50 Authors from 50 States goes to Maryland and Massachusetts

Hey, I spelled Massachusetts right the first try!

Okay, the second try.

This time on 50 Authors from 50 States, first we take a look at Maryland, with author Margaret L. Carter:

https://annettesnyder.blogspot.com/2020/05/marylands-history-reboot-margaret-l.html

Then author Carole Ann Moleti shows us around Massach ... um, Mass.

https://annettesnyder.blogspot.com/2020/05/massachusetts-break-with-carole-ann.html

http://markrhunter.com/
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/"Mark R Hunter"

This month's newsletter: Furry Friends and Fire Photos

In  this month's newsletter we discuss tired dogs, almost-horses, fire photos, summer, and the health risks of competitive clogging:

https://mailchi.mp/956dcca14183/summer-and-new-projects-loom?e=2b1e842057

Did I mention summer? I'd be so much happier with its arrival if it actually stuck around for more than a few days. Heck, I'm still waiting for Spring to arrive--apparently I blinked.

Still, any season with flowers is better than a season without them.

This one has somehow survived all my lawn care efforts for decades. I don't know how.

http://markrhunter.com/
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/"Mark R Hunter"

 

Three New Reviews Received! It's like Christmas, only with humidity

The way I want to celebrate the end of my vacation is another vacation, but the next best thing is to have three--count 'em, three--new book reviews! (That's more than twice as many as one.)

The two things authors need most to advance their careers are sales and reviews. Caffeine comes in a close third. From what I've been hearing, sales for most writers have been sluggish: Readers who've been quarantining at home are apparently making their way through the piles--or files--of books they already had.

That leaves reviews to stimulate sales, but reviews have been slow in coming, too. But in recent days my newest novel, Coming Attractions, has attracted two:

https://www.amazon.com/review/RK11GEC0X2MRP/?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07KM6JWQC

https://www.amazon.com/review/R38GWKWFYBP6NC/?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07KM6JWQC














But wait--there's more!

Storm Chaser, my first novel, has also gained a new review:

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1N97KH04O12LB/?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B01E9D8YXS

It's a short, one, but it's very enthusiastic.

One of my Coming Attraction reviewers is also an author ... no, I didn't pay her, although I'm going to review one or two of her books as soon as I have a chance. If you'd like to read the review on her blog, it's over here:

http://www.fionamcgier.com/blog/book-review-coming-attractions

 Thanks for taking the time, everyone!

This is the part where I remind you that you, too, can write a review, or even buy a book--or better yet, both, in the opposite order. Find out all about it here:

http://markrhunter.com/
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/"Mark R Hunter"

Vacation, We Can't Get Away

So, our regular late May vacation is mostly a staycation for us this year. Not our first time, and maybe for the best, considering long range weather forecast couldn't be described as perfect.

"Scattered COVID predicted, with a chance of coronavirus ..."

I can live with that. (I mean the staycation, not corona-storms.) In addition to ongoing back problems that would make camping rough, I've just started back to work on the Albion Fire Department photo book that I made so much noise about last year, then had to set aside for various reasons. So it's a "stay away from work to do other work" thing. I suspect my wife can take that for only so long before she starts measuring me for my burial suit.

"Mark, I made you a snack. Never mind the sour smell and the strange taste ... now, you still wear a 36 waist, right?"

Like I'm going to tell her.

Maybe it's an opportunity. The Catch-22 about writing is that it's hard to make enough money at it without writing full time, but writers can't afford to quit their jobs and work full time until they've made enough money at it.

I wonder what Catch-21 is? (I looked it up; apparently it's a game show.)

We do love to travel, and I suggested going down to Missouri to see Emily's family and friends. The problem is, that involves driving through three states, any one of which *coughIllinoiscough* could arrest you just for driving through. Could we get food along the way? Fuel? An open dog park?

Just our luck, we'd get put in jail with a bunch of people with allergies like ours. Talk about a sleepless night.

Personally, I'd like to go further afield than we have in the past. The furthest west we've ever been is the junction of Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas, where there's ... a plaque, and a pile of stones.

I mean, it's a nice pile of stones, but still.

Some of our favorite trips were when we traveled around Indiana, especially while researching for our book Hoosier Hysterical. Did you know there are canyons in Indiana? I guess we couldn't see them through the corn.

This is one of the less rugged areas of Turkey Run State Park.

Then there were the waterfalls we encountered in several Hoosier locations, with my favorite being Clifty Falls State Park. Climb the observation tower, see the Ohio River and Kentucky, and get a nose bleed.

Considering the Ohio River is along Indiana's warm southern border, this view is strangely coal.

But we camped on those trips, and the campgrounds are closed. Ah, well--we'll save up for further trips in the future, and stick to our own area this time around--especially since Emily's job is finally opening up on May 24. Meanwhile we've got my almost obsessive picture taking to remember all our journeys by.

