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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Book Notes: Shields hits GU on Nov. 30 to talk leadership

Gonzaga University will bring author David Shields to Spokane for a series of talks Nov. 30.

Shields has written 14 books, including “How Literature Saved My Life,” which will be published next year by Knopf. His 2008 book, “The Thing About Life Is That One Day You’ll be Dead,” was a New York Times bestseller. He’s won the PEN/Revson Award and has been a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award.

From 1 to 2 p.m., he’ll participate in a question-and-answer session in Gonzaga’s Foley Teleconference Room. Beginning at 6 p.m., he’ll give a presentation in GU’s Wolff Auditorium on the “social and intellectual impact of leadership through radically transgressive art, art that deeply considers the human condition, honors the quest for knowledge that transforms people, and challenges listeners to engage in life at its fullest,” wrote event organizer and GU professor Shann Ferch in an email.

Both events are free and are open to the public.

Wine for the woods

A few tickets were available Friday to attend Words, Woods and Wine, a benefit for the Inland Northwest Land Trust featuring Jess Walter, author of “Beautiful Ruins,” a New York Times best-seller.

Reading and wine tasting will begin at 7 p.m. Nov. 29 at Barrister Winery, 1213 W. Railroad Ave. Tickets are $15 and are available through brownpapertickets.com or by calling the land trust at (509) 328-2939.

A battle’s aftermath

Historian Mahlon Kriebel and Frank SiJohn, a member of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, will talk about the Battle of To-hots-nim-me, also known as the Battle of Steptoe Butte, in a presentation today at the Colfax library. Kriebel will discuss his new book, “Battle of To-hots-nim-me,” while SiJohn will share his family and tribal history. The two men have collaborated to blend the written history of the battle with Indian oral tradition.

In May 1858, Col. Edward Steptoe engaged a large force of Indians from the Coeur d’Alene, Spokane, Yakama and Palouse tribes near Rosalia. Kriebel and SiJohn will talk about the details of the battle and its aftermath during their presentation.

The program begins at 2 p.m. in the library’s Norma McGregor Room, 102 S. Main St., in Colfax.