On the Scene in Aberdeen: Book Signing Event at Harbor Square Vendor Mall

Near Aberdeen? Come Out and See Me.

I'll be vending books on the street across from the D&R Theater in downtown Aberdeen for this Art Walk event. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

I have the new Bayou Boys omnibus and Chicken Poop on my Sole as well as my older books for sale.

Love to sign a book for you.

Signing on Saturday

I know, I know. Sorry, I've not posted in some time. I've been out of town and house hunting. Anyway, tomorrow's the big day for my last Cannon Beach signing. Read more here. Come on out and kick a tire or two.

SUNDAY, April 10: Indie Author & Book Fair

Wowzers! It's here! 

Sunday, April 10th will be here before you know it and so will twenty-three (23) local authors from Washington and Oregon. Many of them are from the north coast area.

The event directly follows the Get Lit at the Beach event and attendees of the event are encouraged to come on over for the meet and greet.

All the authors will be available to discuss their books, their craft and sign their work.

Several of the authors participating have new books out.

Come on out, 12:30 to 3 p.m., Sunday, April 10 in the Garret Sea courtyard behind Jupiter's Books, 244 N. Spruce in Cannon Beach, Oregon. They'll be nearly a hundred indie titles and live music by Timothy Carroll (banjo and flute), too.

Want Some New Books for Your Home?

It's time once again for the Spring Portland Home and Garden Show and that means that, once again, the Northwest Independent Authors (NIWA) will have their Book Booth at the show.

Many Northwest Authors will have their books for sale (including my ten titles) and many of the authors will appear for signings (I'll be there Sunday). Thursday the admission is FREE (with coupon) and parking is FREE after 4 p.m., too.

It's a great way to shop for new books (as well as other stuff) to grace your home and support local authors!

Make Your Way to Oregon Authors Day at Coos Bay

Many Books are Looking for a Good Home this Weekend

The NIWA Garden of Books will once again make a presence at the Portland Fall Home & Garden Show. Many local authors will have their works available for purchase and many will be doing signings throughout the show.

There are books for everyone, so do stop in and take a looksie. You're sure to find a book or two to take home. For a discount admission coupon click here. And remember parking is FREE on Thursday and after 4 p.m. over the weekend.

Note: I won't be there this year though my books will be.

Back from NYC, on to Bob's in Lincoln City, Ore.

Photo from last year's Author Signing at Bob's Beach Books.

I hope you followed my NYC Exploits on Instagram. 

Yes, I got behind due to "technical difficulties" and a PACKED schedule, but I'll have more NYC posts and an update soon.

However, I wanted to get this post made as the event is this weekend! Yikes!

And yes, I will be at Bob's Beach Books in Lincoln City, Ore. this Saturday, August 15 along with several other west coast authors.

Meet authors and pick up some great books.

This is a BIG author signing event and you won't want to miss it. The weather is supposed to be
fantastic.

The event runs from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Bob's is right on the ocean side of Hwy 101 in Lincoln City. Look for all the canopies.

Notes:

I'll  be there signing all my books, but especially my best-seller Louie, the lonely Lighthouse.

In addition, my Bayou Boys Adventure books and my book The Amish vs. the Zombies will be at the PDX ComicCon September 19 and 20, and I plan to be signing at the Coos Bay Historical and Maritime Museum October 10. More details to come.

Oh My Words! Today's Book Launch was a Success

The author at Beach Books in Seaside, Ore.

I'm pretty wiped out right now. I don't know where the day went. But it was awesome.

After I walked into town (and back) to get the mail the family drove to Seaside, Ore. I arrived at Beach Books this morning at 11ish and, after getting set up, did the signing thing until 2 p.m.

Sold a couple dozen books and I've got orders for dozens more at lighthouses/museums/bookstores around the country, now. (More coming in next week I'm sure. And my appearance calendar is getting full, too. Not many Saturdays left open through September now.)

Anyway, that stack at the top right of the photograph was twice as tall before today. The rest of the stack will likely sell at next week's Local Indie Author & Book Fair at Jupiter's Books in Cannon Beach, Ore. (10 a.m to 4 p,m,).

This is just a hot commodity, I guess I'll have to restock soon.

Haven't got yours? Please ask for yours at a local indie bookstore or come out and see me at the book fair or you may order from Amazon.

Illustrator Roxanne Bowman

Joining today me was the book's illustrator Roxanne Bowman from Florence, Ore. It was the first she saw of the book in print and I think she was pretty proud.

