2006 was more than a mere ‘Zero’

When it comes to book stories of 2006 in the Inland Northwest, two words stand out above all others: Jess Walter .

The former Spokesman-Review writer has earned all the mention he has gotten both in the SR and in national publications by working hard at his craft, augmenting an already impressive set of skills that rival most other contemporary writers.

From his days as an extra body on the SR sports desk, Walter showed not only a quick and facile wit but also an ability to put words together in a way that was both funny and smart.

But who could have foreseen what he would accomplish over the past couple of years? In back-to-back performances, Walter won the Edgar award for Best Mystery Novel with 2005’s “Citizen Vince.” Then he tackled the events of Sept. 11, 2001, with his 2006 Kafkaesque study in contemporary dark comedy, “The Zero,” which ended up being nominated for a National Book Award .

The news in 2006 wasn’t all good for Walter. His mentor, Judith Regan , got booted at HarperCollins over the controversial O.J. Simpson book/TV deal. There’s no way to see what effect that unfortunate incident will have on Walter’s future.

But this much is sure: While possessing mere talent may never be enough to ensure literary success, it’s certainly an advantage. And Walter has a talent for putting words together that puts him at the elite level of American letters.

See for yourself in April during Get Lit! when Walter takes the stage with another writer boasting Spokane roots, Tim Egan , the Gonzaga Prep grad/New York Times reporter whose book “The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl” won the 2006 National Book Award for nonfiction.