David A. Campiche

David Campiche BA ’71, author of Black Wing (FriesenPress, 2023), spoke to the Daily Astorian in fall 2023 about his life, work, art, and philosophy. The novel, which took Campiche 12 years to write, is his first. When he’s not working on other writing projects or poetry, Campiche spends his time as a potter and outdoorsman.

Black Wing

David Campiche BA ’71 pens his first novel, which follows fugitive brothers Dan and André as they evade the law through the mountains of British Columbia during the winter of 1896. Over the course of their cat-and-mouse chase, they must navigate cultural collisions as they encounter Indigenous peoples. Campiche’s thriller is grounded in meticulous research and lyrical prose. FriesenPress, 2023. 420 pages.

David Campiche BA ’71 writes: “Our backyard is Willapa Bay, Washington. My lovely wife, Laurie Anderson, has remained my partner in life–and in our country inn–for 40 years. The inn [known as the Shelburne Hotel], which has been in constant business since 1896, has received many awards, both regionally and nationally. We recently leased the inn, but we still run a stunning, but smaller, B&B called China Beach Retreat at the mouth of the Columbia River. It sits at the westerly end of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. As William Clark said, ‘Ocean in view! Oh! The joy!’ When not running this beautiful property, I write a monthly column for the Daily Astorian and have remained loyal to my artwork as a potter and sculptor. I met artist Toshiko Takeazu on the college’s New York program in in 1970, and she changed my life. So did professors Ken Shores and John Brown. Pottery and the art of clay form has become a zen pursuit, a raison d’etre. This past summer, I had a retrospective show at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum in Ilwaco, Washington. Many of my poems have been published, and I am finishing up my first novel. Meanwhile, I remain active in regional environmental issues. Laurie and I have three sons and a cat. I love the fact that life is as complex as a good pinot noir. There are a number of classmates that I haven’t heard from since graduation. I hope they might reach out. I toast good friendships, and hope to visit with you soon.”