After I moved out the family drove up to the Ilwaco (Wash.) Saturday Market and dinner at Ole Bob's. I also stopped in at Time Enough Books to make contact.

We got home close to 7 p.m. I wrote this post. The end.

The Illustrator and I are Signing Our Book LOUIE the Lonely Lighthouse at Beach Books May 2

I, along with the illustrator (Roxanne Bowman), will be signing the new book, Louie the Lonely Lighthouse, 12 noon to 2 p.m., Saturday, May 2 at Beach Books in Seaside, Ore. It's Independent Bookstore Day, come on out and see us!

Beach Books is starting the morning with scones and mimosas at 9 a.m., cupcakes at 1 p.m., and wine and hors d'oeuvres for the Art Walk at 5 p.m..

There will be lots of prizes - scratch-offs for the first 50 kids and first 50 adults, a scavenger hunt, cool bags for the first 20 people who spend $50 or more. Plus there will be face-painting from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., other authors dropping by, signing books, and who knows what else might happen.

Publishers, authors and artists have created special books and other items - maps, tea towels, signed prints, why there's even a Guess How Much I Love You onesie! And they will only be sold on May 2., and only at participating independent bookstores like Beach Books (they're the only one on the North Coast). They have done all this because it's so important to thank you, their customers for keeping them here.

It's a celebration of books and book lovers. Join us as we party morning, noon and night.

"Consumers control the marketplace by deciding where to spend their money. If what a bookstore offers matters to you, then shop at a bookstore. If you feel that the experience of reading a book is valuable, then read the book. This is how we change the world: we grab hold of it. We change ourselves."

                                                    ~Ann Patchett, bestselling author and co-owner of Parnassus Books
Location:
616 BroadwaySeaside, Oregon

BEACH BOOKS CELEBRATES INDIE BOOKSTORE DAY

It's a celebration of books and book lovers. Join us as we party morning, noon and night. 

Beach Books, in Seaside, Ore. starting the morning with scones and mimosas at 9 a.m., cupcakes at 1 p.m., and wine and hors d'oeuvres for the Art Walk at 5 p.m.. 

There will be lots of prizes - scratch-offs for the first 50 kids and first 50 adults, a scavenger hunt, cool bags for the first 20 people who spend $50 or more.

Plus there will be face-painting from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with authors dropping by (including moi) signing books, "and who knows what else might happen?"

I will be at the store from noon to 2 p.m. I'll be debuting my brand new book Louie, the Lonely Lighthouse.

Official Launch Party for my new book (above).

Why you don't want to miss this event:

Publishers, authors and artists have created special books and other items - maps, tea towels, signed prints, (why there's even a Guess How Much I Love You onesie!) just for these events. And they will only be sold on May 2 only at participating independent bookstores like Beach Books (which is the only one on the North Coast). They have done all this because it's so important to thank you, our customers for keeping us here.

"Consumers control the marketplace by deciding where to spend their money. If what a bookstore offers matters to you, then shop at a bookstore. If you feel that the experience of reading a book is valuable, then read the book. This is how we change the world: we grab hold of it. We change ourselves." -Ann Patchett, bestselling author and co-owner of Parnassus Books

Location: 616 Broadway, Seaside, Oregon

Books & Brew This Thursday Night

2015 BOOK TOUR DATES

I just realized this morning that I'm rapidly beginning to book up dates for 2015 author appearances and signings. It all begins in April and, so far, proceeds into September. I thought you might like a heads-up and, possibly, give me a heads-up on any events or dates that I might include.

Below I have listed the events I will be at and dates that I have open for filling:

• April 16,:Astoria Civic Center, 4-8 p.m. BOOK & BREW
• May 2: LOUIE'S LAUNCH PARTY at Beach Books in Seaside, Ore.
• May 9: Cannon Beach, Jupiter's Books INDIE AUTHOR & BOOK FAIR (pending, details TBA)
• May 16, 23, & 30: THE LIGHTHOUSE BOOK TOUR various places along the north coast (at a lighthouses, maritime museums or bookstores) More information soon.
• May 29: Astoria (Clatsop Comm. College) RAIN RECEPTION (reading)
• June: all dates are closed except for June 27
• July open dates on 11 and 18.
• July 25 NW Book Festival, Pioneer Square in Portland, Ore ( books only)
• Aug. open dates on 1 and 8
• Aug. 15, Lincoln City, Bob's Beach Books NW AUTHOR'S FAIR (pending)
• Aug. 21-23, Rockaway Beach ART FAIR & FARMER'S MARKET
• Sept. 12 is open.
• Sept 19 and 20: Rose City ComiCon, Portland, Ore. (books only)
• Sept. 26: Florence, FESTIVAL OF BOOKS (details TBA)

I'm open to appearance at libraries, bookstores, coffee houses, churches, book events, farmer's markets, street fairs and other interesting locations.

