Ritzville author, poet speaks at museum Wednesday

MOSES LAKE — Author and poet Hank Buchmann will read selections of his poetry, from his new book “The Homing,” and from his Western novels at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center.

It’s part of the Fall Salon Series at the museum, 401 South Balsam St. Admission is free.

Buchmann is a Moses Lake native and has been writing almost his entire life, he said. He’s published a series of novels about Boone Crowe, U.S. Marshal in 1880s Wyoming Territory. Buchmann has also written “Until the Names Grow Blurred,” in which a World War I veteran is asked to look back on his life, and “Darling Liberty,” where a writer struggles with challenges internally and externally.

“If I died and people wanted to know who I was, read my poems. Even more so than my books.” Buchmann said. In addition to the self-expression of poetry, it’s a way to tell stories that might get away otherwise. “A lot of my poems are stories. I don’t have time make every poem into a full book, so I make a lot of stories in a couple of stanzas.”

Buchmann said he always liked the idea of being a writer. “In the seventh grade, at Chief Moses (Middle School), I won the scary story contest. I had never realized, up to that point, the power of the written word.”

A graduate of Moses Lake High School, Buchmann studied journalism and became a reporter while serving the U.S. Army in Vietnam. He worked for the Moses Lake School District as a custodian for about 20 years.

Fourteen of those 20 years were spent at Frontier Middle School. “I loved my job.” Being around the kids was very rewarding, he said. “The kids have given me back everything I might have given them. They’ve been a big part of my life.”

Buchmann’s wife Rebecca is a teacher at Chief Moses Middle School. “She’s a really good teacher.” They live in Ritzville.

The Salon Series features a mix of local authors and local speakers on a variety of subjects, ranging from a history of eastern Washington saloons to eastern Washington cattle king Ben Snipes.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.