Eugene’s Mid-Valley chapter of Willamette Writers had a great turnout last night for the Author Celebration and Reading showcasing eight members reading from their published work. I was happy to be one of the eight. It was a wonderful program with excellent reading from a variety of genres, and will no doubt become a regular June feature. Here we are afterward, gathered with our books onstage at Tsunami Books on Willamette Street, where the group meets regularly.

From left to right: Anthony St. Clair, A. Linda Ash, Bill Cameron, Randi E. Golub, me, JS Bird, Mary E. Lowd, and Terry and Tiffany Jacobs.

We read, sold and signed books, had refreshments, and shared a most enjoyable evening.

I was also happy to see the display at Tsunami Books, just as you come in the front door. Scott Landfield, proprietor, has a poster behind the books telling about my upcoming Signing Party and Reading at Tsunami on Saturday, June 21, from 5 to 7 pm. Nice display.

We plan something a little different for the reading at that event. With the help of my cousin Don Fisher on trumpet and my friend Patty Wilgus on piano, we’ll have a reading set to music. The Civil War plays heavily in Martha’s story, especially in Lane County, so I want to bring that into the presentation. Don and Patty will also provide background music while folks mingle and I sign books. And we’ll have wine with cheese and crackers. More on that later.

But before this June 21st event in Lane County, I’ll have several Douglas County events, including the launch party at While Away Books in Roseburg this Saturday, the 7th; the Reedsport market Friday the 13th; and signing and reading at Books Gallery in Sutherlin Saturday the 14th. Details on the Events page.

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I’m looking ahead to lots of happenings for A Place of Her Own in the next few days.

Thursday evening I’m one of eight published authors from the Mid-Valley chapter of Willamette Writers selected to read at the Mid-Valley Author Celebration and Reading. That’s June 5 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Tsunami Books in Eugene at 2585 Willamette Street, and it’s open to the public. I’ll be reading a short segment from A Place of Her Own taken from the chapter, “The Oregon Trail,” describing the last mountain Martha had to cross on that rugged trek. After the readings, the eight authors will do signings. It should be a fun night.

I’ll return to Tsunami on the 21st for signing and reading on my own. More on that later.

Friday afternoon I’ll talk with Kyle Bailey on KQEN News Radio 1240 “Umpqua Valley Live” in Roseburg. The program starts at 4. I’ll probably be on at about 4:15 or maybe 4:20.

Saturday afternoon is my book launch party in Roseburg at While Away Books, 932 W. Harvard Avenue, from 1 to 3. I’ll offer another selected reading then, something I haven’t presented before.

The photo above shows my book, front and center, when you walk in the door at While Away. Looking forward to the fun. 🙂

Then next week starts right off with an airing Monday of my short vignette from the book on Jefferson Public Radio’s “As It Was” program which highlights bits of local history. Click above on “Events” for details. They have a professional reader who does those. My story’s already submitted. Nothing for me to do now but listen and enjoy.

Which is good, because the same day, Monday at 10:45, I’ll be speaking about the book at my Roseburg writers group, An Association of Writers. Details on “Events” also. Fun, fun!

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Today’s the day! First book launch party for Martha’s story, A Place of Her Own: The Legacy of Oregon Pioneer Martha Poindexter Maupin. The event is at the ECEC library in Elkton, Oregon, this afternoon at 1 o’clock. That’s just west of Elkton on Highway 38 by the butterfly pavilion. It’s open to the public. I’ll read a bit from the book, sign your copy, and we can enjoy conversation, music, and refreshments.

Cheers! 🙂

 

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One day! Almost ready to happen! I’ve dreamed of this moment for many years, and now it’s one day away. Tomorrow afternoon at 1 o’clock we’ll be at the ECEC library in Elkton–that’s Sunday, June 1st–with books to sign, refreshments, music. I’ll do a reading around 1:30 or 2:00, then open it up to Q&A. Come and visit, meet friends, have a good time. I know there are people coming that I haven’t seen in years. And relatives I’ve never met. Looking forward to seeing old friends and new ones. It’s open to the public. Hope to see you there!

Friends and family are letting me know they’re coming to the first book launch party for Martha’s book, A Place of Her Own, in two days–Sunday, June 1, at ECEC in Elkton.

My grandson, Alex Loznak, will be there playing background music on the keyboard.

My daughters, Carisa and Christiane Cegavske, and granddaughter, Calliope Boutilier, will be there helping out.

Facebook friends have signed up to attend. More friends are driving up from Roseburg. Others coming down from Eugene.

Robin Loznak, whose photos are in the book, will be there. Be sure to check out “Spotlight on the Photographer” below to learn more about Robin and his work.

