Trio of authors serve as First Friday artists

The Ritzville Art Gallery is welcoming local authors David Michaelson, Miles Athey and Sharon Coleman as the First Friday artists for September. The trio is going to be signing copies of their individual published works as well as discussing their upcoming publications.

Ritzville resident, Athey, plans to have his most recent publications available at the book-signing event. The “Crab Creek Chronicles” are a historical fiction about the Ritzville area in the early 1800s and are based around true events and stories Athey remembers from childhood.

Athey began writing for fun in 1990, but as a researcher and a technical writer, he has truly been a author the majority of his life. His first works were theatre productions in the genres of mystery and comedy, as those are the two themes he enjoyed the most.

In 1999, Athey returned to Ritzville to care for his mother and during the two years of care giving, he had many opportunities to talk to local community members and hear stories. Athey uses his experience and talent as a researcher to add authenticity to the stories, as well as using the terminology of the time period he is writing about.

The variety and expanse of Athey’s work includes multiple theatre productions that he has written, produced and participated in. To date, Athey has participated in 28 theatre productions, which includes comedies, mysteries and musicals.

Athey says that how he produces a book is unlike the majority of writers because the last thing that he does is write an outline. Athey begins with a vague concept and says all it takes to begin the book is thinking of a scene, which his brain naturally begins picturing and eventually evolves into an entire collection of stories to be formatted into one single book.

Athey credits his work to the noteworthy individuals he has meant throughout his lifetime, especially those who remain friends and help to edit his work before publication.

Coleman currently resides outside of Davenport and spent her childhood being raised on a horse ranch. Her family’s experience on the ranch has helped motivate and create one of her stories, “The Christmas Calf,” which is based around on a personal experience her father had many years ago when a stranger visited.

“The Christmas Calf” is based on a mysterious visitor knocking on the door of a rugged cowboy in Montana on Christmas Eve and how the cowboy speaks to the stranger and begins to recognize spirituality within him.

She said that she first wrote “The Christmas Calf” for her father, but the book was soon loaned to other family members and friends before ending up with a published author who encouraged her to publish the short story.

Both of Coleman’s published works are considered Christian fiction, and follow the development and spiritual understanding specific individuals gain over time. Her second publication, “Andrew’s Gift,” is a story about a widowed mother who loses her husband in the war and struggles with faith.

Coleman said that “Andrew’s Gift” was published in July and she is working on a third book called “Sunshine and Sage” to add to her collection. Coleman has been writing for over 20 years, and before venturing into writing Christian fiction, she focused on poetry and devotional material.

At the book signing, Coleman will have both of her published works available for purchase. Her books can also be purchased at Hastings, Barnes and Noble, and on Amazon.

While Coleman is new to the Ritzville Art Gallery, Michaelson has been displaying his work there for many years and also serves as a volunteer at the gallery.

Aside from his multiple publications that are on display at the gallery, he also has a large selection of photographs, calendars and model airplanes.

Michaelson is a resident of Harrington and has composed seven books that are going to be displayed during the First Friday event. His award-winning cookbook, “The Burntwater Cook’s Kitchen Guide,” is a collection of old recipes all that are translated to accommodate ingredients common in today’s world.

Before Michaelson began writing full-time, he worked as a chef, professional umpire, head coach and a cabinetmaker. His broad background with careers and life experiences have helped to create a diverse selection of publications.

Michaelson’s sequel to “Trail Cook” is currently at the printer but he is already hard at work on another book to create a trilogy for the “Trail Cook” collection, which will consist of the addition of “Trail Cook Chronicles” and “The Piddingtons.”

He has also composed another trilogy, but unlike the story of “Trail Cook” that is about a poor Englishman in the Wild West, it was a science-fiction trilogy that described what life would be like once the Earth was no long inhabitable.

“I write about what interests me,” Michaelson said. “And a lot interests me.”

Michaelson’s complete works are available at the Ritzville Art Center, Cow Creek Mercantile and the Davenport Times office. Books are also available as eBooks through online booksellers.

The First Friday event is sponsored by the Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce and celebrates the talent and success of local artists. The Ritzville Art Center is located at 109 West Main Avenue. For more information about the event, contact the Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce at 659-1936.