WSU professor wins Bakeless Fiction Prize
“Disturbance-Loving Species: A Novella and Stories,” the new book by Washington State University’s Peter Chilson, has won the Bakeless Fiction Prize from the Bread Loaf Writer’s Conference, affiliated with Middlebury College in Vermont.
As a result of this prize, Chilson’s book will be published in fall 2007 by Mariner Books, a division of Houghton Mifflin. It consists of one novella and four longer short stories about Americans struggling to cope in Africa, and Africans trying to survive in the U.S.
Chilson is a creative writing and literature professor at WSU. A previous nonfiction book, “Riding the Demon: On the Road in West Africa,” also garnered praise and prizes when it was published in 1999.
‘Chicken Soup’ sister
A story by Moscow, Idaho, writer Cheryl Ann Dudley has been published in a new book in the popular “Chicken Soup” series, “Chicken Soup for the Sister’s Soul 2, Celebrating Love and Laughter Throughout Our Lives.”
Dudley’s story, “No Strings,” is about how her sister helped her to share her feelings over the loss of her husband.
Defunct goes MySpace
Defunct Books, the independent bookstore at 123 S. Wall St., has taken a further leap onto the Web with its own MySpace page.
Owner Greg Delzer said the page will announce new arrivals and will have a blog about books and bookstore-related issues.
He said it is an effort “to connect with the next generation of book lovers.” The page is at www.myspace.com/defunctbooks.
A bookish Oktoberfest
Get ready for the annual Eastern Washington University Libraries Oktoberfest fundraising event, titled “Treasure Quest,” Saturday from 6 to 10:30 p.m. at JFK Library on the Cheney campus.
The event features an auction and a Caribbean-themed dinner. Proceeds go to the EWU Libraries Endowment Fund, for the purchase of books and journals.
Tickets are $30 ($15 for students). Call (509) 359-2264 for tickets and information.
Book events
•The annual region-wide book club for the Palouse, “What If Everybody Read the Same Book?,” has chosen “When the River Ran Wild,” by George W. Aguilar Sr., as this year’s selection.
It’s the story of Indian traditions on the mid-Columbia, written by a man who lived some of those traditions.
The Whitman County Library is sponsoring two presentations by Aguilar on Nov. 16 and 17; watch for more details. To obtain a copy of the book, call the library at (509) 397-4366 or toll-free (877) 733-3375, or see www.whitco.lib.wa.us.
•The Hastings Store at 15312 E. Sprague Ave. will have an arrival celebration for “The End,” the 13th and final book in Lemony Snicket’s “Series of Unfortunate Events” series, on Friday at 3 p.m. There will be prizes and games.
Book talk
•Auntie’s Morning Book Group (“Devil in the White City” by Erik Larson), Tuesday, 11 a.m., Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main (509-838-0206).
•Auntie’s Evening Book Group (“Broken for You” by Stephanie Kallos), Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., Auntie’s.
The reader board
•Colin Cotterill will read from “Disco for the Departed,” part of his series of mysteries set in Laos, Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Auntie’s.
•Jack Frerker, a retired priest living in Olympia, will read from “Conspiracy,” his latest Father John mystery, on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Auntie’s.
•Local artist Linda Christine will give an art show/book presentation on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Auntie’s.