Northwest Passages Book Club

Author Craig Johnson joins Northwest Passages Book Club once again (this is his 7th visit!) to talk about the 22nd novel in the Longmire series,  "The Brothers McKay" at the historic Garland Theater in Spokane, Washington.

Shelby Van Pelt joins Northwest Passages Book Club to talk about her novel "Remarkably Bright Creatures," now a new Netflix film starring Sally Field , Colm Meaney and Alfred Molina. Leading the interview is The Spokesman-Review's Managing Editor Lindsey Treffry at the Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center at Gonzaga University May 12, 2026.

Fresh off the release of "Bumblebee Season," author Eileen Garvin returns to the Northwest Passages stage after her initial 2024 visit. Conducting the interview once again is The Spokesman-Review's "Off the Grid" columnist Ammi Midstokke, were the two talk about the novel and it's significance at the historic Bing Crosby Theater on April 29, 2026.

Fresh from a European tour with The Delines, acclaimed author and musician Willy Vlautin joins the Northwest Passages/Get Lit! stage with Spokane's own Jess Walter to discuss Vlautin's newest book, "The Left and the Lucky," on April 18, 2026.

Bill Moos joins Northwest Passages to talk "Crab Creek Chronicles," a memoir recounting Moos' journey from the wheat field to the ball field and how he ushered in a lifetime of influential moves as athletic director at Oregon, Montana, and Nebraska after playing at Washington State University. Leading the interview is The Spokesman-Review's Executive Editor, Rob Curley, at the Montvale Event Cente...

Sue Aikens joins Northwest Passages to discuss her memoir, “North of Ordinary: How One Woman Left it all Behind for Wilderness and Wonder in Alaska's Frozen Frontier,” which details a lifetime of resilience, reinvention, and the extraordinary power of choosing your own way through the world. Aikens, the breakout star of National Geographic's Emmy award winning, long-running TV show, “Life Below Ze...

David Guterson, the literary heavyweight behind the 1994 novel "Snow Falling on Cedars" sits down with fellow Pacific Northwest author Jess Walter to discuss his newest book, "Evelyn in Transit" in a gathering of the Northwest Passages Book Club at the Coughlin Theater at the Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026.

Dean Koontz, the bestselling novelist who has sold over 500 million copies worldwide, joins Northwest Passages for the program's first virtual conversation with a live audience at the Bing Crosby Theater with Donna Wares, Managing Editor for Enterprise & Live Journalism at Comma, conducting the interview on January 31, 2026.

Author Travis Baldree joins the Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages book club to discuss "BRIGANDS & BREADKNIVES," the third installment of his #1 New York Times bestselling Legends & Lattes series.

Author Sonora Jha talks with Spokesman-Review columnist Cindy Hval about Jha's novel, INTEMPERANCE, at a gathering of the Northwest Passages Book Club at the Montvale Event Center Monday, Nov. 14, 2025 in Spokane, Washington.

Author River Selby visits the Northwest Passages Book Club to talk about her new book "Hotshot: A Life on Fire." Spokesman-Review writer Elena Perry asks Selby about fighting wildland fires in the live interview at the Montvale Event Center Monday, Oct. 20, 2025 in Spokane, Washington.

Poet and author Shann Ray appears at the Northwest Passages Book Club Tuesday, October 7, 2025 to talk about his newest work, "Where Blackbirds Fly." The book, a novel in five novellas, is a story about human intimacy in all its forms. Ray also writes in the field of social science under the name Shann Ray Ferch. Ferch teaches leadership studies at Gonzaga University. On the stage at the Bing Cros...

Author James Patrick Thomas brought his memoir, "Atomic Pilgrim," to the Northwest Passages Book Club Tuesday, August 12, 2025. The book talks about Thomas' decades-long investigation into the use and spread of nuclear weapons, the harms of radiation and working toward peace. Thomas lives in Seattle. Spokesman-Review reporter Nick Gibson poses the questions in the interview.

