The Deep Dark Wins Idaho Book of the Year
![deep dark].jpg](http://www.crimerant.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/deep%20dark].jpg "deep dark].jpg")
I’ve always said that Gregg deserves to be recognized for his contribution to letters. Throughout his career, Gregg has chosen carefully the subjects he writes about in book form, which, when we first met, made reading his books an absolute honor and pleasure for this up-and-comer.
When Gregg published THE DEEP DARK, I couldn’t help but read the book and think how different it was from anything he had ever published. At the same time, however, I knew 50 pages in that it was his best work to date. Gregg is crack journalist and has taught me more about integrity, reporting and the business of publishing than I could even explain here. He takes his reporting very seriously—and THE DEEP DARK certainly allows all those gifts to shine perfectly.
Well, apparently, I am not the only one to recognize the immense talent Gregg has for not only getting the story accurate, but telling it in a way that makes us want to continue reading page after page. There’s a difference between a good book, and a book that is well written. A competent narrative author is able to keep your interest while laying out a true story in a way that supersedes those boring books published by university presses nationwide that often win many of the literary awards.
Thus, I bring to you today some great news! Gregg’s THE DEEP DARK, which explores the devastating 1972 Sunshine Mine fire in Kellogg, Idaho, will be honored today with the Idaho Book Award by the Idaho Library Association (ILA) at its annual conference in Moscow, Idaho. The honor is considered Idaho’s premier literary award.
Kathy Watson, the ILA awards chair, said, “The Deep Dark sheds an empathetic light on an Idaho tragedy and the culture of the people whose lives were changed forever. Olsen’s book is suspenseful, well written, and extensively researched.”
So, I wanted to say congratulations to Gregg for this incredible accomplishment.
October 5th, 2006 at 8:58 am
Congratulations Gregg!! You deserve this honor. The Deep Dark deserves this honor. Thank you for writing it and CONGRATULATIONS on this award.
October 5th, 2006 at 9:26 am
How wonderful, congratulations Gregg.
Millie
October 5th, 2006 at 9:55 am
Gregg-what can I say that many others have not already said before or will say after…aside YOU are a top-notch writer, and deserve every award [and then some]you receive.
I have started The Deep Dark, and I must say that Matt is correct. The Deep Dark, is writing at it’s best!
And I don’t say that lightly or to brown-nose either. As a former six-books-a-day reader,I have made it my lifes mission to read as many books as possible, so suffice to say that of all the books I’ve read, those written by GREAT writers, have been far and few between.
I can count on both hands [no toes] those writers worthy enough to be labeled GREAT…and YOU, my friend ARE one of them. The Deep Dark is an excellent example of what GREAT writing is all about, and deserves the Idaho Book of the Year award, and much more.
I was thinking as I read it, what an awesome movie it would make.
One that has the talent of actors able to be emotionally riveting, with common-man acting.
Actors like Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, or Morgan Freeman starring.
I’m serious.
The Deep Dark is a story worthy of film and just as worthy of an award like that of the Acadamy Award for Best Film/Screenplay also.
So here’s to keeping my fingers crossed [toes included] and until then….my friend;
Congratulations Gregg on a JOB WELL DONE!!!
October 5th, 2006 at 10:27 am
Terrific Gregg, awesome news! Thanks Matt for letting us know, because we all know how shy Gregg is (NOT)
October 5th, 2006 at 10:48 am
Congrats, Gregg!! That’s a fantastic honor! You’ll have to make sure all the folks at KY07 know about this as well. Enjoy your celebration!
October 5th, 2006 at 10:50 am
Awesome news!! Congratulations Gregg– It says ALOT that this award comes from within the community that you’ve written about.
So great to hear you’re being honored for your skill and intergrity. You deserve this!
October 5th, 2006 at 12:20 pm
Congratulations Gregg! I haven’t read the book yet but I look forward to doing so after I make my way through this hip-high pile I already have!
October 5th, 2006 at 12:50 pm
ROCK ON GARTH! (I mean GREGG! lol). Congrats to you! It is obvious that this story has grabbed a piece of your soul and you have no choice but to go on the ride for the rest of your life. It goes to show how much writing can be the ties that bind. You are a golden megaphone to the people of the sunshine mine. Your latest book is not a tavern but a temple. And GOD BLESS YOU for digging inside yourself and scraping out the last pieces of feeling to make spread this message. This aint fiction….it is life. And YOU KNOW IT GREGG. It is a diatribe of the soul….
write on brotha!
