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 Close Calls: The True Tales of Cougar Bob is a collection of stories about North Idaho native, Robert L. “Cougar Bob” Campbell. People know Cougar Bob as the man who climbs trees and takes cougar and bear with his pocketknife, if necessary. They might know him as the trapper who, at Idaho Fish and Game’s request, caught the Bayview Cougar, after it killed livestock and stalked children at the school bus stop. They may have heard of his swimming the Lochsa River at ice floe to set road survey points on the opposite bank.
Naturally, most of the book’s twenty-six stories feature a narrow escape.
All of the stories are true. Author, B. J. Campbell, tells them as creative non-fiction. Many tales offer readers a chance to laugh, as do “Hound Music,” and “The Brush Fit.” Other stories carry serious themes, such as Bob’s bout with polio in the Navy, “Bracing for Life,” and his “Coming Home.”
News Flashes from The Cougar Bob Review, the popular twenty-year annual newsletter publication about the man’s exploits, appear between the short stories. By way of short stories and Review excerpts, readers will get to know Cougar Bob.
The Cougar Bob Review
As for The Cougar Bob Review, an annual newsletter, its news is where the author finds it. That would be wherever Bob Campbell’s path crosses the story.
The Review taps this North Idaho hunter, trapper and straight shooter’s endless supply of stories that happen because he is himself. It includes wild animal encounters, working dog stories, the Campbell household news and Bob’s philosophy on any topic. All of these short articles are true, but told with attitude.
In 1991, the author published the first issue of The Cougar Bob Review her personal computer printer. She has reported in The Review what really happened in each of her husband’s stories, so you might as well believe it. At this writing, eighteen issues of The Review are published.
What does this newsletter publication provide for its many readers? A laugh. A moment of entertainment, delight or amazement. A topic to talk about at dinner. A chance to get to know Cougar Bob. A reminder that the readers matter to the Campbell’s.
Excerpts from The Cougar Bob Review follow each short story in Close Calls: The True Tales of Cougar Bob.
All of the adventures of “Cougar Bob” Campbell recorded in this book happened. They are true events, told as creative non-fiction, as close as possible to the actual incident, except occasional alteration of names.
170 pages of Cougar Bob’s exploits, excepts from The Cougar Bob Review and a few illustrations just for good measure.
Available at the Gray Dog Press bookstore (Click Here) and bookstores in the eastern Washington, north Idaho region.
Beyond Trails in The Wind River Mountains of Wyoming: Off-Trail Routes for The Advanced Backpacker by Nancy Pallister .
Most experienced backpackers can do many routes described in Chapters 1-4. Those who are more proficient at walking through talus, crossing streams, traveling on snow and finding their way off trails will be able to travel at a faster rate than those who lack such experience. Mountaineering experience on class 2-3 terrain or glaciers is recommended for a number of routes, especially routes described in Chapters 5 and 6, north of the Brown Cliffs. Read the route descriptions carefully before committing to these routes.
The ability to safely travel off-trail is more important than speed and strength. You do not have to be an “animal” or world-class athlete to complete the routes. The suggested travel plans are designed for 4-hour to 8-hour travel days and an average rate of only 1 mph. Occasionally, terrain forces a longer day. Skills that serve you well are; microroute finding, trail sleuthing and talus walking. These are old-fashioned outdoorsman skills. GPS skills are no substitute for the canny ability of the experienced to efficiently get around small-scale obstacles. Trail sleuthing is not only the ability to see faint signs of travel, but also the ability to look at topography and see where an animal or human would most likely choose to travel. Talus walking is an art of balance, momentum and lightning quick decision making; dancing on rock. Age or sex should generally not be a barrier.
A companion CD has photos showing virtual trails, scenery, and other important features of the trails.
The guide covers: Stough, Creek Basin, Atlantic Canyon, Headwaters of Tayo Creek, Deep Creek Lakes, Little Sandy Creek, Cirque of the Towers, Dickinson Cirques, South Fork of the Little Wind, Baptiste Lake, Desolation Valley, Bonneville Basin, Twenty Lakes, North Fork Little Wind River, Bull Lake Creek, Brown Cliffs, Bull Lake Canyon, Dry Creek, Dinwoody Creek, The Downs Fork, Torrey Creek, Baker Lake, Bear Basin… and more!398 pages with extensive trail information, photos and maps, includes Virtual Tour CD.
Routes described in this guidebook are intended for the advanced backpacker who is already an experienced safe outdoorsman and seeks more challenge.
Most of the routes have been done, at one time or another, by NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) courses. In fact, the people you are most likely to meet on these routes are NOLS groups.
Available at the Gray Dog Press bookstore (Click Here) and in selected stores in the area surrounding the Wind River Mountains in Wyoming.
