’s to hang out. … Most readings are boring,” Ligon said. “This will not be boring.”

Carolyn Lamberson, SR. More here.



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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