Tag Archives: Make Your Own Darn Good Cookies

Author, Book, Progress, Self-publishing, Update

Adventures in Authordom – 2nd Book Edition

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To Preface …

Not my truck — this one’s a beaut by comparison!

During the last number of months (or years?) I have been writing blog posts here and on my BagpiperDon.com site about things going on in my personal life.  This started with writing about a used truck I bought that needed attention (as-in repairs) and finally put me in the kind of vehicle I’ve dreamed of owning — I called these posts “Adventures in Truckdom”.  When I started doing contract SCUBA diving work this past summer I wrote about those experiences, too —  titled “Adventures in Divingdom”.  Each of these have no shortage of sharing what has gone on and includes me laughing at myself.  Today it seemed appropriate to write a different sort of episode — today I’m writing … book

ADVENTURES IN AUTHORDOM

Which goes like this …

MYODGC being my first book

For the past number of months I’ve been close to finishing my 2nd book — this being the Scottish & American military & patriotic Highland bagpipe tunes & tune histories book. For the most part I had to put it aside this summer — things just got too busy to give it the time and focus needed. The diving work (which was great!) took time, working on my day-job search takes time, juggling everything else takes time — priorities. I knew that once summer started winding down I could get back at it.

Bill Millin plays his pipes for fellow soldiers in 1944

The project is nearly complete however there are some chunks to go. Chief among these are writing a chapter opening — in this case, history around a bagpiper who landed on Sword Beach on D-Day, unarmed, and played pipes in traditional military fashion to lead his fellow invaders ….. and even though he as under heavy German fire he never got shot.

I have gathered a good bit of information around this historic gent — I’ve even made contact with his son and grandson on Facebook. This piper holds a special place in the piping community, and it’s important to me that I get this writing right. The kicker though is this …..

Landing on Queen Red Beach, Sword; Millin is in the foreground at the right with his bagpipes and backpack.

Of the various information sources available, some of them have mixed degrees of inaccuracies.  Part of my job is to sift through the minutia — do my best to separate the dubious bits from what appears to be the truth. To accomplish this I’m leaning toward the information that is consistent, the information that comes from cited sources, sources that are military record, and interviews that were from the man himself.  Part of the reason why I want to get my writing right is to honor the man.  Part of the reason is because of his importance to the Highland bagpipe community, and it is a HUGE honor to be writing about him.  And part of the importance is to help keep history accurate — some of these sources are muddying-up the facts.

So last night I got my first real opportunity to dive-back-in.  I reviewed all of this information, which includes these odd sections.  It’s a bit overwhelming but I can see the work ahead.  The long and short of it I know is this — once I have this bit of D-Day history written for the WWII chapter …. the rest of the work to complete the book project is all downhill eating cake wearing roller skates.

When will this be done?  Well … soon enough!  Besides, I have 2 other part-done book projects that are looking for me to get back to …

Keep an eye here! ~ Don

Announcement, MAKE COOKIES PLAY BAGPIPES

MYODGC is on GoodReads!

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My book — Make Your Own Darn Good Cookies — has made it on GoodReads!

As you will recall I published in October 2018 — and Jacki Dilley was on it early, posting that December.  She kindly gave me a 5-star review — according to GoodReads 5-stars means “It was amazing!” So, Jacki, if you’re reading this — THANK YOU. 🙂

Writing reviews for authors you like is important.  If you found you enjoyed a book or e-book do the author a favor by leaving your kind review on Amazon, Smashwords, GoodReads and anywhere else. Sharing your experience helps other shoppers to know what they can look forward to and supports the endeavors of the author.

^^^ click the graphic ^^^

If you haven’t read my book yet, please download these FOUR FREE SAMPLE RECIPES.  If you like them, I would appreciate it if you would share the recipes, pick up a copy of my book or e-book, and leave a review on the sites mentioned above.

All the Best, Don

Book, Make Your Own Darn Good Cookies, Product, Update

Busy July (2019)

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Professional Highland Bagpiper Don Scobie
Yep — that’s me!

July is my busiest month of the year!  Usually this is due to all the events and dates I participate in as a Highland bagpiper while staying on top of everything else.  This year it seems like it has been a whole different juggle…

I just got back from the Seattle Highland Games.  These games have been going on for nearly 75 years and is the second largest event of its kind on the US west coast, held annually on the last weekend of July.  This year’s event was a long, hot weekend — and another great event!  For me it proved to be a good book sales weekend.

As I left Whidbey Island I delivered additional copies of Make Your Own Darn Good Cookies to Kingfisher Bookstore in Coupeville and at Goose Community Grocery in Bayview.  While in Enumclaw (where the Highland Games were) I sold a number of copies including some to veterans whom I give a military discount.  Something I’m particularly excited about is that I made contact with a friend of mine from my last round of college — Richard has a gift basket business and he is looking to feature my book.  More on that ASAP!  My book business went so well that I think I need to re-order for my supply.  If you’re interested in a book or e-book for yourself, please order on Amazon.com.  Also, my e-book is 25% off through July 2019 on Smashwords.com.