 The Tobacco Roots offer solace for those of us who suffer from the human condition. Here you can camp, fish, hike, ride your mule, your horse, your four-wheeler, your motorcycle or your bicycle and you can even bring your dog. There are dirt roads and trails enough for everyone. For those who prefer the road less traveled, there are some trails and random adventures dedicated to you. May you all enjoy an awesome adventure!
The Tobacco Roots have 43 peaks over 10,000 ft. and more than 50 mountain lakes full of cutthroat, rainbow and brook trout. Formed by glaciers, these ancient mountains have pristine forests, brooks and lush alpine meadows surrounded by snow capped peaks. The Tobacco Roots are rich with a history full of cowboys, Indians, miners, renegades and vigilantes whose descendants you could run across in the several local hot springs. This mecca of recreation is only 40 miles from Bozeman; 30 miles from Butte; 70 miles from Helena; 100 miles from Missoula; and 80 miles from West Yellowstone. Are we there yet?
A note for the geology aficionado: rocks dating an estimated 2.7 billion years old lie in these mountains. If evidence of crashing plates, magma rising from the earths crust, glacially carved peaks and fossils predating man excite you, see the website reference page at the end of this book for more information.
66 pages with trail information, maps, location guides, and other information for camping, motels and fishing.
Available at the Gray Dog Press bookstore (Click Here), Amazon.com bookstores in Spokane and in stores in and around the Tobacco Root Mountains in Montana.
I suppose some would say I am an incurable romantic, to which I must reply, “Good!” There is little enough true romance in the world today. I do not mind adding to it. Galen Dean Loven
An Excerpt from The Sunset Dialogs
 No matter how difficult our childhoods were, there is usually something that we remember with fondness-the smell of cookies or bread from the oven, turning the lights on a Christmas tree, lighting ceremonial candles, an unexpected hug. When interviewing those of our parents’ generation, many of these memories involved both parents. Sadly, with my own generation (nearing retirement) very few memories involve both parents. The one exception is watching our parents dance.
What readers have said about The Sunset Dialogs
I alternated between laughing and crying, it is a beautiful collection of romances.
A brilliant and well-written look at our elderly relatives and friends, and the importance of dancing in their lives.
I had forgotten how much dancing has meant to me. I am dancing again and have found new enthusiasm.
Beautiful memories of my family and friends flooded me with every story.
I loved how much respect was shown to the characters, how they were allowed to tell their stories completely, and without judgment. I could see everyone one of them clearly.
I never thought that such a simple, straightforward collection of dialogs could be so emotional, so meaningful, and have so much depth. I was profoundly moved.
I started reading it last night and could not put it down. Finally sleep overcame me and I had to stop for the night. These Dialogs are addictive.
It made me remember things, in a good way, that I had thought were long gone, issues that I thought I had gotten over. It gave me closure.
They reminded me of the things my husband and I did when we were young but had forgotten. We are doing better now.
Available at the Gray Dog Press bookstore (Click Here), Fine Art on Demand in Spokane and regional bookstores in eastern Washington.
Advance review copies for Dawn Nelson’s new installment in The Rancher Series titled The Colt are coming in now! The Colt is due to released in June.
… Dawn Nelson’s books are well written and her plots keep you wanting to read the next page, and the next and the next…. Linda Singer
Dawn Nelson is the real deal. A genuine cowgirl and rancher who write just the way she talks about the world she knows. With her new book, The Colt, she once again proves she is a natural born storyteller. Alice Chrisman, The Wilbur Register
The characters were real. The story was one I did not want to end. It had everything that was needed to keep me from putting the book down. Drama, suspense, action, comedy, and romance. Set on a ranch in Montana and about people who have the same love of horses and country life I do. This is a book that is a must have and part of my collection. And, it is one book I will read again. It is a book that will take me to a ranch in Montana where life is as it should be. I can’t wait for the next one in the series. Thanks you for a beautiful place to go and a beautiful story. Judy Oswood
Meet The Author/Book Signing
Jean Flanigen, author of The Zhombie Connection and The Zhombie Conspiracy
Hasting’s in Moscow, Idaho on Saturday, May 15,2010 from1:00 to 4:00 pm
Merle Martin, author of Love Never Ages will sign copies
Auntie’s Bookstore on Saturday, May 8th from 1:00 to 3:00 pm
Penelope Rundle, author of the Last Caravan
Hasting’s Coeur d’Alene on Saturday, May 22nd from 1:00 to 4:00 pm
Hasting’s Missoula, Montana on Saturday, May 15th from 4:00 to 6:00 pm
Frank Zafiro, author of The River City Series, Beneath a Weeping Sky, Heroes Often Fail, and Under a Raging Moon
Hasting’s Coeur d’Alene on Saturday, May 8th from 4:00 to 7:00 pm
Red Lion Hotel-L.E.I.R.A. Conference on May 5th & 6th from Noon to 6:00 pm
Bob Manion, author of The Treehouse and Santa’s Heroes, will be signing copies
Hasting’s 29th and SE Blvd on Saturday, May 8th from 1:00 to 3:00 pm
Book Readings/ Meet The Author
Bob Manion, author of The Treehouse and Santa’s Heroes; Frank Zafiro, author of The River City Series, Beneath a Weeping Sky, Heroes Often Fail; Dawn Nelson, author of A Cowgirl Remembers When and Cowgirl’s Justice; Micheal Connelly, author of Mountain Lyrics.
