Stephanie Hammett

All Stories

A&E

Locally writ: Author Tiffany Midge releases memoir ‘Bury My Heart at Chuck E. Cheese’s’

UPDATED: Sat., Aug. 22, 2020

Sometimes consciously, sometimes not, local author Tiffany Midge has been writing her memoir for decades. All the material was at her fingertips. It was just a question of organization.

News

Max Brooks discusses new horror novel ‘Devolution’ with Northwest Passages Book Club

UPDATED: Tue., Aug. 25, 2020

New York Times bestselling author Max Brooks (“World War Z”) joined Carolyn Lamberson for a Northwest Passages Book Club livestream to discuss his new horror novel, “Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre” Thursday night.

A&E

Auntie’s Bookstore celebrates release of writer and podcaster John Moe’s memoir

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 20, 2020

Writer and Webby Award-winning “The Hilarious World of Depression” podcast host John Moe’s recently released memoir of the same name turns years of experience interviewing guests inward to systematically explore his own clinical depression, or “Clinny D,” as he prefers to call it. 

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A&E

Local artist organizes pandemic-conscious, in-person show ‘Art n Drive’

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 20, 2020

After handing the “Art on the Go” keys over to fellow artist Morgan Walters, Denny Carman and Brandy Seistrup quickly pivoted to organize “Art n Drive,” a pandemic-conscious, in-person art show celebrating local artists and their work at Wendle Ford.

A&E >  Northwest Passages

Carl Bergstrom and Jevin West discuss new book ‘Calling Bullshit’ with Northwest Passages Book Club

UPDATED: Tue., Aug. 25, 2020

Carl Bergstrom and Jevin West, authors of "Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World," discussed their book with Shawn Vestal in a Northwest Passages Book Club livestream event Tuesday night.

News

Soft drink stockpiling causes aluminum can shortage

UPDATED: Mon., Aug. 17, 2020

Missing Pibb and Cherry Coke-Zero? With health guidelines discouraging eating in restaurants, consumers have started stockpiling cans of their favorite fountain drinks to drink at home. With the resulting shortage of aluminum cans, factories like Coca-Cola Bottling Co. in Spokane Valley have had to prioritize.

A&E

Locally Writ: Mike Murphey’s ‘The Conman’ wins sports book award

Sat., Aug. 15, 2020

Local author Mike Murphey recently won first place in the Sports Category of the American Book Fest’s 2020 International Book Awards for his book “The Conman.” “Finding a place for your book amid the millions of new titles that are out there is hard,” Murphey said.

A&E >  Northwest Passages

Washington Post columnist Margaret Sullivan discusses decline of local papers in Northwest Passages forum

UPDATED: Fri., Aug. 14, 2020

Washington Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan joined Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley on Thursday to discuss her new book, “Ghosting the News: Local Journalism and the Crisis of American Democracy,” during a livestreamed Northwest Passages Book Club forum.

A&E >  Books

‘The Princess Diaries’ author Meg Cabot headlines Bookstore Romance Day

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 13, 2020

This weekend, bookstores across the country are celebrating “Bookstore Romance Day,” a virtual event celebrating romance fiction. The program will feature a series of panels with several authors, including event ambassador Meg Cabot, author of “The Princess Diaries.”

A&E >  Books

Locally Writ: Larry Godwin’s ‘Transcending Depression’ reflects his personal struggles

UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 20, 2020

Author Larry Godwin’s second memoir, “Transcending Depression: A Quest Without a Compass,” is a follow-up to his first, “Surviving Our Parents’ Mistakes.” Although Godwin now lives in Missoula, he has fond memories of visiting family in Spokane over the years.

Spokane Arts announces second round of 2020 SAGA grantees

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 6, 2020

Spokane Arts announced its second round of Spokane Arts Guild Award grantees this week. From a group of 32 candidates, SAGA’s largest submission pool to date, the six-judge panel chose 12 projects in glass, music, professional development, murals, writing, publishing and culture.

A&E >  Books

Local author Leyna Krow continually surprised by her short story ‘Sinkhole’s’ success

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 6, 2020

When local author Leyna Krow began writing “Sinkhole,” her short story submission for the 2016 Lilac City Fairy Tales anthology, she had no idea of the journey the piece would take.

