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

Book Notes: Children’s author to read at Auntie’s

Kenn Nesbitt is a rhyme scheme waiting to happen.

Take the first stanza of the title poem of the Spokane author’s new children’s poetry book, “Santa Got Stuck in the Chimney” (Meadowbrook Press, 32 pages, $9.95), from which he will read at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Auntie’s Bookstore:

“Poor Santa got stuck in our chimney.

I know it sounds weird, but it’s true.

His feet made it down, but his belly

was one size too large for the flue.”

Nesbitt, whose work can be sampled on his Web site (www.poetry4kids.com), co-wrote the new book with Linda Knaus. It was illustrated by Mike and Carl Gordon.

This is Nesbitt’s third collection to be published by Meadowbrook, following “The Aliens Have Landed at Our School!” and “When the Teacher Isn’t Looking.” His work, which includes three self-published books, has been anthologized in both book and CD.

Nesbitt, 44, lives in Spokane with his wife, Ann, and their two children, son, Max, and daughter, Madison.

Writing time

Lost Horse Press is accepting registrations for its one-day writing seminar, Mountain Voices: A Lost Horse Press Workshop for Writers, which will be held Feb. 17 at the Sandpoint Library.

The workshop, which costs $50, will be run by Jonathan Johnson, a creative writing professor at Eastern Washington University and author of “Hannah and the Mountains: Notes Toward a Wilderness Fatherhood.”

For more information call (208) 255-4410. Or see the Lost Horse Web site at www.losthorsepress.org.

Auntie’s notes

Among the full schedule of readings that will take place at Auntie’s Bookstore in the coming week, a couple of footnotes apply.

One, author Nancy Whitemore Poore (“Deadly Confidante”) will appear alone on Wednesday instead of with special guest Joan McHugh as previously announced.

Two, Melissa Kwasny (“Thistle”) will read from her poetry collection on Friday in the store’s Liberty Cafe at 8:15 p.m., following the 7:30 reading by Eastern Washington University English professor Paul Lindholdt of the new edition of Theodore Winthrop’s book “The Canoe and the Saddle” that Lindholdt edited.

Book talk

“Friends of the Cheney Community Library Book Discussion Group (“Gilead,” by Marilynne Robinson, discussion leader Susan Means), 7 p.m. Tuesday, Cheney Community Library, 610 First St., Cheney. Call (509) 893-8280.

“Who Reads What? Book Discussion Series (“Treasure Island,” by Robert Louis Stevenson), 7 p.m. Thursday, Whitman County Library Colfax Branch, 102 S. Main St., Colfax. Call (509) 397-4366.

The reader board

“Robin Hobb (“Forest Mage”), reading, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Auntie’s Bookstore, Main and Washington. Call (509) 838-0206.

“Sheree Bates (“Megan’s One Wish”), reading, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Auntie’s Bookstore.

“Nancy Whitemore Poore (“Deadly Confidante”), 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Auntie’s Bookstore.

“Kenn Nesbitt (“Santa Got Stuck in the Chimney”), 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Auntie’s Bookstore.

“Paul Lindholdt (“The Canoe and the Saddle: A Critical Edition”), reading, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Auntie’s Bookstore.

“Melissa Kwasny (“Thistle”), reading, 8:15 p.m. Friday, Auntie’s Bookstore, Liberty Cafe.

“Marilyn Newkirk (“Spokane, 22nd Street and the Fifties”), signing, 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Auntie’s Bookstore.