Book Notes: ‘Cool Creatures’ author reading
Some folks go on vacation and come back with a few photos and some tacky trinkets.
But Marty Essen returned from his adventures with enough wild wildlife tales to last a lifetime – and fill an award-winning book,
The Montana author comes to Spokane next weekend to discuss and sign copies of “Cool Creatures, Hot Planet: Exploring the Seven Continents” (Encante Press, 2006).
Essen and his wife, Deb, began crisscrossing the globe in search of exotic wildlife, his true passion.
Over the course of three and a half years he was stung by one of the world’s most venomous insects, bitten by a poisonous snake, surrounded by wolves and attacked by a hippo.
He also became painfully aware of such ecological issues as global warming, drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and protecting endangered species, which became part of his story.
The book’s honors include the 2007 Benjamin Franklin Award, National Indie Excellence 2007 Book Award and Best Books 2006 Book Award, all in the travel/essay category.
Essen – accompanied by his 6-foot-long rainbow boa snakes, Adam and Eve – will sign books and discuss his travels on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Valley Barnes & Noble, 15310 E. Indiana (509-922-4104), and next Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the NorthTown Barnes & Noble, 4790 N. Division (509-482-4235).
For more information, see www.CoolCreaturesHotPlanet.com.
Second verse
Former Spokane journalist Phil Gruis will release his second chapbook of poems, “Bullets and Lies,” on Friday.
Gruis, former deputy managing editor of The Spokesman-Review, took up poetry in 2002 after leaving the newspaper business. His first collection, “Outside the House of Normal,” was published last year.
For more information, see www.finishinglinepress.com.
Buy the books
The Whitman County Library will hold a book sale next weekend at the Colfax Library, 102 S. Main.
Hours are Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information call (509) 397-4366.
Unless otherwise indicated, all events are free and open to the public.
Book talk
“Harry Potter Discussion Group, Saturday, noon, Valley Barnes & Noble.
The reader board
“Cowboy Poets Gathering and Dinner, Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Post Falls Senior Center, 1215 E. Third. Cost: $10. Call (208) 773-9582.
“Clay Eals (“Facing the Music,” a biography of Steve Goodman), Friday, 4 to 7 p.m., BookPeople of Moscow, 521 S. Main (208-882-7957).
“Marty Essen (“Cool Creatures, Hot Planet: Exploring the Seven Continents”), Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m., Valley Barnes & Noble, and next Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m., NorthTown Barnes & Noble.