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Cowboy’s Quill: Russell Rowland
Published
6 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersWriter by choice
By Doug Hare EBS Staff
When he was 28 years old, Bozeman-born Russell Rowland decided to become a writer while working a desk job in the U.S. Navy. He gave himself one year to publish something. More than a decade later, in 2002, he finally published his first novel, “In Open Spaces.”
Literary critics from New York and San Francisco took notice of Rowland’s impressive debut. The quintessential ranch story, set on the unforgiving prairies and stingy soil of eastern Montana, the book examines a family’s struggle through the Depression, two World Wars, and personal tragedy with an understated elegance and astute psychological understanding.
Even with the success of his first novel, Rowland had trouble finding a publisher for the sequel, “The Watershed Years” (2007), an equally impressive book about the Arbuckle family post-World War II.
His third novel might be his best work of fiction to date. “High and Inside” (2013) follows a former Boston Red Sox pitcher who decides to move out to Montana to “get away from it all,” leaving his demons in the rear view. So the protagonist relocates to a plot of land a few miles outside of Bozeman with his three-legged dog, intent on building his own house despite any relevant experience, his demons not far behind.
Most recently, the Billings-based author published “56 Counties: A Montana Journey” (2016), a nonfiction account of visiting every county in Montana over the course of two years. It is not a travelogue by any means. More than any contemporary author, Rowland diagnoses Montana’s bipolarity, its residents’ dangerous optimism, and the ubiquitous alcoholism in a land settled by damaged souls. Rowland points out that we are consistently voted one of the “happiest” places to live, while also having one of the highest suicide rates.
With colorful characters from small, forgotten towns in the Badlands in the east to the tourist-driven ski towns, fascinating historical asides, and insights into the various industries that drive the economies across our sprawling state, Rowland has a knack for uncovering in a few short pages what makes our state so diverse and variegated, only to reveal what brings us all together under the big sky.
Of all the books I’ve picked up this year, “56 Counties” is one that explains why Montana is Montana. Hopefully, Rowland will have no trouble finding a publisher for his next book.
Doug Hare is the Distribution Director for Outlaw Partners. He studied philosophy and American literature at Princeton and Harvard universities.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
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My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy
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My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy that tells the story of Toby and Melinda, two lonely people whose lives are forever changed the night they encounter a starving coyote at their apartment building. Over time they grow to expect him, leaving ritual offerings to entice the coyote every night. Toby and Melinda forge a connection over this visitor and share curiosity and concern about his presence in the city. The coyote expands their world–until, one night, their world is shattered. Their lives are pushed suddenly into uncharted territory, sending them on a surreal odyssey that changes their city–and the world–forever.
Directed by LX Miller. Starring Max Schneider and Denise Hergett
Verge Theater is continuing their mission to provide accessible theater to our community. Tickets for My Barking Dog are Pay What You Wish with a suggested price of $35. Audience members are offered the opportunity to select the price point that is comfortable for them when purchasing tickets.
My Barking Dog runs March 15-17, 22-24, 28-30
Performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays begin at 7:00 p.m., with Sunday matinees offered at 3:00 p.m.
Suitable for ages 16 . No animals are harmed in the staging of this production.
Tickets are available online at www.vergetheater.com
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St. Joseph Catholic Mission
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