Mark R. Hunter's Blog
November 3, 2025
An Active Author's Autumn
Happy no-longer Halloween, everyone!
We had a successful talk at the Community Learning Center in Kendallville Thursday, once I got over being intimidated by the size of the room.
I mean, they put us on an actual stage, and handed us microphones. Two dozen people were there; we sold eleven books, and signed two others that had been previously purchased. That's pretty good, when you consider they had to pay $15 to get in.
That makes two live presentations, a book signing, a radio station interview, a TV interview, and a podcast, and we're exhausted. Emily and I are what people now call introverts: When we're out in public, especially when attention is on us, it drains our batteries. It didn't help that we had to fight off a cold during this period.
And yet it's good for us to get out, and we've made sales. We even got a sale from out of the area after our radio interview with Jack Hammer, at WXKE.
I'm not that good at public speaking, but I think I held my own.
I expect sales of Haunted Noble County, Indiana to drop now that the spooky season is over. Sadly, I don't have books named Thanksgiving In Indiana or A Hoosier Christmas, but it is that time of year when I try to push book sales for gift giving season. The number of authors who never have to worry about promotion is probably in the low three digits, these days.
On a related note, if you've ever bought any of our books, please leave a review! Amazon only allows reviews from people with an account who've spent $50 in the last year, but the book does not have to be purchased there. Goodreads is good, too. It's in the name.
You can't imagine how important reviews are to the success of a book. It doesn't have to be something long and complicated.
So, what's next? I mean after recovery, because being out in the cold and various allergens has left us sniffling and exhausted. Next step for me is to start working again on the Hoosier Hysterical sequel. We want it to come out early next year in honor of America's Semiquincentennial, which is a real word, I think. I should probably just call it our 250th birthday.
Meanwhile, Emily is going to reformat and make a new cover for Radio Red, which we're re-releasing after getting the rights back from the original publisher. It's a fun romantic comedy set in Michigan, and I think people will like it. Sadly, very little was done to promote it earlier.
Then we have to finish the Albion Fire Department photo book (send pictures!), publish a Storm Chaser prequel, continue submitting half a dozen finished manuscripts to publishers and agents, and write more. Granted, writing is not a spectator sport, but for us it's an exciting time coming up.
Even introverts can be extroverted on the internet:
· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· 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/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember: Book sales are how we afford caffeinated beverages, and we’d be no fun without them.
We had a successful talk at the Community Learning Center in Kendallville Thursday, once I got over being intimidated by the size of the room.
I mean, they put us on an actual stage, and handed us microphones. Two dozen people were there; we sold eleven books, and signed two others that had been previously purchased. That's pretty good, when you consider they had to pay $15 to get in.
That makes two live presentations, a book signing, a radio station interview, a TV interview, and a podcast, and we're exhausted. Emily and I are what people now call introverts: When we're out in public, especially when attention is on us, it drains our batteries. It didn't help that we had to fight off a cold during this period.
And yet it's good for us to get out, and we've made sales. We even got a sale from out of the area after our radio interview with Jack Hammer, at WXKE.
I'm not that good at public speaking, but I think I held my own.
I expect sales of Haunted Noble County, Indiana to drop now that the spooky season is over. Sadly, I don't have books named Thanksgiving In Indiana or A Hoosier Christmas, but it is that time of year when I try to push book sales for gift giving season. The number of authors who never have to worry about promotion is probably in the low three digits, these days.
On a related note, if you've ever bought any of our books, please leave a review! Amazon only allows reviews from people with an account who've spent $50 in the last year, but the book does not have to be purchased there. Goodreads is good, too. It's in the name.
You can't imagine how important reviews are to the success of a book. It doesn't have to be something long and complicated.
So, what's next? I mean after recovery, because being out in the cold and various allergens has left us sniffling and exhausted. Next step for me is to start working again on the Hoosier Hysterical sequel. We want it to come out early next year in honor of America's Semiquincentennial, which is a real word, I think. I should probably just call it our 250th birthday.
Meanwhile, Emily is going to reformat and make a new cover for Radio Red, which we're re-releasing after getting the rights back from the original publisher. It's a fun romantic comedy set in Michigan, and I think people will like it. Sadly, very little was done to promote it earlier.