Author Jess Walter, debuts his book "So Far Gone" at Northwest Passages in Spokane, Washington Tuesday, June 10, 2025. The event is moderatoed by Spokesman-Review Editor Rob Curley at the Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center at Gonzaga University where several of Jess Walter's colleagues:  Anthony Doerr, Maria Semple, Kristin Hannah, Luis and Cindy Urrea, Julia Sweeney and Timothy Egan pay tribut...

National bestselling author of "The Music of Bees, " Eileen Garvin returns with a moving story of hope, healing, and unexpected friendship set amidst the wild natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. “Garvin evocatively renders the beauty of the mountain landscape, and she excels at depicting the fault lines in her characters’ lives…Readers in the mood for a happy ending will be carried away.” —Pu...

Acclaimed author Ed Humes appears at the Northwest Passages Book Club to talk about his latest work, "Total Garbage", with Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley at the Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts theater at Gonzaga University on Thursday, April 18, 2024.

Author Simone Gorrindo wrote a memoir of her life as a military wife and talks with Northwest Passages Book Club coordinator Kristi Burns about how she dealt with the life of a military wife. Gorrindo appeared at the book club event in the Chronicle Building pavilion in Spokane, Washington Tuesday, April 17, 2024.

In her fourth novel, acclaimed Denfeld (The Butterfly Girl, 2019) draws on her experiences as a social justice investigator and foster mother to astutely portray neurodivergent characters in a transfixingly atmospheric, brilliantly plotted, heart-seizing drama of cruelty and trauma, cover-ups and murder, and the depthless mysteries of pain and love.” — Booklist In conversation with Stephanie Oakes...

High schoolers from the Inland Northwest celebrate their art submissions inspired by the prompt of "Black Joy" and discuss the significance of their pieces published in the Spokesman-Review with Black Lens Editor Natasha Hill at Gonzaga University.

Original Date: Jan 16 2024 Explore the captivating world of "The Strange Beautiful" by Carla Crujido, where family lore intertwines with the intriguing stories of ten tenants spanning over a century. Drawing inspiration from real-life advertisements discovered in The Spokesman-Review, Crujido weaves tales that offer a unique glimpse into the lives of these diverse characters.  Immerse yourself in...

Reunite with the iconic players of the 1999 Gonzaga Bulldogs basketball team in an exclusive Spokesman-Review Northwest Passages livestream! 🏀 It's been 25 years since the Zags made a historic run in the NCAA Tournament, capturing the hearts of basketball fans nationwide. In this special event, witness the camaraderie and shared memories of the players who helped put Gonzaga on the map. Expect th...

Join us for replay of  Spokesman-Review Northwest Passages conversation with Ben Goldfarb, author of the New York Times bestseller "Crossings" from Sept. 21, 2023. In this engaging event, we'll delve into the world of animal migrations, conservation, and the challenges they face. In his compelling book, he examines our dependence on highways and roads as an environmental concern as well as a socia...

Northwest Passages hosts a thought-provoking evening with Tom Mueller, the accomplished author of "How to Make a Killing: Blood, Death, and Dollars in American Medicine." In this enlightening event, you'll delve into the captivating microcosm of American healthcare through dialysis, as Mueller recounts the evolution of a system that has gone astray. A panel of guests will accompany Mueller, includ...

Northwest Passages presents a powerful and insightful discussion on a subject that deserves our attention and empathy. In this engaging live event featuring author Tamara Leitner, delve into the profound themes explored in her book, "Don't Say A Thing: A Predator, a Pursuit, and the Women Who Perserved." This gripping narrative courageously tackles the sensitive issue of sexual assault and the inc...

Prepare for an enriching literary journey with The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages as we present a live discussion on the critically acclaimed novel, "The Meadows," penned by the talented author, Stephanie Oakes. "The Meadows" is a captivating blend of dystopia, suspense, and coming-of-age exploration aimed at LGBTQ+ youth. Oakes writes of her own experiences and influences for writing this...