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Missoula, Montana – a writing community

September 26, 2014 Leave a Comment

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David Allan Cates

The other night I went to a reading by Missoula author David Allan Cates, who was launching his new novel, his fifth, Tom Connor’s Gift, due out Oct. 15.

It was a lovely, warm  evening with lots of things going on around Missoula, but Cates packed the house at Shakespeare and Company. The crowd included fellow authors Pete Fromm (whose own new novel, If Not For This, was published last month), Peter Stark (Astoria: John Jacob Astor and Thomas Jefferson’s Lost Pacific Empire) and Victoria Jenkins (An Unattended Death), among others. In Cates’ remarks after the reading, people around the room nodded as he made much of the benefits of living in a community with such strong support for writers. Truly, sometimes I pinch myself in wonder at having landed in such a writerly place.

There is, of course, the University of Montana’s vaunted creative writing program. I’ve taken Cates’ novel-writing class at 406 Writers Workshop, a group that also holds sessions in short fiction, memoir, poetry, screenwriting and creative nonfiction. The booksellers here are wonderfully supportive of local authors. And the annual Humanities Montana Festival of the Book (Oct. 9-11 this year) packs venues around town.

More than anything, I’ve found the authors here to be unstintingly generous with newbies like me in terms of advice and mentoring. I’ve heard horror stories about the cutthroat competition in other paces and writing programs. I’m so glad I’m here instead.

Leave a Comment Tags: Book signings, Bookstores, Montana Festival of the Book, Readings

Indies First, a book group, and some darned chilly readings

December 2, 2013 Leave a Comment

It felt like all books, all the time this past weekend – and the feeling continues this week.

I was fortunate to participate in Fact and Fiction’s Indies First weekend, an event launched by author Sherman Alexie that featured area writers working in their local independent bookstores the weekend after Thanksgiving.

Saturday at Fact and Fiction featured David Abrams of Butte (Fobbit), David James Duncan of Lolo (The River Why), and Kim Anderson, Humanities Montana Festival of the Book organizer whose uber-cool hat ended up on the front page of the Sunday Missoulian in Tom Bauer’s photo at right. I worked on Sunday, along with authors (from left, in photo above) Missoula’s Rick Bass (All the Land to Hold Us), Bigfork’s Leslie Budewitz (Death al Dente) and Ken Robison of Great Falls (Montana Territory and the Civil War). We served champagne and talked up books with store patrons. Great way to spend an afternoon.

I warmed up for Indies First on Sunday by going to a book group brunch hosted by Keila Szpaller and Brock Gnose. They went all sneaky and thematic on me by featuring Lola Prosecco (my protagonist’s name is Lola Wicks) and Jameson’s (Lola likes her occasional nip of same). The brunch was great fun – people asked lots of really insightful questions.

 

 

 

Today is a breather (by which I mean, a day to write), then on to Boulder for a reading Tuesday at the library there, and a reading at the library in Helena on Wednesday, both on days when the temperature is supposed to dive below zero. I’m hoping for stalwart readers. Luckily, things are supposed to warm up a little by Saturday, when I’ll read at Shakespeare and Co. in Missoula (at 11 a.m. so readers who are Griz fans can sneak it in before the game).

Fun football fact: The Griz are playing the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (such a literary name!), from Conway in South Carolina. My parents just arrived at their winter digs in Surfside Beach, not 20 miles away. Apparently it’s in the 50s there, but folks are bundled up as though it’s the dead of winter. The high in Missoula on Saturday is supposed to be 11. Those southern players had better wear their woollies. 

Leave a Comment Tags: Bookselling, Bookstores, Fact and Fiction, Indie bookstores, Indies First

Photo recap of the couch-surfing ‘Montana’ book tour

November 25, 2013 Leave a Comment

So it begins, this business of sponging off – I mean, visiting – friends in towns where readings and book-signings for Montana are scheduled. Thanks to Lynn and Beth Kaeding in Bozeman, and artist Cathy Weber in Dillon for providing shelter, sustenance and wonderful conversation last week. 

We went first to the Country Bookshelf in Bozeman. Friend Patrick Duganz drove through a nasty snowstorm, arriving just in time to introduce me. Pat’s a funny guy and got way more laughs than I did. 

I also began following the excellent example set by Billings author Craig Lancaster (600 Hours of Edward, Edward Adrift), who buys a book at each store where he reads. Here’s what I picked up at Country Bookshelf:

 

From Bozeman, we drove southwest to Dillon on a sparkling cold and clear day. The snow vanished just outside Bozeman, the roads were clear, and we indulged in comfort food – grilled cheese and tomato soup – in Twin Bridges, while heroically forgoing pie. Boo to moderation.

 

People hereabouts generally associate Dillon with its Patagonia outlet (and yes, I got a screaming deal on a down coat), but book lovers know it for The Bookstore, and the treat that’s involved in shopping there and chatting with owner Debbie Sporich, whose taste in hats is as eclectic as the offerings on her shelves. I was thoroughly charmed by the young ranch hand who pronounced himself delighted with the discovery of a book of classic fairy tales on the sale shelf for a mere $1. 

Here’s what came home with me from The Bookstore shelves.

 

 We crept out of town early the next morning as the sun was rising over Cathy Weber’s gate, topped by some of her signature ceramic birds.

 

All in all, a fine trip. Now, back to Missoula for the Indies First weekend at Fact and Fiction (Nov. 30 and Dec. 1). Then, on to Jefferson County and the Boulder Community Library on Dec. 3 (and pleaseohplease a dip in the Boulder Hot Springs); the Lewis and Clark Public Library in Helena on Dec. 4, and back to Missoula for a reading and book signing at Shakespeare and Co. on Dec. 7. Check the News & Events page on my website for times and street addresses. 

Hope to see you at one of those!

Leave a Comment Tags: Bookstores, Events, Readings

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