Those of you who read my blog regularly know that I love to travel.  We have a trip to Europe every other year, visit family, go on book tours, go birding and just exploring.

I have a confession.  I have days where I don’t leave the house.  Once in a great while I stay home two days in a row.  It affords me the opportunity to be alone, decompress and realign myself.  Many of those days I hang around in my bathroom until lunch – just because I can.

I work on the little things that need to be done in life.  I do laundry; I put that blue liquid stuff in the dishwasher for clean glass and cups.  I fill the soap dispensers in the kitchen and bathroom from the giant bottle purchased at Costco.

I explore YouTube to find what I can find.  I watch a video on how to use my new WORX power scrubber or listen to The Three Irish Tenors.  Every half hour or so I intentionally get up from my laptop computer and do some little chore that requires me to walk around the house - like cleaning the cat litter boxes.  There are times I like to sit in the sunroom, watch the birds, feel the breeze on my face and daydream.    
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These are important days – they keep me balanced and sane.
Do you ever take a lounging, stay-at-home day?  Send me a comment.

Following my book launch on April 24th I had a series of six book events through the first weekend of June.  The events included traveling to Green Bay and Oshkosh along with local events.  At the same time I was working to organize the Wisconsin Writers Conference on Sept. 21-22 at the Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield with the goal of beginning registration on June 1.  My goal was partially met, the mail-in registration form was available on May 30th but the on-line form wasn’t available until June 4th.  My role as President of the Sun Prairie Library Board is intense.  I meet with the Library Director weekly, attend all committee meetings and we have hired an architectural firm to guide us through how to expand and improve our physical facility.
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In a word, I was tired – not exhausted – just tired.  I didn’t schedule any book events after June 2.  Yet, somehow my month is filled with activity.  I am doing one live radio show and recording three others for future broadcast.  I have three board meetings, my monthly book group meeting, three committee meetings, a remote radio show to host, and two parties to attend. 
My wife tells me I’m working full time and I’ve reluctantly agreed with her.  Well, I grew up as a Midwest, small town, Protestant with the adage: ‘no rest for the wicked and the righteous don’t need any’ and now I’m living it.  
 

A development I have been lucky enough to participate in has been the experience of authors helping authors.  Recently friend and author Rebecca Spindler organized the Great American Summer Read at the Common Ground Café on the first Saturday in June.

The idea was to high light local authors for a day and kick off summer reading by giving readers a great deal of choice from authors living near their back yards.  There were two formats.  The first was to have a panel of four authors each given the opportunity to describe their work.  Rebecca led the discussion with poignant questions which allowed each author to share their writing journey.  The second was to have authors give 20 minute presentations on a very specific topic.   My topic for the day was ‘Selecting Your Path to Publication’.  Rebecca also monitored each presentation so the time allowed was followed.  The panels were conducted downstairs on a small stage.  The presentations were held upstairs in a very informal setting where authors could sit down and talk with audience members one on one.

The crowd was modest and it quickly became clear that having the event on two floors was an advantage turned out to be a problem.  The folks attending the talks never came down stairs to listen to a panel.  The folks listening to the panels never went upstairs to listen to a talk.

Those listening to a panel were very passive.  I was tempted to use a mirror to check their breathing.  The audience upstairs were “needy” all were in some early stage of publishing their work and they only wanted to learn the publishing ropes without spending any money.  Not a single person asked a craft question, having their work professionally edited or etc.  I felt this was the group of people when asked: do you want to write a book someday? – never do.

I sold one book that day.  We couldn’t get the square to work or at least accept the book buyer’s credit card.  He didn’t have cash.  He said he would send a check.  He did.
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The image above is one of me pontificating on the panel.  Do me a favor if you attend an author event – buy books. 

Local Wisconsin author and publicist Valerie Biel created Books n Beer in Columbus, Wisconsin.  The concept was pure Wisconsin – combine a book club with an evening beer and invite authors to attend to discuss their work.  It all began  in April 2015 when Val experimented as the first author to visit..  Books n Beer is held once a month and since its inception (number) authors have had the unique opportunity to talk with readers.  My first visit was in August that year with my first novel Murphy’s Troubles.  

Since 2015 total of  33 authors (through May 2018) have been fortunate to sit down with readers at Books ‘n Beer.  Among the 33 authors 8 are award winners.

The other unique feature is that readers have the opportunity to buy books directly from the author.  The Black Kettle Pub in Columbus agrees to display and sell books prior to each event.  The restaurant provides the service to authors at no cost nor do they require a percentage of sales.  This is a one of a kind business venture for any author.

The number attending every month varies but there is a core group of 8-12 readers.  Valerie begins the discussion with a broad question and then readers spend about an hour asking questions and making comments.  The one on one experience is beyond pale.

At the close of the session everyone wanted their books signed so you can see in the image I’m concentrating on writing a unique message in each book.
Visit:   https://www.facebook.com/BooksandBeerColumbus/