Slightly Off the Mark: author appearance

Showing posts with label author appearance. Show all posts

Stars of Stage, Radio, and Podcast

We're hitting the media hard--not literally, because that would be bad.

On Wednesday morning Emily and I are traveling down to Fort Wayne to have an on-air visit with Jack Hammer, host of the morning show on WXKE 96.3. It's a classic rock station that hangs out here: https://963xke.com/

The brothers from the TV show Supernatural listened to a lot of classic rock, so there's your connection between WXKE and Haunted Noble County, Indiana. This is the hill I'll haunt on.

Supernatural is a very serious TV show.

It should be around 7:30 a.m. or so. You can check out all-around Fort Wayne guy Jack Hammer here:

https://www.facebook.com/FortWayneGuy/

Plus, the "Easily Distracted by Cemeteries" podcasts we're in--two of them!--are up:

https://rss.com/podcasts/easilydistractedbycemeteries/2252321/

Emily and I in the middle of the easily distracted podcast gang. We had fun!

So check that out, and let us know what you think. Maybe we'll start our own podcast. Maybe not.

Meanwhile we still have the October 30th thing at the CLC in Kendallville, which I'm contractually obligated to mention every post between now and then. Of course, that's only nine days.

https://commevents.eventcalendarapp.com/haunted-noble-county

As I've mentioned before, there's an entry fee, which makes me deathly afraid no one will show up at all. But if you do, there'll be snacks and a slide show, or whatever the kids are calling slide shows these days, and since it's on a Thursday I'll stick in at least a few jokes*.

*Most comedians will tell you that, for reasons unknown to science, jokes are funnier on a Thursday**.

**I'm totally making that up.

Of course, just because we step into the limelight once in awhile doesn't mean you can't just read our books:

· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO

· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/"Mark R Hunter"

· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4898846.Mark_R_Hunter

· Blog: https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/

· Website: http://www.markrhunter.com/

· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ozma914/

· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRHunter914

· Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrhunter/

· Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarkRHunter

· Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkRHunter

· Substack: https://substack.com/@markrhunter

· Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ozma914

· Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ozma914

· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?searchAuthor=Mark+R.+Hunter&ref_pageloadid=4C1TS2KZGoOjloaJ&pf

Remember: Various forms of media come and go, but books go on forever.

Grandkids, Pooches, and Public Speaking

I spent most of the weekend relaxing with the grand-twins and their dog, Indy. The oncoming Big Weather Change and an attack of allergies made me feel like I'd come down with man flu, so relaxing is about all I felt like doing. But at least I wasn't schedule to work all weekend, like Emily was. (As I write this it's Saturday night, and looking like the Saddle Barn will be canceled by weather tomorrow.)

Indy's just a little guy, but, like Steve Rogers before he got the super soldier injection, Indy could lick faces "all day".

I mean, Steve was saying he could fight all day, not lick faces. Never mind.

This is fall break for the twins, and they spent most of it with us. The problem is they like to play a lot of video games, but one is into the fighting type, and the other is into the sports type. So they showed up with ... another TV!

Can you imagine? When I was that age my family had a console TV, and that wasn't going easily into anybody's car. Once, when I was about ten, someone brought over a "portable" TV, and we ran an extension cord into the back yard and watched it in a tent. Rabbit ear antennas. Eleven inches of glorious black and white!

This duel TV thing worked, somehow. The only problem I had was whether I wanted to concentrate on the football game, or the cowboys raiding through a blizzard. (Red Dead Redemption something?) Then one of them went to Fortnite, and what kind of craziness is that thing, anyway? I'm pretty sure I just saw someone blow up Scooby-Doo.

*****

That wasn't our only weekend activity. On Friday evening Emily and I drove to the Ligonier Public Library, where we put on a presentation about our book, Haunted Noble County, Indiana. We were met at the front door by a fun surprise: A Halloween display featuring the book.

We had a great turnout, and nobody threw any rotten fruits or vegetables. I did most of the talking (I lost the coin toss), and not a single person booed me.

In fact, of the ten copies of Haunted Noble County, Indiana we brought in with us, we sold nine. (Naturally, me being the paranoid person I am, we had more in the car.) We also sold a few copies of Images of America: Albion and Noble County, and Hoosier Hysterical: How the West Became the Midwest Without Moving at All. Emily only put out our historical related books, including Smoky Days and Sleepless Nights: A Century or So With the Albion Fire Department, and I have to start using shorter subtitles.

It goes without saying that we had copies of the other eight books with us--just in case--but it was a night for history stuff. Maybe if I ever do standup comedy, I'll put the humor books out in front.

And now I have to start preparing for our next appearance, at the Community Learning Center in Kendallville--on Halloween Eve. Well, October 30. That's Halloween Eve, isn't it?