Republic Library in Republic, WA on Saturday, May 22nd from Noon to 5:00 pm
Book Release
Mike Connelly, author of Mountain Lyrics will sign copies and indulge in Q&A on
Auntie’s Bookstore on Wednesday, May 26th from 7:00 to 9:00 pm
SpokeWrite: The Spokane / Coeur d’Alene Journal of Art and Writing
Spring 2010 Edition
SpokeWrite is the regional journal featuring writers, artists and photographers from the Eastern Washington and North Idaho area. The contributors range from professional, published authors to new unpublished students of their craft. Writing categories include non-fiction essay and life-story, fiction, poetry, opinion, book and movie review, club and group information as well as credit and biographical information about the contributors. When selecting content from contributions for SpokeWrite we do not have a predetermined theme so there is a wide variety of topics and ideas. The articles and stories range from the serious to the whimsical.
Contributors:
Non-Fiction: Marv Sather, Willis Moore, PaulEbert, Barbara Wylder
Fiction: Neal Peters, Sarah Glady, Beatrice Blackwell, Carly Greenfield, Alan Deeth, Jacob Albert
Poetry: R. Steven Heaps, Kaye Bartholomew, Derek Annis, Megan Buff, Alexandria Franz, Darryl Isotalo, Daniel Mullen, Lisa Conger, Teri Koski, Eileen Starr, Amanda Berg, Ray Armknech, Merle P. MArtin, Andy Lang
Published: April 2010 Volume 2 - Issue 1
Available at Auntie’s, Spokane and Coeur d’Alene area Hasting’s or order direct from Gray Dog Press CLICK HERE
Book Reading/ Meet The Author
Jean Flanigen, author of The Zhombie Conspiracy and The Zhombie Connection; Penny Rundle, author of The Last Caravan; Frank Scalise, author of All that Counts and the River City Series; Vern Hopkins, author of It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time; and John Heffernan, author of Not One Drop of Blood
Friday, April 23rd at the Olive it Café from 6:00 to -8:00pm
Book Signings/ Meet The Author
Merle Martin, author of Love Never Ages and Colors of The Soul will sign copies of his books.
Saturday, April 17th at Barnes and Noble, Spokane Valley Mall from 2:00 to 5:00pm
Penelope Rundle, author of The Last Caravan
Saturday, April 17th at Hasting’s on Sullivan and Spraque from 2:00 to 5:00pm
Frank Zafiro, author of The River City Series, Beneath a Weeping Sky, Heroes Often Fail, and Under a Raging Moon
Saturday, April 17th at Hasting’s on 29th from 1:00-3:00pm
Saturday, April 24th at Hasting’s on Sullivan and Sprague from4:00 to 7:00pm
Frank Scalise, author of All that Counts
Saturday, April 17th at the Eagles Ice Arena from 8:00:am-Noon
Sharon Cramer, author of Cougar Cub Tales
Saturday, April 24th at Hasting’s on 29th from 1:00 to 3:00pm
For more information call Gray Dog Press at 509-534-0372
In Mountain Lyrics: A Quest For Courage, Spokane author Michael F. Connelly artfully weaves the story of a man on a quest to discover the true meaning of life by leaving both comfort and security and plunging into the unknown.
Directly relevant to today’s readers, the central character finds by shedding the trappings of technology and excess he can discover his true nature through nature. While the global economy continues to provide fear and doubt for millions Connelly shows through his work that self-reliance is still attainable. He deftly draws a vision of a personal mission to journey off the grid, away from the worries of our everyday existance.
Buoyed by life-long dreams of grappling with the rawness of nature he set out and discovered, amid moments of terror and unremitting loneliness, a way to connect again to the essence of hope.
A relevant work in the genre of Thoreau set to a modern tempo, Connelly is at once thoughtful and funny as he spins the web of his story through Buck and his donkey while they hidden trails and the deeper pathways of the modern psyche.
About the story:
Buck’s life had been a success. For fifty years everything worked, then it all began to fall apart. He quit his job, knocked about an empty house awkwardly filled by him and his wife, and couldn’t think of a way to change anything. Buck started pouring over maps of remote forests; then he bought a donkey; then he decided to plunge headfirst into the wilds of Montana.
