Category: Literary Locals Page 5 of 7

Cutthroat Cupcakes by Cate Lawley: This Cozy and Witchy Mystery Drips with Appeal

It’s been too long since I posted a Literary Locals book, so I’m glad to get a chance to do that again. I had a quick Q&A with Lawley a few months ago about writing in Idaho, if you’re curious.


Cutthroat CupcakesCutthroat Cupcakes

by Cake Lawley

DETAILS:
Series: Cursed Candy Mysteries, #1
Publication Date: July 21, 2020
Format: eBook
Length: 262 pgs.
Read Date: June 22, 2023

“How do you kill a person with a cupcake topper?”

“When it’s drenched with as much raw magic as yours are, so many different ways.” Sabrina ticked off options on her fingers. “As a potion additive, as part of a ritual, ingested by the magic-user to add to their own power. Yeah, those are probably the top three.”

“Yours was used to create a potion which was then added to a beverage the victim drank, from what we can tell,” Miles added helpfully.

I really didn’t feel so good.

What’s Cutthroat Cupcakes About?

Lina’s having a slow day in her store—a year-round custom-made candy store with a Halloween theme—when everything she knows about her family, herself, and the world as a whole changes.

Lina discovers that magic is real and that she’s a witch in one of the worst ways imaginable to learn these things—by being arrested by a supernatural cop for killing someone with an item you cursed.

This cop is a wizard with the International Criminal Witch Police who has a certain amount of leeway in his jurisdiction—since he’s easily convinced that Lina has no idea how she may have cursed the candies in her shop, he offers to cut a deal with her—if she helps to track down the person who used her unintentionally cursed items, he won’t pursue charges (ignorance of the law yada yada yada could still get her a few years as an Accessory). Apparently, once you know what you’re looking for it’s easier to find traces of your own magic than it is to find someone else’s, so it makes sense to recruit Lina into this investigation, even if she doesn’t know anything about the magical side of things.

Lina’s curious about this whole witch thing, desperate to not be convicted of a crime—and fairly attracted to this detective, truth be told. So she puts her store in the hands of a new (witch) acquaintance for a few days and takes the offer.

The Boise-ness of It All

“The three of you are it? For the entire city of Boise?”

Bastian huffed. “City? Town.”

“Hey, now. No smack-talking Boise.” I’d only lived here five years, but that was long enough to recognize that the place definitely had its charms.

“I’m not talking smack. I’m stating a fact. It’s a town, not a city. But to answer your question, the three of us cover the greater Boise area.” His lips pulled into a grimace. “Insomuch as there is a greater metro area.”

You know right away that this is some sort of fantasy—there’s no way that a homemade candy shop—particularly a Halloween-themed candy shop—survives in downtown Boise for as long as Lina’s has. Yes, the idea is appealing, but it’s easier to buy the idea of the magic, to be frank.

Outside of that, putting this series in Boise helps ground it—Lawley has some good fixed locations for things and is able to use that geography to her advantage. But no one who is unfamiliar with Idaho’s capital is going to suffer for it—it’s a nice bonus for those of us who make the same drive as Lina does to know how long it takes so we know how long the uncomfortable silence (or whatever) will be. But that’s about it.

The Cozy Factor

I drank my exceptional espresso with exactly the right amount of cream and tried to keep my annoyance at recent events to a minimum. Nothing like a rotten mood to ruin good caffeine.

This is pretty “cozy” on two fronts—the magic and the mystery. We only get very broad brushstrokes about magic, how it works, what it can/can’t do, the society of witches/warlocks/wizards, and so on. Lawley gives us enough details to keep the story moving. We do get to see some magic at work, and get a sense that some ritual and effort is necessary—but Lawley’s not coming at this like Butcher, Rowling, or Harrison.

The mystery part of the book is solidly in the cozy area as well—we’ve got a candy store owner, a detective who works out of a coffee shop, and a whole lot of generally nice people (even a suspect or two are pretty nice when you get to know them).

The effect of both of these is to make you as comfortable as if you’re relaxing with one of the some of the drinks and treats described while the world passes by.

So, what did I think about Cutthroat Cupcakes?

Maybe I should have dithered, asked for more information, heck, even asked for the questions first. But this was the guy who’d cured my headache. Despite having locked us in my store earlier and disabling my phones, he seemed a stand-up sort of guy. Maybe he wasn’t warm and fuzzy, but…I trusted him. And that’s saying a lot given the fact he arrested me.

I initially thought this seemed like a charming idea for a cozy mystery series, but I wasn’t prepared for the extent of its charms. I devoured* this in one sitting and if I owned it, I’d have likely rolled right into the sequel (I will be rectifying this situation soon). I want to use words like cute and adorable, but those both feel condescending, so I’m sticking with charming for now. Enchanting might work there, too. But that’s a little too something given all the witchiness of the book.

Lawley’s not afraid to have a little fun with the premise—the first (aware) witch we meet is named Sabrina, for crying out loud.

*Pun intended, naturally.

The characters are all great (I thought about spending some time talking about them, but why ruin your fun?). The candies are tantalizing—even for someone who abstains from sugar. The coffee shop owned by the detective (there’s not enough supernatural crime to be a full-time job in this area—and he needs a cover story for the non-magical folks) will cause cravings for sure.

Basically, this is a light-hearted, sweet, appealing, and charming book. I encourage you to grab a snack, pick up Cutthroat Cupcakes, and get lost in the world for a little while. You’ll feel better for it.


3.5 Stars

20 Books of Summer
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LITERARY LOCALS: A Q&A About Writing in Idaho with Amy Maren Rice

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A couple of months ago, my daughter and I met a handful of local authors at the Nampa Library’s Treasure Valley Indie Book Fair, and while there I talked a few of them into participating in this series. I remember having a fun chat with Amy Maren Rice while there, and was very happy she agreed to do this. Life and whatnot has delayed her appearance here, but I can finally bring you this fun Q&A with a newer author to the local area. Hopefully this isn’t her last appearance on this blog.

A personal highlight was the way she describes my daughter—which drove my daughter into a laughing fit so long that it almost started an asthmatic episode (she loves it and finds it ridiculous at the same time). I can’t tell you how often we’ve quoted that in the week or so since I received these answers.


Before we get into things, why don’t you give the reader a brief introduction to you and your work.
Oh gosh, all about me, hu? This is always a bit nerve-wracking. It reminds me of the first day of school which was always terror invoking.

