POCATELLO — A writer’s stories are never really done. They are often revised and re-written, marked with red pen and polished, and sometimes stuffed in drawers and binders, only to be brought out weeks or months later to have the process begin again.

    But, no matter how many revisions it goes through, a writer’s story always comes from the heart.

    There is no exception to that rule with local author Leslie Leek, whose second collection of short stories, “Unsettled Territory” has recently published by Blue Scarab Press.

        Leek will host a reading and signing of the new book on Thursday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. at Portneuf Valley Brewing, 615 First Ave. in Pocatello. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event.

    Local musician Sallie Sublette, a member of Pocatello-based bluegrass band Wild Coyotes, will also give a solo performance at the event.

    “Unsettled Territory” is the second collection of short stories written by Leek. Both have been published by Blue Scarab Press, a local publication operated by fellow writer Harald Wyndham.

    The collection of short stories are based in Idaho and feature mostly female characters. Many of them were inspired by the Lost River area of Clark Countyarea, where Leek grew up.

    “One of my favorite stories is “Falling in Love with Merle Haggard,” she said. The inspiration, she said, came from having a lot of time to listen to the radio during long drives through rural Idaho, including the Craters of the Moon area.

    “I borrowed ‘Chill Factor’ from a friend, it was a tape at the time, and I really did fall in love with Merle Haggard,” said Leek.

    Another story, “Happy Hour,” is the tale of a female bar fight in a Riggins bar. “Searching for Star” is about a mare who got lost in some rocks near McCammon.  

    There are also three stories in the collection that form a trilogy.

    The cover of the book features the image of an oil painting created by local artist Tim Norton. Norton also provided the cover art for Leek’s first novel, “Heart of a Western Woman.”

    “He is very prolific, he is always coming up with new things,” said Leek.

    Norton also teaches art classes at Marsh Valley High School in Arimo.

    While some of the stories have previously been published, many of the pieces are being made available to the public for the first time in “Unsettled Territory.”

    “It feels like such a big chunk of my life. I was the victim of the adjunct purge, my partner of ten years died — really, the only thing left was the stories,” said Leek.

    Leek retired from teaching at Idaho State University within the last few years, and her partner Steven Puglisi, who was also active in the local author community, passed away in 2009.

    Even as her new book hits the shelves, Leek said she is still writing new material, and, a fan of theater, she also recently directed the Westside Players’ production of “Bell, Book and Candle” at The Warehouse in Pocatello.

    Copies of “Unsettled Territory” will be available at the signing on Nov. 8. They will also be available for purchase at Walrus and Carpenter Books,  251 N. Main St., The Grapevine at 466 S. 5th Ave., both in Pocatello, the Idaho State University Women’s Club Holiday Fair to be held Nov. 9 and 10 in the Pond Student Union Building.