A&E

Inland Northwest Opera general director Dawn Wolski saves Opera Gram

Sun., Aug. 2, 2020

When Inland Northwest Opera general director Dawn Wolski heard about the statewide restrictions on live entertainment announced last week, she feared the worst for Opera Gram, the opera’s fledgling performance-by-appointment program.

A&E

Locally Writ: Author, retired editor Mindy Cameron turns her pen from journalism to autobiography

Sat., Aug. 1, 2020

When local author Mindy Cameron began writing “Leaving the Boys,” a personal and compelling account of her life with respect to motherhood, work, feminism and romance, the idea of writing and publishing a book was somewhat daunting.

A&E

Issa Rae, Jordan Peele sign on to film adaption of local author Leyna Krow’s short story

UPDATED: Thu., July 30, 2020

Issa Rae (“Insecure”) and Jordan Peele (“Get Out”) have signed on to Universal Pictures’ “Sinkhole,” a family drama based on local author Leyna Krow’s short story of the same name.

A&E >  Entertainment

Spokane County Library District hosts Harry Potter virtual trivia competition

UPDATED: Thu., July 30, 2020

To celebrate what would've been Harry Potter's 40th birthday, the Spokane County Library District is hosting an all-ages virtual trivia night on Friday.

A&E

Local author Tiffany Midge’s memoir makes Spokane Is Reading list

UPDATED: Sun., July 26, 2020

In place of its usual community book events, Spokane Is Reading has released “Diverse Voices,” a list of 2020 reading suggestions, “which reflects the rich tapestry of the American experience. Read one. Read several. Or read them all,” the organization's website reads.

A&E

Locally Writ: Local author Rodger Pettichord releases final installment of ‘ROORD’ trilogy

UPDATED: Sun., July 26, 2020

After spending 30 years in ministry, local author Rodger Pettichord turned his pastoral writing skills to military fiction. An English major in college, Pettichord longed to write a novel, but as his life unfolded, he found he never quite had the time.

A&E

Jacklin Arts & Cultural Center launches Inland Northwest Open Pastel Exhibition

UPDATED: Thu., July 23, 2020

The Jacklin Arts & Cultural Center is now accepting artist submissions for the Inland Northwest Open Pastel Exhibition, its first juried show dedicated to pastel work. The entry fee for up to two pieces per artist is $25, and the deadline for initial digital entries is Aug. 14.

A&E >  Music

More outdoor concerts? Solo performances? Spokane Symphony aims to adapt in order to return

UPDATED: Sun., July 19, 2020

At this time, the program previously announced for the Spokane Symphony's 2020-21 season is no longer feasible, executive director Jeff vom Saal explained. The new program, likely to be announced by the end of August, is still developing.

A&E

Locally Writ: Artist and poet Karen Mobley releases her first collection of poetry, ‘Trial by Ordeal’

UPDATED: Sat., July 18, 2020

Local artist and poet Karen Mobley never goes anywhere without a composition notebook, often writing down thoughts and feelings in poetic fragments or longer narrative essays that later become poems.

A&E

Auntie’s hosts Mike Birbiglia and J. Hope Stein Zoom event on Saturday

UPDATED: Fri., July 17, 2020

Auntie’s Bookstore will host a live Zoom event Saturday with comedian Mike Birbiglia and poet J. Hope Stein to celebrate the release of their book “The New One: Painfully True Stories From a Reluctant Dad.”

A&E >  Entertainment

Nine films that are sure to rub travel in your face

UPDATED: Thu., July 16, 2020

With real travel off the table indefinitely, watching films set in places you’ve always wanted to visit becomes at best a poor substitute and at worst a bitter reminder of the long-anticipated plans.

A&E >  Books

Locally Writ: Local writer Jazlyn Jacobs discusses poetry as translation

UPDATED: Sun., July 12, 2020

Poetry has always been a part of local writer Jazlyn Jacobs's life. She often draws inspiration from her Jewish heritage and working with children on the autism spectrum as a behavioral technician.

A&E

After string of good fortune, team behind ‘Moby Dick’ musical forced to put plans on hold

UPDATED: Fri., July 10, 2020

After a string of good fortune, COVID-19 forced the local production team behind “Moby Dick - A Musical” to postpone plans for further development. “COVID has really put the kibosh on theater,” show writer Ed Bryan said.