Here goes. My name is Amy Maren Rice. I’m an American author of pre-teen fantasy and I was born in and am currently living in Idaho. I’ve always loved books and have had a desire to write since my teen years. While I’m, ahem, a bit past those years, the desire is still there and I finally took the dive. My first book was published in the fall of 2022, Fuzzwiggs the Switcheroo. It’s geared toward pre-teens, the age group my boys were when I dreamed up the story. We always had a hard time finding fun, interesting books that were at a high enough reading level so, I wrote one. It entertains but challenges their vocabulary and is good clean fun. As a parent this is what I was always on the lookout for. I didn’t anticipate where the book would take me, however, and found myself writing about Fuzzwiggs with fart powers. Growing up I wasn’t even allowed to say the word fart! Sorry Mom!

I have several links where you can find Fuzzwiggs The Switcheroo. Through Covenant Books who I worked with to publish, of course on Amazon.com, and I was really excited to see it online at Target, Walmart.com and Barnes & Noble. You can also find me on Facebook and Instagram.

Are you a native Idahoan? What is it about Idaho that keeps you here?
Yes! I was born and raised in Eastern Idaho and moved to the Western side shortly after I graduated from Idaho State University. There’s no place like home!

Are you tied into some sort of local author/bookish group/culture? If so, tell us about it and how it helps you as an author. If you’re not, is there a reason for it?
Nope … anxiety!!! I’m working on it! Ask me about it sometime and I’ll tell you about my rollercoaster of emotions and involuntary physical quirks. I’m always discovering new ones! It’s actually been a big journey for me to allow people to even read my book.

I hear that—so what was the final push to get you to put the book out in the world?
My desire to be an example to my children. I realized that they were struggling with some of the same social anxieties that I was and they needed me to be their example. I needed to show them that I was brave enough to do the things I was asking them to do and, if I failed, they needed to see that too because I could show them how to be resilient in the face of disappointment.

What kind of events in the area do you attend—either to sell/promote your books or to network with authors? Are there any outside of this area that you hit regularly and wish we had something like it here?
I’ve been to a few library-held events. My first one was where I met you! At one point, you mentioned that you get nervous approaching people about your blog and, well, while we were talking, I was secretly having a heart attack! I tend to say all the words at once and several on repeat. You seemed so cool with your blog and intimidatingly cool daughter and all the while I was hoping you wouldn’t see through my facade of claiming to be a real author. I’m still waiting for someone to find me out.

I definitely wish we had more venues to connect with readers and other local writers. It was the biggest thrill when an eight-year-old saw me at another event after she had bought my book and came to meet me. I mean, just wow!

What a rush that must’ve been. I’m assuming most of your feedback has been pretty positive at this point—anything else stand out to you? Do you have plans to look into other avenues (craft/art fairs, bazaars, etc.?) Or are you just dipping a toe in the water until your anxieties quiet down a little bit?
Yes, it was! I really enjoy talking with kids. Adults are a bit harder.

People who attend literary events tend to be kind because they’re there for the books. They have the same love for them as you do, so yes, I’ve had mostly a positive experience so far. Fingers crossed, eyes closed and breath held – a nod to Jasper’s good luck charm in Fuzzwiggs the Switcheroo.

Toes are being dipped, but I’m open to other events if I feel it’s a good fit.

What’s the breakdown of your audience—do you have a strong local base, or are your readers from other parts of the world?
Oh gosh, I’m just grateful to have readers! Fuzzwiggs the Switcheroo came out last fall and I have had a ton of support locally, both here and in Eastern Idaho. It’s written for kids in that mid-range of 8-13 but I have a lot of adult readers too. They tell me it’s not just for kids!

I’ve seen my book listed in all sorts of places all over the world like Australia, Austria, Poland, Romania, The UK, Germany and China. What a rush! I became a stalker of Google listings for Fuzzwiggs last year and took a screen shot of every single one I found for the dopamine!

Have you had any interaction via social media or anything with any out-of-country readers? Or for now is your foreign dopamine coming from the listings?
I have foreign sales but haven’t interacted with any readers outside the US. That would be a rush though. Talk about dopamine!

Do you bring Idaho (or some sort of Idaho-sensibility, assuming one exists) to your work? Whether or not anyone else sees it, can you look at some aspect of your writing and think “That’s Idaho” or “I would do ____ differently if I was a Kentuckian or from Illinois?”
I do bring my version of Idaho to the book and a few of my experiences growing up here. It takes place in an Idaho mountain setting where my two main characters, young brothers, are new to the area and I get to explain some unique Idaho things through their eyes.

Hmm, Idaho-sensibility. What’s interesting about Idaho is that we all do seem to have a collective Idaho-ness about us but you see a range of different lifestyles here. I grew up growing a garden that was essential for our family’s food source. If we needed it, we grew it, made it or built it. My father built the house I grew up in. My husband grew up on a golf course, my friend grew up on a cattle farm, another in a double-wide trailer they could barely afford the rent on and another in the largest home in the whole town with luxury cars, boats and vacation homes. But we all had commonalities in the way we acted and how families were at the center of everything we did. A feeling goodness permeated my childhood. For the most part, that’s something I feel is prevalent in Idaho. I hope you feel that in my writing. I wanted to bring that goodness to my characters. They go through their journey and have their faults, but eventually they show their true colors as good, kind kids. Throw in a little magic and a plethora of farts and you have my very first book Fuzzwigg the Switcheroo!

Thanks for your time and participation! Hope you enjoyed it!
Thank you for inviting me to participate. Another notch on my “learning to try new things” belt! I had a great time.


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Grandpappy’s Corner: George the Bannana: Book One by Elliott Linker: The Origin of a Superhero (and his Writer!)

Be sure to come back this afternoon for a Q&A with the writer!


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George the Bannana: Book One

by Elliott Linker

DETAILS:
Series: George the Bannana, #1
Publication Date: January 13, 2023
Format: Paperback
Length: 25 pgs.
Read Date: March 18, 2023

What’s George the Bannana: Book One About?

Here’s the back of the book description:

Elliott’s best friend, George, suddenly turns into a banana! Elliott is scared of what people will think and inadvertently hurts George’s feelings. Trying to save his friendship with George, Elliott helps turn George into a super hero! Together they embark on a wild adventure.

I can’t think of a better way to put it or anything to add.

Let’s Talk about the Art for a Minute

The art looks like the product of an elementary school artist, so it’s rough, a little haphazard, and lacking in detail. Granted. It’s also dynamic, consistent (even the anonymous bad guys look the same from panel to panel), and engaging.

