WHITEFISH, Mont. (Dec. 09, 2008) - The Whitefish Review has announced the publication of its fourth issue. The soft-cover journal has been expanded to 160-pages and features established and emerging authors and artists with a leaning towards the art and literature of mountain culture.

More than 300 artists and writers submitted fiction, non-fiction, poetry, art, and photography and 34 were selected by the editorial staff for inclusion in the journal published by Buckshot Enterprises, Inc. Features include an interview and writing from author Terry Tempest Williams, as well as a short story by Great Falls, Mont. author Pete Fromm.

Williams is the author of the environmental literature classic, Refuge-An Unnatural History of Family and Place. Her new book Finding Beauty in a Broken World was released in October 2008. She divides her time between Castle Valley, Utah and Moose, Wyoming. Fromm recently won a fourth Pacific Northwest Booksellers Literary Award for his latest novel, As Cool As I Am. Earlier winners were his novel How All This Started, story collection Dry Rain, and memoir Indian Creek Chronicles.

"In addition to our two headliners, we have landed an incredible array of authors and artists," said Brian Schott, founding editor. "But beyond the talent ranging from student writers to the masters of their craft, what is so impressive is the breadth of narratives that we have. From an Iraq dispatch, to a World War II story, to life and death on the ski slopes, as well as the finest selection of art and photography we have seen yet-we are incredibly happy with the book."

This issue features an additional 32 artists, writers, and photographers ranging from 16 to 80 years old across eleven different states. Fifteen of the pieces are from Montana-based contributors. The journal weaves a diverse mix of narratives interspersed across six non-fiction stories and one interview, eight pieces of fiction, six poems, six paintings, and eight photographs. The cover features a photo by Whitefish, Montana-based photographer Noah Clayton.

Additional featured writers include the 2008 Iowa Short Fiction Award winner Glen Pourciau (Plano, TX), Leslie Budewitz (Bigfork, MT), Michael Conn (Tucson, AZ), Mike Gorski (Champlin, MN), Carrie Meadows (Blacksburg, VA), and Ron Savage (Williamsburg, VA).

A dispatch from 10^th Mountain Division soldier Michael Sauret (Pittsburgh, PA), an historic account of a World War II bomber landing in Polson, MT by Irle White (Libby, MT), a fictional war story by Scott Eubanks (Spokane, WA), as well as a tale from the avalanche-prone slopes of LaGrave, France by Ski Magazine contributing editor Jay Cowan (Snowmass, CO) rounds out the featured stories.

Featured poets include Sabine Brigette (Whitefish, MT), Geraldine Connolly (Bigfork, MT), Lowell Jaeger (Bigfork, MT), Bruce Jewett (Belmont, CA), Deb Kaufman (Polebridge, MT), and Christina Weide (Kalispell, MT).

A 12-page glossy color section showcases art and photography, accompanied by artist commentaries on the work.

Featured photographers include National Geographic photographer Gordon Wiltsie (Bozeman, MT), Adam Barker (Salt Lake City, UT), Michelle Blade (San Francisco, CA), Miguel Farias (San Rafael, CA), Adrieanne Fernandez (San Francisco, CA), and John Thompson, Sr. (Pittsburgh, PA). Artists include Rob Akey (Whitefish, MT), Kelly Apgar (Somers, MT), Elizabeth Hughes Bass (Yaak, MT), Jim Fuess (Berkeley Heights, NJ), Eileen Starr Moderbacher (Berkeley, CA and Brooklyn, NY), Zachary Royer Scholz (Berkeley, CA), and Helen Shulman (Quechee, VT).

Student writing featured in this issue includes an essay by Vassar College freshman Cassandra Dreher and Whitefish High School junior Katie McGunagle.

Copies of the Whitefish Review are available for purchase at Bookworks and Voyageur Booksellers of Whitefish, BooksWest and Borders of Kalispell, online at whitefishreview.org, as well as at other local and regional stores. Cost of the fourth issue is $12. The submission reading period for the June 2009 issue is January 15 through March 15. Mike Powers and Ryan Friel serve as managing editors, Ian Griffiths is the art director, and Adam Blue is associate art editor.

The editors will host a party open to the public on December 11 from 7-11 p.m. at the Loft (121 Central Avenue). This fundraiser for the journal's new non-profit corporation will feature live music by David Walburn, a reading by Douglas H. Chadwick, art by Rob Akey, the cover photography of Noah Clayton, appetizers and pizza by Truby's, and the release of Greg and Angie Burger's 2007 vintage Erratic Rock Pinot Noir.

For more information, contact Whitefish Review editor Brian Schott.

"A beautiful venture." -Rick Bass

"Whether it's a short story about wolverines, musings on being a pro quarterback, or an elegant photograph or poem, the Whitefish Review delivers a thoughtful selection of works by western writers and artists, some well-known, some new. It's a perfect paperback to tuck into your bag for a quick, intelligent read." -Harriot Manley, senior editor, Sunset Publishing