Save the Mimes; Buy a Book

Just as a reminder, the Noble Art Gallery in Albion is the only place where you can go in person to buy all the books we have out in print, whether we’re there or not. Well, the only one I know of. Add that to all the other artists who have their work up for sale there, and you can see why it’s an important business to support—just like we should be supporting all local businesses.

Snow willing, Emily and I will be there tomorrow from 1-5 p.m., to sign books, say hello, and show off the new book cover. Please stop by and see us at the old Black Building, 100 E. Main Street. Remember, every time you skip an author appearance, an artist paints a mime. If you think white mimes are scary, wait until you see a painted one.

Long lines, police barricades … a writer’s dream

In this photo, police block main roads and crowds begin to line up days in advance of Mark R Hunter’s author appearance at the Noble Art Gallery. The first person in line told reporters, “I’m actually just here to ask his wife Emily how she puts up with his genius eccentricities.” Several thousand people were expected …

Okay, not really; the photo is from the Albion Christmas parade. But that is where we’ll be this coming Saturday, from 1-5 p.m.—the old Black Building at 100 E. Main Street, now the Noble Art Gallery.

We’ll have all our books, including the latest one, Hoosier Hysterical: How the West Became the Midwest Without Moving At All. Also, we just finished printing out the front and back covers of our newest book, so you can get a look at it far ahead of the scheduled March 7^th release date. No police line required.

Because I’m slow, that’s why

In an earlier post I mentioned trying to come up with original ideas to promote author appearances; I’ve now done over 734 thousand of them, and have a new one coming up December 10^th. My newest book, as all fourteen of my regular readers know, is Hoosier Hysterical, a humorous look at the history, people, and trivia of Indiana. The signing at the Noble Art Gallery will be the third since Hoosier Hysterical came out, and also the third appearance I’ve put in at Dan Gagen’s gallery in downtown Albion.

What hook could I use to get people to come? The first thing I thought of is to have the cover reveal of my new novel there, and that’s great, but I wanted something more.

Then I realized the bicentennial of Indiana’s official formation is December 11^th—just one day after the book signing.

And what inspired me to write the book was the upcoming bicentennial.

Say it with me, now: “Duh.”

So, the Facebook event details are now on my FB writer’s page, along with the hooks. While you’re checking it out, please like my page!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1024817860997691/

A view from the Noble Art Gallery. Well, actually a view from the middle of the street. Boy, were the other drivers mad.

Albion’s bicentennial mural debuts

Here are some photos from last week’s introduction of the Albion Bicentennial Mural, part of the year-long celebration of Indiana’s 200^th anniversary. There was a good crowd there on a dreary day, which included an appearance by the Bicentennial Torch that’s been touring around. Oh, and it’s also the Bison-tennial:

Bison-tennial! Get it? Never mind.

The mural was designed by Wolf Lake resident Daniel McDonald, an art major in his junior year at the University of Saint Francis. Here’s an appreciative crowd just after the unveiling of the mural, which graces the south side of the Noble County Economic Development Corporations building—which we old timers tend to call the old Albion Town Hall.

It’s very cool. Here’s a closer look, which is a bit out of perspective because it’s tall and I’m not as tall as I used to be. There are now two murals on this block—the same block that includes an antique store and the Noble Art Gallery building. It’s an art block!

The home at top right was that of Gene Stratton-Porter, one of Indiana’s more famous authors. And yes, I have three books involving Indiana history, but my home is two blocks further south … I won’t count until we expand it to be an art neighborhood.