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Robin Loznak offers his photographic artistry to my new book, A Place of Her Own: The Legacy of Oregon Pioneer Martha Poindexter Maupin. The book has two photo sections, one with old pictures, the other with modern pictures taken on the family farm by Robin. And a medallion on the cover shows his photo of me walking across the field below the old barn. He’s also my son-in-law and lives on the family farm with his wife, my daughter Carisa, and their son, Alex.

Robin has a particular knack for eking out whimsical images of insects and other small critters. Here he’s riveting his focus on a fly on the blackberry blossoms along the farm’s primary creek. That fly will reveal its character in Robin’s viewfinder.

Robin’s critter photos often appear on Picture of the Day at MSNBC and other outlets, lining up with newsy subject matter like battle scenes in faraway places, and events with world leaders.

Pictures like this:

Robin’s work has been highlighted worldwide, and as a photojournalist he has stacked up the awards. He was the National Press Photographers Association Region 9 photographer of the year in 2002 when he worked at the Daily Inter Lake in Kalispell, Montana. Region 9 includes the Rocky Mountain states and parts of Canada. He won an Award of Excellence in the Best of Photojournalism contest in 2013, and was named a Highly Honored Photographer in the Nature’s Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards in 2010.

After working for the Daily Inter Lake and the Great Falls Tribune in Montana, he came to Oregon when we all moved to the farm, and for several years worked as photographer for The News-Review in nearby Roseburg, Oregon. Now he does contract photography with Zuma Press photo agency. His work has been published in books, magazines, websites, and in newspapers around the world. A short list includes National Geographic, Smithsonian magazine, The New York Times, London Telegraph, Time magazine, Rolling Stone magazine, Sports Illustrated, The Wall Street Journal, NBCnews.com, Today.com, Alaska Airlines magazine, Conde Nast Traveler magazine, and many more.

His photo below shows a meteor above the old barn. Smithsonian.com used the shot.

Robin’s love for animals shows in his photos. He’s the kind of guy who, when he sees the owls in our barn having a problem raising families, finds a solution. The owl mother had been laying eggs on the ledge, but they kept falling off. Concerned, Robin found an old bushel prune box, attached it to the ledge. Mama owl looked it over and started again. Her new owlets thrived in Robin’s creation, and Robin got many delightful pictures along with his satisfaction at helping out. He enjoys offering vignettes that tell a story in picture. And his talent has attracted a strong following.

I’m delighted to spotlight Robin’s work in my book, and to share a bit of his background here. He’ll be attending several of the book signings. Here are a couple of favorites from the book:

Check out more of Robin’s creative works below–a dragonfly beaded with water droplets on a wet morning, and a newt peeking out from behind a little mushroom parasol. I never saw a newt look so cute. For still more, see Robin’s blog.

All photos on this post are by Robin Loznak, except of course the photo of him, taken by me.

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This is the place. The Elkton Community Education Center, better known as the ECEC. It’s on Highway 38 between Drain and Reedsport, just west of Elkton.

I spent a couple of hours there this morning working with the writing team for the Fort Umpqua Days pageant, held every year on Labor Day Weekend.

Took a moment to check out the sound system for my reading, and to go over last-minute details with ECEC’s Operations Manager, Sue Butkus.

Feeling calmer today. Taking deep breaths. All’s well. I look forward to seeing many of you there Sunday afternoon, June 1, at 1 o’clock for my very first signing and reading of A Place of Her Own. 🙂

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Ah! I think this must be panic day. It’s the day of realizing there are more things left to do than days in which to do them. I remember my writer friend Leslie Budewitz saying before the launch of her book last year that she didn’t know whether to be excited or terrified. I didn’t understand the terrified. With a dream coming true, how it could be anything but exciting? I understand better now. I’m not sure I’d call it terrified. I expect to see many dear and supportive friends at my hometown launch in Elkton in four days. But there are some things that just aren’t going to get done before it happens. And we’ll let those things go and party anyway. Onward and upward. Cheers! 😉

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At the Book Launch Party in Elkton, we’ll have background music provided by my grandson, Alex Loznak. Maybe not with the tux. And not with the grand piano. They’re so hard to carry. But he’ll be there with a keyboard to play a few tunes.

This picture shows him at one of the Roseburg High School concerts where he plays piano this year with the jazz ensemble.

The event in Elkton is this coming Sunday afternoon, June 1, from 1 to 3 at the ECEC library in the main building near the butterfly pavilion.

Photo by Robin Loznak

 

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Fourteen Facebook friends and friends of friends are already scheduled to attend my book launch party June 1st at 1 o’clock at ECEC in Elkton, Oregon. And many more have told me they plan to come. The National Weather Service predicts the day will be mostly sunny with a high near 72. A lovely day to come to Elkton and enjoy the amenities of the Elkton Community Education Center.

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