Then we have to finish the Albion Fire Department photo book (send pictures!), publish a Storm Chaser prequel, continue submitting half a dozen finished manuscripts to publishers and agents, and write more. Granted, writing is not a spectator sport, but for us it's an exciting time coming up.
Even introverts can be extroverted on the internet:
· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· 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/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember: Book sales are how we afford caffeinated beverages, and we’d be no fun without them.
October 28, 2025
No Electronics: Stories To Scare Your Grandkids
A quick note before the attempted entertainment begins: For those thinking about going to our author appearance on October 30 in Kendallville, we're dropping the price of Haunted Noble County, Indiana bought from us there by two dollars. Our reasoning is that since you have to sign up and there's a $15 ticket price, we should offer a deal. Here's all the info, along with the signup link:
https://commevents.eventcalendarapp.c...
****************************
So, do you kids want to hear a scary story?
"Yay!"
I grew up in a dark, backward land called No Electronics.
"That is scary!"
I know.
Every generation has some version of this story. Not only that, but every generation sees so much technological advancement that the story can change depending on their desire to impress the listener. I once rented a VCR from a video store, to hook up to my first color television; but it's much more impressive to talk about my childhood black and white console TV, which brought in 3-6 channels depending on how willing you were to go outside and turn the antenna.
We once pulled in a Chicago TV station, which was playing old black and white westerns. The pictures were snowy and the volume barely audible, but we watched anyway, because at that moment our only other choices were The Brady Bunch, Gilligan's Island, or Dialing For Dollars.
I'll explain that last one some other time.
My grandmother told stories about her family's mules. To me the idea of no indoor plumbing or electricity is just as fascinating as the day I showed my youngest daughter the manual typewriter I spent my first ten years writing on.
After I explained how it operated, she looked it over carefully and asked, "But where's the power cord?"
My parents once listened to their favorite shows on the radio. "The Lone Ranger", "Fibber McGee and Molly", and of course "My Favorite Husband", which later morphed into the TV show "I Love Lucy". My question: What the heck did they look at while the show was playing? The wall? Certainly not each other?
Kids, when I was your age and I missed my favorite TV show, I wouldn't have another chance to watch that episode until it was rerun in the summer.
"But why didn't you record it?"
We did once record an episode of "Superman"--on reel to reel audio tape. When I was thirty I bought a video camera, to record the kids and their activities. Now we whip out our cell phones.
It makes me wonder what stories my kids will tell their grandkids, someday.
"When I was your age, I couldn't just touch my earbud and have my shows downloaded directly to my brain. I had to actually turn on the TV and bring up the DVR!"
"What's a DVR?"
My kids won't be able to tell the story of how they walked to school a mile every day, uphill both ways, through snow in the morning and a heat wave every afternoon. They'll be asked for video proof. By the time my great-grandchildren are putting on their radiation suits for the hover-car trip to sky-school, they'll be automatically recording from the moment they wake up.
They'll have proof that the good old days weren't all that good.
As for me, somewhere around the house I have vinyl records, cassette tapes, CD-Rom discs, and that old VHS camcorder ... and a laptop, podcasts on my cell phone, and a car that talks to my phone as soon as I turn the key. Not that new cars need keys.
The changes come so fast that looking back can make a person both nostalgic and dizzy.
Follow us for history, humor, romance, or general fun, guaranteed or we’ll be really sorry:
· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· 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/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember: Print books don’t need electricity, but be careful with the candles.
https://commevents.eventcalendarapp.c...
****************************
So, do you kids want to hear a scary story?
"Yay!"
I grew up in a dark, backward land called No Electronics.
"That is scary!"
I know.
Every generation has some version of this story. Not only that, but every generation sees so much technological advancement that the story can change depending on their desire to impress the listener. I once rented a VCR from a video store, to hook up to my first color television; but it's much more impressive to talk about my childhood black and white console TV, which brought in 3-6 channels depending on how willing you were to go outside and turn the antenna.
We once pulled in a Chicago TV station, which was playing old black and white westerns. The pictures were snowy and the volume barely audible, but we watched anyway, because at that moment our only other choices were The Brady Bunch, Gilligan's Island, or Dialing For Dollars.
I'll explain that last one some other time.
