‘Idaho Unbound’ Intriguing Account Of Gem State Culture
If Steve Mitchell had just gotten around before Christmas, he might have experienced a few more sales of his book “Idaho Unbound” (West Bound Books, 224 pages, $20.95 paperback).
As it is, only those who happened by chance upon this intriguing coffee-table-type book - or who, unlike me, were in the know - managed to snap it up as a perfect little gift for that fan of Idaho culture.
But Mitchell can be forgiven. After all, he was tired from editing and publishing the book, as well as running his Main Street BookCafe in Ketchum.
Written by McCall resident Clay Morgan, the former Idaho Writer-in-Residence and author of “Santiago and the Drinking Party,” “Idaho Unbound” is intended as part tourist guide, part history of the Gem State.
It features maps and photos, both current and historical, and the words both of Morgan and other contemporary writers as well as profiles of such home-grown talent as Vardis Fisher and Patrick McManus.
You’ll also find eight colored illustrations by Don Gill, who is perhaps best known as the illustrator of several books by Baxter Black.
“Some people say that Idaho is what America was,” Morgan writes in the book’s introduction. “Of course, what America was, was a vehicle for self expression, greased with sweat and fired by the fuel of opportunity. What America was: This is Idaho now. Earnest, energetic, sometimes foolish, always kind.”
And like anything written by the talented Morgan, never anything less than semi-interesting.
A pressing matter
While mentioning the book “Strangers in Blood” by Jennifer S.H. Brown in the Jan. 14 edition of this column, I made a glaring error. I reported that the book was published by the University of Washington Press.
Wrong. The book is a publication of the University of Oklahoma Press. Mea culpa.
Interestingly enough, the book was originally published in 1980 by the University of British Columbia. The UO Press republished the book by special arrangement with the UBC press.
And, by the way, if you’re interested. The book’s ISBN No. is 0-8061-2813-5.
On the shelf
As for a book that indeed is fresh off the web at the University of Washington Press, fans of Indian lore might want to check out “Tales From the Dena: Indian Stories From the Tanana, Koyukuk and Yukon Rivers” (UW Press, 352 pages, $29.95) by Frederica de Laguna and illustrated by Dale DeArmond.
The book is a collection of 41 Alaskan Indian tales, most of which were written down during a 1935 “archaeological reconnaissance” by de Laguna, a professor of anthropology at Bryn Mawr College, and the late Norman Reynolds, then a graduate student in anthropology at the University of Washington.
The book includes an introduction by de Laguna, who writes in the preface that, “Although these stories are not specially intended for children, it seems to me that they as well as older folk might enjoy them.”
And for those interested in publishing their own books, the second edition of “A Simple Guide to Self-Publishing” (Wise Owl Books, 61 pages, $7.95 paperback) is out.
Written by Seattle writer-publisher Mark Ortman, the new edition features information on how to promote and distribute a book on the Internet.
The reader board
Terry Mallen, author of “Taking Charge of Your Child’s Education: Nine Steps to Becoming a Learning Ally,” will read from his new book at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Auntie’s Bookstore, Main and Washington.
, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: BOOK NUMBERS “Idaho Unbound,” by Clay Morgan and Steve Mitchell (ISBN 1-887504-00-3) “Strangers in Blood” by Jennifer S.H. Brown (ISBN 0-8061-2813-5) “Tales From the Dena” by Frederica de Laguna (ISBN 0-295-97429-X) “The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing” by Mark Ortman (ISBN 0-9634699-5-9)