Taking a Road trip to Wisconsin
I’ve been cutting back on driving after gas prices skyrocketed, but I still like to appear at live book events when possible. This upcoming road trip is special even though it’s a bit of a drive. First, I’ve wanted to meet this group in person for years. During the pandemic, I was the group’s guest speaker via Zoom in November of 2020. That was fun, but talking to people in person can’t be beaten.
Second, Valerie Biel and I go way back in time relative to our writing careers. She’s the host and organizer of the Books and Beer Book Club. I first met her at a writing conference in Madison, WI, about eleven years ago. She’s a fine author in her own right, and also teaches and consults writers about the business side of being an author. Her Writers’ Forum Newsletters of curated material that’s relevant and timely for all authors is one of my monthly MUST READS.
Finally, I’m using this trip as an excuse to check an item off my bucket list–playing golf at two courses in one of the finest golf resorts in the country, Sand Valley in Nekoosa, WI. I’m hoping this trip will be a great combination of business and pleasure.
IF YOU’VE READ DANGEROUS STRAITS AND WANT TO GET A “BOOK CLUB EXPERIENCE” DISCUSSING THE BOOK WITH OTHER READERS, BUT YOU DON’T LIVE CLOSE ENOUGH TO COLUMBUS, WISCONSIN THAT YOU CAN JOIN US IN PERSON, PLEASE PARTICIPATE VIA ZOOM. You can even sip a beer, some wine, or your favorite beverage while we chat. It’s very informal and lots of fun.
To get a Zoom invitation, simply click on the poster below and find the link in the event description. And for all my Minnesota readers and fans, let’s show the folks in Wisconsin that we love books and beer as much as they do! 🙂
- THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 7:00 pm. Books & Beer Book Club. Cercis Brewing Co., Columbus WI. In-person event but also on Zoom.
Not Just Events
I have some favors to ask of you, my loyal and regular followers.
Brainstorming help
I’m looking for a surname that lends itself to teasing, funny rhymes and/or associations, and nicknames that adolescents might use to tease or humiliate a kid who has that last name. An example might be something like: Carter (the farter); Monk (the skunk); etc. I have one I’m using for my work in progress, but I think there’s something better out there. If you have an idea, please submit it in the comments below or email me at chrisnorburywriter@gmail.com. If I use your suggestion, I may give you a shout-out in the Acknowledgments section of the book.
Ongoing requests and ways you can help sales and by extension help Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern MN. Remember I donate $1 to BBBS for each book of mine I sell.
- Keep those beach-read photos coming in of you or a friend enjoying one of my books on your favorite beach, pool deck, lake cabin dock, cozy fireplace in winter, or any other place that you love to settle down and read a good page-turner like Straight River, Castle Danger, or Dangerous Straits. If it’s a good photo and in good taste, I’ll post it on social media and on my website and you’ll get 15 minutes of fame (and help me sell books!)
- Keep those reviews trickling in. Slow and steady wins the race. I’d especially like reviews for Dangerous Straits so it can catch up to my first two books. Reviews don’t need to be long or detailed or masterpieces of literary review, just honest. Preferred sites to post reviews are Goodreads.com, Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, and Bookbub.com. Once at the site, just do a search for the book title and then follow the links to post a review for that book. Thanks.
- Please vote for Dangerous Straits in the TCK Readers Choice Awards. Every vote counts because there are so many nominees, no one book will amass a huge number of votes.TCK Readers Choice Awards. Follow the instructions carefully. The Thriller category is #9 of 16.