Idaho’s Prize for Poetry awarded to Indiana native

Melissa Kwasny, an Indiana native who recently was Richard Hugo Visiting Poet at the University of Montana, has won the 2005 Idaho Prize for Poetry for her collection “Thistle.” The prize, which is awarded annually by Sandpoint-based Lost Horse Press, was determined in the final round by poet Christopher Howell.

A poet and fiction writer, Kwasny has written one book of poetry, “The Archival Birds,” and two novels, “Trees Call for What They Need” and “Modern Daughters and the Outlaw West.” She also served as editor of “Toward the Open Field: Poets on the Art of Poetry.”

The complete list of finalists included:

“”Landscape With Silos” by Deborah Bogen, Pittsburgh.

“”Instrumental Gods” by Matt Donovan, Sante Fe, N. M.

“”Variations in the Key of Night” by Stan Rubin, Port Townsend, Wash.

“”Other Americas” by Richard Robbins, Mankato, Minn.

“”Sudden Anthem” by Matthew Guenette, Madison, Wis.

“”The Blue Cottage” by James Brasfield, State College, Pa.

“”Hope” by Judith Hemschmeyer, Winter Park, Fla.

“”Difficult Beauties” by Janet Wondra, Chicago.

“”So Many People Couldn’t Be Wrong” by Laurie Blauner, Seattle.

“”Heat Lightning” by Judith Skilman, Kennydale, Wash.

“”This Brief Earth” by Bern Mulvey, Pocatello, Idaho

No dog, this book

Speaking of awards, “Wild Dogs: Past & Present” by Spokane young-adult author Kelly Milner Halls was named a Conservation Book of the Year by the Izaak Walton League of America.

“Wild Dogs” (Darby Creek, 64 pages, $18.95) provides, according to a press release, “a close look at the wolves, coyotes, foxes, jackals and other wild dogs of North and South America. ‘Wild Dogs’ traces the evolution of wild dogs from prehistoric times to the present and includes sections on current efforts to re-establish and protect canine packs around the world.”

The Izaak Walton League of America, which takes its name from the 17th-century English angler-conservationist who wrote the literary classic “The Compleat Angler,” was formed in 1922. The organization today has 50,000 members nationwide.

Murder in Oregon

Murder typically sells, even for an academic press.

“Nimrod: Courts, Claims and Killing on the Oregon Frontier” (Washington State University Press, 320 pages, $21.95 paperback) tackles one of Oregon’s early homicides: the killing of young settler Jeremiah Mahoney by his elderly neighbor, Nimrod O’Kelly.

According to WSU Press materials, the book’s author, Ronald B. Lansing, a Lewis & Clark College law professor, “probes and analyzes the evidence, law, politics and, finally, the astounding conclusion of one of Oregon’s legendary sagas.”

For further information, see www.wsupress.wsu.edu.

Book talk

“Poetry Group, 3 p.m. today, Auntie’s Bookstore (Liberty Cafe), Main and Washington (838-0206).

“Valley Readers Group (“In the Fall,” Jeffrey Lent), 7 p.m. Thursday, Valley Hastings, 15312 E. Sprague Ave. (924-0667).

“Spokane Authors and Self-Publishers, 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Old Country Buffet, 5504 N. Division St. Ruth Dixon (“Songs From the Girl Back Home”) will lead a mini-seminar on how authors can prepare for radio and television interviews. For further information, call Barbara Cagle at 233-8051.

The reader board

“Carol and Phil White (“Live Your Road Trip Dream”), reading/slide show, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Auntie’s Bookstore.

“Bob Raming (“War and Death of the American Dream”), reading, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Auntie’s Bookstore; signings Monday at 6 p.m. at the Valley Hastings and Friday at 7 p.m. at the NorthTown Barnes & Noble (922-4104).

“Duane Broyles, Howard Ness (“Vintage Postcards from Old Spokane”), PowerPoint presentation, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Auntie’s Bookstore. They will be joined by Spokane authors Tony and Suzanne Bamonte (“Spokane’s Legendary Davenport Hotel”).

“Ignite Community Theatre will present a reader’s theater production of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Auntie’s Bookstore.