River Guide and poet Chris Dombrowski to present his memoir 'The River You Touch'

Missoula author Chris Dombrowski will be reading and talking about his latest memoir, “The River You Touch,” at the Swan Valley Community Hall in Condon on Saturday, July 15 at 7 pm. Co-sponsored by Alpine Artisans’ Open Book Club and Swan Valley Connections, this evening is a ‘don’t miss’ for those who want to spend a vicarious day on the river with one of the most entertaining river guides and poets in western Montana. The “River You Touch” is also an intimate journey into the life of a family working hard to make a living in a rugged, Western landscape that they love.

Originally from central Michigan, Dombrowski found his way to western Montana after being introduced to Norman Maclean’s novella, “A River Runs Through It,” by a high school English teacher. Chris had already awakened to the pleasures of a life on the water angling for fish, and was in the first stages of learning that he loved to write. When he took the leap to move to Montana and pursue both of his dreams – river guiding and writing – his life became true.

Chris is the author of three books of poetry and a novel about bone fishing: “Body of Water: A Sage, A Seeker” and the “World’s Most Elusive Fish.” But in this novel he hits his high notes, describing how his life evolved in western Montana, living on the edge financially, partnering with his wife to raise a family, answering his call to the rivers he navigated so skillfully for his clients, Jim Harrison among them. Author Rick Bass has this to say about Dombrowski’s memoir, “You won’t read a more beautiful book, nor one so early, wise, delivious and alive. This is not a book about fish or rivers or Montana or parenting. This is a book, to paraphrase another poet, plain and simple, to break open the frozen sea within.”

This event is free, and everyone is welcome.