During this program, Ivan Doig talks about and reads from his 11th novel (14th book), The Bartender's Tale.

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Ivan Doig was born in White Sulphur Springs, Montana, in 1939. He grew up along the Rocky Mountain Front where much of his writing takes place. His first book, the highly acclaimed memoir This House of Sky, was a finalist for the National Book Award.

A former ranch hand, newspaperman, and magazine editor, Doig is a graduate of Northwestern University where he received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism. He also holds a Ph.D. in history from the University of Washington. In the century’s-end San Francisco Chronicle polls to name the best Western novels and works of non-fiction, Doig is the only living writer with books in the top dozen on both lists: English Creek in fiction and This House of Sky in non-fiction.

Ivan Doig lives in Seattle with his wife Carol, who has taught the literature of the American West.

Visit Ivan Doig's Web site.

A review of The Bartender's Tale, written by Malcom Forbes for The Daily Beast.

A list of Ivan Doig's other novels and nonfiction books.

Look for The Bartender's Tale and other books by Ivan Doig at Fact & Fiction in downtown Missoula and on the UM campus, or at your local independent bookseller.

The Write Question is produced by Chérie Newman. Executive producer, Michael Marsolek; studio engineer, Beth Anne Austein.

Special thanks to Lisa Simon, David Moore, Barbara Theroux, and Kim Anderson.

This program is supported by the Steele-Reese Foundation, Humanities Montana, connecting kids to community, supporting vital cultural institutions, and encouraging community conversations. And by Montana's Cultural Trust, Fact & Fiction book stores, and Public Radio Listeners.

The Write Question: a program that explores the world of writing and publishing in the western United States.

The music in this program was written and performed by John Floridis.

Send comments to Chérie Newman.


Guests on the The Write Question are writers, publishers, and illustrators living, or working for an extended period of time, in the western United States. The Write Question is a production of Montana Public Radio.