My grandmother told stories about her family's mules. To me the idea of no indoor plumbing or electricity is just as fascinating as the day I showed my youngest daughter the manual typewriter I spent my first ten years writing on.
After I explained how it operated, she looked it over carefully and asked, "But where's the power cord?"
My parents once listened to their favorite shows on the radio. "The Lone Ranger", "Fibber McGee and Molly", and of course "My Favorite Husband", which later morphed into the TV show "I Love Lucy". My question: What the heck did they look at while the show was playing? The wall? Certainly not each other?
Kids, when I was your age and I missed my favorite TV show, I wouldn't have another chance to watch that episode until it was rerun in the summer.
"But why didn't you record it?"
We did once record an episode of "Superman"--on reel to reel audio tape. When I was thirty I bought a video camera, to record the kids and their activities. Now we whip out our cell phones.
It makes me wonder what stories my kids will tell their grandkids, someday.
"When I was your age, I couldn't just touch my earbud and have my shows downloaded directly to my brain. I had to actually turn on the TV and bring up the DVR!"
"What's a DVR?"
My kids won't be able to tell the story of how they walked to school a mile every day, uphill both ways, through snow in the morning and a heat wave every afternoon. They'll be asked for video proof. By the time my great-grandchildren are putting on their radiation suits for the hover-car trip to sky-school, they'll be automatically recording from the moment they wake up.
They'll have proof that the good old days weren't all that good.
As for me, somewhere around the house I have vinyl records, cassette tapes, CD-Rom discs, and that old VHS camcorder ... and a laptop, podcasts on my cell phone, and a car that talks to my phone as soon as I turn the key. Not that new cars need keys.
The changes come so fast that looking back can make a person both nostalgic and dizzy.
Follow us for history, humor, romance, or general fun, guaranteed or we’ll be really sorry:
· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· 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/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember: Print books don’t need electricity, but be careful with the candles.
October 21, 2025
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.
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/easilydistra...
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.c...
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/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· 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/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember: Various forms of media come and go, but books go on forever.
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.
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/easilydistra...
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.c...
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/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· 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/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember: Various forms of media come and go, but books go on forever.
October 19, 2025
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 for 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 in Red Dead: Redemption. 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 history 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?
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/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· 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/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember: Family is more important than books, but why not both?
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 in Red Dead: Redemption. 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 history 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?
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/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· 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/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember: Family is more important than books, but why not both?
October 12, 2025
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-...
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 also covers 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. That's 5 p.m. October 17th.
The other--on Halloween Eve Eve!--is at the Community Service Center in Kendallville. The former Kendallville High School, it's also in the book.
Read all about it here:
https://commevents.eventcalendarapp.c...
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 imposter syndrome. 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 introverts, 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/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· 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?search...
https://mailchi.mp/6a8b29fa7a15/what-...
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 also covers 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. That's 5 p.m. October 17th.
The other--on Halloween Eve Eve!--is at the Community Service Center in Kendallville. The former Kendallville High School, it's also in the book.
Read all about it here:
https://commevents.eventcalendarapp.c...
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 imposter syndrome. 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 introverts, 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/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· 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?search...
October 6, 2025
Charge Away From Battery Fires
The theme for 2025's Fire Prevention Week is "Charge Into Fire Safety", which I thought was sending the wrong message. Do you want people to Charge Into Fire anything? I submit that we should be charging out of fire.
It turns out the National Fire Prevention Association is talking about safety when dealing with batteries, specifically lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-Ion Energy, or LIE, as I like to call it, was a huge advance in batteries as long as they don't, oh, burst into flames.
LIE batteries can be recharged and are light, which make them perfect for everything from cell phones to electric vehicles. It's truly amazing technology, and if proper care is taken they're pretty safe. But if they're used incorrectly, or if they get damaged, well ...
If LIE batteries are damaged--yes, I made that acronym up, and even though to my knowledge nobody's currently lying about them, I'm kind of proud of it. Where was I? Oh: When they're damaged, LIE batteries can undergo something called a thermal runaway, which is pretty much what it sound like. The fire starts, and doesn't want to go out.
Ever.
This is only if they get damaged by, say, throwing your phone across the room, or crashing your electric car.
