Book Sales

Today was a bit unusual in that I had two sales from separate sources on the same day. I'm shipping a copy of North Country Cache to Amazon, and a copy of Would You Dare? on an independent order.

Amazon is so terrible for small publishers that I almost lose money every time I get an order through them. But I feel that I have to keep the book there for credibility. Several people have written good reviews there, as well, which I think might help a bit.

Ludington Daily News Column- March 2011

My monthly news column, "Get Off the Couch," was due by noon today. Turned in on time! This column has been running for over four years now, with good local enthusiasm. Every year, in March, I've reviewed some books by people who get off the couch.

This year, I re-read and reviewed two old favorites: North With the Spring by Edwin Way Teale and Beyond Your Doorstep by Hal Borland. Here is the opening:

Old Standbys for Any New Naturalist

It’s that month of mud where green is mostly hoped-for. Once again, I find solace in books. This year, I pulled out two old favorites by writers of a passe status, those called naturalists. To be considered academic these days, a specialty is required. If you take up zoology, perhaps you will study the bacteria which inhabit the mites that live only on the eyelashes of dogs. I think I’d rather take the dog– bacteria, mites, eyelashes and all, and go for a walk...

These columns are not available on-line, unless you subscribe to the Ludington Daily News. One collection of columns is currently available as an e-book, called Get Off the Couch with Joan, at Smashwords.

What am I Doing?

Against my better judgment, I'm starting another blog. This one has a specific purpose: to serve as an author blog, and a sort of accountability/credibility "thing."

More and more of my time is being spent writing. Some is creative, some is purely for money, but perhaps after six decades of life, I'm beginning to focus on one activity. Maybe. One can write about anything and still avoid focus, right?

So over the next few days I'll be trying to get this blog set up. Expect posts about writing of all kinds, and shameless promotion of scribblings.

Posts with dates older than this one have been migrated in from other places where they were posted, but which belong here.

Story on Stage

In the evening, I went to a local event of the Ludington Arts Council called Story on Stage. Local writers whose stories were selected had their short stories read by local actors. Ellen urged me to go (she was there too), so I did. My reactions are mixed. Part of the problem is that audio input is my weakest sensory pathway. I have to work really hard to take in stories being read out loud. I also have to confess that I didn't care for three of the stories. They were all well-written... it wasn't that it was a low-quality "hick" production. They just weren't the kind of thing that appeals to me. One was a bleak tale of a failing marriage, one was about a guy who wants to kill himself, and one was the moment-by-moment angst of a mother waiting for the birth of her second baby- and her first one had died at birth.

I've agreed to start going with Ellen to the local writer's support group and see how I like it. We'll see... I don't think I write the visceral kinds of stories that are considered sophisticated. Tonight didn't really encourage me. But, it's good to stretch.

In other writing news, Accentuate Writers has finally announced the winners of the last three contests of 2010. Contests are being temporarily suspended in 2011 so they can get caught up with getting the books published. The three themes were Hope, Faith, and Gratitude. For the first time in the history of my entering these contests one of my stories didn't even make a "Digital Download." I can't complain... my overall track record is too good to be a sourpuss about that. Just for the record, the story that didn't win anything is on the Hope theme, and is called "Doru's Birthday Prayer."

My Faith story is called "Ebeneezer," and it will be offered as a Digital Download. It takes a pretty traditional development of the Faith theme, but I kind of like it. My Gratitude story is called "Thank You," and it won a place in the anthology book "Expressions of Grace." This publishing all takes a LOT of time. The first of my stories that won anything was in November 2009, and that book may be actually available in February... at the earliest.

So, now I have one "leftover" story. It probably needs a couple of friends, and to be made into an ebook. If you want to see the list of all my published and "accepted for publication" works go to Books Leaving Footprints

My First eBook!- Devotions for Hikers

I published my first eBook today through Smashwords. I am pretty happy with the whole process, and will be writing more about that. It is already available on their web site, and should be placed in their Premier Catalog within a week. It has to be manually approved for that to happen, but then it is shown on several other major eBook distribution sites.

This book is a collection of 10 short devotions with themes that will appeal to hikers, backpackers, campers, and walkers. I've sold quite a few of the print copies since publishing it in 2006. It weighs just 0.3 ounces in print format- light enough for most packers. However, if you are going to carry a digital device, or just want to use the devotions for every day, you can now buy it digitally for just $1.89.

I'm also working on "Get Off the Couch with Joan," a collection of several of my previously published columns from the local newspaper, The Ludington Daily News. I've been writing for them for over four years now, and it's time these essays earned their keep a little better.

My Smashwords

National Park Service Uses Photo

What fun! I just discovered that the National Park Service has used one of my photos (I gave permission long ago for them to do so with all my hiking pictures). You can see it at the National Trail System introductory page.

The shot was taken in North Dakota, at the headwaters of the Sheyenne River, which is the wetland in the background. Three friends and I were hiking the North Country National Scenic Trail. They are in the picture: Marie Altenau, David Castro, and Mathilda Nance. I've always thought that this picture just said, "North Dakota."

It was taken on a 131-mile backpacking trip in 1995, to do the western end of the North Country National Scenic Trail. This was one of the first long hikes I took on the NCT. My book, North Country Cache, covers the first 2300 miles I hiked on the NCT, and is the first book by a hiker of that trail. Follow the link below to read one chapter for free. Of course, you can order the entire book if you wish!

You can see more of my pictures at Sharkbytes Photos

See North Country Cache at Books Leaving Footprints.