Mac publishes first book

Mike McKenna, pictured here with sons Jack and Sam, had his first book signing on July 19 in Ketchum, Idaho to support the publication of his first book, “Angling Around Sun Valley.”

McKenna, now the Editor of Sun Valley Magazine, drove down from Idaho ten years ago this week for Bluesapalooza 2003, and in his ensuing drunken haze, was convinced to take a writing job with the Sheet. After many years on the Eastside, McKenna moved back to Idaho two years ago to take the job with Sun Valley Magazine.

Angling Around Sun Valley is the first in a larger series McKenna intends to publish called “Angling Around the West.” In his debut, McKenna, who always takes an interesting angle on things, interviews 18 local fishing guides and relates all their best fishing stories. As McKenna said this week, “Anybody can write a guidebook, and this book has all that crap [maps, locations, et. al.], but this book is also about the people who live here and connection to place.”

So when can we expect his “Angling Around the Eastern Sierra” book? “I plan to start working on it in the spring of 2014,” he says, warning Tom Loe, Dave Neal, Rasta, and Rick Flamson to be ready. “I owe those guys at Rick’s Sport Center a lot of thanks [for McKenna’s development as a fishing writer]. Nobody knows the art of bullshit like Rick Flamson.”

Mac’s book can be purchased through Silver Creek Outfitters @ www.silver-creek.com

One addendum: Mac called later in the day to say, “You know, you’re partly to blame for this book.” Apparently, I assigned him to go out on Crowley Lake one day to go fishing and write a profile on Doug Butler, who ran DB’s Fishon Service. And that’s what got him hooked.

Hmm. Seems like Doug Butler’s really the one to blame.