The fires burn so hot that the stream of a fire hose may not be able to extinguish the fire. The best way to control an electric car fire is to bring in a backhoe, dig a big hole, fill it with water, and shove the car into it. Then wait. This is impractical on your average freeway, so these batteries often burn up completely before they can be extinguished, taking everything around them along the way.
As a firefighter, I can tell you this is very frustrating.
So, what does the NFPA suggest?
First, buy only certified products. Honestly, I have no idea where you'd go to get cheap uncertified LIE batteries, but the good ones should have a stamp from a nationally recognized testing lab.
I wonder how expensive insurance is for those labs that test batteries?
Second, charge your devices safely, using the cords they come with. Not ones out of the box of old cords you have in a cardboard box in the basement. You know you do.
Charge them according to manufacturer's recommendations. They come with your device. Yes, they DO. You just ignore the paperwork. Don't charge things under a pillow or blanket, or your carpet, or your dog, or anything that could allow heat to build up. Unplug it when it's charged. Basically, don't overcharge it, and stop looking at me that way--do as I say.
Finally, dispose of your batteries--all of your batteries--in a responsible way. "Hey, let's see what happens when we throw this into the campfire!" is not a responsible way.
If you put them in trash or recycling they could get damaged, or insulated from air flow, allowing them to go boom, or at least whoosh. Imagine a burning garbage truck doing an emergency dump in front of your house. You don't want anything, or anyone, doing an emergency dump in front of your house.
On a related note, these batteries don't just give off extreme heat when they burn--they also give off toxic gasses. So if one does start burning, charge away from the fire.
Oh, and one more thing: We're concentrating this year on batteries, but all the other usual fire danger apply. "Be careful" is not a bad rule to live by.
For more but less fun information: https://www.nfpa.org/events/fire-prev...
Here's some trivia: There are fires, or at least the appearance of emergency services, in almost all of our books. Check them out here:
· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· 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/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember: Uncontrolled fires are way more fun in books than they are in real life.
It turns out the National Fire Prevention Association is talking about safety when dealing with batteries, specifically lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-Ion Energy, or LIE, as I like to call it, was a huge advance in batteries as long as they don't, oh, burst into flames.
LIE batteries can be recharged and are light, which make them perfect for everything from cell phones to electric vehicles. It's truly amazing technology, and if proper care is taken they're pretty safe. But if they're used incorrectly, or if they get damaged, well ...
If LIE batteries are damaged--yes, I made that acronym up, and even though to my knowledge nobody's currently lying about them, I'm kind of proud of it. Where was I? Oh: When they're damaged, LIE batteries can undergo something called a thermal runaway, which is pretty much what it sound like. The fire starts, and doesn't want to go out.
Ever.
This is only if they get damaged by, say, throwing your phone across the room, or crashing your electric car.
The fires burn so hot that the stream of a fire hose may not be able to extinguish the fire. The best way to control an electric car fire is to bring in a backhoe, dig a big hole, fill it with water, and shove the car into it. Then wait. This is impractical on your average freeway, so these batteries often burn up completely before they can be extinguished, taking everything around them along the way.
As a firefighter, I can tell you this is very frustrating.
So, what does the NFPA suggest?
First, buy only certified products. Honestly, I have no idea where you'd go to get cheap uncertified LIE batteries, but the good ones should have a stamp from a nationally recognized testing lab.
I wonder how expensive insurance is for those labs that test batteries?
Second, charge your devices safely, using the cords they come with. Not ones out of the box of old cords you have in a cardboard box in the basement. You know you do.
Charge them according to manufacturer's recommendations. They come with your device. Yes, they DO. You just ignore the paperwork. Don't charge things under a pillow or blanket, or your carpet, or your dog, or anything that could allow heat to build up. Unplug it when it's charged. Basically, don't overcharge it, and stop looking at me that way--do as I say.
Finally, dispose of your batteries--all of your batteries--in a responsible way. "Hey, let's see what happens when we throw this into the campfire!" is not a responsible way.
If you put them in trash or recycling they could get damaged, or insulated from air flow, allowing them to go boom, or at least whoosh. Imagine a burning garbage truck doing an emergency dump in front of your house. You don't want anything, or anyone, doing an emergency dump in front of your house.