October 5th, 2006 at 2:26 pm
Way to go, Gregg!!!!
October 5th, 2006 at 4:54 pm
Awesome!!! This is fantastic Gregg!!! You that Jim & I are your greatest fans and are sooooo behind you!!! The Best To You and Your Family!!!
October 5th, 2006 at 4:56 pm
Of course I meant to say……..’You know that Jim….
Sorry, Blond moment!
October 5th, 2006 at 5:39 pm
Neato burrito, Gregg! Congrats! Let us celebrate with Schlitz, Ritz and cheese from a can. Cricket’s buying! (ain’t that right, Crick?)
October 5th, 2006 at 6:30 pm
Gregg ~
Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!! It must feel pretty damn good to be recognized and rewarded by the state that this horrible tragedy took place in. They have embraced you and your writing because of how you reached out to these people with your heart. That is something to be very proud of. I hope you cherish it – and continue to write every book with that same passion. You know, that is something that most tc writers do NOT understand – passion – for writing as well as the people and places they are writing about. I see that here quite a bit with both you and Matt. It makes us – the readers – feel that same passion and continue to come here every day, and also read your books. Keep up the great work!! We are all looking forward to your (I hope) many, many writings in the future!!
October 5th, 2006 at 7:26 pm
Congratulations, sir.
I look forward to adding this one to my library.
cmjw
October 5th, 2006 at 11:02 pm
Congratulations and well done!
October 6th, 2006 at 1:24 am
I told you it was a good book, Gregg!!!! Seriously, many congratulations – I’m so thrilled for you! Write on! Fiz. xxx
October 6th, 2006 at 6:10 am
This is wonderful news! Congratulations, Gregg!
October 6th, 2006 at 7:24 am
[The Other] Melissa says: Cricket’s buying! (ain’t that right, Crick?)
**************
I understand you are trying to be friendly [really I do] but please-no mutilating my name ok…unfortunately like the idiot I can be sometimes, I used my real name-that IS my real name and as a Native American, we are very protective and proud of our birth names so again-please don’t.
As for the Schlitz, Ritz and Cheese: NOT from MY pocketbook [giggle] NOTHING BUT THE BEST for these guys, more like Champagne, Scotch, and Gin, with HUGE juicy steaks.
Cricket
October 6th, 2006 at 9:15 am
Congratulations, Gregg!!!!
October 6th, 2006 at 1:32 pm
Congrats to you! I am looking forward to buying this book. I am almost finished with ” Bitter Almonds.” You have a new fan here.
October 6th, 2006 at 2:42 pm
Congratulations, Gregg. Well done!!
October 6th, 2006 at 3:48 pm
Great news, Gregg. Congratulations!
October 7th, 2006 at 11:13 am
Thanks, everyone (and that includes, you, Matt), for your congratulations. I always felt honored to tell the story of the men and women of the Silver Valley and the fire. Glad to know that others think I got it right.
Gregg
October 8th, 2006 at 11:52 am
Gregg, congratulations on the award. It’s wonderful to see your hard work rewarded!
October 8th, 2006 at 5:42 pm
Gregg, a big congrats… I haven’t read the book yet, but it’s next on my list. You’re a wonderful writer, and I’m happy for you on receiveing this award. “Wicked Cool”.
October 9th, 2006 at 6:11 am
Congrats Gregg!
October 12th, 2006 at 10:02 am
So impressed the ILA recognized this great tribute to all involved in the Sunshine Mine Disaster! My brother & I were only in Wallace, Idaho’s grade school then, and lost no family in that terrible event, but it was the 9-11 of our childhood none-the-less. Gregg, thank you for sharing your gift of writing with us in this venue. Your book showed much of what we didn’t understand as youngsters, and it also confirmed what we can never forget of that deep dark day in our Silver Valley.
November 5th, 2006 at 12:56 pm
[...] This is a tip for those interested in Gregg’s book about the mining disaster that devastated Kellogg, Idaho, back in 1972. Last month Idaho librarians named THE DEEP DARK Idaho Book of the Year. Today, the Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Washington’s major daily, announced it as the newspaper’s book club selection for November. If you’ve read the book, you’re invited to weigh in with a review on the paper’s web site. [...]
February 4th, 2007 at 9:47 am
Sunshine Mine is in the news this week
See: http://www.shoshonenewspress.com
June 28th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
realplayer 45
Hi! http://wgwyabwl.info/422_0.html . Thanks!