About Cort Conley, Publisher and Author
Cort Conley was born in Berkeley, California. He earned a bachelor's degree and Jurisprudence Doctorate from the University of California before moving to Idaho in 1972. In addition to his extensive background as a writer, editor, and publisher of books, he has worked as a house painter, book rep., forest fire lookout, river guide, and since 1998 as the literature director for the Idaho Commission on the Arts.
Conley has written several books, most of which highlight his adopted state of Idaho. Conley worked as river guide throughout the west and he turned acquired knowledge of the Salmon River into The Middle Fork and The River of No Return both co-authored by friend Johnny Carrey. In his popular Idaho for the Curious, Conley incorporates points of interest, historical information, and local legends to create a readable travel guide.
Conley also combines legend and fact in his stories of Idaho Loners. He selected individuals who chose to live a solitary life. The reasons for their lifestyles varied as much as the people themselves. Conley included legendary characters such as the trapper Beaver Dick, hermit Doc Hinson, rancher Helena Schmidt, and mountain man Buckskin Bill Hart. He expanded the definition of a loner to include CIA administrator James Angleton and outlaw Claude Dallas.
His newest book, Idaho Artists (2011), is a compilation of men and women who are compelled to make art. It exams the wellsprings of their creativity, their traditions and training, how they go about their work, and their own aspirations and assimilated inspirations. |
Idaho for the Curious | Idaho Loners | The
Middle Fork | River of No Return
Snake River in Hells Canyon| Spirits of the Salmon River | The Ridgerunner
The last Of the Mountain Man | An Innocent on the Middle Fork
Is Idaho In Iowa | Gathered Waters | The Department of Yarns | Idaho Artists
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