The coloring and shading are really well done, and elevate the work. The action scenes really work well—and Linker makes the wise move to take a break for the occasional cloud full of “Bam” “Kick Kick” “Punch Punch” “Kapow”—leaving it to the reader’s imagination (and saving him a lot of work).

Best of all, the art fits the story.

So, what did I think about George the Bannana: Book One?

This made me so happy to read—it’s clearly the product of an imaginative youth expressing himself. The story is ridiculous in the way that only a child can let one be—feeling both out of control with random elements, yet somehow sticking to an outline. Linker knows what the arc of a superhero story should be and executes it—he may not quite understand how to get from Point A to Point B, but he gets there through sheer determination and will (and this is the most enjoyable part for me).

Linker was 8 when he created this work—9 when he published it, which is just great. It also makes me want to focus on something in the description—Elliott isn’t the superhero, he’s the side-kick (who will need to be rescued). He’s also the guy who was a jerk to his best friend. Big choices that say a lot about the author.

I’ve got to say, I don’t know how many kids would take a moment to have George confront Elliott with how he made him feel when George became a banana (I’m certain I wouldn’t have at his age). That one moment made this a winner in my book—but so did many of the others.

The bonus of including a preview of Book Two in black and white for the reader to color? Very clever and very fun.

The entire time I read this, the back of my mind kept saying “He must have had such a blast writing and drawing this.” That joy was infectious so I had a blast reading it, and I can’t imagine any adult having a similar reaction. One of Linker’s contemporaries probably would, too—and maybe find the inspiration to tell their own story, too.


3 Stars

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LITERARY LOCALS: A Q&A About Writing in Idaho with Hilarey Johnson

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I really want to thank Hilarey Johnson for stopping by to take part in this–especially as she had to take time from fighting technological calamity to do so. She’s got some thoughtful things to say, and I hope (slash-expect) that this won’t be the last time we hear from here here.


Before we get into things, why don’t you give the reader a brief introduction to you and your work.
My name is Hilarey Johnson. I bought my website long before I realized most writers would use their full name. So you can normally find me at Hilarey.com because of the unique spelling. However, I recently had a technical mishap. I probably will not have the website rebuilt until summer 2023. Additionally, I am not active on social media and deleted most accounts several years ago. I have six novels. I wrote a coming of age literary fiction series called Breaking Bonds. The three novels complement each other, but you don’t need to read all of them to understand the stories. They have elements of faith and suspense, and a tiny bit of romance. The first two, Sovereign Ground and Heart of Petra, won several awards including Idaho Author Awards, Christian Writers Guild, and Meridian Writes from the public library. The last one is titled Sworn to the Desert.

I also have a historical fantasy series set in Idaho, 1865. Because I met my husband through martial arts, and we taught a Korean martial art called Tang Soo Do many years in Meridian, I was often encouraged to write a book with those elements. Dance of the Crane Series is a single story, told in three parts. The individual titles are Stone of Asylum, The Reckoner’s Blade, and Heiress of Coeur d’Alene. Most people who’ve seen Kung Fu Panda understand that martial arts forms are patterned after animal characteristics. My idea was that not all who came here during the gold rush were argonauts. Some were looking for the rare Idaho Star Garnet so they could transform into animals through its power and the practice of martial arts. The antagonists in my story found a way to harness the power and tattoo the pulverized stone onto others, causing them to transform into animals against their will. It’s a retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, sort of in the vein of The Forbidden Kingdom, which is a Jackie Chan movie I like. I had a lot of fun researching that. I traveled to the Chinese Historical Museum in San Fransisco, as well as museums in Coeur d’Alene.

A question for you: Your website is very expansive. How long have you been writing your blog? Have you written anything else? Also, you’re a pretty eclectic reader. Is reading your main focus?
I started this back in 2013 (oh, I should start planning something for the 10th anniversary!). Definitely! I’ve dabbled in short stories and novels since childhood—have produced very little that I liked/wanted to work with long enough to get in publishable form. Yeah, “eclectic” is a pretty good term to use—far more complimentary than “always chasing a new shiny” or something. And yeah, reading is my main non-work focus, at this point, it’s a hobby that’s really gotten out of hand.
Writers love readers! I’m glad you used the word “work.” It’s easy to romanticize the idea of writing, but the actual work is re-writing. I don’t know that chasing a shiny something is bad. I just finished What about the Baby? by Alice McDermott, and her experience following the muse instead of the book she had contracted to write worked to her benefit. Her editor liked more as well. Sometimes that is part of finding your voice, too.

What brought you to Idaho in the first place? What is it about Idaho that keeps you here?
We came here for my husband’s job. I was born in California and graduated from high school in Lake Tahoe. I went to school in northern California and then lived in Eastern Europe the first year we were married. We moved back and forth over the California/Nevada border several years and landed in Idaho in 2003. We lived in Twin Falls five years, and moved to Boise in 2008. Because I’d moved so much in my life, I was eager to grow roots. I try not to say what I will and will not do—but I hope to stay in the area. I love the access to natural resources and bumping into people I know at the grocery store. I have a strong community here.

Are you tied into some sort of local author/bookish group/culture? If so, tell us about it and how it helps you as an author. If you’re not, is there a reason for it?
My local community and critique group are the main reason my novels became available instead of rotting in a drawer. I had written alone for many years. In fact, it took me ten years to complete my first 50,000 word novel. Then I spent five years seeing if I could do it again. The second novel landed closer to 75K. Both experiences were valuable to finish a something with continuity and a story arc. But they also helped me develop my voice. At that time, I still introduced myself as a “wannabe writer” even though I had two finished novels, written for newspapers, and had short stories published. That’s a difference community makes. In 2005, I joined a nationwide writers group called American Christian Romance Writers. I didn’t write romance but went to a conference and started attending their local chapter, Idahope Christian Writers. Most of the local members did not write romance exclusively. The next book I finished (Sovereign Ground) was completed in one year and I chose to self-publish in 2014. I remained involved in Idahope several years. They have since become inactive, but I have a secret to tell you: One of the previous presidents and I, along with a few board members, are planning to relaunch as ICW in October 2023. I’m very excited to rekindle the fellowship of writers in the valley who feel faith is an essential part of their creative process, whether they write “Christian” books or not.
I have two follow-ups to this answer (and one could probably launch a separate conversation). Beyond helping you finish “something with continuity and a story arc” and developing your voice, did these groups push you to do anything other than put the books in the drawer? Or were you just looking for something good enough to avoid the drawer in the first place? If so, how did they help you?
I think the greatest help was the shared experience of sending to editors/publishers and getting rejected, but trying again. Seeing other people be brave makes you braver. And of course just the practicality of asking advice and questions from people a step ahead of you. Some people can go to writers’ groups for years and never finish more than that first (perfected) chapter (which is perfectly fine!) but there is usually a call to step forward which you hear a little clearer when you are in a group who is also pursuing it.

