Posts Tagged ‘Arcadia Publishing’

An Unexpected Opportunity

Friday, August 5th, 2016
At the International Police Museum, Rockaway Beach

At the International Police Museum, Rockaway Beach

An early morning email brought the possibility of an entirely new line of book-talk options for Jailhouse Stories from Early Pacific County.  Maybe.  It was from the publisher’s marketing specialist and this is what it said: The International Police Museum would love to have you in for a signing…

I had never heard of that museum, though it turns out that it is only a few hours (1 hr. 50 min. says my computer) from Oysterville – in Rockaway Beach on the Oregon Coast.  The museum opened just last January.  Their website says:  We are a fledgling museum just getting our feet wet (we are, after all, situated near a beautiful Oregon beach), and trying to resist the temptation to accomplish everything at once. Please come back often and watch us grow. And if you are traveling down the coast, be sure to stop in.

Their stated purpose is to collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret police culture, history and heritage of the Rockaway Beach and Oregon police departments, as well as national and international police departments. We hope to foster appreciation, understanding, and respect of police through education and demystification of law enforcement by way of presentations and display of loaned and owned uniforms, equipment, and accouterments.  And from what I saw on their website, they are off to a great beginning!

At the International Police Museum, Rockaway Beach

At the International Police Museum, Rockaway Beach

It turns out that there are dozens of police and law & order museums in the United States.  Washington has two – one in Seattle and another in Spokane and, in addition to the Rockaway Beach site, Oregon has such a museum in Portland. Once again, a whole new world opens up!

Stay tuned for the date of my book talk.  Maybe you can come in combination with a visit to the Oregon Coast.  A fine plan, indeed!

a gathering of community… a gamut of emotions…

Sunday, June 30th, 2013

A Signing Event I guess it happens to all of us – yesterday afternoon was so so SO fun that it is really all a big wonderful blur.  It was a celebration of Legendary Locals at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum and not only was every one of the 75 chairs taken, it was Standing Room Only.

There were “Legendaries” and their friends and families and other community members.  Everybody knew somebody and there were greetings and hugs and laughter and even some tears.  People brought or bought copies of the book and mixed and mingled as they asked one another to sign photographs in their books – just like back in high school!  I heard so many people say “page 111” or “page 72” as they directed others to the proper page.  So so SO fun!

Name Tags, June 29, 2013Nyel and I arrived early and, as we entered the main room, Museum Director Betsy Millard presented each of us with a name tag.  A pre-printed name tag!  Wow!  Very classy.  Already there was a large screen showing a continuous loop of photographs from the book and the cookies and punch were being arranged on a large table in the back.  Chairs at white-clothed tables dotted the room, placed so guests could easily sit or wander and, as the afternoon progressed, they did lots of both.

Soon the other ‘speakers’ arrived –  Singer/songwriter Mary Garvey, Fisher/poet Geno Leech, Emcee Bill Garvin – and people began to line up asking one another for signatures!  I managed to introduce the youngest of the Legendary Locals, Danielle Wachsmuth (almost six), to 97-year-old Pete Hanner who was the oldest Legendary at the event.  (Betty Paxton, 98, was off in Mt,. Vernon at a family “do”.)  And then it was show time!

Pete Hanner Serenades SydneyBill was eloquent, as always – the perfect host and spokesman for any special occasion.  I rambled on about the process of writing a book for Arcadia Publications and then in a totally unplanned surprise, Pete Hanner stepped to the mic and actually serenaded me in his lovely tenor voice with “You’ll Never Know How Much ‘We’ Love You!”  I, of course, blushed — also just like high school.  (Nyel took a photo during Pete’s song and there, above him on the screen, was the photo of my beloved grandfather Harry Espy, ‘Papa’ looking down.  So, of course, when I saw it this morning, I cried.)

Next Mary sang, beginning with her tribute to Luke Jensen, “The Lady Cecelia.”  There wasn’t a dry eye in the room – a powerful community moment.  Luke’s parents, Chris and Dave were sitting near me and I resisted the urge to get up and hold them close.  I think many people felt the same way.

June 29, 2013Geno wound up the formal program with three of his poems – including a new one, “Popeye’s House” about our Nahcotta neighbor, Cap’n Phil.  Only those at last winter’s Fisher Poets gathering in Astoria had heard it before and like all of Geno’s poems, it was a big slice of reality filled with both humor and pathos.

And then we were back to signing one another’s books and visiting and continuing the party.  It was a wonderful time.  Over and over people asked when we were going to do it again.  When indeed?

Oh boy! Here comes the weekend!

