From left, Ian Neligh, Carla Jean Whitley and Steve Knopper talk about their experiences writing and publishing books during careers mostly focused on newspaper and magazine writing Sunday, Feb. 11 at the Mesa County Library Central Branch in Grand Junction.

Turnout was low but conversation robust at a Feb. 11 SPJ Colorado Pro event in Grand Junction featuring three Colorado reporters-turned-authors.

Steve Knopper, a Rolling Stone contributing editor and author of “MJ: The Genius of Michael Jackson”  and “Appetite for Self-Destruction: The Spectacular Crash of the Record Business in the Digital Age”; Ian Neligh, editor of the Clear Creek Courant and author of “Gold! Madness, Murder, and Mayhem in the Colorado Rockies”; and Carla Jean Whitley, features editor at the Glenwood Springs Post-Independent and author of “Birmingham Beer: A Heady History of Brewing in the Magic City” and “Music Shoals Sound Studio: How the Swampers Changed American Music” spoke at length about the process of researching, writing and publishing their full-length books.