Tag Archives: Washington

My Books Now In Kingfisher Bookstore!

I am EXCITED to announce…

Yesterday I got my book, Make Your Own Darn Good Cookies, placed in the very first bookstore!  The Kingfisher Bookstore located at 16 NW Front Street in Coupeville, Washington.

The Kingfisher BookstoreI’ve wanted to get my book carried by various stores here on Whidbey Island and I was told that Kingfisher LOVES local authors.  When I called the shop on Wednesday I was told to bring my books by any time.  My response to being asked if I was local, I gave a little local-flavour and replied that I was so close I could paddle a canoe across Penn Cove to get there.  I opted to drive instead.
(PSST! I actually got it in the Oak Harbor Ace Hardware, too — they’re at 150 SE Pioneer Way, Oak Harbor, WA 98277.)

Meg Olsen, owner of Kingfisher Bookstore in Coupeville WA
Hey everybody — meet Meg!

Kingfisher Bookstore is located in one of the historic water-side buildings on the middle of NW Front Street in Coupeville here on Whidbey Island.  When I went in I was immediately greeted by Meg Olsen — she couldn’t be more friendly, and she is Full of ENERGY!  Soon following I met her husband, Brad — also a nice guy.  Speaking of ‘also’ — he’s also a merchant sailor and a captain with Royal Caribbean International … yeah, remember when I suggested canoeing across Penn Cove?  I wonder if I scored points with him by talking nautical-stuff …

Meg and Brad started their shop in 2018.  Formerly a liquor store, together they have made it over into a cozy and delightful bookstore.  In between talking with Meg about my book she welcomed and assisted visiting customers — during that time I had a bit of my own look around.  I was pleased to see unfamiliar books I would love to purchase and read along with authors I already enjoy (she had a hardbound Dick Francis book!).  While I was there Meg even invited a customer’s labradoodle into the shop — in fact, she laughingly demanded that he bring his dog in so she could meet it and give it scritches.

I hope Meg and Brad do well with their wonderful neighborhood bookstore and I am happy to have my book carried at Kingfisher Bookstore!

Hey, while you’re reading…

Here’s a fantastic article from when Meg and Brad Olsen started their shop in 2018.

Put in the Spotlight by Craig Lea Gordon

Do You Like Sci-Fi?

If you do then you need to know about Craig Lea Gordon …

Craig Lea Gordon — playable at 33RPM

After three years of work, last fall I began to see the ‘light at the end of the tunnel‘ on writing my first recipe book, “Make Your Own Darn Good Cookies“.  As my publication date grew close I started looking online for other independent authors — I wanted to find folks who were going for it like me, men and women who were sharp and well experienced.  There were numerous questions I had, which I not only thought I could ask these authors but also learn from them by observing what they do.  Among these authors I was fortunate to come across Craig Lea Gordon and his work.

Craig lives and writes in North East England — where Gordon Sumner is from …. you know, Sting?!?  He comes across as a pleasant blend of being smart as a whip and extremely down to earth.  I picked up on him through a free e-book offer, and in my opinion what Craig writes is AMAZING!  First I got the e-book and then I started receiving e-mails from the guy — Craig, not Sting.  One of his e-mails offered that I could join his Facebook group — which then lead to getting my hands on a copy of “The Machine“.

I have a few problems when it comes to books…

One of these problems is that I LOVE BOOKS.  I’ll get a stack of books — often from a used book store — and I want to read them All.  One or two of them will catch my eye at home were I already have a few books open …. it’s an interesting book … I’m looking forward to reading it …. and I tell myself, “Well, I can just read the first few pages to get a sense of it and then put it down until I’ve finished one of my other books.”  Yeah … that never works …. and the next I know I have four or five books that I’m in the middle of and loving*.  I did this with “The Machine”, and as reading goes … I made a wonderful mistake.
* For the record, I currently only have three books that I’m reading … maybe four.

The Machine is rich in detail and has a creepy-factor that is palpable!  The last time I read a book that had this level of ambiance was authored by a well-known writer here in Washington State by the name of Frank Herbert … you know, the guy who wrote DuneYeah, The Machine is like that!

Craig’s most recent book!

