James Bastian's Blog

New Book Launch

To celebrate the recent publication of 'Willa's Pursuit', Martha Merrell's Book Store in Waukesha, WI is hosting a book launch featuring a presentation by the author, dessert, coffee and book signing on June 8th at 6:00 - 7:15 pm.

If interested contact me through my website
wisconsinloggingcamp.com

Next Book Coming

'Willa's Pursuit' a paranormal, historical fiction will be published in September 2022 by Bower House. The story centers around a young woman experiencing the sudden onset of Xenoglossia, including delusions, nightmares, memories and ability to speak French. This turns her normal life upsidedown as she struggles with sleeplessness, depression and obsessive compulsion. Her career, relationships and sanity
in peril, she is compelled to embark on journey of discovery she didn't want but must pursue.

New Review

If you have 'Wisconsin Logging Camp, 1921' on your to read list, please visit the Kirkus Review site below for a just off the presses assessment of the book.

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...

Thank you giveaway entrants

Congratulations to the two winners of the giveaway of
'Wisconsin Logging Camp, 1921'. Each will receive a signed first edition copy. Thank you to all the
entrants for your interest. I hope each of you have an opportunity to read the book and enjoy learning more about this fascinating period in history.

Logging History References

While doing research for 'WLC, 1921', I found two particularly useful resource books which helped reconcile inconsistencies in first person accounts and clarified slang terms, including the confirmation of the job 'chickadee'. Ralph Clement Bryant's 'Logging the Principles and General Methods of Operation', published 1923, and Carl Schenck's, 'Logging and Lumbering, the Utilization of Forests', published 1912.

General Fiction Award

Thank you to the 2016 Great Midwest Book Festival who awarded 'Wisconsin Logging Camp, 1921' with an Honorable Mention in General Fiction.

Historical novel ideas

I have found a productive place to find ideas for historical novels or to flesh out content of current projects has been first person period accounts. An example would be a source like 'The Colonizers', an aggregation of letters and journals from the 16th to early 19th Century North America.