Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Ski season is winding down, but at Bud Werner Memorial Library, the Spring Author Series is just swinging into motion with a host of bestselling, award-winning authors scheduled to stop in Steamboat.

The Spring Author Series begins its second year at 6:30 p.m. Monday with climber and author of “The Ledge” Jim Davidson.

On April 11, Cheryl Strayed, the author of her New York Times No. 1 bestselling memoir “Wild,” will speak and Chris Bohjalian, author of 15 bestsellers including “Midwives” and “The Double Bind,” will be featured April 17. April 30 brings Mary Roach, an author of popular science nonfiction books whose tour for her latest effort “Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal” will take her through “The Daily Show” and NPR appearances on her way to the Yampa Valley. The series closes out May 15 with Kent Haruf, a National Book Award Finalist for “Plainsong,” the script for which was a part of the 2007 New Works Festival at Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School and Camp.

All events are free and take place at 6:30 p.m. in Library Hall at Bud Werner Memorial Library.

“It was just such a fantastic success last year, I think the community really loved it,” said library adult programs coordinator Jennie Lay. “They would pack Library Hall. It was obviously a good incentive to keep the momentum going.”

Off the Beaten Path Bookstore will be on hand at each event selling books that can be signed by the authors.

The opening event with Fort Collins’ Jim Davidson will feature climbing tales that will resonate with the Steamboat community.

His book, “The Ledge,” details the harrowing climbing accident that took his friend and climbing partner on Mount Rainier in 1992 and delves into the lessons he brought back from that tragedy.

It’s “a big, passionate climbing story,” Lay said. “I think this author, in particular, will shed some real appeal to the Steamboat climbing, outdoors crowd.”

Davidson, who has a sister in Steamboat and travels here several times each year, said Steamboat residents tend to share his passion for the outdoors.

“I’ll be sharing adventure stories of a Colorado climber,” he said about Monday’s event. “Since it’s a survival story, there’s some lessons on survival and life that could strike them on a more personal level.

“We’re thrilled to be back in Steamboat, and I’m pleased to be a part of this distinguished lecture series.”

To reach Nicole Inglis, call 970-871-4204 or email ninglis@ExploreSteamboat.com