Bozeman Library

Authors and Books

Russell Rowland and Allen Morris Jones

A conversation where Montana poet laureate, Allen Jones, and Russell Rowland, author of 56 Counties, discuss their collaboration, and their thoughts on Montana and western literature in general.

Since Allen Morris Jones published Russell Rowland's third novel, High and Inside, in 2013 under his Bangtail Press imprint, the two have had a long and fruitful relationship, working together on various books and other projects, including Rowland's seminal book on Montana, 56 Counties: A Montana Journey, which Bangtail published in 2016. Jones has published three novels of his own, as well as a non-fiction book on hunting, A Quiet Place of VIolence, and three children's books. But he has recently established himself primarily for his poetry, winning the High Plains Book Award for Mumblecusser, and then being named the current Poet Laureate of Montana.

About the authors

Russell Rowland has published eight books, including Cold Country, Fifty-Six Counties: A Montana Journey, and his latest, Be a Man: Raised in the Shadow of Cowboys. He was born in Bozeman and returned to Montana in 2007 after a twenty-five year hiatus, where he lived in twelve different states. Rowland also hosts the radio show, 56 Counties, on Yellowstone Public Radio, as well as a podcast, The Song of Rowland, about American culture. Rowland has an MA in Creative Writing from Boston University and he lives in Billings.

Current poet laureate for the state of Montana, Allen Morris Jones is widely published across genres and forms. He’s the author of three novels, three children’s books, a highly regarded look at the ethics of hunting, an award-winning collection of poetry, and more than 100 published personal essays, profiles, short stories, and other incidental pieces. His first novel, Last Year’s River, was selected by Barnes and Noble for its Discover Great New Writers program; his second novel, A Bloom of Bones, was recognized as a Montana Book Award honor book. His recent poetry collection, Mumblecusser, was both a High Plains Book Award winner as well as a Montana Book Award honor book. His first children’s book, Montana for Kids, won a Spur Award from the Western Writers of America. He has worked as a magazine editor (Big Sky Journal), as an acquisitions editor (Lyons Press / Globe Pequot Press), small press publisher (Bangtail Press), and as a university Communications Director. He lives in Bozeman, Montana, with his wife and son.

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