Secondly, how do you see faith as an essential part of your process? (this probably belongs in a different Q&A since we’re shifting topics, but I don’t care)
I kind of hoped you would just let that slide by… First, I don’t think writing as a believer in God means you replace “the muse” with “the divine.” You still have to wrestle with The War of Art. Second, it doesn’t mean you just write about God. I have read beautiful novels by people who probably would not have considered themselves believers in God—yet they are real, raw, etherial and eternal. So for me, my faith being an essential part of the creative process includes one: I feel like I am spending time with the creator when I create, coming alive to be who he made me. Two: there is a sense of something beyond me and bigger than me at work/play. (I know people who don’t consider themselves religious also experience this. I just attribute it to God.) And three: I have a call to submit myself. This doesn’t mean just that I “have to write,” but I will flourish when I write with honesty and obedience. I think those three apply whether you write for a living or you write for yourself.

What kind of events in the area do you attend—either to sell/promote your books or to network with authors? Are there any outside of this area that you hit regularly and wish we had something like it here?
Right after I published the Dance of the Crane Series, I sort of disappeared. I didn’t promote it, I pulled back from all social media and fiction writing. It was a season of rest and repair while I figured out some personal things. So, I have been inactive in the larger writing community for many years. When I was ready to write again, I felt a stronger pull to back to nonfiction, so I spent time ghostwriting near death experiences for Guideposts. Last year, in 2022, I blogged weekly about faith, wrestling religious assumptions, mandated righteousness, mental health and authentic community. I called it “Intimacy with God for the Over-Churched.” I’d blogged for more than a decade prior, but that was an important experience, both doing it weekly and learning to record and edit audio. Of course, I recently deleted the entire thing…

During the shutdown I recorded my first novel and loved the experience. I’m working on my second right now. I hope my future in storytelling will have more to do with audiobooks. Also, this year I intend to put more energy into ICW. As I said, our goal is to connect people who specifically feel faith in God is part of their creative process. Our particular hope is to create a safe place for all forms of story. The first group I ever joined emphasized romance, but that was hard for me because even though I think a little romance sweetens every story, it isn’t my go-to genre. In ICW, we want to foster all forms of fiction, poetry, nonfiction, screenwriting, narration, podcasting… storytelling. We are so new, I don’t even have a website to send potential members. But when it is ready you will find us at idahopechristianwriters.org. Hopefully you’ll have me back in the late summer when it’s time to announce ICW.
Audiobooks aren’t something I’ve really talked about with anyone for this series—I’m assuming you self-produce the whole thing? That’s a whole different level (or seven) of complication to the publishing process. How is your first being received? Or…is it?
I read the first book but paid Audio Lab Recording Studios to produce it. I will produce the next one, which means I can spend more time perfecting it…and also means I can get lost in “never good enough, try once more” land. It’s available at the library, Audible, Spotify. It has been well received, and I am confident the next one will be better.

What’s the breakdown of your audience—do you have a strong local base, or are your readers from other parts of the world?
I sold so few books last year that I wouldn’t say I currently have a fan base—other than the cheerleaders in my life who’ve already read my books. The thing about writing fiction for a living is that you need to continue to produce. It’s also wise to pick a genre and foster that community. My second series was very different, and darker, than my first. I lost readers through that shift. I had a very loyal following on my blog. I think I will reject my own advice and publish nonfiction in line with that, next.

Do you think there are particular challenges or advantages to being a writer in the Treasure Valley? (possibly both)
There’s the assumption that you need to live in Hollywood to produce screenplays, and on the East Coast to access big publishing houses. I think the challenge or advantage would be in your personal goals. You can definitely live on less money here than in either of those two places. Also, I think it’s essential to really know the place you set your books. A strong setting can be a character, and I honestly don’t know that most of the US is interested in Idaho. Our wild lands and independent spirit are fine for westerns. But it seems that people are really drawn to the sass of southern fiction, powerful urban settings, or the charm of quaint mid-west towns. I would be curious to hear other opinions about that though.

Do you bring Idaho (or some sort of Idaho-sensibility, assuming one exists (you mean any sensibility 🙂 ?) to your work? Whether or not anyone else sees it, can you look at some aspect of your writing and think “That’s Idaho” or “I would do ____ differently if I was a Kentuckian or from Illinois?”
I certainly bring my northwest-sensibility to writing. I didn’t realize this though, until I met writers from east of the Mississippi at conferences. We don’t wear gloves to church and it isn’t an unspoken requirement for pastor’s wives flat-iron their hair out here. We have less propriety in the Northwest, and I love that—even if I don’t usually realize it. Your entire experience is consciously or unconsciously woven into your writing. My first series was set in Reno, Nevada because that’s where I lived when I started hearing their voices in my head. The heroine was a dancer and we drove by strip clubs and the Mustang Ranch regularly—it was the best place to set it because of the culture.

When I wrote my series set in Idaho, I spent lots of time in the car between Twin Falls and Boise imagining the canyons, rivers, hot springs and ridges during the 1800s. It fostered a great love of our landscape inside me. Some of the sentiments, prejudices and lore of the time came from research. Research and imagination make it possible to write about places you haven’t been. Otherwise we wouldn’t have books about other planets. But I think my Idaho-sensibility definitely affected the final story. A sentiment I found researching said that people landed here only if they were out of money or options. That still intrigues me.

One final question, is there a book (or two…or 18, if you get really carried away), that embodies Idaho/the Idaho spirit to you to recommend to my readers?
This is interesting because “spirit” is more than “setting.” When we first moved here we listened to an audiobook called Monster, by Frank Peretti. It’s about a woman who has a stutter (it’s relevant to her story) and gets kidnapped by a female Sasquatch who recently lost a baby. She and her family group (a big male and another female with a living offspring) are running from something. I think it comes to mind first because we didn’t know the area and Idaho was new and exciting to us. Uncharted wilderness is very romantic to me, in theory—I’m not a survivalist. The way the character yelled at God about the unfairness of her situation was a pivotal moment in my reading/writing journey. I hadn’t yet read something which talked about faith in God with anything other than blissful acceptance. I think it captured Idaho for me because of the honesty, the wilderness, and because some people here are hiding, or running, from monsters.
Most respondents to this have either gone super-literal “this takes place in Idaho” or have gone with the “spirit” angle like you. I read Monster a long time ago, and don’t know if I’d have characterized it as Idaho-ish, but you’re absolutely right. That’s a great way to think about the answer.

