GU’s visiting writers schedule announced

September is approaching, and that means another school year is ready to begin.

Over at Gonzaga University, it also means that a full season of the Gonzaga University Visiting Writers Series will commence.

Beginning with poet Herman Asarnow on Sept. 18, and including such familiar names as former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass and Indian-born writer Bharati Mukherjee, the series runs through March.

All readings, which are co-sponsored by Gonzaga University and Humanities Washington (formerly known as the Washington Commission for the Humanities), are free and open to the public.

Here’s the schedule:

Sept. 18: Asarnow, 7:30 p.m., Foley Teleconference Room.

Oct. 9: Donald Revell, poet, 7:30 p.m., Cataldo Globe Room.

Nov. 14: Joy Harjo, poet/musician, 7:30 p.m., Cataldo Globe Room.

Feb. 6: Mukherjee, 7:30 p.m., Cataldo Globe Room.

Feb. 25: Hass, 7:30 p.m., Cataldo Globe Room.

March 26: Dan Butterworth, 7:30 p.m., Cataldo Globe Room.

For further information, call the reading series coordinator, GU English Professor Tod Marshall, at (509) 323-6681. Or e-mail him at marshall@gonzaga.edu.

Ahoy, mateys!

Kelly Sweeney, 1977 Lewis and Clark High School graduate and author of the book “From the Bridge: Authentic Modern Sea Stories,” is writing a column in what he describes as the “biggest maritime magazine,” Professional Mariner.

“The mag is published in Maine,” said Sweeney, who lives on Whidbey Island, “and is probably five times more circulated than Pacific Maritime Magazine.”

Sweeney got his start as writer with a column that he wrote for Pacific Maritime Magazine. He used edited versions of those columns to write his book.

You can access Sweeney’s column by going to www.professionalmariner.com.

A poet who knows it

Former Spokane resident Gavin Adair, a 1990 graduate of Lewis and Clark High School, has had a pair of poems published in The Southern Review.

Adair, who first read his poetry at Mootsy’s tavern, earned his master’s of fine arts at New York University and has been published in such literary journals as Mid-American Review, the Notre Dame Review, Louisiana Literature and Mississippi Review.

Senior city

The seniors program of the Institute for Extended Learning will offer its standard menu of literary-minded classes during the upcoming fall term.

Teachers Lisa Conger, Virginia White and Anne Selcoe will lead courses that range in theme from poetry and writing workshops to readers’ theater.

The seniors program is designed for those aged 55 and older. For further information, call (509) 533-4756.

Mind expansion

Mark Waller, author of “Awakening: Exposing the Voice of the Mosaic Mind,” will hold a free workshop titled “Transform Your Mind and Change Your Life” at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Auntie’s Bookstore, Main and Washington.

Waller, a former Spokane disc jockey, based the workshop on his book. For further information, call Auntie’s at (509) 838-0206.

Unless otherwise noted, all events listed are free and open to the public.

Book talk

“Dark City Mystery Book Group (“Moving is Murder: A Mom Zone Mystery,” by Sara Rosett), 7 p.m. Monday, Auntie’s Bookstore, Main and Washington. Call (509) 838-0206.

“Hastings Family Readers Group (“Horns & Wrinkles,” by Joseph Helgerson), 7 p.m. Monday, Valley Hastings, 15312 E. Sprague Ave. Call (509) 924-0667.

The reader board

“Veda Taylor Strong (“Grandpa’s Adventures,” “Grandma’s Snowy Mountain Adventures”), signing, noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Shadle Hastings, 1704 W. Wellesley Ave. Call (509) 327-6008.

“Beth Bollinger (“Until the End of the Ninth”), signing, 5:30 p.m. until the end of the ninth, Saturday, Avista Stadium, 602 N. Havana St. Call (509) 535-2922.