Dark City Books releasing crime-tales collection
Some of us know Steve Oliver as the author of the Spokane-based “Moody” mystery novel series, as in “Moody Gets the Blues,” “Moody in Winter” and “Moody Forever.”
Some of us know him as the former owner of the late-lamented Dark City Mystery Bookstore.
Besides being both of those, Moody also is a book publisher whose Dark City imprint on Jan. 31 will release a book featuring home-based crime tales to tell over a warm fire during the dark days of winter.
“Spokane Crime Stories 1906” (Dark City Books, 130 pages, $17.95 paper) is a collection of stories, local and national, taken from century-old newspaper files.
“The collection focuses mainly on smaller stories of local crime and misadventure which give insight into the life of Spokane at the turn of the 20th century,” says a Dark City press release.
Boasting everything from ax murders to mere fraud, the book includes stories “of armed robbery, yeggs (or safecrackers), opium dens, women of questionable character and dance halls that had the temerity to open on Sunday.”
All of the stories have run throughout the year in the Dark City monthly publication The Criminal Record.
For further information, call (509) 747-7416, e-mail darkcitybooks@darkcitybooks.com or go online at www.darkcitybooks.com.
Chicken and more
Sagle, Idaho, author Norma Favor has a story included in the “Chicken Soup for the Shopper’s Soul – Celebrating Bargains, Boutiques & the Perfect Pair of Shoes” (HCI, 300 pages, $14.95).
Favor also has had a story published in “Chicken Soup for the Grandma’s Soul.” Her story in the new collection is titled “Rummage Sale Fortune.”
Poetry prize
Sandpoint-based Lost Horse Press is soliciting book-length manuscript entries for its Idaho Prize for Poetry 2007. The national competition, which offers a $1,000 cash award plus publication by the press, is open to all U.S. poets. Entries must be postmarked by May 15.
The finalists and overall winner will be announced Aug. 15. Final judge is poet Robin Becker (“Domain of Perfect Affection”).
For fee and submission information, go online at www.losthorsepress.org/tip/index.html, call (208) 255-4410 or e-mail losthorsepress@mindspring.com.
Book talk
“Dark City Mystery Book Group (“A Highland Christmas,” by M. C. Beaton), 7 p.m. Monday, Auntie’s Bookstore, Main and Washington. Call (509) 838-0206.
“Hastings Inspirational Readers Group (“The Angels of Morgan Hill,” by Donna VanLiere), 7 p.m. Monday, Valley Hastings, 15312 E. Sprague Ave. Call (509) 924-0667.
The reader board
“C.K. Crigger (“The Prince’s Cousin”), signing, 1 p.m. today, Valley Hastings.
“Beth Cooley (“Shelter”), signing, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Valley Hastings.
“Stephen Haskell (“Billable Hours”), signing, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Auntie’s Bookstore.