Raptors of the West, Captured in Photographs
Bitterroot Valley raptor advocate and educator Kate Davis joined photographers Rob Palmer of Colorado and Nick Dunlop of California in compiling a stunning collection of photographs of birds of prey. More than 400 images offer an amazing look at raptors in their natural habitats, from the Arctic tundra to the desert of the Southwest. Read more
Kim Barker | The Taliban Shuffle
The life of a female foreign correspondent in a war zone, in a Muslim country, offers more than its share of peril. Kim Barker, who grew up in Montana, served as South Asia bureau chief for the Chicago Tribune from 2004 to 2009. She paints an honest and insightful look at this weirdly addicting, adrenaline-fueled lifestyle that she entered into as a “green” reporter, and left as a seasoned, skilled observer. Read more
Sheryl Noethe named new Montana Poet Laureate
“I was born into a family that didn't read books,” writes Montana’s new Poet Laureate Sheryl Noethe. But she read voraciously, and when a fifth grade teacher told her she could become a published author someday, the idea “changed my life entirely." Now, Noethe not only crafts her own award-winning poems, she also helps thousands of youngsters rewrite their own identities. Read more
Shann Ray | American Masculine
Montana and its people permeate Shann Ray’s taut debut collection about fathers and sons, husbands and wives. And true to the collection’s title, each offers some glimmer of the male psyche: “Men, dumb as animals, but like angels, majestic. Born into foolishness. Into love awakened,” he writes in “The Miracles of Vincent Van Gogh.” Read more
Author Thomas Minckler offers free seminar during Western Rendezvous
This year’s Western Rendezvous of Art, Aug. 18-21 in Helena, not only features some of the finest art and artists in the nation, it also gives guests an opportunity to get up-close and personal with Thomas Minckler, a native of Cut Bank now dividing his time between Billings and New York City, who presents a free seminar Friday on his new book, In Poetic Silence: The Floral Paintings of Joseph Henry Sharp. Read more
Marc S. Hendrix | Geology Underfoot in Yellowstone
Geology professor Marc Hendrix has assembled an authoritative and thorough look at what makes the country’s oldest national park such a popular destination for millions of visitors every year. “The sights and sounds of Yellowstone are a direct result of the region’s rich geologic history and the powerful tectonic forces that continue to shape it,” he writes. Read more
Saving Audie: A Pit Bull Puppy Gets a Second Chance
A new children’s book by the Montana writer-photographer team of Dorothy Patent and William Muñoz traces the journey of a pit-bull puppy from Michael Vick’s notorious Bad Newz Kennels, to his new life as a companion and role model for other young dogs. The book – a treat for dog lovers of all ages – also offers resources for pet owners, a timeline of the Michael Vick case, and information on pit-bull breeds. Read more