On a related note, these batteries don't just give off extreme heat when they burn--they also give off toxic gasses. So if one does start burning, charge away from the fire.
Oh, and one more thing: We're concentrating this year on batteries, but all the other usual fire danger apply. "Be careful" is not a bad rule to live by.
For more but less fun information: https://www.nfpa.org/events/fire-prev...
Here's some trivia: There are fires, or at least the appearance of emergency services, in almost all of our books. Check them out here:
· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· 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/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember: Uncontrolled fires are way more fun in books than they are in real life.
October 1, 2025
A Haunted, but Official, Book Press Release
I promise to post something not related to the new book next week!
Yes, it's true: News releases still exist, and authors still release them. Where they fly after that--it's hard to tell. Some authors might find this template useful; if anyone wants to, feel free to send this off to the media/social media/internet thingy/newsletter/skywriting airplane of your choice.
NEWS RELEASE
Albion Authors Write the Haunted History of Noble County
An Albion couple steps into the supernatural with their new book, Haunted Noble County, Indiana.
Published by The History Press, the book is part of its Haunted America series, and comes out on August 12th. Mark R. Hunter and Emily Hunter spent over a year researching the book, and collected stories from many sources, including eyewitnesses.
“Every area has ghost stories,” Mark explains. “We just put them together and added pictures.”
Some of the stories are well known to locals, including the legend of Spook Hill, which inspired a famous poem by Indiana’s former State Poet Laureate. Others stem from events from Noble County’s history, such as the hanging of a horse thief and accused murderer at Diamond Hill, near Ligonier. Still others were told directly to the Hunters, including their favorite: “The Thing In the Basement”.
Do the authors believe?
“I’ve seen a few things,” Mark admits, “and I keep an open mind. But most of the people we talked to directly are absolutely convinced they saw something supernatural, and we respect that.”
They were also able to dispel some rumored hauntings, and in a few cases were disappointed to find no stories at all. “Look at the Noble County Old Jail Museum,” Mark says. “How could a place that atmospheric not be haunted? But we found no ghost stories there.”
Many of the stories they did find were from normal homes, but historical hauntings include places such as the former Kneipp Springs Sanitarium in Rome City, The Strand Theater in Kendallville, and the former Noble County Asylum near Albion.
The resulting book, Haunted Noble County, Indiana, is available on the Arcadia Publishing website, the Hunters’ social media sites, their website at www.markrhunter.com, and various retail locations around Noble County.
It’s not the Hunters’ first foray into local history. Together they produced the books Smoky Days and Sleepless Nights: A Century or So with the Albion Fire Department; Images of America: Albion and Noble County; and Hoosier Hysterical: How the West Became the Midwest Without Moving at All.
Mark R. Hunter is also the author, with Emily’s help, of two humor books: Slightly Off the Mark: The Unpublished Columns, and More Slightly Off the Mark: Why I Hate Cats, and Other Lies. He also has three published books set in Noble County: the novels Coming Attractions, Storm Chaser and its sequel, The Notorious Ian Grant, as well as a related short story collection, Storm Squalls. His young adult adventure, The No-Campfire Girls, is set in southern Indiana. Another novel, Radio Red, is set in Michigan.
Mark is a 911 dispatcher and volunteer firefighter in Albion, and Emily is a trail guide at the Pokagon State Park Saddle Barn. He blogs at https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/ or substack.com/@markrhunter, and can be found hanging out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MarkRHunter/.
Note to Media: Mark and Emily are available for questions and interviews, and can be contacted through the website at www.markrhunter.com.
Yes, it's true: News releases still exist, and authors still release them. Where they fly after that--it's hard to tell. Some authors might find this template useful; if anyone wants to, feel free to send this off to the media/social media/internet thingy/newsletter/skywriting airplane of your choice.
NEWS RELEASE
Albion Authors Write the Haunted History of Noble County
An Albion couple steps into the supernatural with their new book, Haunted Noble County, Indiana.
Published by The History Press, the book is part of its Haunted America series, and comes out on August 12th. Mark R. Hunter and Emily Hunter spent over a year researching the book, and collected stories from many sources, including eyewitnesses.
“Every area has ghost stories,” Mark explains. “We just put them together and added pictures.”
