Chateau Lorane Fine Art & Wine Festival 2009

July 13, 2009 on 7:09 pm | In This 'n That | No Comments

Oregon Authors’ Table

The Chateau Lorane Fine Art and Wine Festival, held over Memorial Day weekend, was the first time that Groundwaters has hosted an Oregon Author book signing event. The three days spent lakeside at beautiful Chateau Lorane Winery near Lorane was a wonderful experience for all of us who participated. Our tables were set up in front of the art display building and everyone who entered the festival walked past our tables. We had four or five invited published authors in attendance at all times and Groundwaters had its own table where some of our regular contributors handed out back issues of the magazine and signed copies of their articles, stories and poems for people who wanted autographs.

On the first day, Saturday, May 23, the Groundwaters table was manned by Bridgett Johnson-Elliott, Millie Graves and Jean Marie Purcell. Gary Lewis was there, too, to provide back-up. Our published Oregon Authors that day included Jo-Brew, Marva Dasef, Dan Armstrong, Robert Chambers and our own Jen Chambers was there taking orders for her soon-to-be-published book, Living Life Again. I was there all three days with my own book, From Sawdust and Cider to Wine. Marna Hing, my co-author on the first S&C book, joined me on the first day, too.

Sunday, May 24, was our biggest day as far as sales and people stopping by the table. Groundwaters was represented by Norm Maxwell, Pat Broome, Gary Lewis and Jean Marie Purcell. Our Oregon Authors included Carola Dunn, Dan Armstrong, Jo-Brew, Sharon Brandsma, Joey Blum and Nick DeAngelo with his book of panels from his comic strip, Just Add Water.

The final day, Monday, May 25, brought Gary Lewis and Tom Howell to the Groundwaters table and Oregon Authors were Douglas Card, Joe Blakley and Marva Dasef.

The book sales weren’t too brisk, but the company and the venue were exceptional. Everyone is hoping that we’ll be invited back next year.

Thanks to all of you who took part in the event!

What’s Pat Been Doing?

July 2, 2009 on 3:54 pm | In This 'n That, Updates | No Comments

Well, now that you’ve had a chance to catch-up a bit on what we missed posting in the last two months, I want to bring you up to date. I still need to report on the Groundwaters‘ sponsored Chateau Lorane Fine Art and Wine Festival Authors’ Table, but I’ll have to do that in the next post.

The last two months have been extremely busy and stressful for me and I’ll be glad when things can settle down a bit. Some of the things — the poetry chapbook, the author’s table, preparing the July issue of Groundwaters and submitting a new grant application — have all been very enjoyable, too; but, with them all being overlaid, one upon the other, without any break in between, it kept me jumping. Add to all of that was the fact that a very special brother-in-law has been very ill for the past two months, in almost constant pain and misery. Our whole family has been trying to help John and his wife Vicki keep their animals fed and their yardwork done so that when he returned to good health, their home life would not be in ruins. I’m glad to report that John is home from the hospital and although he’s not well yet, he’s on the road to recovery. Thanks to all of you who have been sending your prayers his way.

Haying season is now upon us, as well. In fact, I’m using a little time to write this blog before heading to Coastal Farm Store to buy some baling twine. Then, I’ll climb aboard our tractor for a day of raking hay in our Lorane fields.

We finished folding and stapling our July issue on Tuesday and I dropped them off at most of the distribution points that same day. We still have to make runs to Cottage Grove and Creswell. The subscription and contributor mailing has gone out, as well. This issue is jam-packed with poetry this time… much of it submitted as “extras” by those contributing to our book of poetry. I was very very impressed by the quality of the the submissions, poetry and prose alike, and I think that you’ll enjoy this issue. We have several new contributors and many of our regulars. I must apologize for the print quality of this issue. We are experimenting with using some “compatible” or “remanufactured” toner cartridges. The authentic HP cartridges which we have always used are skyrocketing in price… $180 to over $200 each when you add in shipping… and we use three cartridges each issue. Our regular supplier, in fact, did not even have any of the HPs on hand this time and most are going to the compatibles. The compatibles sell for half that price. Some of them work just as well as the HPs, but many do not. The one we tried this time was not one of the good ones and the pictures are not as sharp and the print is lighter than I like. Fortunately, it was used for only one-third of the printing. So, if your copy looks a little dim, that’s why and I apologize! I promise to figure out something that will maintain our normal high-quality print standards.

Well, it’s time to head for town. I’ll see if I can do a better job of keeping you posted on what’s happening with Groundwaters. And, please send us your feedback on the July issue. We love to hear from you!!

Come see Jen and I at the Art in the Vineyard celebration at Alton Baker Park on Friday, July 3. We’ll be at the author’s table!

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