Book notes: Club announces upcoming reading selections

If you read The Spokesman-Review Book Club story on page D3, you know that the reading selection for December is Spokane-based author Jack Nisbet’s 1994 book “Sources of the River: Tracking David Thompson Across Western North America.”

The book, which won the Murray Morgan Prize, a Washington Governor’s Writers Award and was named Idaho Library Book of the Year, was republished in May by Seattle’s Sasquatch Books with a new introduction by Canadian historian Ian MacLaren.

Nisbet, 59, and his wife Claire – to whom he dedicates his books – live in Spokane with their children Emily, 22, and James, 14. To read even more about Nisbet, go online at www.jacknisbet.com.

“Upcoming reading selections of The S-R Book Club are: January, “Jesus’ Son” by part-time Bonners Ferry resident Denis Johnson (2007 National Book Award winner for the novel “Tree of Smoke”); February, “South to Alaska,” by Coeur d’Alene writer Nancy Owens Barnes; March, “The Right Madness,” by Montana mystery writer James Crumley.

The club reads books written by Pacific Northwest authors; we strive to choose editions available in paperback. Send your suggestions by e-mail to danw@spokesman.com, by post to S-R Book Club, c/o Dan Webster, 999 W. Riverside Ave., Spokane, WA 99201.

Crime time

Fans of crime literature might want to visit the Coeur d’Alene Hastings on Saturday afternoon when seven regional mystery or crime-themed authors will hold a group book signing from 2 to 5 p.m.

Gathering under the title “Crime Fighters for Christmas” will be: former Alaska State Trooper Mike Kincaid (“Alaska Justice”); Coeur d’Alene Police Sgt. Christie Wood (“The Adventures of Woodville: A Woodville Wedding”); Yvonne Dietz, Vikki Moorman and Susan Schreiber (“Murder Is Only Skin Deep”); retired U.S. Army officer Edward Santos (“Rule the Night, Win the Fight: A Practical Guide to Low-Light Gun Fighting”); and Spokane Police Lt. Frank Zafiro (“Under a Raging Moon,” “Heroes Often Fail”).

The Coeur d’Alene Hastings is at 101 E. Best Ave. Call (208) 664-0464.

“Spokane writer Cindy Hval has had two stories accepted in the “Chicken Soup” series.

Her story “The Comforter” appears in “Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul: Second Dose.” Her story “Valentine,” which was originally published in The Spokesman-Review, will be included in “Chicken Soup for the Soul in Love,” due in February.

Fair books

Washington State University Press’ 16th annual Holiday Book Fair will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Lewis Alumni Centre, 1 Lincoln Drive, on the university’s Pullman campus.

Two WSU Press authors, Sydney Stevens (“Dear Medora: Child of Oysterville’s Forgotten Years”) and WSU professor emeritus of history David Stratton (“Terra Northwest: Interpreting People and Place”), will sign copies of their books from noon to 2 p.m.

For further information, call the WSU Press at (509) 335-3518.

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

Book talk

“Gay & Lesbian Book Group (“Fried Green Tomatoes,” by Fannie Flagg), 7 p.m. Tuesday, Auntie’s Bookstore, Main and Washington. Call (509) 838-0206.

“Spokane Authors and Self-Publishers, 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Old Country Buffet, 5504 N. Division St. Speaker: Anne Mini will deliver a seminar on “How to Avoid the Most Common Mistakes That Get Manuscripts Rejected.” Admission free for SASP members, $15 for all others. Lunch purchase required. Call (509) 233-8051.

“Literary Freedom Book Group (“Citizen Vince,” by Jess Walter), 1 p.m. Saturday, Auntie’s Bookstore.

“Nordstrom Interactive Story Time (“Once Upon a Holiday,” by Randy Schliep), 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nordstrom, River Park Square. Call (509) 455-6111.

The reader board

“Allan Hay (“Memory Mining: Digging for Gems from Your Past Good Work”), reading, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Auntie’s Bookstore.

“Carolyn Schneider (“Me and Uncle Bing”), talk/signing, 3 p.m. Friday, Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague Ave. Call (509) 467-0157. $1 suggested donation. From 3 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Schneider will sign copies of her book at Auntie’s Bookstore.

“Helen S. Vandervort (“The Scheherazades”), reading, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Auntie’s Bookstore.

“Paula Coomer (“The Summer of Government Cheese”), signing, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Auntie’s Bookstore.

“James W. Ramsey (“The Buried Dot”), signing, 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Auntie’s Bookstore.

“Deby Fredericks (“Too Many Princes”), signing, 2 p.m. Saturday, Lincoln Heights Hastings, 2512 E. 29th Ave. Call (509) 535-4342.

“Therese Marszalek (“Extraordinary Miracles in the Lives of Ordinary People: Inspiring Stories of Divine Intervention”), signing, 2 p.m. Saturday, Borders Books, 9980 N. Newport Highway. Call (509) 466-2231.

“Crime Fighters for Christmas group author signing, 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Coeur d’Alene Hastings.