Jean Peelen, host of Gray Matters on WSLR, 96.5 LPFM Sarasota, Florida interviews Dennis Blanchard about his writing and work as an author. This is a partial recording of the entire show. When the podcast of the entire show is available (including the two other authors work that were part of the show) a link will be provided to that podcast.
I’ve added a PayPal button to the book website
so that readers can now order a signed copy of the book online, using
PayPal. If I’ve implemented it correctly, it should work. There is a
entry box so a customer can ask for a specific message in the signature.
Now, to see if it works. There is also the option of sending checks or money orders. Sorry it took so long to implement this, I need to clone myself.
Today, Three Hundred Zeroes, received the 2010 Next Generation Indie Book Finalist Award. I was thrilled. I was thrilled because the Appalachian Trail, and the people that hike it are getting favorable press. This book shows the trail as a human experience and something that we, as a nation, should cherish and support. To me personally, it is perhaps one of our most important national treasures. We should strive to protect it, nourish it and honor it for what it is, a national treasure. Thanks to all of you that are making this book a success, you’re the reason this book is receiving attention and ultimately, the Appalachian Trail as well.
When I read this, I just had to laugh. It has to do with an event that occurred on the trail that is documented in the North Carolina chapter.
“K1: I wanted to remark on your book, Three Hundred Zeroes, that I bought from you in Dayton, (Ohio) this past weekend. I started reading it yesterday and could not put it down. I got half way and had to. I’m looking forward to finishing it this weekend. Great piece of work, great humor, and extremely interesting! Congratulations!
I received this inspiring email today, from Jean, what can I say?:
I wanted to take the time to tell you something
about your book. I took it with me to New York last week, where I was
dealing with a difficult family crisis. I don’t usually read much
non-fiction, and surely not about hiking. But I started reading your
book
on the plane.
This just in: Three Hundred Zeroes has been
named a Finalist in the Travel/Travel Guide Category of the
2010
Next Generation Indie Book Awards !
It wasn’t the winner, but what this
means is it did come very close. In the next few weeks I’ll get the
specifics and Indie Book Awards committee allows me to put a medallion on
the book cover inidcating being a finalist.
It is wonderful to know that
a group of independent judges have found Three Hundred Zeroes worthy of
such an award. Thanks to all of you out there that have been supporting
me in this effort.
I’ll post more here once I get the complete details. The committee wrote me this morning just to let me know that the book was considered a finalist and indicated I’ll get more complete information in the next few weeks.
Thanks all…
Dennis, “K1”
I used to sweat out Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. When I was younger it was flowers for Mom and tools for Dad. Then I discovered books. They were the perfect gift. They’re enjoyed over some period of time, they don’t wilt like flowers and they don’t mean more work, like tools. Books are to be enjoyed at one’s leisure. To me, a book is a very personal gift, one that says, “Hey, here is a story I think you will enjoy.”
Three Hundred Zeroes is a story that can be enjoyed by Mom, or Dad. It is humorous, full of adventure, danger, joy and determination. The story takes the reader far from the humdrum, fast paced world we live in every day and takes the reader exploring the mountainous Appalachian landscape. You’ll meet a cast of characters with names like, “Blitz,” “Speedy,” “New York Minute,” and “Bone Lady,” amongst many others, that will capture your imagination.
If they’ve already read Three Hundred Zeroes, other Appalachian Trail stories worth sharing with Mom and Dad are “It’s Always Up,” by the Mountain Marching Momas and “Skywalker ,” by six-foot eleven, Bill Walker.
Enjoy.
Two updates this evening:
First: I will be attending the countries largest ham radio convention in Dayton, Ohio. The “Hamvention,” as it is known, usually draws over 50,000 “hams” from all over the country and world and this year should be no exception. It falls on 13-16 May this year. I originally had no intentions of going this year. One usually has to reserve a room and make travel arrangements early to be there, everything sells out early. A good number of my ham friends (many I’ve never met, hams are like that) have been asking me to attend so they can get a signed copy of the book. A few of them have helped me find a place to stay and I’m hitching a ride, so I will be there. I hope to meet many of you that have read the book, and many who plan to.
I’ll be spending most of my time at an event known as FDIM, a sort of convention within the convention. Hams that like to work with very low power radios and backpacking radios have a Four Days In May event (FDIM) each year that specifically concentrates on such radio technology. I will certainly spend some time in the main event area as well and hope to meet all that have indicated interest. Thanks again.
Second: I’m working with an organization called BookShare to make Three Hundred Zeroes available via their service. They provide, at no cost, books to blind individuals. I’ve had several blind radio amateurs contact me about making the book available and with the help of Betsey Doane, ham radio call letters: K1EIC, that should be a reality soon. Thanks Betsey.