WHITEFISH, Mont. (January 19, 2010) - Acclaimed author Jon Turk will give a reading and slideshow from his latest book, The Raven's Gift: A Scientist, a Shaman and Their Remarkable Journey Through the Siberian Wilderness, on January 26 at Crush Wine Bar in downtown Whitefish at 8 p.m. Turk is from Connecticut, but has lived in the Rocky Mountains for over forty years. He now splits his time between Montana and Fernie, B.C. when he isn't traveling on an adventure. His third book was released on January 19 by St. Martin's Press (New York).

Turk received his Ph.D. in chemistry in 1971, but hounded by restless spirits, he dropped out of academia to kayak across the North Pacific and around Cape Horn, mountain bike through the Gobi desert, make first climbing ascents of big walls on Baffin Island, and first ski descents in the Tien Shan Mountains in Kyrgyzia. His new book chronicles five expeditions to visit a 100-year-old shaman in northeast Siberia and explores our spiritual connectivity to nature and ourselves.

Henry Pollack, co-winner of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore wrote, "The tension between his own logical scientific background and the mysterious shamanistic wisdom of his healer is at the heart of this wonderfully-told story of Koryak life, and of his own personal transformation."

William Fitzhugh, director of the Arctic Studies Center at the Smithsonian Institution wrote, "Harrowing back-country mountain skiing, avalanches, and equally traumatic ski-trekking in the vast Siberian tundra where he searches for the last remnants of an ancient Koryak reindeer-herding people parallel Turk's personal search for his own inner balance."

The event is free to attend, but donations are welcome and encouraged to help support the author on his book tour. Jon gratefully accepts any form of road-relevant currency: cash, gasoline, homemade bread, or huckleberry jam. But keep your peanut butter in your pocket, until after you hear Jon speak.

"The difference between conventional theater and street theatre is that in conventional theatre you pay before the show," said Turk. "In street theater, you donate afterwards if the event becomes meaningful to you."

Jon will begin his reading and slideshow presentation at 8 p.m. The event is sponsored by Whitefish Review and Crush Wine Bar. For more information, visit www.jonturk.net.

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