Keith Liggett recently published his first collection of poetry, titled like socks in a dryer, and Goldenites will soon have a chance to meet the author in person. Liggett, who now lives in Fernie, will be signing his book and reading a selection of his poems at Bacchus Books and Cafe on Mar. 24 at 8 p.m..
Liggett grew up in San Francisco but spent a lot of time in his youth just outside Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia where his father was working at the time. Liggett believes witnessing a different culture and way of life has had a significant impact on his writing style today.
“It’s shaped my writing by getting my perspective out of the traditional Anglo style of writing,” Liggett said. “I don’t think my writing comes out of one school of writing it comes out of a whole bunch of schools of writing.”
He started writing at a young age when he had a poem published in a Northwestern University literary journal when he was just 16 years old.
Later, while living in Breckenridge, Liggett got a job as a weekly ski-columnist for the Quandry Times. The column continued for 15 years and eventually became a self-syndicated column that reached over 650,000 readers in the daily newspapers across the Northwestern U.S.
Liggett moved to Fernie in 2006 and has taken full advantage of living in a mountain town. Skiing is a long time passion of his (he says he spends upwards of 100 days a year skiing both recreationally and as an instructor) and in the summer he spends most of his time mountain biking, fly fishing, hiking and climbing.
Just like his upbringing in Malaysia, his love of the outdoors has also had a profound influence on his writing style.
“(My love of the outdoors) has created an awareness in the natural environment and my poems are very influenced by nature and what’s going on around me,” he said.
In addition to his latest poetry publication, Liggett has also authored the award-winning Island Lake Lodge: The Cookbook, published in 2009. The cookbook features the innovative and natural cuisine from the gourmet kitchen at the Island Lake Lodge in Fernie.
Admission to the reading at Bacchus is free and copies of Ligget’s book will be available for purchase for $20.