I'll add to the list as new events or information become available, so please check back.
Hope to see you at one of these.

CORRECTION: H&G Show Signings by Me

I will NOT be signing on Sunday, Feb. 22nd after all. I have decided to return home on Saturday afternoon. 

I WILL still be signing on Friday from 3-5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon. Hope to see you!

Discount Admission to the PDX Home & Garden Show

Here's the coup-a-mon you've been waiting for! 

Come on out to the Spring Portland Home & Garden Show and "Grow Your Home Library" with books from thirty local indie authors (including myself)!

I'll be signing 3-5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 12n Saturday, and 2-4 p.m. Sunday. I would love to see you and sign a copy of my brand new book Rocketman for you.

PRINT the coupon at the left today.

The coupon is good ONLY Thursday and Friday and Parking (normally $8) is FREE after 5 p.m.

An Interview with Author Andy R. Bunch

The following is mostly a "reprint" from an interview I did with author Andy R. Bunch in August of 2013. Since I've known Andy for more than a year now, we've become good friends. Thus, I've updated and embellished the material to bring it up-to-date. Andy will be joining me, April Bullard and G.S. Coltman at the Early Bird Holiday Bazaar in Astoria on November 15.

Q: So, Andy, your blog lists a wild ride of crazy experiences. I think it goes something like this: "In the footsteps of Hemingway, Conan Doyle and London, Andy Bunch is an adventure writer. He has traveled extensively along the West Coast, built a church in Mexico, sung for his supper in Canada, and taught Archery in Alaska. He’s trained in CPR/First Aid, Shao Lin Kung Fu, Kajakenbo, and Vin Tsun martial arts. He’s sky dived, rafted class 4 rapids, drank moonshine with felons, dined with royalty, spent a week in the woods with only a knife, flint, black-plastic and some TP, and studied British history in Great Britain."

Author Garrison Keillor says that “Nothing bad ever happens to a writer; everything is material.” Tell us about your adventures.

A: Yep, I’d agree with Keillor. I think it morphs into something other than the original incident though. Kipling said, “A good writer should be able to watch an alley cat slink across a park and be able to write what it feels like to be stalked by a bangle tiger.”

That’s the goal in my mind. Experience reality from a number of angles and then stir enough of that into your writing to reach people with a deeper truth. I believe that in order to entertain others you must be entertained yourself so I try to find the humor in most situations, but life isn’t all about fun and laughing. Still, in order to inspire life in others you must first come alive yourself. So whatever is happening in your life, learn to put it in perspective and find a way to profit from it.

As far as specific adventures in my past ending up in my books, the truth is always stranger than fiction but seldom as entertaining. I’ve fallen in the ocean in Alaska, capsized a canoe. I ended up fighting for my life from pneumonia. That joined with some of my childhood bouts of strep throat in my description of the disease my hero and his friends face early on in my Fantasy novel, Suffering Rancor.

I try to let life invade my stories, but you’d almost never be able to draw a connection between the real life event and the ones in the book. One exception would be when my father died in 2003. I went back through my novel and rewrote the impact a father’s death has on a character. It hurt to write that, but if that was going to be in my book then it had to be accurate.

Q: Wow! Interesting. But your writing experiences are equally so. You have College coursework in technical, essay, short story, and novel writing which led to a Penguin Award for student leadership, and later a degree in business management. You've worked as a technical writer and a document control specialist, been a contributing editor on the “Salmon Creek Journal,” and the fiction editor of “The Phoenix” Magazine. Your fiction and nonfiction appear all over the web.You have some independent publishing experiences as well. You’re a contributor to the Northwest Independent Writers Association anthology as well as having published two books on your own. And you've co-written a couple of books as well as written two of your own, not to mention the contributions to anthologies. What are the joys and pitfalls you’ve experienced in these ventures?

A: I struggled a lot with short fiction, but I felt it was important to grasp that before moving onto longer works. Short stories really are a different animal, but there are some obvious cross-over skills.

