John Dalmas to answer questions online
Every town has its writing treasures. Spokane has several, including two-time Hugo Award winner C.J. Cherryh, young-adult novelists Chris Crutcher and Terry Trueman, acclaimed mystery writer Jess Walter, and poets Nance Van Winckel and Christopher Howell. And then there’s John Dalmas ( www.sfwa.org/members/dalmas), whose prolific output of books has come largely in the past 20 years. The author of nearly 30 books, the 78-year-old Dalmas had gone through several occupations, from able seaman to forester, before settling down in the 1980s to write for a living.
He’s had several science fiction successes, from “The Yngling” to “The Regiment,” from “The Lion of Farside” to “The Second Coming.”
His 2001 novel, “The Soldiers,” just happens to be the October read of The Spokesman-Review Book Club ( www.spokesmanreview.com/interactive /bookclub).
Which is the main reason why we’ll be holding an online chat with Dalmas beginning at 1 p.m. Thursday.
To post questions for him, go to www.spokesmanreview.com/bookchat and follow the instructions.
Here are some samples you might consider:
“ Who have been some of your major influences?
“ How did your previous careers help you develop as a writer?
“ Why is war such a perennial theme in your books?
“ Have you read Orson Scott Card’s novel “Ender’s Game” (the subject of this month’s Spokane is Reading project) and what did you think of it?
Come up with something yourself. You’re bound to think of something better than any of these.
More Card talks
Spokane is Reading continues through the month with more meetings to discuss Orson Scott Card’s sci-fi novel “Ender’s Game.” The coming week’s schedule:
“ Monday, 7 p.m., Valley Library, 12004 E. Main Ave., Spokane Valley (926-6823).
“ Tuesday, 7 p.m., Airway Heights Library, 1213 S. Lundstrom, Airway Heights (244-5510).
“ Tuesday, 7 p.m., Spokane Public Library, 906 W. Main Ave. (444-5307)
“ Wednesday, 7 p.m., Moran Prairie Library, 57th and Regal (443-6663).
“ Saturday, 11 a.m., South Hill Library, 3324 S. Perry St. (444-5385).
Good things happen, too
In honor of Harold Kushner’s reading at Auntie’s Bookstore on Oct. 25, Defunct Books, 123 S. Wall St., is giving away free used copies of his best seller “When Bad Things Happen to Good People” while supplies last.
All you have to do is show up during business hours (weekdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from noon to 7 p.m.) and ask for a copy. No purchase is required; copies are limited to one per household.
For more information, call Greg Delzer at 624-9064.
Get your Lit
The latest addition to the lineup for Get Lit! 2005, Eastern Washington University Press’ annual literary fair (April 17-23), is Robert Munsch. The Canadian author will headline the Get Lit! kid’s concert, an event co-sponsored by the EWU Press and Spokane Public Radio on April 17 at the Masonic Temple, 1108 W. Riverside Ave.
For more information, go to www.ewu.edu/getlit or call 623-4262.
Edsall reading postponed
The scheduled reading by Susan Edsall (“Into the Blue: A Father’s Flight and a Daughter’s Return”) on Wednesday at Auntie’s Bookstore has been postponed until sometime in November. Edsall is shooting a sequence to be broadcast on “The Jane Pauley Show.”
Book talk
“ Hastings Inspirational Readers Group (“Once Upon an Island,” by David Conover), 7 p.m. Monday, Valley Hastings, 15312 E. Sprague (924-0667).
The reader board
“ Manning Marable (“Black Liberation in Conservative America”), lecture, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Lair Student Center, Spokane Community College, 1810 N. Greene St. (533-7042).
“ George Shaffner (“In the Land of Second Chances”), reading, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Auntie’s Bookstore, Main and Washington (838-0206).
“ Jeff Copeland (“Paralysis”), reading, 1 p.m. Friday, Auntie’s Bookstore.
“ Annie Winston (“Admiral Wright’s Heroical Storicals: Daniel Boone and the Battle of Boonesborough”), signing, 3-7:30 p.m. Friday, North Division Hastings, 7706 N. Division St. (483-2154); storytime, 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Coeur d’Alene Hastings, 101 Best Ave. (208-664-0464); storytime, 3 p.m. Saturday, Valley Hastings; signing, 6:30-9 p.m. Saturday, South Hill Hastings, 2512 E. 29th Ave. (535-4342); signing, 1 p.m. Oct. 24, Shadle Hastings, 1704 W. Wellesley Ave. (327-6008).
“ Ursula Solom (“Low-Carb Baking and Dessert Cookbook”), signing, 1 p.m. Saturday, Valley Barnes & Noble, 15310 E. Indiana Ave. (922-4104).
“ Tolkien Anniversary Reading, 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Auntie’s Bookstore. Members of the public are invited to read from their favorite sections (no more than 15 minutes). To sign up, call 838-0206.