Thanks for your time and participation! Hope you enjoyed it!


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LITERARY LOCALS: Treasure Valley Indie Book Fair/Book Haul

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Like I said a couple of weeks ago, the Nampa Public Library hosted the Treasure Valley Indie Book Fair and I wanted to take a minute or two to talk about it.

I’d seen the numbers of authors—and had tried to look them up to know who I wanted to be sure to talk to. But in person, it seemed like a lot more authors had tables. The library’s conference room was filled, and it spilled out into the main lobby area, too. My daughter and I went pretty early because we had other commitments—but there were lines at most tables when we arrived, and they were longer when we left.

Many of these authors wrote romances of various types—so we could skip those (not to be snobs, but we only had so much time, and neither of us were going to read any of them), and there were a couple of others we couldn’t make time for. But we did manage to have a nice conversation with J.C. Jackson (I feel bad about the fact that her first reaction to me was apologizing for not getting back to me about some emails—I just wanted to say hi), Jeremy Billups, Danielle Parker, and Troy Lambert. Names that I’ve mentioned a time or six here.

We also got to introduce ourselves and chat with a few others like novelists Justin Reed (who is a self-published author who takes the design of his books very seriously—and it pays off), Laura Jenski, and Amy Maren Rice. Rice was accompanied by her son, who a few years ago wrote a book that I was able to snag a copy of. There was another young author there, Elliot Linker, selling the graphic novel he wrote and drew. I tell you what, if you ever get the chance to have an elementary school-aged author sign their book for you—do it. The care they put into it… We also met children’s book author S. E. Richey and had a very nice conversation with her. Most, if not all, of these authors, will be showing up here in the near future, I hope.

All in all, it was a great event with a large range of genres, target audiences, and authors represented (which was pretty encouraging) and one I hope is repeated.

Now, I can’t be expected to show up to an event like that and walk away empty handed can I?
NPL Indie Fair Book Haul
What you see there (in addition to my lousy photography skills) is:
bullet Cooked Goose—the first in Laura Jenski’s Motorhome Murder Mystery series
bullet Teaching Moments—the second in Troy Lambert’s Max Boucher Mystery series
bullet The Call of the Karen by Denise Lynn Lambert, a book I’m not going to try to describe until I read it.
bullet Stray Ally—a military/dog adventure by Troy Lambert
bullet However Long the Day by Justin Reed—essentially The Prince and the Pauper in 1918 New York
bullet Pure of Heart—the first in Danielle Parker’s Faoladh Series
bullet Fuzzwiggs: The Switcheroo by Amy Maren Rice—a YA fantasy adventure
bullet My Border Collie World by Ruth Simerly, which pretty much looks like what the title says.
bullet Lulu and the Missing Tooth Fairy and Trouble with Truffles (do you have any idea how hard it is to get my fingers to not type “Tribbles” there?) by S. E. Richey
bullet Red Stripes VS Miles the Mutant Mouse by Kyson Rice, and illustrated by Amy Rice
bullet George the Banana: Book One by Elliot Linker (he was also giving away the banana toy on top of that stack—with the hand-drawn face)

I’m so glad I knocked off so many books from Mt. TBR last month, I need the space…


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LITERARY LOCALS: A Q&A About Writing in Idaho with Danielle Parker

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Last week, I said that we’d be taking a quick break while I worked on recruiting some more participants for this. I hadn’t accounted for how quickly Danielle Parker would respond to the questions. I’m really looking forward to diving into her werewolf books soon–but for now, let’s dive into her thoughts about writing in Idaho.

I think we’re taking a break for a couple of weeks after this, but I’m not going to try to make any predictions.

N.B. This was done before March 4th, so our discussion about the event then is clearly anachronistic.


Before we get into things, why don’t you give the reader a brief introduction to you and your work.
I write using the pen name of Danielle Parker. I’ve been a soldier since 2006 and I’m retiring soon to write full-time and raise my son. My husband and I are very excited about that! My books are primarily under the Urban Fantasy umbrella with lots of sarcastic characters. I like horror/comedy and think it shows in my stories. I’m hoping to branch out into thrillers soonish.

I don’t exist much online – usually too busy writing – but I’m probably the most active on Tumblr (at the moment), Werewolves Don’t Sparkle – Tumblr.

That’s a great title!
Thank you! It makes me laugh every time I see it.

What brought you to Idaho in the first place? What is it about Idaho that keeps you here?
I wasn’t born here, but we moved to Idaho when I was around 7 or 8, so I would say I grew up here. My father was in the military as well and when he left the service we moved to Boise to be closer to relatives. I’ve stayed in Idaho mostly for family, but I also really enjoy a lot of things about the state. The writing culture is one big thing, but I also love the mountains.

Are you tied into some sort of local author/bookish group/culture? If so, tell us about it and how it helps you as an author. If you’re not, is there a reason for it?
I’m a founding member of the Treasure Valley Critique Group, I co-own Bert Books Publishing with my bestie, Troy Lambert, and I’m a member of the Idaho Writers Guild (and recently elected Vice President). I find that the more like-minded people I’m around, the more networking I do, the more encouraged and enthusiastic I am about writing! It’s nice to be around people who share your passion, and super helpful when it comes to navigating things like publishing.

What kind of events in the area do you attend—either to sell/promote your books or to network with authors? Are there any outside of this area that you hit regularly and wish we had something like it here?
I try to go to a lot of local events but haven’t had a lot of time prior to this year. Retirement will hopefully open my schedule up to do more in the community. I will be at the Nampa Library book fair on the 4th of March. This summer Idaho Writers Guild has their conference and I’ll be at that. There’s also a festival called Boise Books and Brews that Bert Books put together last year with a huge help from CopenRoss Growlers that will be happening again in June, I believe. Troy Lambert and I will also be going out to connect with the writing community more this Spring/Summer and I’d love to meet up with more local authors!

