Books By Regional Authors Stand Out Among The Rest

Among the dozens of books that litter my desk area, two recent arrivals from regional authors stand out.

“Hollywood the Hard Way: A Cowboy’s Journey” (Bison Books, 218 pages, $13.95 paper ISBN 0-8032-6619-7) by Coeur d’Alene author Patti Dickinson is a heartfelt story of contemporary Western Americana. It involves the true-life story of Jerry Van Meter who, in 1946, was involved in a bet that required him to ride a horse from Oklahoma to Hollywood, Calif., in just 50 days.

“Deadly Harvest” (Avon, 291 pages, $5.95 paper) by Father Brad Reynolds, S.J., is the Portland priest’s latest Father Townsend mystery. This time, Father Townsend travels to Yakima, where he investigates what he believes to be a religious hoax that has led to several unexplained disappearances.

And remember: Read on, read often, read everything.

Kids know best

Two Spokane writers have had their work published in “Lessons From Our Children” (HCI, 201 pages, $10.95 paper ISBN 1-55874-691-9), a collection of inspirational stories compiled by Joan Aho Ryan.

Beckey Kite wrote “From a Distance,” a story that explains the heartbreak she endured and ultimate lesson she learned from giving her children up for adoption.” In “Homemade From the Heart,” JoAnn Townsend writes of her daughter’s talent for giving gifts that are rich in thought though inexpensive in material worth.

To order, call (800) 441-5569 or access the Web site at www.hcibooks.com.

Family man

John Bradshaw, author of such family-therapy books as “Family Secrets” and “Healing the Shame That Binds You,” will hold a oneday workshop at Spokane Falls Community College on Oct. 27. The cost is $95.

For further information, call 533-3770 or (800) 845-3324.

From the Garrett

Author George Garrett, historical novelist and poet, will give a talk on men’s issues at Spokane Falls Community College on Oct. 20. Garrett has written some 25 books on a variety of themes, as the recent compilation “Bad Man Blues: A Portable George Garrett” demonstrates. For further information, call 533-7425.

Dave IS here

Some of you may have caught David Guterson, the Bainbridge Island author of “Snow Falling on Cedars,” during his reading Friday at Auntie’s Bookstore.

For those of you who missed him, note this: Guterson is the newest addition to Get Lit!, Eastern Washington University’s second-annual Inland Northwest Literary Festival that will be held Oct. 21-24 at various Spokane sites.

Guterson’s reading will kick off the festival at 7 p.m. Oct. 21, at Eastern’s Showalter Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

Look for a complete festival schedule in this section next Sunday. Until then, call 623-4286 for festival information.

Soul healing

In recognition of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Sacred Heart Medical Center’s Women Services is sponsoring a talk on Thursday by cancer survivor Beverly Kirkhart.

Kirkhart, a publicist for the book “Chicken Soup for the Surviving Soul” by editor Jack Canfield, will speak about her own illness at 7 p.m. at The Met. The program is free and open to the public.

For further information, call 474-3202.

Book clubs

The October meeting of Auntie’s Book Group will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Up for discussion: “Red Sky at Morning” by Richard Bradford. Auntie’s is located at the corner of Main and Washington. For more information, call 838-0206.

The October selection of the Barnes & Noble romance book-discussion group is “Wicked” by Jill Barnett. Barnes & Noble is located just east of the Spokane Valley Mall. For further information, call 922-4104.

What’s your signing?

M.E. Morris, author of “The Sand Crabs,” and Terry L. Persun, author of “The Witness Tree,” will sign copies of their books from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Auntie’s Bookstore.

The reader board

Daniel Evan Weiss, author of “Honk If You Love Aphrodite,” will read from his book at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Auntie’s Bookstore.

Tom Kramer, author of the poetry collection “Cosmic Joke,” will be the featured poet at OpenMic Night, 7 p.m. Wednesday at Barnes & Noble.

Ann Holaday, author of “The Mountain Never Cries: A Mother’s Diary,” will read from her book at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Auntie’s Bookstore. Holaday will also read at 7 p.m. Thursday at Barnes & Noble.

Charles Grizzle, author of “Hollywood Hoosier: An Indiana Kid and His Disney Daze,” will read from his book at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Auntie’s Bookstore.