December 2014 – Janet fisher

My book got notice in the Winter 2015 issue of the Oregon Stater magazine for OSU alums.

A nice surprise when you’re thumbing through a magazine that just arrived in the mail.

I suddenly stopped turning pages. “Whoa! I know that book jacket.”

Took me a moment to realize it’s an earlier version of the cover with the white ribbon. I don’t know how they acquired that photo, but it’s nice to get the recognition.

I guess I’m what’s called a platypus. I was a beaver for my undergraduate work and a duck for my masters.

The U of O alum magazine, the Oregon Quarterly, gave the book recognition in their Autumn 2014 issue, shown here at right with the brown ribbon that graces the actual book.

I don’t think anyone will mistake the book, whether the ribbon’s white or brown. It’s a pretty distinctive design, thanks to the artists at Globe Pequot Press.

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The Oregon Historical Society in Portland brought in many authors from the local area for their annual Holiday Cheer party last Sunday, a 50-year tradition.

Rachel Randles, OHS Communi-cations and Marketing Manager, who organized this year’s event, said early estimates indicate more than 700 people came to buy books and join in the day’s festivities.

I was delighted to be included among the authors this year to present my recently published history, A Place of Her Own: The Legacy of Oregon Pioneer Martha Poindexter Maupin. It seemed like an excellent venue for my story.

Here I am with other authors at a nonfiction table displaying our books for sale. At the left is Portland author Barbara J. Scot, author of The Nude Beach Notebook, and at right is Elizabeth Enslin from Wallowa County, author of While the Gods Were Sleeping.

My thanks to Portland publisher and author Laura Stanfill, who stopped by and took the above picture with my camera. I met Laura in Tacoma in September at the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Trade Show. It was great seeing her again.

Here’s Laura (at left) in the plaid coat talking with some other authors at the OHS event.

Besides book selling and signing, we had refreshments and entertainment. Before the event started authors were treated to a lovely lunch downstairs, with tasty cookies, muffins, and other treats offered throughout the afternoon.

To add to the festive air, The Dickens Carolers came by and sang a few carols for us. Here they are at our table.

It was a great crowd. I even met some relatives–from the Poindexter side. A delightful Poindexter couple came by to talk about our ancestors going back to George Poingdestre who immigrated to Virginia in 1657 from the Isle of Jersey in the English Channel. The Poindexters were pleased to buy a book. They knew their history, and we had a wonderful visit.

I heard many stories from others who stopped by. I’m having a vigorous discussion (at left). When people learn I’ve written a story about a pioneer ancestor, they often want to tell about their own pioneer ancestors, and I enjoy hearing their stories. I hope many of them will get those stories written down while they still have time to talk with the elders who know the history.

All in all, it was a lovely day, and I found considerable enthusiasm for Martha’s story.

Except for the picture Laura took and the one of the carolers, which I took, all others on this post are compliments of the Oregon Historical Society. Rachel sent out a large collection of photos from the event with her thank-you email, offering these glimpses of the day so we authors might use and share them. Many thanks to Rachel and OHS.

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