Yeah, that's us there on the bottom, although it could be argued that the end of October is the peak of the month. With a little more time to get ready, we're putting together a PowerPoint presentation for this one. Okay, Emily is. More info to come.

On rainy days like this, you can always look for a good book:

· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO

· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/"Mark R Hunter"

· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4898846.Mark_R_Hunter

· Blog: https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/

· Website: http://www.markrhunter.com/

· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ozma914/

· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRHunter914

· Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrhunter/

· Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarkRHunter

· Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkRHunter

· Substack: https://substack.com/@markrhunter

· Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ozma914

· Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ozma914

· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?searchAuthor=Mark+R.+Hunter&ref_pageloadid=4C1TS2KZGoOjloaJ&pf

Remember: Family is more important than books, but why not both?

What a Month--Welcome To Our Newsletter

Don't panic! You're not signed up for the newsletter, unless you did it yourself. I'm just posting the link here:

https://mailchi.mp/6a8b29fa7a15/what-a-month-and-more-to-come?e=2b1e842057

And then, because I'm nothing if not too repetitive, I'm also pasting some of the contents here. It would be great if you all signed up for the newsletter, or possibly my substack at https://substack.com/@markrhunter, which is where all the kids are going these days.

But what I really want is for you to come to one of our two author talks this month, if you live within a reasonable distance, or have a personal airplane, or you're a superhero who can fly. One of them, you'll notice, is this coming Saturday. So, while the newsletter covers other things, like how our book sales are doing, and a scary photo of our late dog Beowulf, it also contains what you hopefully are about to read. We'll bring plenty of books, and also be entertaining. Try to be entertaining.

I can hope to sell out and get a standing ovation, but I'm trying to be more reasonable in my older age.

Emily and I are making two author appearances in October: One is at the Ligonier Public Library, a place actually mentioned in the book.

The other--on Halloween Eve Eve!--is at the . The former , it's also in the book.

Read all about it here:

https://commevents.eventcalendarapp.com/haunted-noble-county

It will be on October 30 from 6-7:30 p.m. at 401 E. Diamond Street, and, to my surprise ... there will be a $15 cost to attend.

This came as something of a shock to me because, like many writers, I suffer from . I have a hard time believing a lot of people will pay to see Emily and I speak, but we'll see. I'll do my best to entertain everyone, and if they happen to buy a book on the way out, so much the better.

Also like many writers, Emily and I are what today they call , and those appearances will probably use up all our outgoing energy for the month. Still, we'll see what we can come up with for November.

Meanwhile, don't forget to look us up at all the usual places:

· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO

· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/"Mark R Hunter"

· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4898846.Mark_R_Hunter

· Blog: https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/

· Website: http://www.markrhunter.com/

· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRHunter914

· Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrhunter/

· Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarkRHunter

· Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkRHunter

· Substack: https://substack.com/@markrhunter

· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?searchAuthor=Mark+R.+Hunter&ref_pageloadid=4C1TS2KZGoOjloaJ&pf

Coming Soon to a Podcast Near Me

Believe it or not, I haven't gotten around to counting exactly how many books we sold last Saturday at Albion's Fall Celebration. We tried to keep track, but--things happen. It was somewhere around two dozen. That's pretty good, especially when you consider Butterfly Alley Gifts has been selling them from their shop only half a block away.

My books are so bright, I gotta wear shades.

Next on the agenda: Emily and I are guests Sunday on a local podcast, "Easily Distracted by Cemeteries". It's not live (I don't think), but when it's up you'll be able to find it here:

https://rss.com/podcasts/easilydistractedbycemeteries/

They're a local group based near Diamond Lake Hill, the area where some of the more memorable stories in Haunted Noble County, Indiana take place. (The lake is not ON the hill; it's next to the hill.) They're closing in on their second year of podcasting, and their shows are lots of fun.

Our latest book is directly related to the podcast subject, so they reached out to us as guests. We'll try to be good ones! And we could use the publicity, because before our author appearance I did an inventory of our books. Keep in mind we've only had one book signing since COVID started, and our author stuff was scattered all over the house.

Fun fact: When you count all twelve of our publications, we have 274 books at home. Granted, the lion's share is the newest, but still. It seems I was building up books for our pubic appearances just before the pandemic, which ended public appearances for awhile.

Which is why I'm glad to have more chances to speak to potential readers, even if introverts like Emily and I have to spend a few days recharging afterward. So I'm happy to say we're appearing on October 17th, 5 p.m., at the Ligonier Public Library--which is haunted! Not to worry: As you'll read in Haunted Noble County, Indiana, it's a friendly ghost. I'll do a little presentation, hopefully interrupted by some books floating off the shelves. Afterward, hopefully, other books will be flying off our display table.

