Author’s ‘typical day’ includes spiritual time
We all have our fantasies about what a novelist’s life is like.
Here is how former Arizona resident Linda Lael Miller recently described her “typical day” in her writing life:
“I arise early before the sun bakes the desert outside my window, and I spend time with the horses, dogs and cats. I feed the thousand or so birds that come every morning and afternoon, expecting birdseed. I spend some spiritual time – that is really the focal point of my day.
“After a good breakfast, and a trip to Curves to work out three days a week, I write. After that, I answer e-mail. I love to read, anything and everything, so I use much of my leisure time that way.”
Miller, who grew up in Northport, Wash., recently moved to Spokane after having lived in such exotic places as London, Florence and, most recently, the Arizona desert.
She will read from her new novel, “The Man From Stone Creek,” at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Auntie’s Bookstore.
Miller has written several dozen novels – mostly romances – dating back to 1983 and is the sponsor of an educational scholarship program for women.
You can read more about her through her Web site: www.lindalaelmiller.com.
Old-school Doig
Ivan Doig, who will read from his new novel “The Whistling Season” on Monday at Auntie’s Bookstore (see story on page D3), is strictly old school when it comes both to his writing and his lifestyle.
As for his writing, much of the review that Sven Birkerts did of “The Whistling Season” for The New York Times Book Review was almost an apologia for Doig’s “untrendy, reverent” style of writing that novelist David Foster Wallace had declared dead way back in the early 1990s.
Wallace might have been writing about Doig when he proclaimed, “The next real literary ‘rebels’ in this country might well emerge as some weird bunch of anti-rebels, born oglers who dare somehow to back away from ironic watching, who have the childish gall actually to endorse and instantiate single-tendre principles. Who treat plain old untrendy human troubles and emotions in U.S. life with reverence and conviction.”
As for Doig’s lifestyle, this Seattle-based son of Montana homesteaders isn’t exactly of the 21st century in terms of technology. Our interview on Monday took place 2 1/2 hours early because the phone at his house had broken, forcing him to borrow a neighbor’s cell phone.
And he didn’t seem particularly comfortable with it.
Our conversation began with him saying, with a laugh: “This thing just played a tune like ‘Yankee Doodle’ or something.”
More summer reads
Here are some books that fell on my desk that might make interesting summer reading:
“”God Laughs & Plays: Churchless Sermons in Response to the Preachments of the Fundamentalist Right” (Triad, 232 pages, $22.95) by David James Duncan: The Portland-born author of “The River Why” argues that the teachings of Jesus “are apolitical and should be free of media machinery.”
“”Tied to the Tracks” (Putnam, 292 pages, $23.95) by Rosina Lippi: The Seattle-area author of “Homestead” tells what happens when a film crew descends on the small Georgia college town of Ogilvie and stirs up secrets, including one between the filmmaker and the English department chairman.
“”Pegasus Descending” (Simon & Schuster, 356 pages, $26) by James Lee Burke: In his 15th Dave Robicheaux novel, Burke – who splits time between Missoula and New Iberia, La. – has his protagonist dealing with the counterfeit-bill-passing daughter of a long-dead Vietnam buddy. (Look for a full review elsewhere on this page.)
Book talk
“Auntie’s Morning Book Group (“Prodigal Summer,” by Barbara Kingsolver), 11 a.m. Tuesday, Auntie’s Bookstore, Main and Washington. Call (509) 838-0206.
“Auntie’s Evening Book Group (“The Shadow of the Wind,” by Carlos Ruiz Zafon), 7 p.m. Tuesday, Auntie’s Bookstore.
“What Are You Reading This Summer? Book Discussion Group, noon-1 p.m. Wednesday, Tinman Gallery, 811 W. Garland Ave. Call (509) 325-1500.
“Spice It Up Book Club Leadership Seminar, 11 a.m. Saturday, Auntie’s Bookstore. RSVP to Linda Bond by e-mail at lindab@auntiesbooks.com.
The reader board
“Ivan Doig (“The Whistling Season”), 7:30 p.m. Monday, Auntie’s Bookstore.
“Michael Lovas, Pamela Holloway (“Face Values”), reading, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Auntie’s Bookstore.
“Phillip Margolin (“Proof Positive”), signing, 7 p.m. Friday, Valley Hastings, 15312 E. Sprague Ave. Call (509) 924-0667.
“Linda Lael Miller (“Man From Stone Creek”), reading, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Auntie’s Bookstore.