I’m hoping to make the Nampa Library event on the 4th, too—it looks promising. I tried, but failed, to get to the Books and Brews event (this series came out of my missing it!), shooting for this year! For you, what was the best part of the events you’ve made (or are hoping will be for things like the Nampa Library)–connecting with authors, or reaching out to readers? I can see either being a draw for an author. How do readers react to you at these events (other than the lack that type of reaction you mention below)
Boise Books and Brews was a blast and I hope you can make it out this year. We had so much fun! I definitely enjoy the networking aspect of events. Not that I don’t enjoy meeting readers, because I do, but I also get into some really interesting conversations with other authors. Readers tend to be enthusiastic and ask a lot of questions, which I like and I end up asking them a lot of questions. It’s a different vibe between a reader and an author.

What’s the breakdown of your audience—do you have a strong local base, or are your readers from other parts of the world?
Most of my readers are from other parts of the United States. I’m hoping to connect with more readers locally this year. I’ve been a recluse for a fair minute and it’s time to make some new friends.

How have you gotten the word out to those other parts of the US? Or is that one of those things that just happened?
I think it probably has to do with how my books are advertised on Amazon, maybe? That’s one of those things that I would be asking Troy. I’m always surprised to see sales or page reads popping up in places like Canada or Germany!

Do you think there are particular challenges or advantages to being a writer in the Treasure Valley? (possibly both)
It’s a bit of both, really. The challenge is that we’ve got a small community of writers and we don’t always talk to each other, so that can be difficult to navigate. I think that’s also an advantage though – because we’re small it makes it easier to bring everyone together!

I write a lot for the LGBTQ+ community, so I’m often wary of someone coming out of the woodwork to yell at me – but I’ve yet to have an altercation and that’s made me very, very happy about our readers in the Treasure Valley. My parents were worried.

Do you bring Idaho (or some sort of Idaho-sensibility, assuming one exists) to your work? Whether or not anyone else sees it, can you look at some aspect of your writing and think “That’s Idaho” or “I would do ____ differently if I was a Kentuckian or from Illinois?”
I’m not sure it counts, but the outdoors features heavily in my werewolf series (The Faoladh Series). I think that’s a thing here in Idaho, a shared love of nature. Even the glampers are outside in their own way, enjoying the majesty of the Idaho wilds. I may be answering the question wrong, but I also think being outdoorsy and growing up in Idaho had an impact on my love of monsters – and most of my characters are the outdoorsy kind too. They’d fit right in.

I definitely think outdoorsy characters/settings definitely are (or can be) an Idaho-sensibility. Now, when it comes to the “Idaho wilds” there’s a bit of variety—what type/area is your favorite? Is that the same kind your werewolves are found in, or do they differ from you?
I like the woods. There’s nothing wrong with a mountain or a lake/river, but I like being in trees. Something about it feels soothing. Though I have to admit, I’m also very wary and respectful of predatory animals like bears. The deep woods at night are frightening.

My werewolves are very similar. Harper spends a lot of time in the woods. She lives in Montana though, which is another place I’m very familiar with. I used to summer in the Glacier area with my grandparents.

One final question, is there a book (or two…or 18, if you get really carried away), that embodies Idaho/the Idaho spirit to you to recommend to my readers?
Well, Troy Lambert writes stories set in Idaho a lot. There’s Rick Just for another Idaho author who writes about Idaho. I also haven’t read The Boys of Boise, but I’ve been informed that my grandmother-in-law was somehow involved in that story. Just don’t tell my husband I haven’t gotten around to reading it! Oh, and Troy and I put out a short story collection called “Monster Marshals: Incidents in Idaho” – that’s two short stories about monster hunting, set in Idaho.

I promise I won’t tell a soul. Also, your Bert Books cohort, James, mentioned Rick Just and your Incidents in Idaho. I’m definitely going to check into both at this rate!

Thanks for your time and participation! Hope you enjoyed it!


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LITERARY LOCALS: Upcoming Event—Treasure Valley Indie Book Fair

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I’ve shared posts about this a little on various social media platforms, but now I see a final line-up/details, so I figured I might as well throw up a quick post about this event coming up on March 4th for anyone in the area who might be interested.

The Nampa Public Library will be hosting the Treasure Valley Indie Book Fair (or, if you prefer snazzy images to a text link, try this one)—there will be panels/workshops about Writing the American sonnet, talking about Youth Books, the oft-mentioned Idaho Writers Guild, Comic Books and Zines. Almost 50 local writers/illustrators/publishers will be in attendance, and I’m going to try to overcome my introversion and talk to as many of them as I can while picking up more books than I should. Three of them have or will be participating in this series already, so I’m looking forward to some face-to-face interaction with them.

If you can, you should come out to this—it looks like a good time (and will likely take away all that progress I made on Mt. TBR last month).


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LITERARY LOCALS: What Have We Learned So Far?

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So, I’ve finished with the first batch of authors for this series—and before we take a break while I work on a second batch, I thought I’d see if I’ve learned much about writing in Southwest Idaho.*

* Yes, there’s the one outlier in Eastern Oregon—which may end up being part of “Greater Idaho” in the next few years. But I’m not going to take the time to add that disclaimer throughout here. Can we just agree it’s implied?

Of the nine people I’ve talked to, two have been native to Idaho and most moved here young enough to be “as close to being a native Idahoan as you can get without getting your eye wet,” as Danielle Higley put it, with a couple of people who came later in life. I honestly expected the native/close-enough to be closer to 50%, to that’s nice. The beauty and the people are what keep people here.

Almost everyone is involved in (or wants to get back involved) with a local writers’ group—Idaho Writers Guild being the most popular, but some good stuff has been said about others. The outliers do have friends they can turn to for support, though. No lone wolves here.

Rediscovered Books in Boise and Caldwell is far and away these authors’ choice for local events—the Boise Library’s Comic Arts Festival, Gem State Comic Con, Books and Brews, Nampa’s Festival of the Arts, plus miscellaneous arts and crafts fairs, got some good representation, too. As did LTUE in Utah and Montana’s MisCon.

One thing I found interesting is that essentially authors said their audience was very local, or it’s not very local. I’d expected some sort of mix. With those who are still starting out, it makes sense that local readers would make up the bulk of the audience (along with the all-important friends-and-family base)—but I’d figured those who were more established would have a decent local following in addition to sales in other areas of the country/world.

Everyone said essentially the same thing when it came to strengths/weaknesses about writing around here—the smallness of the market and distance from bigger markets is a hindrance but not that much of one thanks to the internet. Also, local writers and local people are the strengths of writing here.

