A year ago, a gaggle of Whitefish ski bums launched a biannual literary journal. With their third issue hitting bookstores this past week, the Whitefish Review not only stretched its fingers around the globe, but notched itself higher into a new plane of literary culture. One story tastes like a sweet cherry, the next like a tangy orange.
With its first two issues, word about the Whitefish Review spread through mention in literary lists and grassroots networks of writers, poets, and artists. As submissions poured in for the third issue, editor Brian Schott received creative works from as far away as Switzerland, and submissions tripled to over 300. “That’s what has been completely astounding,” said Schott. “It’s amazing to open your in box and experience the thrill of connecting with creative people around the world.”
As the fiction, non-fiction, poetry, art, and photography distilled in editing, 26 works made the final cut into the 130-page book. Contributors from 17 to 75 years old hail from seven different states and India. Eighteen are Montanans. “We had to reject a pretty good percentage of stories but zeroed in a little more on the mountain culture theme,” Schott continued. “We’re trying to carve out that niche a little.”
One flavor pervades these mountain works—the zest of passion. In an excerpt from his upcoming book Why I Came West, Rick Bass lobbies fervently for preserving the Yaak. Missoula author and filmmaker Annick Smith admits to being nuts about dogs in passages from her upcoming book Crossing the Plains with Bruno. Mike Powers’ interview captures the adrenaline spirit of world kayaker Brad Ludden. Among seasoned authors, even Stillwater Christian School student Josiah Willows leaps into the relativity of the abortion argument in a provocative short story.
The third edition of the Whitefish Review lives up to the beauty of its new glossy cover. Each fruit tastes different, but worth every swallow.
Whitefish Review #3 is available now at local bookstores for $12 or online: www.whitefishreview.com.