I hadn’t written much short fiction since I switched to novels, so I confess to dusting off a story I’d begun already for the first NIWA anthology. I thought I could tack a fast conclusion on it and be done, but I was actually only halfway through it. That’s become a favorite story of mine. I wanted to turn things upside down a bit and create a sympathetic monster, inept bad guys and a heroine who’s willing to do anything for power including screw over a simple creature that tries to help her. Unfortunately the characters had other ideas so it went where it wanted to and became a great story despite me.

The story in this year’s NIWA Anthology came from a NIWA writing challenge. One of the skill building exercises we took on was to come up with a difficult challenge and post it to our forum. Then we all wrote a short story to fit the challenge. We used a picture of a sink hole that formed in someone’s bedroom overnight—under their bed. It was a very evocative picture. I’m really proud of that story. From a publishing standpoint, the anthologies sell real well. So I’m hoping to garner some fans out of those.

Q: Your book Suffering Rancor has been described as “like Pirates of the Caribbean meets Conan the Barbarian.” I really enjoyed the work. Tell us about why you wrote it and what the experience has taught you.

A: Rancor was the book I learned to write on. I had a few abortive attempts at other novels early on, but Rancor was the one I had to write because I couldn’t get it out of my head any other way. I struggled with dyslexia growing up and reading was an enormous challenge, but I loved words. I loved how the felt when you said them and I loved reading the dictionary to finding new words. My favorite two things about words is the way they represent entire concepts so that you can make a sentence that conveys pages of information, and secondly how words can be pieces to a puzzle and you need the exact right one for the job.

I was a horrible speller, K to 12th grade, and everyone actively discouraged me from writing. In fact, my dad pretty much paid for me to go to community college and my car insurance, so long as I pursued a degree other than writing. I took writing classes on the side and wrote in the library or coffee shops where I wouldn’t get caught.

My last year at Clark (of 6), I went on a study abroad trip to the UK and I remember standing in Rudyard Kipling’s house and thinking, “Maybe not everyone makes it as a writer but some people do. Why not me?” I came home and told my parents that I didn’t care if it made me homeless, I’d pan-handle for money to buy chalk and I’d write my novel on the sidewalk even though the next rainfall washed it away. After that they stopped opposing it so much.

So Suffering Rancor and I journeyed quite far together. No one in college really taught me how to write a book, but they did teach me how to peer edit, so I joined a writers group and started working the fundamentals. 16 years and 7 rewrites later I had a bouncing baby novel on my hands. My illustrator, Corey Pennington, came into some money and paid the initial publishing costs so we could get the project out there. That’s back when you had to pay a lot to companies for each little thing, it’s practically free now. Anyway, Corey is a good friend and we got the book out with only a few dozen typos and some embarrassing homophone issues. I’ve since revised it one more time and freshened up the cover.

Q: You are a founder of NIWA. How’d it get started and would you like people to know about it?

A: I’m one of six original founding members of Northwest Independent Writers Association. Initially we wanted to band together for support and sharing ideas about the industry, but we quickly realized that the biggest challenge facing Indie Authors is the public’s belief that traditionally published books are better quality. In reality, the entire market has shifted due to technology changes. The only thing you can be sure of in a traditionally published book is that someone in New York thought it would have a wide market appeal.

I don’t really care if a million people like the book I’m reading, I feel comfortable judging a book for myself. Between ebooks and Indies, the traditional market is hurting for cash and less likely than ever to spend money on an unknown writer. Not to mention that they’ve stopped spending money on editors and promotions, so the writer is pretty much on their own anyway. I’ll get off my soap box. Ultimately, NIWA realized that its primary function was to promote professionalism and quality among Indie authors and to increase consumer confidence in their work. So that’s what we do.

Q: What words would you share with new writers hoping to venture into independent publishing?

A: Oh, boy! There’s a lot of things they need to know. I encourage everyone who feels that they have a book inside them to write it. It’s hard work but good therapy. Actually publishing that work with the technology we have now is relatively easy. Promoting and selling that book is a ton of work, and being commercially successful is exponentially more so.

If I could offer only one piece of advice it would be “don’t think that Indie publishing your work is a way to mitigate the heartache of rejection. Nothing about writing, revising, editing, publishing, or selling your book will be free from rejection.”