Usually my summer schedule begins to mellow after July.  For 2019 that doesn’t seem to be the case.  Coming up in August I will be …

All this while working to finish my next book.

… I expect to get some sleep come September.  Hopefully.

Announcement, e-Book, Make Your Own Darn Good Cookies, Product

My E-book for 25% Off – July 2019 SALE

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Would you like to
GET MY E-BOOK FOR 25% OFF???

I am pleased to announce that I just enrolled my “Make Your Own Darn Good Cookies” e-book in the 11th annual Smashwords July 2019 SALE!

From July 1st through July 31st you will be able to purchase my e-book for 25% Off Of The Usual Price through Smashwords*.  It’s a great time for summer treats in the northern hemisphere and winter treats in the southern hemisphere.  So as we take another spin around the solar system on this island we call Earth, LET’S GET BAKING!
*As I understand this includes the Smashwords affiliates.

https://www.smashwords.comhttps://www.amazon.comWhen the time is right go to my Smashwords ordering page or use the widget below.  If you prefer to work from a paper recipe book, there is also a great deal at Amazon.com.
It is my understanding presently that… If you purchase a paper copy of my book on Amazon you can then also download a copy of the e-book For FREE!  Keep the e-book for yourself and give the paper-book to a friend 🙂 July

Announcement, Book, Product, Tip, Uncategorized

Tourism, Books, and Souvenirs

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Tourism
Tourism this way — bring your camera

Summer is coming, and one of the things that comes with summer is vacation in all its forms.  Whether you call it vacation, holiday, break, or retreat, it’s a great time to dust off your daily routine and exercise your sense of tourism.  Take off to that place you always wanted to go to, attend that annual festival you never miss, visit those friends and relations you’ve been meaning to spend some time with, or escape to that quiet out-of-the-way place you’ve heard about.  Take a book, and get a souvenir — or better yet, buy a book as a souvenir!

Moo!
Pulling over and blocking the road just to take pictures of cows …. that we don’t appreciate quite so much.  Seriously folks … it’s just a cow.

Here on Whidbey Island we know tourism — at a certain point in spring it turns on like a fire hose!  Suddenly we go from being a rural island to having people EVERYWHERE!  We appreciate that you want to come to this somewhat out-of-the-way rock of ours — we are off the beaten-path, so it’s flattering that you thought to come here and visit little-ol’-us.  With any luck, about now you might be asking yourself, “Well, if I visited Whidbey Island, what would I do — where would I go, what would I see???”

Deception Pass Bridge
The historic Deception Pass Bridge located at the north end of Whidbey Island

Whidbey Island has plenty to offer in the way of tourism — various farmers markets, Deception Pass and its historic bridge, car shows, historic Fort Casey State Park and its light house, the Island County Fair, the Oak Harbor Music Festival — and that’s just to name a few!  We also have historic towns that will carry you back to the Victorian Era — be sure to visit them — Langley and especially Coupeville.

Make Your Own Darn Good CookiesOf course, I’m biased — I’m going to tell you that if you are visiting Whidbey Island to go drop by one of the shops carrying my book.  Frankly though, that’s not just a plug for my book — I’m suggesting these shops because they’re in great locations that I believe you will enjoy, and these shops are are operated by delightful people.

Goose Grocery in Bayview

If you take the ferry from Mukilteo to get on the island at the south end in Clinton, just go a little ways up Highway 525 and you’ll see Goose Grocery on the right in Bayview.

Kingfisher Bookstore
Kingfisher Bookstore

A curvy-road-ways after Highway 525 turns into Highway 20, you’ll come to an intersection with a foot-bridge crosswalk, a gas station, and our hospital.  Turn north to visit historic Coupeville and find The Kingfisher Bookstore located overlooking Penn Cove on Front Street.  They have a local-authors table that includes my book.  Ask for Meg or Brad and tell them I sent you.
(Read my recent blog post about Kingfisher Bookstore.)

I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE …

Three Sisters Market, Whidbey Island
Yes, it’s formerly a firehouse

Last and certainly not least … As of Today I am once-again doing business with The 3 Sisters Farm Market, located at 779 N Holbrook Rd, Coupeville, WA 98239 — that’s on the north side of Penn Cove on the south side of Highway 20 — red building, you can’t miss it.  Visit the 3 Sisters Market — their farm is the biggest producer of food here on the island and everything in their market is local-Local-LOCAL!  Pick up a copy of my book, show it to the clerk at the register, and tell them that “Don The Author sent me!”  You’ll probably also want to tell them that they have a great shop … why … Because They Do, hands down.

3 Sisters LOGO