The address is 300 S. Main Street, and it's not hard to find.

Thank you for the library, Mr. Carnegie.

Then, on October 30--the day before Halloween--we'll be appearing at the Community Learning Center in Kendallville. I'm going to go all out with being as entertaining as humanly possible, answer lots of questions, and be an all-around "good times had by all" person.

Why? Because the CLC is going to be taking tickets.

Here's a sign-up and information link:

https://commevents.eventcalendarapp.com/haunted-noble-county

It's $15, worth it for anyone with an interest in ghosts, history, or a touch of humor. Like many authors, I have a hard time imagining that anyone would pay money to see me. (At least I've finally come to accept that my writing is worth paying for!) It's kind of a writer thing: Many of us have low self-esteem after years of banging our head against the walls of publishing. Often we write because we think of ourselves of bad speakers. But not to worry: I've done this before. The trick is to practice in front of a mirror, then take your act to the neighbors' dogs. If they don't bite you, you're doing fine.

Besides, we have a lot of books.

So please visit us in the old Kendallville High School that's also the old Kendallville Middle School, at 401 E. Diamond Street, from 6-7:30 p.m. It's in the Assembly Room, which I haven't seen since they fixed the place up, but I assume it's a good area in which to assemble. Drinks and snacks of the non-alcoholic variety will be available.

And, of course, you can find our books and us in all the usual places:

· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO

· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/"Mark R Hunter"

· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4898846.Mark_R_Hunter

· Blog: https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/

· Website: http://www.markrhunter.com/

· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ozma914/

· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRHunter914

· Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrhunter/

· Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarkRHunter

· Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkRHunter

· Substack: https://substack.com/@markrhunter

· Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ozma914

· Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ozma914

· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?searchAuthor=Mark+R.+Hunter&ref_pageloadid=4C1TS2KZGoOjloaJ&pf

Remember: Every time you see an author, your brain glows a little. Like a ghost.

Our Author Appearance Necessity List

It's been a few years since Emily and I did an author appearance, so I dug up this blog from back then just to remind myself. We're going to be at Albion's Fall Celebration this Saturday, on the Courthouse Square. Never mind the weather--we'll figure it out.

I'm sure you all added our upcoming author appearances to your calendars and phones, and possibly had the dates tattooed backward to your foreheads. I mean, all those vendors together--it'll be Indiana's social event of the decade. (Although I'm told the world's biggest greased pig chase and cornhole contest will be next year in Muncie, so we might be in second place.)

If I did post a link to the 10 am - 2 pm event, which includes a classic car cruise-in, food, and almost two dozen vendors, I'd put it here:

https://www.albionstarteam.org/fall-celebration

But I won't. It's our first author appearance since 2022--even before COVID we didn't do them often, so I started a list of what we needed to bring. Then I realized, surely I already made a list? I do that. I went back and sure enough, there it was.

So, what does every good author, and most of the bad ones, need to bring?

1. Books. This is kinda important. If you do a book signing, you should have something to sign.

2. Change. When one goes somewhere to sell books, one must assume some books will be sold. Thus: change for those high rollers who walk around with hundred dollar bills. (I don't know any of them, either.)

3. A calculator or, these days, a calculator app. After all, the whole reason I became a writer is because I can't do math in my head.

4. Tylenol. You'd be surprised. No, probably you wouldn't.

5. A camera. My wife took a photo of me signing a book for an Indiana State Senator who, apparently not having read my columns about politicians, was very nice. You never know what you might get a picture of when you're out in the public.

6. Paper and pens. The pens are to, duh, sign books. The paper is because, even though We'll have phones with us, I don't trust technology.

7. A tarp and an umbrella, if the venue is outside. There's a reason why books aren't usually sold outdoors, but I laugh in the face of danger. Well, I cringe, which looks a little like laughing, if you squint. (I just looked at the forecast, and I'm scared.)

8. Business cards. Emily designed me my very own business card! Sometimes, when it's slow at events, I sneak around the crowds and pull the opposite of pick pocketing, leaving my calling card behind. Come on, you knew that was me.

9. A table and chairs. The basics, right? We bought a folding chair that's so comfortable I'm thinking of throwing away our couch. I can't find it.

10. Liquid refreshments. I'm thinking water. Hey, I don't need any help from alcohol to look foolish.

11. Displays and signs. To display stuff ... like signs.

12. Scotch Tape. It's the author's duct tape.

A lot of that stuff will fit nicely into the totes we bought for the purpose, although, man, books can get heavy when you're carrying them a long way. The good news is, we have actual copies of all our books for the first time, now that Storm Squalls is in print. How about you other authors? What's on your "to-bring" list? And what would you potential readers like to see an author supplied with?