Word Weavers Seeks Works Featuring Inland Northwest

Terry Davis, author of “Vision Quest” and other novels notable for being set in and around Spokane, used to preach about the need for capturing our local geography in print.

Now teaching at Mankato State University in Minnesota, Davis back then believed local writers needed to write about the Inland Northwest.

If they didn’t, he said, outsiders would.

Word Weavers seems to have taken Davis’ sentiments to heart. The Spokane-based group just published the sixth issue of its literary review, which they call Hemmingstein’s.

According Word Weaver spokeswoman Katherine Healy, the group has expanded from its original purpose, which was to publish “only the work of members of Word Weavers, including that of our most prominent member, local author John Dalmas.” Hemmingstein’s now plans to publish the works of non-members, too.

Anyone interested in having their scribbled efforts considered for publication should send them (along with an SASE) to: Word Weavers, P.O. Box 28861, Spokane, WA 99281. The group is seeking short fiction, poetry and essays.

On the shelves

Speaking of writing about the region, consider this passage from the novel “Castling” by Rand Clifford:

“Travelling (sic) east, suddenly you catch your first glimpse of Smelterville. The lifeless swale textured with black stumps lying near the toe of a black mountain of tailings, the denuded hillsides barely whiskering with young evergreens, or the colossal stacks of the smelter complex with their bright crystalline flashers will surely catch and hold your eye for a moment. But like a witness to a horrible traffic accident, you’ll feel compelled to look it all over.”

“Castling” (543 pages, $16.95 softcover) is published by Spokane-based StarChief Press, P.O. Box 7517, Spokane WA 99207. It can be found at various local bookstores.

Attention, Rickies B The folks at Cottonwood Publishing, which is the home-owned press of “Rick O’Shay” creator Stan Lynde, are announcing some good news for fans of Lynde’s first novel, “The Bodacious Kid.”

Lynde, who with wife Lynda Brown Lynde just finished an eight-state publicity tour for “Bodacious,” is at work on a sequel. The working title: “Careless Creek.”

In addition, Cottonwood is preparing the latest collection of the “Rick O’Shay” daily cartoons (for 1963-64).

To order copies of “The Bodacious Kid” (244 pages, $24.95), or any of the many items of “Rick O’Shay” or “Latigo” memorabilia, write to Cottonwood Publishing, 2707 Hwy 93 South, Kalispell, MT 59901; or call (800) 937-6343.

Welcome booksellers

The spring convention of the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association will commence its three-day run Friday at Spokane’s Cavanaugh’s Inn.

The affair, which is an industry event not open to the public, will attract a number of notable authors from the region, including Kathleen Dean Moore (“Riverwalking: Reflections on Moving Water”), Robin Cody (“Voyage of a Summer Sun: Canoeing the Columbia River”), Fred Moody (“I Sing the Body Electric: A Year With Microsoft on the Multimedia Frontier”), Craig Lesley (“The Sky Fisherman”) and Paul Owen Lewis (“Storm Boy”). All will be honored with PNBA awards Saturday night.

The reader board

Swain Wolf, author of “The Woman Who Lives in the Earth,” will read from his novel at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Auntie’s Bookstore, Main and Washington.

Paul Duchscherer, author of “The Bungalow: America’s Arts and Crafts Home,” will read from his book (photographed by Douglas Keister) at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Auntie’s Bookstore.

Hal Zina Bennett, author of “Write From the Heart,” will read from his book at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Auntie’s Bookstore.

Irene Wanner, author of “Sailing to Corinth,” will read her various works at 7 p.m. Friday at the Eastern Washington University Spokane Center, at First and Wall.

Fred Moody, author of “I Sing the Body Electric: A Year With Microsoft on the Multimedia Frontier,” will read from his book at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Auntie’s Bookstore.

, DataTimes