Tanks for the memories.

http://markrhunter.com/
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/"Mark R Hunter"

Your Shirt Buys a Hay Bale

Only four days left to help the Pokagon Saddle Barn pay their expenses in this year of coronavirus ... but, of course, it's always a good time to buy a t-shirt.

https://www.customink.com/fundraising/pokagon-saddle-barn

 Due to the Covid-19 epidemic, the Saddle Barn is opening late this year--the mandated target is May 24th, and then they can only run at half capacity for an unknown period of time. As I explained in a previous blog, while it's inside Pokagon State Park, the Saddle Barn itself is an independent small business that could really use your support:

https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/2020/05/support-your-local-saddle-barn.html

"Dinner Time!"

The horses are around whether they're being ridden or not--and ask any horse person how much that costs! So buy yourself a t-shirt and support a good cause.

My grandmother loves the horses--and they love her.

Hey! I don't think he's feeling well: He's a little horse.

June 10 should be on your Fish Fry calendar

Although the Chain O' Lakes Festival has been canceled in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic this year, don't forget that the Albion Fire Department's annual fund raiser is still on--although as take-out only, and with fish and chicken in place of the normal fish and tenderloin.

It starts at 4:30 p.m. at the Albion fire station, and will go on until 7:30, unless we sell out first. Prices are $11.00 for adults and $7.00 for children, and since I'm too lazy to write it all out again, it's also spelled out on this previous blog:

https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/2020/05/albion-fire-department-fish-fry-is-on.html

But really, what details do you need other than that the fish fry is on?

And don't forget also, since we're asking you to not forget stuff, that the AFD's history book Smoky Days and Sleepless Nights is still on sale, with all proceeds going to Albion's volunteer fire department. Take a closer look here:

http://markrhunter.com/SmokyDays.html

Indiana Gets April Prize on 50 Authors From 50 States

My post on Indiana was the monthly winner on 50 Authors From 50 States, and so one of my commenters has won April's grand prize! Mari C. (you know who you are!) will get a gift made in right here in the Hoosier State, by Homespun of Indiana. Here's my original post:

https://annettesnyder.blogspot.com/2020/04/talented-author-mark-hunter-shares-his.html

Thanks to Mari and everyone else who commented, there's an Indiana sidebar post on the 50 Authors page this week. Oh, and here's the website of the company that's providing the prize:

https://shop.homespunindy.com/

Thanks again, everyone!

Meanwhile, this week's entry on 50 Authors From 50 States covers Maine:

https://annettesnyder.blogspot.com/2020/05/fiona-mcgiers-maine.html

http://markrhunter.com/
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/"Mark R Hunter"

Support Your Local Saddle Barn

Like many small businesses in the time of Covid-19, things are a little tough for the Pokagon State Park Saddle Barn this year. (Yes, it’s inside a state park, but the Saddle Barn itself is a private business.) At this point they do plan to open sometime close to Memorial Day weekend (I’ll get back to you on the exact day), but they’ll only be able to work at half capacity and will have comply with Indiana's Covid-19 guidelines. Ordinarily they open for weekends in March, then go seven days a week starting Memorial Day.

"Let's ride!"

So here’s an idea to support a local business—you can buy your own Pokagon Saddle Barn t-shirt:

https://www.customink.com/fundraising/pokagon-saddle-barn

Emily leads a trail ride.

I know it’s cool, and you can buy your own, or at least donate to the cause. Like many businesses of the equestrian variety (it's a real word, I looked it up), the people who work at the Saddle Barn love horses. I should know: My wife is one of them. But the horses don't just go into suspended animation between seasons. They’re living beings who need food, veterinary care, medicine, pasture space, and of course insurance—all year round. That's the short list.

Emily loves her job, even on cold days. Although the cold isn't great.

This year they need a little extra support.

The funds raised will go to Deena Coleman, the business owner, so she can keep all the horses and be ready for when things get a bit more back to normal. She's been running the barn for over 30 years, and hasn't raised prices in at least 10. So please, get yourself a shirt! That’s what friends are for.

Our dog Beowulf, wondering how that other dog got so big.

Yes, they do love their job, even first thing in the morning.

Albion Fire Department Fish Fry Is On this Year

After some discussion, the Albion Volunteer Fire Department has decided to go ahead and hold our annual fish fry, on Wednesday, June 10th. The fish fry, a decades long fund raising tradition for the AFD, is normally held on the Wednesday of the Chain O' Lakes Festival. Although the Festival was canceled this year due to the coronavirus situation, AFD members decided to go ahead with their event on a limited basis.

This year's fish fry will be a take-out only event, to avoid having a large number of people gathered together. That means it can't be all-you-can-eat. There is also a change in the menu, as the firefighters usually serve tenderloin, but that's coming up short this year due to pandemic-related meat supply shortages. Chicken will be the other meat served, instead.

Prices are $11.00 for adults, and $7.00 for children, and the event runs from 4:40-7:30 p.m. at the firehouse, at 210 Fire Station Drive.

So join us on June 10th--at least for a little while--on a drive-up and carry out basis. We hope to see you there!

Funds raised go to such areas as firefighter training, not to mention the equipment they train with.