This is his story, at once unique and paradigmatic. Buck stumbles from hidden valleys and upland ridges to the summit of the Rock Candy Mountain. He comes face to face with terror and love, true friendship and the magic of a young girl’s dream. In a quest for that-which-cannot-be-defined, Buck seeks it…and finds it.
What they’re saying:
I haven’t left hearth and home and trekked into the wilderness, not yet, but novelist Michael Connelly and Mountain Lyrics made me feel as if I had.
Mountain Lyrics author invites the reader to look to Midsummer Night’s Dream for resonance. The link is apt, not only in the way Connelly weaves complexities of plot and subplot so compellingly, but also in his dream-like setting and character set that were anything but ordinary. Connelly’s enchanted forest is the Big Rock Candy Mountain, a hobo’s vision of utopia. Connelly’s mountain is a place part escapist dreamscape and part all-too-real hardship.
Buck and Bob-a-Lou, a donkey purchased for the trip into the wilderness, cross paths with a screwball cast of characters: Mac and Lucky, Jesse and Sister Toni, and Moses McLaren. No predictable folks here. Okay, maybe the donkey, but nobody else. Each of them has a story to tell that takes them from a star shrouded valley to the mountain’s summit and beyond. Oh, and the bear. A quest for courage should have a bear.
Buck’s journey, and ours with him, are worth taking. Mike Donohue
Like reading a secret message from my soul. Whether a Rock Candy Mountain or a simple longing for essence and hope, Mike gave this reader a story to take home at the end of a long day. Jerome Leveque
A story told with humor, an engaging sense of self-deprecation, and an affinity for his subject, Mike Connelly writes a poem in prose form. This is a page turner as Buck’s vision quest takes him to places he’s never known existed-inside himself. A must read. Milt Rowland
About the Author
Mike Connelly is a well-known private and public sector attorney and a resident of Spokane, Washington.
Mountain Lyrics will be available in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene bookstores after March 31st. Booksellers can order direct from Ingram. Also available from the publisher at the GDP Bookstore (Click Here).
 River City is plagued by a serial rapist. His attacks are becoming more brutal and Detective John Tower is sure that he’ll go from rape to murder if he isn’t stopped soon. Meanwhile, the attacks stir up ghosts for both Officer Katie MacLeod and Officer Thomas Chisolm. Both struggle to put those haunted memories to rest even as they are drawn into the center of Tower’s investigation. When a series of missteps and near misses push the rapist even further, everyone involved must face their old fears… or be
destroyed by them.
Beneath A Weeping Sky is the third River City Crime Novel
What they’re saying:
Frank Zafiro channels Ed McBain and Joseph Wambaugh in this taut and frightening thriller. ~ Simon Wood, author of Terminated
Frank Zafiro’s River City series succeeds where so many fail of late, in not only delivering whipcrack plotlines, but characters as real as the breath in your lungs. You feel with them, rage with them, and bleed alongside these cops. Mr. Zafiro’s writing deserves more than comparison with the greats of the police procedural sect, it holds it’s own amongst them. ~ Todd Robinson, editor of Thuglit
With Beneath A Weeping Sky, Frank Zafiro lays the whammo on us. Once again, Zafiro brings us back to the River city police force as we follow the lives of these officers as they try to catch the Rainy Day Rapist, whose crimes are becoming increasingly more violent. With straightforward and highly readable prose, Zafiro sucks us into this compelling story, offering psychological insight into both the crazy as hell rapist and the cops chasing him, particularly the damage that the job does to them. This is great stuff, and any fan of Ed McBain or realistic police procedurals should be looking for this book, because no one is writing this stuff better than Zafiro. ~ Dave Zeltserman author of Bad ThoughtsThe Official release date of Beneath A Weeping Sky is Saturday, March 27th at Halletts at Riverwalk, 1003 East Trent, Spokane, Washington from 12:00 to 4:00pm.Can’t wait for the release? Pre-Release orders will ship on March 20th.Can’t make the release? Frank will also be at:
Auntie’s downtown Spokane on Wednesday March 31st from 7:00-9:00 pm
Hasting’s Ash & Wellesley on Wednesday April 3rd from 3:00-6:00 pm
Seattle Mystery Bookshop 113 Cherry St in Seattle on Saturday 12:00-2:00pm
Hasting’s 29th Avenue on Saturday April 17th from 1:00-3:00 pm
Hasting’s Sprague & Sullivan on Saturday April 24th from 4:00-7:00 pm
Hasting’s Coeur d’Alene on Saturday May 18th from 4:00-7:00 pm
Borders 9980 N. Newport Highway on Saturday June 19th from 12:00-5:00 pm
Get your copy direct from the publisher at the Gray Dog Press bookstore…. Click Here
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