When it comes to “do you bring an area-specific sensibility or feel to your work, most say no—other than subconsciously. It’s where they live and who they’re around, so sure…but no one’s doing it deliberately (other than setting the occasional book in this area).

The last question I ask is for recommendations for books “that embody Idaho/the Idaho spirit.” Here’s what we’ve gotten so far:
bullet Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall
bullet The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of the Donner Party by Daniel James Brown
bullet The How and The Why by Cynthia Hand
bullet Into The Darkness by Marlie Harrs and Troy Lambert
bullet Big Jim Turner by James Stephens
bullet Incidents in Idaho: A Monster Marshals Collection by Troy Lambert and Danielle Parker
bullet The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
bullet All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
bullet Educated by Tara Westover
bullet Fearless: The Story of Farris Lind, the Man Behind the Skunk by Rick Just
bullet And then a few authors were mentioned without specific books: Ivan Doig, Hemingway (“it’s like reading about the romanticized version of Idaho that I have in my head,” said Jeremy Billups), Craig Johnson, and Norman Maclean.

So, I don’t know that I’ve learned a lot—it’s a small sample size, for one thing. But, there are some themes—and a lot of exceptions to those themes. Which feels pretty Idahoan to me.


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LITERARY LOCALS: A Q&A About Writing in Idaho with Troy Lambert

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Unless a very swamped author manages to find the time to get back to me soon, this will be the last in the first wave of these Q&As—I’m at work on the next batch, though. I’m really enjoying them and hope you are, too.

I talked to Troy Lambert a couple of weeks ago about his book Harvested, and now I’m glad to share his thoughts about writing in this corner of Idaho.


Before we get into things, why don’t you give the reader a brief introduction to you and your work.
I’m Troy Lambert, the author of over 30 novels, mostly mystery and thriller, but a few others as well. I currently live in the mountains of Idaho with my wife and a couple talented dogs. You can learn more about me at troylambertwrites.com.

Are you a native Idahoan? What is it about Idaho that keeps you here?
I have lived in Idaho most of my life, starting when I was four, so I didn’t really “choose” to move here. However, I love it, and have been all over the state. I have left several times and moved away, but keep coming back over and over, so it’s kind of in my blood. I love mountains, rivers, and the diversity of nature in Idaho. It’s an amazing place.

Are you tied into some sort of local author/bookish group/culture? If so, tell us about it and how it helps you as an author. If you’re not, is there a reason for it?
I’m actually the current president of Idaho Writers Guild, and I think connecting with other writers is super important. We often work alone, and networking with others like us is good for our mental health. And there is always something to learn, and writers’ organizations like the guild offer those opportunities in ways you could not find them on your own.

Almost every person I’ve talked with in this series has mentioned IWG—it’s clearly a valued group. All right Mr. President—give these readers your sales pitch. Why should they join up with IWG (or what kinds of things should they look for in a local group outside of Idaho?)
Well, first Idaho Writers Guild has some great speakers at our conference this year, and some great plans for more in the coming months. But also, it’s an opportunity to network with other writers and to give back to the writing community. We want you to be part of what we’re doing, and that means you can volunteer and with our support make things happen in our community that you want to see more of.

What kind of events in the area do you attend—either to sell/promote your books or to network with authors? Are there any outside of this area that you hit regularly and wish we had something like it here?
So I attend book signings, and when I have book releases, I often partner with Rediscovered Books for those launches. I also attend writers’ conferences and workshops whenever I can. I attend a lot of conferences outside the area as well, including LTUE in Utah, 20Booksto50K in Vegas, and others. I think we are headed the right direction with conferences and workshops here, and I hope we can bring more great teachers here going forward.

What’s the breakdown of your audience—do you have a strong local base, or are your readers from other parts of the world?
That’s a funny question. Because I was just telling a friend of mine that I go to L.A. or Utah and I get recognized. In Boise, nobody knows who I am. I mean not quite, but my following is mostly digital and from all over the place.

I’m getting answers like yours or the opposite—doing well here, and not much everywhere else. Do you have plans to change your local profile—or are you doing well enough that it’s not a concern? How have you gotten the word out to places like Utah or L.A. or wherever?
So the short answer? Most of my growth in “fans” happens organically. So I probably won’t change my local profile, but I don’t shy away from it either. As to getting the word out? Sometimes that is just about being out there in the writing and reader community. Being present and someone that people can connect with is probably the single most important thing you can do.

Do you think there are particular challenges or advantages to being a writer in the Treasure Valley? (possibly both)
Like any other place, I think a bit of both. There is a challenge here in that we have a lot of writers’ groups, and while we are working on better working together, there are still times when the community is fractured in many ways. In addition, there is a challenge from the rising cost of living. It is hard for artists and writers to make ends meet anyway, and finding affordable housing makes that even more challenging.

However, on the plus side, there are a lot of writers who live here. And living and working in a gorgeous place like this has some definite upsides for your mental health.

Do you bring Idaho (or some sort of Idaho-sensibility, assuming one exists) to your work? Whether or not anyone else sees it, can you look at some aspect of your writing and think “That’s Idaho” or “I would do ____ differently if I was a Kentuckian or from Illinois?”
I’ve been told I put Idaho or the west in all my books, and that is almost 100% true. I also put dogs in most of my books, so I guess the things I love the most come through whether I want them to or not.

Idaho and Dogs…a good combination.
Heh. I think so. But I may be biased. Only slightly.

One final question, is there a book (or two…or 18, if you get really carried away), that embodies Idaho/the Idaho spirit to you to recommend to my readers?
Well, my latest book Teaching Moments is set in Idaho, so there is that. But it is also about a serial killer, so maybe not the spirit of Idaho. However, there are a lot of local authors with some amazing books about the area, so that is probably too long a list to include here.

But if you get down to Rediscovered Books, ask those folks for a recommendation. They know their stuff.

Thanks for your time and participation! Hope you enjoyed it!


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LITERARY LOCALS: A Q&A About Writing in Idaho with Bryan McBee

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This is another connection made by my friend who had a nearby booth an Arts fair (or something like that). I don’t know if either my pal or McBee sold much that day, but I appreciate them conversing at least! If you look at his material and compare it to others from this series of posts, one thing you’ll see off the top is the wide variety of genres we have here. It ain’t all potatoes and mountain scenes here, folks.
Anyway, sit back and enjoy this chat with Bryan McBee–and go check out his site and books afterward.