Friday, May 10th, 2013

Tomorrow is the long-awaited first book-signing of Legendary Locals of the Long Beach Peninsula – at Adelaide’s, 1:00 to 3:00 o’clock!  Little did I know when I made the date that it would be sandwiched in among personal appointments, necessary meetings and a funeral.  But, come to think of it, those unrelated events are what make up the activities of this community, just as the book is about people who are at the center of it all.

IBook Display’m excited about the book-signing in all the usual ways. It’s kind of like holding an open house.  Will anyone come? What should I wear?   Will there be familiar faces?  I go through the same angst each time a new book comes out and I always wonder if other authors do, too.

This past year we’ve gone to two book-signings.  One was at Murder by the Book in Portland where we met Craig Johnson, author of the “Walt Longmire” series;  the other was at Time Enough Books in Ilwaco where we listened to our friend Bob Pyle tell about his latest book.  I thoroughly enjoyed both occasions.

In each case, the authors were well-known, the events were standing-room-only, and their remarks were extensive and infinitely interesting.  I should have taken notes!  Not that any of the aforementioned circumstances will be similar, but I always feel a bit at a loss when it comes to the what-to-say part.

Maybe tomorrow will be different.  It seems logical that many of the legendary locals, themselves, will be there and that will surely shift the focus away from me.  And, in our small community – even in our greater community – everyone will know everyone.  That will be the icing on this particular cake.  I really can’t wait.

Setting our Sights on the Bottom Line!

Friday, May 3rd, 2013

Book CoverYesterday I ran into Jimmy Kemmer in Ocean Park.  “I hear I’m on a Wanted Poster at Jack’s!” he laughed.  He was referring, of course, to his picture on the cover of my just-out book,  Legendary Locals of the Long Beach Peninsula.  The cover has been reproduced as a poster of various sizes and this end of the Peninsula seems to be papered with them!  Hooray!!

I’m happy to say that I’ve had quite a bit of feed-back about that book cover already.  When I posted it online, Jessica Murfin wrote:  “Is that my beloved grandmother on the lower right?”  And neighbor Bradley pointed out to neighbor Susan Holway that she is a “cover girl, at last!”

I love the buzz and hope that it translates into lots of sales for local retailers.  I understand that many Peninsula businesses, not just bookstores, are carrying the book.  Yesterday when I was out and about I saw a display at Bailey’s Bakery snd Café and also at Adelaide’s Coffee and Books.  And, they both report that there have already been book sales!  Hooray some more!

One of the questions that Cate Gable asked me during an interview for the Chinook Observer—see her great article in this week’s issue! – was, “Will there be a Part II?  It was a logical question posed during my description of how hard it was to decide who to include in the book.  For a book about people who have made a lasting difference in the community, the Long Beach Peninsula offers a plethora of choices.  I don’t doubt that it would be possible to write a Part II.

So, I contacted my editor at Arcadia Publications and asked if there was a precedent in this new Legendary Locals series for doing a follow-up book.  “Not yet,” was the answer, “but we have discussed the possibility.”

She went on to say that it all hinges on the sales of this first book.  They are looking at a bottom line of 2,000 books sold.  “Piece of cake!” said Katie Uram at Adelaide’s.

I love Katie’s enthusiasm!  Having been in the book biz, myself, for many years, I am a bit more reserved in my thinking.  But then… we never had a book for sale that covered such a wide swath of people, places, stories, and history of the Peninsula!

So, what I say is:  “Buy that book!  Get copies for your relatives!  Give it for gifts to far-away friends!  Set your sights on that 2,000 goal!”  And, meanwhile, I’m keeping a list of possible subjects for a Part II – suggestions welcome!

Doorbell rings: shameless promotion begins!

Saturday, April 13th, 2013

Legendary Locals of the Long Beach PeninsulaThe last guest had left and we had just settled down to catch a part of “Jeopardy” and perhaps an episode of “Downton Abbey” when the doorbell rang.  It was too late for any of our usual Friday-nighters and, mysteriously, by the time I got to the door, no one was there.  At my feet, though, was a small package from Arcadia Publishing… Books!

These were the five complimentary copies that Arcadia furnishes their authors –my first look at Legendary Locals of the Long Beach Peninsula which is scheduled to be ‘published’ on April 29th.  ‘Published,’ at least in the case of Arcadia books, means the day the books will be in the bookstores ready for sale.    Legendary Locals of the Long Beach Peninsula actually went to press some weeks ago, right after I had finished my final proofreading.

