Poet Asarnow first in GU writers series

Gonzaga University will kick off its 2007-08 Visiting Writers Series on Tuesday by presenting poet Herman Asarnow.

Asarnow, who will read at 7:30 p.m. in GU’s Foley Teleconference Room, is a professor of English at the University of Portland. He is author of the collection “Glass Bottom Boat” and has had poems published in such literary journals as Prairie Schooner, The Southern Review and the Seattle Review.

The series continues Oct. 9 with poet Donald Revell. Following that are: Nov. 14, Joy Harjo; Feb. 6, Bharati Mukherjee; Feb. 25, Robert Hass; March 26, Dan Butterworth.

For a look at Asarnow’s style, go online at www.valpo.edu/english/vpr/asarnowdouble .html.

For further information about the series, call GU English professor Tod Marshall at (509) 323-6681.

Support the troops

Even with the various news reports, complete with film at 11, it’s easy to forget that American troops are engaged in a couple of wars.

That’s why it’s encouraging to report that a couple of video stores in Pullman and Moscow, Idaho, are doing what they can to support those young men and women.

Through today, Movie Gallery at Moscow’s Eastside Marketplace, 1420 S. Blaine St., and the Blockbuster store in Pullman at 415 N.E. Stadium Way are collecting used DVDs and video games to send overseas.

The drive is being coordinated by Pullman resident Mary Baker, a veteran of the Iraq War, who hopes that others follow suit.

“I would love for schools to get involved,” Baker says.

She can be reached by calling (509) 592-7247.

Comic life

Comic books aren’t what they used to be. Many of today’s versions not only tackle tough issues, but they do so in a manner that deserves a whole new name. Thus, the term “graphic novel.”

Walter Hesford, a University of Idaho English professor, will oversee a discussion of Jewish themes in graphic novels beginning Sept. 27 at the University of Idaho library.

All sessions are free and open to the public. The schedule:

“Sept. 27, 7 p.m.: “The Complete Maus,” by Art Spiegelman.

“Oct. 18, 7 p.m.: “Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer: Stories,” by Ben Katchor.

“Nov. 8, 7 p.m.: “The Quitter,” by Harvey Pekar.

“Nov. 29, 7 p.m.: “The Rabbi’s Cat,” by Joann Sfar.

For further information, call (208) 885-5858 or go online at www.lib.uidaho.edu/News.

Slam time

Sandpoint-based Lost Horse Press will hold a Spoken Word/Performance Art workshop for young writers on Oct. 3, then follow that a week later with the Sandpoint Teen Slam, first in a series of spoken-word events that will run through April’s Get Lit! Literary Festival.

Both the workshop, which is designed for junior high and high school students, and the slam will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the East Bonner County Library, 1407 Cedar St., Sandpoint.

For further information, go online at www.losthorsepress.org. Or call (208) 255-4410.

Writers wanted

The writers workshop on Saturday at the Valley Barnes & Noble (see “Book talk” below) is more than a continuation of the one that was held Sept. 8.

According to the store”s press release, the individual workshops, which are presented by Linny Colucci, are “self-contained sessions … devoted to a different aspect of fiction writing.”

For further information, call (509) 922-4104.

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

Book talk

“Dark City Mystery Book Group (“S is for Silence,” by Sue Grafton), 7 p.m. Monday, Auntie’s Bookstore, Main and Washington. Call (509) 838-0206.

“Fiction Writing Workshop, 5 p.m. Saturday, Valley Barnes & Noble, 15312 E. Indiana. Call (509) 922-4104.

The reader board

“Chris Crutcher (“Deadline”), reading, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Auntie’s Bookstore.

“Peter Van Buskirk (“Winning the College Admissions Game: Strategies for Parents & Students”), reading, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Auntie’s Bookstore.

“Bernadette T. Vadurro (“America’s Conscience: Facing Threats to Democracy, the Middle Class and Our World”), reading, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Auntie’s Bookstore.

“Dinseh D’Souza (“The Enemy at Home: The Cultural Left and Its Responsibility for 9/11”), lecture, 7 p.m. Thursday, Cowles Auditorium, Whitworth College. Call (509) 777-4263.