Video Encourages Writers

Janet Fisher

PNWA in Seattle just put out this YouTube video for their upcoming conference July 17 to 20 at Seatac Hilton Hotel. I’ll be there as a presenter, joining a panel of PNWA Success Stories on Thursday, the 17th, at 9:30 am, and giving a workshop on the Power of Perseverance Saturday, the 19th, at 4 o’clock. I attended this conference in 2012 and found my agent there, Rita Rosenkranz, who turned my dream of being a published author into the reality of my new book, A Place of Her Own.

It’s a great conference, wonderful positive atmosphere, and fun!

For more about PNWA (Pacific Northwest Writers Association), you can check out their website.

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At Sutherlin’s Gem~the Books Gallery

Janet Fisher

DSCN0240Photo by Robin Loznak with my small Nikon.

Sutherlin, Oregon, has such a great gem of a bookstore in the Books Gallery on Central Avenue. I spent a pleasant afternoon there signing books and sharing a reading from A Place of Her Own. The signing table is right in the front window with cushy chairs so people can sit in comfort and visit a moment. For the reading I moved back into an inner space with large tables and the ever-present puzzle table.

Cheryl, the proprietor, said her son suggested the puzzle table nine years ago, and they’ve had a puzzle going ever since. People stop by, work on it a while. Then others come and do a few more pieces. Folks bring in their favorite puzzles and sometimes trade. It’s a great feature.

They also offer yummy goodies to eat with excellent coffee, tea, and soft drinks.

The place isn’t far off I-5 and is definitely worth a stop. Cheryl still has a few of my books there, and I think she’ll probably keep some in stock. Check out the Books Gallery Facebook page. If you scroll down a bit you’ll see me with Robin Loznak, my son-in-law whose photos are in the book.

Again I had a few surprises, people I hadn’t seen in a long time or recognized only by name. What a great tradition, book signing!

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Books Gallery in Sutherlin Tomorrow

Janet Fisher

The Books Gallery in Sutherlin is my next stop for a book signing and reading. I’ll be there tomorrow, Saturday, June 14 from 2 to 4 pm. It’s a great little bookstore on Central Avenue, a short hop past the railroad tracks–on the right-hand side if you’re headed east from the freeway toward downtown.

The proprietor, Cheryl, is great, and her mom, Irene, too. Their bookstore is the kind of place where a person could spend most of a day happily. Besides the stacks of books and friendly people, you can sometimes find folks just sitting around a table putting together jigsaw puzzles. With yummy snacks and coffee, it’s just a lovely place to hang out.

In that special atmosphere I look forward to a great time tomorrow.

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Good Day at While Away

Janet Fisher

A Place of Her Own had another fine launch today at While Away Books in Roseburg. This friendly bookstore offers a pleasant corner among their mazes of stacks for a gathering like ours–close to the large front window overlooking one of Roseburg’s tree-covered hills. My daughter Carisa Cegavske and I shared a laugh at the signing table.

while away laughingShe took care of selling books again, while my other daughter, Christiane Cegavske, took care of refreshments. And the staff of While Away made sure everything went smoothly.

BissieMany folks drifted in, even a few strangers. Others came and stayed. Friends and cousins. Again I saw people I hadn’t seen in years. It was delightful to see everyone.

Even my 92-year-old aunt Elizabeth came. Although she admitted it isn’t easy for her to get out anymore, she insisted she was not going to miss this special event. Here, she appears to be checking out the message I wrote her when I signed her copy of my book. I was so glad to see her there.

Though people drifted in and out, chatting awhile before leaving with their signed books, a good group stayed to hear the reading.

while away rdgAll in all, a lovely afternoon.

The photos on this post were taken by Robin Loznak with my little Nikon camera.

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While Away ~ Tomorrow!

Janet Fisher

The city launch for A Place of Her Own is next up. This signing party and reading is set for Saturday afternoon, June 7, from 1 until 3 at While Away Books, 932 W Harvard Avenue. We’ll have refreshments, boxes of books, and I’ll have a pen or two ready for signing. BooksSince I’m providing books, you’re welcome to bring copies you bought elsewhere and I’ll be glad to sign them. We’ll have some time to chat and get a few books signed. Then I’ll read at 1:30 or 2:00. This will be an all-new reading, after which we can have a little Q&A and more signing and conversation. Looking forward to a lovely afternoon.

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A Mention in Register-Guard Column

Janet Fisher1 Comment

Brian Juenemann gave the book and me a mention in his June 1 column in the Eugene paper, The Register-Guard. Brian is the marketing director for the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association and a contributing editor for NWBookLovers.org. He writes a regular column for the Guard on the Pacific Northwest book world. He announced my signing party at Tsunami Books in Eugene on the 21st of June and evidently enjoyed my post, “Happy Discoveries,” where I shared my delight at finding A Place of Her Own in J Michaels Books in Eugene.

Thank you, Brian.

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Writers Celebrate at Tsunami

Janet Fisher

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.

WW ReadersFrom 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.

Tsunami displayI 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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Busy Days Ahead

Janet Fisher1 Comment

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. While Away DisplayThe 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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First Launch Party

Janet Fisher6 Comments

A wonderful crowd came to my first book launch party at ECEC in Elkton, Oregon. It was great fun reading to this group from Martha’s story, A Place of Her Own, and I especially enjoyed the lively Q&A afterward. Many of my friends know I worked a long time to reach this point. This has been a recurring dream that finally came true.

ECEC ReadingPhoto by Robin Loznak

Back at the signing table (below), I’ve just signed a book for my newfound cousin, Linda Noel, who helped me so much in my research for this book. I was so glad to hear that she liked what I did with the story of this great-great-grandmother we share. She expressed to the group how much she appreciated seeing Martha and our other ancestors come to life in the pages, people she’d heard about all her life.

ECEC with LindaPhoto by Robin Loznak

So many friends came to cheer me and wish me well in this venture. Several surprised me when they came in the door, some I hadn’t seen in years. The warmth and goodwill made it such positive experience. Great conversation. Many books to sign.

ECEC SigningPhoto by Robin Loznak

I had a fantastic time. I want to thank everyone who helped make the event so successful, the ECEC staff, my family. Special kudos to my grandson, Alex, who did a lovely job playing background music on the keyboard.

This morning before the event I had just come into my house after gathering flowers for the refreshment table, when I looked out the window and saw the white hawk. It swept past the house and soared up the hill, low to the ground.

white hawkPhoto by Robin Loznak

Those who’ve read the book will know what this bird’s presence means to me. And what it meant to see it on this special day. I knew then that the launch would go well, and it did.

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Countdown to Launch – Today!

Janet Fisher

PlaceOfHerOwn_Cover (1)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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