IDAHO’S LITERARY LANDSCAPE BY HEATHER HAMILTON-POST
Boise’s literary scene is, like most things Idaho, one of a kind. Revered for its relative accessibility, this rich community of readers, writers, and spectators offers a wide variety of writing with none of the pretentiousness you might expect, despite some of the biggest names in the industry. If you’re looking to broaden your horizons by picking up a new book or exploring a completely new genre, the Treasure Valley offers plenty of chances to experience the power of language in person.
Immerse yourself in literature
Reading series abound, and there are few better venues than the Idaho Botanical Garden, renowned for its multi-season beauty and stimulating events. From summer concerts to the Bloom: A Reading Series, now in its second season, you’re sure to find a home amidst the lush landscape that seeks to challenge your notions of what art in Idaho can look like. The series, which features fiction writers, playwrights, poets, creative nonfiction writers, and even podcasters, takes place in the Meditation Garden, and brings you a two-hour event that will surely spark your creative mind. Hungry? Feel free to bring whatever you’re craving and your beverage of choice in your favorite picnic basket along with your folding chair and enjoy a full season of Idaho’s most invigorating minds. See IBG’s website for details and schedule. If you’re in the mood for something slightly more formal, check out Boise State University’s MFA in Creative Writing Reading Series, which brings in poets, fiction writers, and even screenwriters from across the world, 62
BOISE, IDAHO
Pulitzer Prize Winner, Anthony Doerr lives in Boise with his family. / Anthony Doerr
and which Program Director Martin Corless-Smith calls one of the best MFA reading series in the country. He estimates that, over the last 22 years, they’ve hosted over 200 poets like Cole Swenson, internationally known for her poetry and translation work. The readings largely take place at the Morrison Center, offering established and emerging writers the chance to read on the stage. “It’s a stellar series,” says Corless-Smith, who notes that visiting writers always enjoy their time here because of Boise’s relaxed atmosphere. Hosts from the MFA program make sure writers get the full Idaho experience, taking them to favorite local places like Kirkham Hot Springs. It is free to attend the readings, which are always fun and typically offer opportunities to interact with some of your favorite writers afterwards. Whether you’re a reader, writer, or generally curious, these programs are worth checking out. For more information, follow Boise State MFA in Creative Writing on Facebook!
Go where the writers go
If you’ve ever fallen asleep on a book and woken up smarter, you know that proximity is sometimes enough. If you’re looking to simply bask in the presence of creative people, follow your favorite writers on Instagram and see where they hang out. Goldy’s Corner and Java (both Boise locations) are popular hangouts for local writers who are more than willing to chat for a few minutes.
Lifelong Idahoan Randall Post has experienced this firsthand—a few years ago, he recalls approaching writer J. Reuben Appelman at Java to discuss his (at the time) upcoming book. “He was really nice and seemed happy to discuss the book. It was pretty cool!” Post says.
Get to know an author
Idaho is home to a vast array of writers who draw from rich literary traditions that dot the West, in ways both visible and not. From first books to bestsellers, Idaho’s authors enliven the literary landscape known as home or at the very least, as inspiration, for some of history’s most significant voices. ➤Patricia
Marcantonio
Writer Patricia Marcantonio is one of Idaho’s most versatile writers. From novels to short stories to screenplays, her characters run the gambit too, and, though she says she also loves writing about Victorian England, she can’t outrun the West. “It’s in my DNA. Much of my writing reflects that. The people, the landscape, the culture,” she says. It’s easy to spot the West at work. In Marcantonio’s Verdict in the Desert, which she identifies as her favorite book she’s written, Marcantonio’s characters allow her to reflect on her own experiences growing up Mexican-American. “I partly wrote it as homage to my father. When he passed away I missed saying goodbye to him by mere minutes and it tore my heart out. In the