It makes sense that there is lag time between printing and publishing.  The steps between print shop and bookstore are many – printing, binding, packaging, shipping.  To say nothing of the marketing process – contacting sales outlets, preparing promotional materials, and all the other good things that need to happen to alert the public concerning a new book on the market.

In the case of Arcadia Publishing, the author is also involved in the marketing process.  I was asked for an extensive list of possible outlets and, since our community is a small, everybody-knows-everybody sort of place, I’ve been contacted by several folks wishing to host a signing.  So far, five are scheduled which should give opportunities to residents up and down the Peninsula, as well as visitors to the area, to attend at least one.

Since the book will appear just before Loyalty Day Weekend when a new book is the furthest thing from most of our minds, the first opportunity to meet and talk with the author (me!) will be Saturday, May 11th, at Adelaide’s Coffee and Books in Ocean Park from 1:00 to 3:00.

If you can’t make that one,  consider:  Wednesday, May 15th at the Picture Attic in Long Beach from 2:00 to 4:00; Saturday, May 25th at the Oysterville Store[‘s Grand Re-opening from 1:00 to 3:00; Saturday, July 6th at Bailey’s Bakery and Café in Nahcotta from 11:00 to 1:00.

And in addition, there will be a special event at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum in Ilwaco on June 29th when we will all have an opportunity to talk with, to, or about the Legendary Locals in the book!

Meanwhile, of course, the book will be available beginning two weeks from Monday.  Look for it at your favorite bookstore!

The Final Go-‘Round – No Pressure!

Friday, March 15th, 2013

Correcting ProofsWhen I made my ‘great big noisy fuss’ á la Ramona Quimby ten days ago, I earned myself a second set of proofs for my upcoming book Legendary Locals of the Long Beach Peninsula.  They arrived in a pdf (portable document format) file via email late Wednesday and I have until Tuesday morning to make the final corrections and return it.  No Pressure.

Under ‘ordinary circumstances’ that should be plenty of time to go through the 128-page book (22,071 words/179 photographs) with a fine-toothed comb.  But, of course, whose circumstances are ever ordinary?  A quick check of my calendar revealed that every day is clotted up with something – a meeting yesterday morning, a haircut this morning, a medical appointment for Nyel this afternoon…  And so it goes.

The weekend looks much better.  But the Grand Re-Opening of the Ocean Park Timberland Library is tomorrow.  And the Peninsula Quilt Guild’s annual quilt show is at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum today, Saturday and Sunday only.  Granted, these should be optional sorts of events but, somehow, they don’t feel that way.  Not only do we want to go, we feel some urgency about it.  After all, we have friends involved in all of the above and attending things of this nature is what living in a small community is all about.

So, as usual, I’m working “around the edges.”  There was a time when I could spend a few round-the-clock days and get it done, but I’ve finally reached an accommodation with the knowledge that my mind goes into Relaxation Mode about the time the chickens go to bed.  So… No Pressure.

Book CoverFortunately, the most blatant errors of the first proofs have been taken care of.  But there are still some whopping mistakes, to say nothing of the subtle inconsistencies of style and weird grammatical imponderables – sometimes a matter of my way or theirs.  (And we all know who will come out on top in those instances.  As my first publisher told me back in the 1960s, “Sydney, writers are a dime a dozen.  There’s always another author available if you can’t do it our way.”  Not that I think that applies directly in the current case, but…)

All in all, though, the book is looking great and  I’m tempted to let myself get excited about it.  I think it is full of interesting stories about fabulous people – people from long ago, people we remember, people we know.  But before I get carried away, I have a deadline to meet…  No Pressure!

Taking Another Look

Sunday, July 8th, 2012

Our Stairwell

The most important– and, for me, the most challenging – aspect of doing a book for Arcadia Press is fulfilling their photographic requirements.  Arcadia publicantions are all about pictures and since I’ve ‘written’ two books for them already, I know that very well.  Even so, I am struggling with my current project.

Somehow, I thought that finding images for Legendary Locals of the Long Beach Peninsula would be fairly straightforward.  After all, I have all the peninsula people past and present  from which to choose, unlike the choices available for my previous Arcadia books.   The book about the IR&N and the book about historic Oysterville were fairly narrow in their focus.  Not so, this one.

Both the ‘legendary’ and the ‘local’ aspects of this particular book are pretty loosey-goosey.  People can be considered legendary because of their contributions to the community, because of some quirky or interesting aspect of their personalities, or just because they command respect and attention.  Locals can include people who have lived here always or just for a short time or even people who began here and made their mark somewhere else.

“Piece of cake,” thought I.  I was anticipating that most people would have plenty of pictures that they could place at my disposal – of themselves or of their forebears or of old family friends.  Obviously, I came to that conclusion erroneously.

