Oysterville Christmas Lights, 2012

We began seeing commercials for Christmas back in September and already we’re noticing that the Christmas decorations are snuggled up right next to the Halloween displays at the Big Box Stores across the river.  Besides that, we’ve had not one but two inquiries about when we might be planning our Christmas party, in both cases by people who wanted to work around our date with their own plans.  YIKES!

So, when I mentioned to Nyel this morning that I thought I’d blog about the ‘C’ word, he accused me of pandering to twenty-first century commercialism… or something like that.  He’s right.  That’s exactly what I want to do. I want to urge everyone to put my latest book, Legendary Locals of the Long Beach Peninsula, on their Christmas lists – not the list of what you want from Santa but the list of what you plan to give other people.

I have my reasons.  First and foremost, I want to write a Part Two.  Like all of the books put out by Arcadia Publications, there are only so many pages possible and that means, in the case of the Legendary Locals series, a limited number of people the author can include.  But, with the first book I felt I only scratched the surface.  When I checked to see if I could do a sequel, Arcadia said “maybe” if the first one sells 2,000 copies.

It has yet to reach the half-way mark, as far as I know.  But, Christmas is coming – the biggest buying season of the year.  So, let’s get on it!  As I see it, everyone who lives on the Peninsula should have this book!  Yet, I’m constantly amazed at the folks who don’t – even relatives and friends of people who are featured in it!

Furthermore, I’ve talked to many people who don’t live here at all who tell me they love the book.  Some express delight at learning more about people they have heard about, seen from afar, or perhaps met ‘in passing,’  And more than one person has told me that they love ‘the history’ in the book.  Music to my ears!  But the point is, you don’t have to be from the Peninsula or even live on the Peninsula to enjoy the book.  It truly is one of those “something for everyone” kind of books.

Bottom line – put it on your Christmas list as a ‘must give’ to everyone you know.  Or at least to everyone you are planning to surprise with something special this Christmas. It works for all those difficult-to-buy-for people – your mother-in-law, the person who ‘has everything,’ and that secret pal at the ladies’ auxiliary.

The books are available at the Oysterville Store, Adelaide’s, the Heritage Museum bookstore, and Time Enough Books here on the Peninsula – and, of course, at the usual online sources.  (But, Buy Local!  If your Independent Bookstore doesn’t have it, put in a special order!)  And, if it sweetens the pot any, I’ll be glad to sign it for you.  Just call first to make sure I’m home.

Let’s make it a Legendary Locals Christmas!  And always remember – a book is a present you can open again and again!