Portland H&G Show Book Sale a Success

Author Gregory E. Zschomler at the Portland Home & Garden Show

My sales at the Portland Spring Home & Garden Show were good. 

It was a pleasure to meet buyers and sign their books. I also enjoyed meeting new authors and chatting with the old ones. Not that they are particularly old, but I mean that I've known them for a while.

Some of my title supplies have dwindled significantly (for example I have very few Playhouse Phantom and BPZ Cajun & Caribbean Cookbooks on hand now). I do have more of the newer books--especially Rocketman--for signing when ordered from me.

$10 will get you either Rocketman or The Amish vs. the Zombies (plus $2 P&H); or buy both for $20 and the shipping is FREE. (You can also get the three book set of the Bayou Boys Adventures for $20 post-paid, while in-stock supplies last.)

Book Signing at Jacobson's, Hillsboro Farmer's Market

My next author appearance will take place Saturday July 26, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hillsboro Farmer's Market in front of Jacobson's Books & More on Main St. in oldtown Hillsboro, Oregon. 

I am featuring my new teen+ novel "The Amish vs. The Zombies" and non-fiction text "Lights, Camera, Worship!" though all six of my books, including the three Bayou Boys Adventure titles (for middle readers) and my Cajun/Caribbean Cookbook will be available in limited quantities.

I'll be signing with author/illustrator April Bullard, who will be signing her new children's book "The Sock Thief." 

April and I are collaborating on a children's picture book that will be released this fall. She'll be previewing some of the art for the book at this event. This will be your first opportunity to see her beautiful and whimsical color art from the work.

Cooking Up Some Book Sales at H&G Show

Big Papa Zee cookin' up his tasty jambalaya.

I got an order today from a local small business for five copies of my new cookbook!*

Plus I'll be selling all my books at the rapidly upcoming Portland Home and Garden Show, but especially will showcase the cookbook.

I also want to offer my seasonings [Big Papa Zee's Ragin' Cajun and Caribbean Jerk] at the show and so I am experimenting with the best means to offer samples (low cost, low prep, minimal handling, etc.). Ideas?

I'm thinking of using baby salad shrimp or chicken dredged in the Ragin' Cajun and pineapple tidbits sprinkled with the Caribbean Jerk. I can buy both meats precooked and packaged so that they require no refrigeration.

*They've been offering and selling my YA fiction.

Another Bazaar Author Appearance?

I may be appearing for the selling and signing of my books at Gramma’s Bazaar on November 16 from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. in the CLC Gym at Vancouver First Church of God. (I'm on the waiting list and may not know until an hour before, but plan to show up anyway--it's one of the best holiday bazaars around.)

Shop from over 100 vendor tables featuring one of a kind, hand crafted items, holiday gifts (including books), and homemade treats! For more information or to sign up as a volunteer, contact the Church Office.

Bazaar Appearance by Local Authors

Phil Silver and I will be at Vancouver's Best Christmas Bazaar tomorrow, Saturday, November 2,  from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with books to sell and sign. Time to buy books for those young readers on your Christmas list. Come on out and see us (and a whole lot more)!

Mention this post and you can have all three of my Bayou Boys books for $20.

The bazaar is at the Clark County Christian Center, 5411 E Mill Plain Blvd ~ Suite 22 and is hosted by Maplewood Neighborhood Association.

View Larger Map

Portland Home & Garden Show Book Booth

Here's a shot of the NIWA Book Booth at the Portland Home and Garden Show.

The books will be on sale throughout the show this weekend, but I won't be back until Sunday at 2 p.m. (until 8 p.m.).

Come on out and support your local authors. There are books in nearly every genre of fiction for teens on up (except children's books).

The Square and I

Got the new phone (Ruth's Samsung Galaxy S3) with The Square so I can take credit cards now today.

No more lost sales.

Sold More Books Than Ever at Today's Event

Today's Loyal Local event at the Vancouver (Wash.) Hilton was a big success! I sold more books than ever (pretty much an equal number of MARSH MONSTER and VOODOO VIRUS) at a single event!

I shared booth space with fellow authors Susie Salina, Phil Silver and Andy Bunch.

Nice!

Come see me at the next one on August 18th.

MARSH MONSTER on the Move and PLAYHOUSE PHANTOM Progress

I wrote nearly 2,000 words today on PLAYHOUSE PHANTOM which puts the story past the halfway mark. Things just got dangerous. I am just about to write the big climax. It looks like this one might be the longest one yet; creeping over the 30,000 word mark.

The photo at the left gives a hint at what just happened.

MARSH MONSTER is starting to move now with a few units sold. You can reserve your signed copy now, order on Amazon or (hopefully) pick one up at the Book Launch.

Hope to see you there.

Authors to Take Another Hit

"Authors practice one of the few professions directly protected in the Constitution, which instructs Congress 'to promote the progress of Science and the useful Arts by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.'"

In an article appearing in the New York Times we learn that there are many blows hitting the publishing industry and authors are taking the brunt of the hit. It's not just e-books and a glut of bad work in the self-publishing market, nor only the demise of the brick-n-mortar book store in favor of an online Amazon conglomerate. 

No, now the Supreme Court is allowing a "pirate" market to undercut book profits and cut authors off from deserved royalties. To learn more read the article by clicking the link below.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/08/opinion/the-slow-death-of-the-american-author.html?_r=0