Some of the stories are well known to locals, including the legend of Spook Hill, which inspired a famous poem by Indiana’s former State Poet Laureate. Others stem from events from Noble County’s history, such as the hanging of a horse thief and accused murderer at Diamond Hill, near Ligonier. Still others were told directly to the Hunters, including their favorite: “The Thing In the Basement”.
Do the authors believe?
“I’ve seen a few things,” Mark admits, “and I keep an open mind. But most of the people we talked to directly are absolutely convinced they saw something supernatural, and we respect that.”
They were also able to dispel some rumored hauntings, and in a few cases were disappointed to find no stories at all. “Look at the Noble County Old Jail Museum,” Mark says. “How could a place that atmospheric not be haunted? But we found no ghost stories there.”
Many of the stories they did find were from normal homes, but historical hauntings include places such as the former Kneipp Springs Sanitarium in Rome City, The Strand Theater in Kendallville, and the former Noble County Asylum near Albion.
The resulting book, Haunted Noble County, Indiana, is available on the Arcadia Publishing website, the Hunters’ social media sites, their website at www.markrhunter.com, and various retail locations around Noble County.
It’s not the Hunters’ first foray into local history. Together they produced the books Smoky Days and Sleepless Nights: A Century or So with the Albion Fire Department; Images of America: Albion and Noble County; and Hoosier Hysterical: How the West Became the Midwest Without Moving at All.
Mark R. Hunter is also the author, with Emily’s help, of two humor books: Slightly Off the Mark: The Unpublished Columns, and More Slightly Off the Mark: Why I Hate Cats, and Other Lies. He also has three published books set in Noble County: the novels Coming Attractions, Storm Chaser and its sequel, The Notorious Ian Grant, as well as a related short story collection, Storm Squalls. His young adult adventure, The No-Campfire Girls, is set in southern Indiana. Another novel, Radio Red, is set in Michigan.
Mark is a 911 dispatcher and volunteer firefighter in Albion, and Emily is a trail guide at the Pokagon State Park Saddle Barn. He blogs at https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/ or substack.com/@markrhunter, and can be found hanging out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MarkRHunter/.
Note to Media: Mark and Emily are available for questions and interviews, and can be contacted through the website at www.markrhunter.com.
September 29, 2025
We were on TV--and I forgot
I was really shocked when Emily told me I hadn't officially posted the link to the interview we did with Channel 21 (21Alive) News, which is out of Fort Wayne. What kind of self-promotion is that? None, so here's the link:
https://www.21alivenews.com/2025/09/1...
I guess that makes this a bonus blog, because I've only been doing one a week. The good news is, I've been working on the sequel to Hoosier Hysterical, and I'm up to 7,673 words and some 600 photos. The number of photos that end up in the book will be way less than that.
Of course, more books depend on current sales, reviews, and general attention, I'm just sayin'.
· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· 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/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember: TV, it turns out, IS good for something.
https://www.21alivenews.com/2025/09/1...
I guess that makes this a bonus blog, because I've only been doing one a week. The good news is, I've been working on the sequel to Hoosier Hysterical, and I'm up to 7,673 words and some 600 photos. The number of photos that end up in the book will be way less than that.
Of course, more books depend on current sales, reviews, and general attention, I'm just sayin'.
· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· 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/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember: TV, it turns out, IS good for something.
September 26, 2025
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.
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/easilydistra...
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.
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.c...
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/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· 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/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember: Every time you see an author, your brain glows a little. Like a ghost.
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/easilydistra...
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.
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.c...
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/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· 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/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember: Every time you see an author, your brain glows a little. Like a ghost.
September 18, 2025
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-c...
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?
Remember, every time you miss an author event, Edgar Allan Poe rolls over in his grave. You don't want to wake that guy up.
(But if you can't make it, find our books at:)
· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· 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/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember: Some authors only appear on the full moon, so be nice to them.
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-c...
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?
Remember, every time you miss an author event, Edgar Allan Poe rolls over in his grave. You don't want to wake that guy up.
(But if you can't make it, find our books at:)
· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO
· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/&quo... R Hunter"
· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
· 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/vi...
· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?search...
Remember: Some authors only appear on the full moon, so be nice to them.