As for Craig, he’s a swell guy!  He updates us on his literary projects in his Facebook group, we get to see sneak previews of his cover art, and he presents weekly ‘What Sci-Fi Film Is This’ challenges … which I get the right answer to about half the time … and consequently realize how much sci-fi I’ve seen.  Craig even puts up with my sense of humor, which for that alone he should probably get knighted.

And here’s part of why I’m making sure you know about Craig and his writing — because lately …. he did me a solid!

(Read on ….)

(Yep … keep scrolling down.)

This wasn’t actually a surprise*, but let’s pretend that it was… because that’s more fun!

Ten days ago I received Craig’s most recent e-mail update.  First he told his followers about how the holidays went with his family.  Then Craig let us know how to get Advance Reader Copies of his next book “The Acid Suite”.  The he told us about two other authors’ books — now, bear in mind, Craig has an international following with his e-mails.  One of these books is titled “The Rig” by Roger Levy, and the other one …. well …. it wasn’t a sci-fi book at all!?!  In fact, Craig told everyone about “Make Your Own Darn Good Cookies” by yours truly!!!  Craig wrote about my participation on his Facebook group and even plugged my book on Amazon — WOW!
* Craig messaged me a few days earlier and kindly asked if I would mind if he did this … PHHT, like I was going to say No?!?

Check out what Craig is doing at his homepage along with Facebook & Twitter — you can even get a free e-book copy of his first Acid Suite book “Transmit“.  Dark palpable sci-fi cyberpunk … oh yeah, Craig is your new author!

And Craig …. Thank You,
~ Don

Craig Links You Need To Know About

 

Priorities on a Sunday night

Taking it extra easy Sunday night Priorities
Eight forty five PM Priorities
And it’s time for a new post on my Facebook page
I’ve played bagpipes for the last 3 days Priorities
I’m exhausted and recovering Priorities
Back to work on my book tomorrow Priorities

Okay, so Elton John did a much better job on those lyrics than I did…

Time for a quick update — some maybe not so new…

PrioritiesLife of a bagpiping budding recipe book author — it has a certain quirky romance to it, but in reality it can be a juggle … well, on top of fixing a truck, contributing to finish building a house, and helping to support one’s parents.  Since late last year I’ve had to prioritize these things — and shift my priorities depending on the week! Priorities

I’ve been working to knock down my ToDo List, and frankly … I’ve had a few things to get out of the way to where I can refocus on finishing my book. Priorities

Frankly … today has been spent resting

couch potatoThe last 3 days I’ve been on a St. Patrick’s Day tour playing Celtic-rock both with Geoffrey Castle and my own band, Nae Regrets.  Each day things ramped up.  Thursday I opened for Geoff in Kirkland.  Friday morning I had a Nae Regrets rehearsal in the morning and then played for Geoff in the historic Mount Vernon Lincoln Theater (video below).  Saturday Nae Regrets played in Mountlake Terrace, then I flew down to Auburn to play for Geoff, and then I flew back to Maplewood neighborhood in North Seattle for Nae Regrets to play a house party.  And then I got my tired self home and CRASHED until 10AM Sunday morning.

goofy juggler
Imagine each red ball as things I’m working on — yeah, it’s about like that right now

All of the shows went well.  Taking off for three days and playing was also a nice break from everything I’ve been focused on.  AND NOW …

I’m pleased to announce that a variety of ToDo items are out of my way and I can make finishing my recipe book my prime focus …. at least until something else comes up.  Yeah, I never learned to juggle in practical terms however I sure can figuratively juggle!

So this week I aim to… bake cookies and take pictures to make some step-by-step instruction photos, work up the surprise content, and address some final writing.  And depending on how I’m feeling tomorrow, rest-up some more from this fantastic past weekend!

LINKS
Yeah, it’s about time to replace my chanter reed (what makes the melody) — it’s become sensitive to over-blowing.

Bag Pipper Don

The Mighty Wurlitzer is not the only pipes that are played at the Lincoln Theatre.

Posted by Linda Ann Lipke on Sunday, March 18, 2018

And now Elton John in the event you got the tune in your head — or wanted to hear it right after my lame parody lyrics.

Priorities