Vonnegut once said, “Don’t write because you want to: write because you have to.” I’m not that cynical, but I see his point. Being a writer is like being that naked cowboy singer in time square. You don’t have anything to hide behind but the instrument of your talent, so you’d better not suck, and it doesn’t matter if the crowd gathered to gawk at you as long as they throw you a buck and leave thinking, “that guy’s actually pretty good.” 

Q: You've got a new book out now called Diner Tales. I've read it and I liked it very much. Lay that subtitle on us and tell us what it means. And what led you to write this?

A: The subtitle is: A Contemporary Canterbury Anthology. I have always loved the Canterbury Tales by Chaucer. I love the idea of writing very different stories that would be told by very different people who represent typical people you'd run into in life.

I used to hang out at a coffee shop all night when I was in college--it's the only place that life would slow down enough to let me focus on my homework. I'm glad I had that experience and I'm glad to be beyond it now, with a wife and baby. Now I'm in bed by 8 p.m. most nights so I can get up at 4 a.m. to write.

Q: Four in the morning, Andy! You're insane!

What I like about the book is that it's a collection of short stories all tied together. Some of the stories are funny, some are dramatic, some are touching and some are contemplative. In your book we meet people we see everyday and judge, but through your book we get to know them as human beings.

I also like the fact that it can be used as serial reading--something you can carry with you throughout the day and read quick chapters and have a whole story to think about before going on to another. It's just a fun book.

Anyway, where can readers pick up your books?

A: My books can be found by searching Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com. My fantasy YA novel, Suffering Rancor, is also on Smashwords, kobo, the iStore etc. and the audiobook is available through Amazon or Audible. This smart link is supposed to get you to the right book no matter what country you’re in http://www.smarturl.it/Rancor and this one’s for the ebook http://smarturl.it/eRancor. My second book, On Becoming a Man, is a Christian inspirational I co-authored with Janice Seeney. Amazon is probably the best place to find that, here’s a link http://goo.gl/kK13W. And here's the link to Diner Tales.

Thank you, Andy. Excellent stuff. You can find out more about Andy at:http://andyrbunch.weebly.com/index.html

BOOK LAUNCH: New Children’s Picture Book Relates Bible Hero Story about Samson

Cannon Beach, Ore. author Gregory Zschomler (formerly of Ridgefield, Wash.) and Vancouver, Wash. illustrator April Bullard are excited to debut their new children’s picture book “I’m Samson,” said Sydney.

The book, for children six and under, is the telling of a young boy who imagines, by role playing, that he’s the Bible hero Samson. It is the creators’ hope that the volume will be the first in a series about Sydney’s playful imaginations of Bible characters.

The official launch will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., November 15 at the Early Bird Holiday Bazaar in the Astoria Armory, on 17th St. in Astoria, Ore. Both the author and illustrator will be on hand to do personalized signings.

In addition authors G.S. Coltman and Andy R. Bunch will be on hand with their new books. Coltman, from Seaside, will be selling/signing Max's Great Sea Adventure and Bunch, from Vancouver, his newest book Diner Tales.

Samson will also be available in independent bookstores in the Vancouver/Portland metro area and north Oregon coast communities the following week.

Their book is designed to introduce children to the Bible story in a way they can relate to, through whimsical verse and bright, clever pictures. The edition will make a lasting and loving Christmas gift.

Bullard is the author and illustrator of the book The Sock Thief and Zschomler is the author of the Bayou Boys Adventure series for middle readers. All their books will be available at the event.

Here's what folks are saying:

"My kids delighted in this retelling of Samson's story. The simple retelling was creative and easy to understand. A fun modern parable for kids." ~ Brock D. Eastman, author of The Quest for Truth series; he works with the Adventures in Odyssey brand at Focus on the Family and is the father of three.

“This book will be a favorite book for early readers. The illustrations are detailed and it’s fun to point out the tiny details of everyone's childhood memories. The biblical message is simply put as seen through the eyes of the mighty Sydney. The follow-up for the Biblical verses gives an opportunity to follow up alone or with your child to learn more.” ~ Suzi (a grandmother of three)

“A good way to get kids interested in Bible stories…and get them asking questions... I think the premise of the book is a realistic scenario. Kids often make believe stories they've heard and sometimes blur the lines between their present reality and past reality/biblical stories.” ~ Bethany (mother of two boys)

EXTRA, EXTRA! Read All About the LIAMAG EVENT

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.

BOOK LAUNCH PARTY for The AMISH vs. The ZOMBIES

AND STAY TUNED FOR THE TRAILER, COMING SOON