Whitefish Review will release its 18th issue on Dec. 19, “Growing up and Getting Older.” The newest issue features a conversation with part-time Montana resident, David Letterman in his most in-depth interview since ending his 33-year Late Show career. Letterman talks with founding editor Brian Schott about retirement, raising his son, his love of Montana, his own childhood, and growing a wildman beard.
“I’m in love with the publication and I feel stupid because prior to a month ago I don’t think I was aware of it,” said Letterman, who owns a working ranch on the Rocky Mountain Front. “It’s a delightful project.”
“We are grateful that Mr. Letterman was so kind to speak with us,” said Schott. “The conversation with him was a perfect blend of Montana and its powerful landscape, insights into raising children, and the process of growing up.”
Author Rick Bass served as the guest editor of the newest issue that features 39 contributors from 18 different states, fielded from nearly 1000 submissions in fiction, essays, poetry, art, and photography.
Bass is the author of over thirty books of fiction and nonfiction. His most recent novel, All the Land to Hold Us, received France’s Prix Laure Bataillon for the best book translated to French, and his memoir, Why I Came West, was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. In March of 2016, Little, Brown will publish For A Little While: New & Selected Stories.
Bass selected Juliet Hubbell’s “The Owl” as the 2015 winner of the Montana Prize for Fiction, a $1,000 prize.
“As with the best literature, you can’t really describe this story to someone, when trying to share your enthusiasm,” said Bass. “What you find yourself saying is, in that most time-honored and ancient of traditions, simply: ‘You’ve got to read this.'”
Bass also included two runners-up in the fiction contest: Jay Woodruff’s “Good” and Horatio Potter’s “Love Machine.”
The cover of the journal features a photo montage by photographer Tom Chambers (“Daybreakers”) and the back cover features a photograph by Ansley West Rivers (“Disappearing Trees”).
Honoring its tradition of seeking young, previously unpublished authors, the editors selected two essays for publication by high school students Sarah Ward and Ben Sachrison.
Editors of the journal will host a launch party at Crush Lounge in Whitefish on Saturday, Dec. 19, featuring a reading by Rick Bass and emerging local writer Jason Forrest. Doors open at 7 p.m. with live music by Matt Seymour. Readings begin at 8 p.m. A $10 donation is requested.
Whitefish Review is a non-profit journal publishing the literature, art, and photography of mountain culture.
Copies of Whitefish Review are available in bookstores and for order online at www.whitefishreview.org. Cost is $12, with back issues and subscriptions also available. A new e-Book will be available soon. The interview with Letterman is also featured on the journal’s website.