Authors Join Forces For Open House

A dozen or so Spokane authors hope to make your Christmas shopping easier by sharing their wares with you today.

From 4 to 8 p.m., Chris Crutcher, Terry Davis, John Keeble and other noted writers and poets will read from and sign copies of their works at The Reid House, a Browne’s Addition bed and breakfast at 2315 W. First.

Reid House owner Dale Forbes says she had selfish reasons for organizing the free event.

“I’m the world’s worst Christmas shopper,” says Forbes, an author in her own right. “I really hate going to the malls, hate going out into that rush, and I think it would be really fun to sit and talk with a bunch of people who are interesting.”

Forbes, whose own novel is titled “On Exhibition,” is putting on the event in conjunction with Eastern Washington University Press, which explains why most of the writers scheduled to appear have EWU ties.

“There are a lot of authors out there who probably should have been included who are not,” Forbes says. “I’m hoping if it becomes a yearly thing that we can attract a wider variety.”

The complete list of those attending includes Chris Crutcher (“Running Loose”), Terry Davis (“Vision Quest”), John Keeble (“Out of the Channel”), Keith Quincy (“Harvesting Pa Chay’s Wheat”), Perry Higman (“They Dream, They Sing, They Cry”), Irv Broughton (“Hangar Talk”), Christopher Howell (“Memory and Heaven”), Scott Poole (“The Cheap Seats”) and Tom Davis (“The Little Spokane”).

The first hour will be for browsing, Forbes says. Beginning at 6, the authors will take turns reading.

Forbes just hopes someone shows up to listen.

“We’re really experimenting with this,” she says. “We’re don’t know what’s going to happen. I’m really a little nervous, actually.”

For more information, call 838-9138.