Back in the Saddle — The trouble — No Horses!

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The auditoriums are ready, the audience is not…

I swung back in the saddle. I’m ready to ride. My problem? There aren’t any horses. Well, let me change that…there aren’t many horses. Since the end of September, I’ve participated in five events open to the public and two that were not. Based on my experience, the public event attendance was half, maybe as low as a third in a couple instances, as “normal.” This included two big ones, the On Point Book Fair, held in WestShore Plaza (one of the largest malls in Tampa) and the Christmas Arts & Crafts Show at the Cultural Center of Charlotte County (FL). I sold books, (did well at one), but that was because most that I sold were to readers who came specifically to get my latest novels. The two book signings at independent stores were successful, but the owners lamented how light traffic had been. Zoom attendance was so-so at the presentation I made for a public library. The two private book club presentations were fully attended. The lesson? Folks are unwilling to venture out of ‘familiar ground’ even with a battery of safe-guards in place.
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Mixon is holding the shows in a spacious area with lots of elbow room.

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Mixon’s Harvest/Christmas Show is a Florida West Coast tradition!

 

 

 

What are the alternatives? Continue to blockade ourselves in our bunkers. Get out and try to breath life into the deflated balloon that is our social and cultural life. I choose the latter. I’ll be at Mixon’s for their Harvest/Christmas Show this Saturday, Nov. 21st from 10 to 3. I’ll be presenting a power point historical sketch of ‘Thomas Edison, his life in Florida,’ from 1 to 2. Mixon’s is located at 2525 27th Street East, Bradenton. I’ll be at Matlacha Menagerie, at 4504 Pine Island Road, Matlacha, FL, 10 to 3 Saturday the 28th. I’ll be doing a meet and greet and introducing two books! Come visit me! On December 1st, I’ll be presenting three historical classes at Master the Possibilities, in Ocala, FL. These are hybrid seminars that you can attend in person or by virtual means. To participate go to   www.masterthepossibilities.org  to sign up and learn more! All my events are Covid cautious! Masks and spacing are observed. 
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Master the Possibilities does a great job of insuring attendee safety.

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The Hangin’ Oak, says hello again. FWARPLA winner.

I have two books to introduce! One is A Christmas Story Collection and the other is an ‘updated’ re-release of my first prize winner, the suspense, mystery…The Hangin’ Oak. The Hangin’ Oak won the Florida Writers Association Royal Palm Literary Award several years ago. A Christmas Story Collection is needed relief from politics, covid, violence, and the 2020 mess. It’s 12 tales will make you laugh, maybe cry, but it will put you in a holiday mood. A special section are stories about GI experiences, at Christmas time, during WWII. They’re available on Amazon, from my webpage, or by ordering from the book stores listed on my site (in print and e-book).
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The perfect stocking stuffer for the reader on your gift list!

The fat man on the cover is yours truly with my beloved Sandy.
Hope to see you soon! 

 

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