Hunting for good stories?

When, as a young deputy sheriff, Bill Sansom was shot three times by a criminal he had just accosted, the aftermath of his experience left him unable to work in law enforcement but subsequently led to a grueling period of rehabilitation and commitment to follow a lifelong dream of becoming a writer. An early story he wrote was published in Bugle magazine, titled "Not Looking to Die," telling the story of his encounter with death and also explained how his return to the forests of western Montana in pursuit of elk restored his ability to cope with the tragedy and redefine his pursuit of life.

That story, "Not Looking To Die," is the centerpiece chapter of a 192-page book issued by Stoneydale Press of Stevensville, Mont., that includes 24 of Sansom's more popular stories published in national magazines over the past 25 years. Many of the stories appeared first in Bugle magazine. Others appeared in such publications as Buckmasters Whitetail Magazine, North American Hunter magazine and Bowhunter magazine, where Sansom developed a following of loyal readers. In the process, his readers not only learned about the details and insights of hunting elk, whitetail deer, bear, mountain lion and mule deer, but also the adventures and misadventures of the various individuals who took to the woods with him in quest of these species.

Sansom of St. Regis, Mont., will appear Saturday, Aug. 8, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Hastings Books, 101 Best Ave. in Coeur d'Alene, to sign his new book and visit with people. "Not Looking To Die and Other Tales of the Hunt" stories share a lifetime of adventures in the outdoors in western Montana and North Idaho.

Dan Crockett, editor of Bugle magazine, put it this way in a testimonial he wrote for Sansom's book: "These are hunting stories, and good ones. But they're also about life and death, truth and beauty, family and friends, honor and shame, striving and falling short. They venture into the gray shadows beyond black and white, places where success can be measured in far more than packages of meat and inches of horn."

M.R. James, founder of Bowhunter Magazine, wrote: "Bill Sansom is much more than a good hunter who shares well-told outdoor adventures through his writing; he's a gifted writer who just happens to be a good hunter and outdoorsman."

"Not Looking To Die And Other Tales of The Hunt" touches on themes of local history, developing outdoor experiences, particularly in regard to big game hunting, companionship in the wilds and also the deep relationships that develop among those who pursue outdoor adventures. The book was issued in 6-by-9-inch softcover format and includes a foreword by noted author Don Burgess, a former editor of Bugle magazine.