Former UI professor’s novels re-released
February 22, 2017
Mary Haley, daughter of the late Sydney Duncombe, will tell the story behind the Idaho Trilogy, a collection of three political thrillers set in Idaho, at 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at BookPeople, 521 S. Main in Moscow.
The books – “The Unlikely Candidate,” “Blizzard in August” and “Freedom County” -- fell out of print after Duncombe’s death in 2004. They were republished in paperback last year by Ridenbaugh Press of Oregon.
Kenton Bird will share memories of the legendary University of Idaho political science professor, who was a mentor to a generation of Idaho politicians. Bird, a former student of Duncombe, teaches in the UI’s School of Journalism and Mass Media. He and Haley will read a segment of “Freedom County.”
“Sydney Duncombe was one of the most influential professors at the University of Idaho during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s,” Bird said. “Few outside his family knew that Duncombe also wrote suspenseful novels about Idaho.”
Duncombe began teaching courses in political science and public administration at UI in 1962 and retired in 1987. Many of Idaho’s political leaders, including former Sen. Dirk Kempthorne and former Idaho Attorney General David Leroy, took classes from him.
Haley, who grew up in Moscow and now lives in Sandpoint, is also an author. She will be at BookPeople starting at 3 p.m. with copies of her children’s book, “Ghost Writer: The Great Potato Caper.” “This is a fun book but also one that can help a parent or teacher bring reading and logic alive for their kids,” she said.
Mary Haley, 208-589-7337
Kenton Bird, 208-669-4080
The books – “The Unlikely Candidate,” “Blizzard in August” and “Freedom County” -- fell out of print after Duncombe’s death in 2004. They were republished in paperback last year by Ridenbaugh Press of Oregon.
Kenton Bird will share memories of the legendary University of Idaho political science professor, who was a mentor to a generation of Idaho politicians. Bird, a former student of Duncombe, teaches in the UI’s School of Journalism and Mass Media. He and Haley will read a segment of “Freedom County.”
“Sydney Duncombe was one of the most influential professors at the University of Idaho during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s,” Bird said. “Few outside his family knew that Duncombe also wrote suspenseful novels about Idaho.”
Duncombe began teaching courses in political science and public administration at UI in 1962 and retired in 1987. Many of Idaho’s political leaders, including former Sen. Dirk Kempthorne and former Idaho Attorney General David Leroy, took classes from him.
Haley, who grew up in Moscow and now lives in Sandpoint, is also an author. She will be at BookPeople starting at 3 p.m. with copies of her children’s book, “Ghost Writer: The Great Potato Caper.” “This is a fun book but also one that can help a parent or teacher bring reading and logic alive for their kids,” she said.
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For further information contact:Mary Haley, 208-589-7337
Kenton Bird, 208-669-4080