The typical response when I ask is, “I think I have something around here somewhere… I’ll have to look and get back to you.”  Bless the people who do!  But, typically, I have to nag.

I think my initial error was in imagining the world of portraits through the filter of my own life.  It’s an error in judgment that plagues most of us at one time or another.  In this case, it just never occurred to me that people wouldn’t have photographs close at hand.

In our household, there are family photographs EVERYwhere – on the walls, on the mantles, on the bureaus.  They go back to my great-great grandmother and forward to two generations beyond me.  Most weren’t legendary, of course, except perhaps in the minds of their nearest and dearest.  But there are plenty to choose from which doesn’t seem to be universally true.

My fear, of course, is that this book will end up being more about whose photographs I can get, rather than whose photographs I really want.  I tell myself to be patient.  It’s early days yet.  But I do have a lot of crossed fingers – about Shorty Wright and Mary Lou and P. J. McGowan and Dr. Goulter and…

Legendary Locals

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011
“Oysterville” – An Arcadia Publication

      Arcadia Publishing Company is nothing short of amazing.  Just when it seems that they can’t top themselves, they come up with another brilliant idea for a series.  Already they have ten series on local history topics:  “Images of America,” “Postcards of America,” “Then and Now,” “Postcard History,”  “Images of Rail,” “Images of Sports,” “Campus History,” “Images of Baseball,” “Corporate History,” and “Arcadia Kids.”  And, coming soon:  “Legendary Locals of (you fill in the town).”  The fabulous part, of course, is that each book is based upon historic photographs – images that might otherwise be lost and most certainly would not be widely shared.
     As publishers, Arcadia’s parameters are easy.  They set up strict, almost by-the-numbers, guidelines so that anyone with access to old, original photographs and the ability to write clear sentences can become an author.  Arcadia does the marketing and distribution and pays a reasonable royalty.  The books sell.  After all, how many people can resist picking up a moderately priced, attractive book about their high school or college or hometown or favorite baseball team?
     I have written two books for Arcadia.  The Long Beach Peninsula’s IRN (about our little narrow gauge railroad) came out in their “Images of Rail” series in 2009. Oysterville, published last summer, is part of their “Images of America” series.  And just yesterday I received an email asking if I had interest in proposing a book for their newest (not yet out) series, “Legendary Locals.”
     I am, of course, very interested.  But as I looked over the material they sent, I realized that it probably isn’t going to happen. This part sounded fine… we would like each book to be a combination of historical characters, quirky or interesting personalities, and stories of real community giving, outreach, and philanthropy – stories that really tug at your heartstrings. But it was the each book should contain around 130 to 230 different people and groups that gave me pause.
     The final stumbling block was the sample cover on their mock-up of “Legendary Locals of Truth or Consequences” (New Mexico).  Was that Albert Einstein on the cover?  And on one of the sample pages for “Legendary Locals of Gary” (Indiana), there was Karl Malden!  Legendary for sure!
     I don’t think Oysterville’s limited population — historic and otherwise — can qualify.  But I’m thinking of proposing a variation on their theme.  How about “Funky and Folksy” rather than “Legendary?  Maybe I could even get Bud’s cows in there…

A Perfect Day in Oysterville!

Sunday, June 27th, 2010

At The “Oysterville” Book Launch

Despite all my misgivings and pre-party nerves, yesterday’s Oysterville book launch couldn’t have been more perfect.  The weather turned sunny and warm; my houseguests and the crew from the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum turned our garden into a party paradise; Betsy Millard, Heritage Museum Director, did her power point magic and the program in the church went smoothly; and, most importantly, people came to hear about and buy the book!
There were so many highlights to the day!  I met several Facebook friends for the first time and reconnected with friends I had not seen for twenty-plus years.  The great-great-granddaughter of Richard and Mary Faint Carruthers who built the Pacific House in Oysterville in 1870, introduced herself to me and left me her contact information. Friends and strangers from as far away as Florida and Hawaii came.  And they all stood in line with armfuls of books for me to sign.
If there was a downside to the day it was that I didn’t have near enough time to visit.  Betsy, ever aware of the line-up of book buyers, would glide by the table and say softly, but urgently,  “Sign!  Sign!” when I got to talking with someone.  And I never did get any of the wonderful cookies or the strawberries, although Karla Nelson of Time Enough Books saw to it that I got a glass of champagne somewhere along the way!
All-in-all it was a perfect day!  I had a wonderful time and signed lots of books.  I hope we do it again sometime…  So I guess I’d better get busy on the next book!