Before we get into things, why don’t you give the reader a brief introduction to you and your work.
My name is Bryan McBee. I am an Idaho author. I served in the US Army for five years. After which, I attended BSU and graduated in 2018. I have been a bookworm for most of my life, thanks in large part to my mom, who caved in to my constant pestering, and read to me from Stephen King’s The Night Shift in third grade. I have been in love with reading and writing pretty much all my life. I finished writing my first novel, Vector Zero, in 2013, and found a publisher for it in 2021. My second novel, Afterworld, came out in 2022, and I just signed a contract for my third novel which is titled Abnormal Ends. A few of my favorite authors are Dan Simmons, Stephen King, Robert McCommon, Megan O’Keefe, John Scalzi and Brandon Sanderson.

What kept you going from 2013-2021? Also, how many revisions did Vector Zero go through in that time? Incidentally, what I’ve heard of Abnormal Ends on social media has me really intrigued—looking forward to that.
Some of the time in between was taken up by college. I took advantage of the GI Bill and returned to school. For much of that time Vector Zero sat in a file on my computer collecting metaphorical dust. I took it out from time to time trying to find an agent to represent it. Each time I reread and revised it a little. Then came working with an actual editor with an eye towards publication and release. All told the novel went through at least five or six major revisions/rewrites before hitting the shelves.

I’m glad to hear that you’re looking forward to Abnormal Ends. I was excited to write it. It’s with the editor as we speak. I will send out updates as they come in.

Are you a native Idahoan? What brought you to Idaho in the first place? What is it about Idaho that keeps you here?
I’ve lived in Idaho most of my life. I moved here from Oregon when I was 13. My mom’s job transferred her here, and I being her only remaining dependent, was carted along with the rest of her luggage. I love it here. It’s clean, the people are nice, and the country is beautiful.

Are you tied into some sort of local author/bookish group/culture? If so, tell us about it and how it helps you as an author.
I am still pretty new to the whole published author thing, so I’m still trying to find my place in the local culture. I’ve joined the Idaho Writer’s Guild. They’ve been pretty helpful with finding events and giving support to a newby like me.

I’m hearing a lot of good things about the IWG from this series of Q&As. What kind of support/help have you found from it? Here’s a chance for a newby to do some outreach so he can become a respected vet 🙂
I’ve only been a part of the Guild for a year, and due to work haven’t had as much time as I would like to take advantage of the conferences and other events they hold. I am hoping to change that this year and become more active within the Guild.

What kind of events in the area do you attend—either to sell/promote your books or to network with authors? Are there any outside of this area that you hit regularly and wish we had something like it here?
I’ve gotten in touch with several bookstores in the Boise area to do signings. They’ve all been very accommodating. Most recently, I was at Barnes and Noble. In addition to bookstores, I will be at the Gem State Comic Con for the second year in a row, and the Idaho Halloween and Horror Con for the third year in a row. Both are great events. Very fun, and I get to meet lots of awesome nerdy people like me. I attended FanX, the Salt Lake City Comic Con in 2022. That was amazing, and almost overwhelming.

I haven’t made it to Gem State yet—what’s it like for authors? (or in general, come to think of it). I don’t think I’ve heard of the Halloween and Horror Con, either—but if you’ve gone twice and are coming back, it’s got to have something going or it, what’s it like and where is it held?
Gem State Comic con was pretty fantastic. I’m told that last year was the first year back after a hiatus. I found the crowd very welcoming and friendly. Lots of people from all sorts of different fandoms gathered to celebrate the things they love.

The Halloween and Horror Convention was my first big show since becoming a published writer. Last year and the year before they held the convention at the Red Lion hotel downtown. But they’ve outgrown that and will be holding it at Expo-Idaho, like Gem Comic Con. It’s a really great show if you like all things Halloween or Horror.

I will try to keep going back to both shows, as long as they will have me.

What’s the breakdown of your audience—do you have a strong local base, or are your readers from other parts of the world?
I am still a very new author on the scene, and in the process of building my audience. Much of my audience is local to the Boise area, because that’s where I live and can easily reach. However, several of my old army buddies have become dedicated readers, so I have some out of state reach. According to the demographics function on my Facebook page, I even have a follower in Malta. Which I think is tremendous!

Malta? Sounds very exotic. You need to arrange a signing there. (The snarky part of my brain just flashed on Cliff Poncier from the movie Singles, “we’re huge in Europe right now. I mean, we’ve got records… uh, a big record just broke in Belgium.”)

Are those buddies spreading the word as well? I’d think that could be good marketing (especially if they’re still enlisted and stuck on base somewhere with other people who need something to fill downtime).
I just rewatched Singles for the first time in years a little while ago!

My army buddies are spreading the word about my books. A few of them have been fans as well as friends for a long time! Every little bit of exposure helps when it comes to building an audience, and word of mouth is absolutely invaluable!

Do you think there are particular challenges or advantages to being a writer in the Treasure Valley?
I can’t say that I’ve seen any particular challenges to being an author here in the Treasure Valley. The internet has made it so that one doesn’t need to be in New York to be discovered. One thing I have noticed, is there is a strong feeling of local pride among people when they see that I’m a local writer. People here love to support local artists and creators. Which I think bolsters the strong sense of community that we all share here.

Do you bring Idaho (or some sort of Idaho-sensibility, assuming one exists) to your work? Whether or not anyone else sees it, can you look at some aspect of your writing and think “That’s Idaho” or “I would do ____ differently if I was a Kentuckian or from Illinois?”
I’m not really sure. My main focus as I’m scribbling away is to try and make my characters and situations as believable as possible, especially when it’s completely unbelievable. I feel like a writer has to be true to the world they have created and the people who inhabit it. On the main, I like to write what I like to read. Which is a little bit of everything. Hence, my first book is a military thriller, my second is a post-apocalyptic fantasy, and my third is going to be a cyber-punk serial killer novel. The only sensibility I try to bring to my work, is to tell the best story I can.

One final question, is there a book (or two…or 18, if you get really carried away), that embodies Idaho/the Idaho spirit to you to recommend to my readers?
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr. Such a good book.

That’s my first Doerr response, which really surprises me.
In college, especially in English classes, especially in the writing classes, and most especially in the fiction writing classes, the professors name drop Anthony Doerr constantly. Not quite to the point of annoyance, but only just. It did make me curious about his work. So after I graduated (and gained free time with which to read what I wanted to read) I checked out his work. Very impressive, in my opinion. Well worth all the name dropping I heard as an English major in school.

Thanks for your time and participation! Hope you enjoyed it!
Thank you for the opportunity to chat with you!


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