Presentation 2

The second presentation for the book (this time at the Library) was a little lighter on attendance, but mom got to be there. I also got to meet with a representative from my publishing company who said that the phone has been ringing off the hook for pre-orders since the story in the paper and the event at the Winery (apparently one of the busiest pre-order periods they’ve ever seen this far from the deadline, which is still another month away).


I now have two more events scheduled while I’m here (both by request): Tuesday, I will be on the morning radio show “Talk of the Town” at 8:30 a.m. (ugh, that’s insanely early for me). And then at noon I will do a presentation for the Kiwanis club!


Also, on Saturday I will be filming a short web video documentary about the book with local videographer Greg Allen. Should be fun!

What a blast!

www.butnotforgottenbook.com


I was expecting about 25 people to be in attendance for tonight’s presentation on the book at the People’s Winery. But we ended up with a standing-room only crowd of about 40!


After calming my nerves a bit with a couple glasses of wine, the presentation went really well. The crowd really responded with a lot of enthusiasm. Afterward, I signed cards for folks to insert into the books they plan to order in advance, and others said they would wait until I come back for a book release party once the books are printed and distributed. 


Bridgewater Catering’s Kado Downs came through on short notice with a beautiful selection of meats, cheeses, fruits, and desserts. I spent about an hour after the presentation talking with a number of local historians and dignitaries (including Logansport mayor Mike Fincher).  


Also, it looks like I might do doing the local radio show, “Talk of the Town,” Thursday morning (more details to come on that once I work out the details).


And for an added bonus of coincidence: I was talking to a couple just before starting the presentation who had made the 30-minute drive from Kokomo just for the event. Turns out, the man was my girlfriend Della’s English literature teacher in High School in Kokomo, who just happened to be married to a Logansport native and the two are members of the Historical Society!


I'm pretty much exhausted and looking forward to tomorrow when I have no events planned so I can just be lazy. The next presentation is Thursday at the Library, so we’ll see how it goes when I’m completely stone sober!

Day Two: Last preparations

Things are just about ready for Tuesday night’s presentation at The People’s Winery: the slideshow is ready; all of the technology is in place (projector, audio, etc.); and, most importantly, the wine is purchased and ready for consumption!


I got to sample the various wines that are made right on the premises, and I have to say, they are outstanding! And the place is absolutely beautiful!


I also ate at my favorite burger joint, Mr. Happy Burger, today. I had my traditional tenderloin deluxe with a side of french fries and tarter sauce — and probably the best Coke I have ever had (owner Bob Shanks allegedly taste tests the mix every couple days to ensure that it has just the right balance of syrup and carbonation — take that McDonalds!). I would have posted a picture, but I devoured it before I even had time to think about pulling out my camera!

Day One in Logansport

Della and I met friends Adam and Maria Rogers at the Little Turtle Waterway (a public park downtown) and witnessed a balloon release by parents of children who have passed away at an early age. It was so touching to see the camaraderie of these folks who come together to share their stories or perseverance and help each other deal with these tragic passings. It was great to see such a turnout, but sad at the same time that there are so many young families in the community that have been forced to cope with such a painful loss.


On a happier note, we had our first meal from a great local restaurant this afternoon — B&K West root beer and hot dogs, complete with car-hop service. Della loves onions, and she’s always asking for extras at other restaurants. But not at B&K … they really know how to load up theirs dogs — and their “spanish sauce,” (a.k.a. chili for you East-Coasters) is awesome!

Front Page News

Two Advil and a glass of Mountain Dew for breakfast! That drive from Philly to Logansport gets longer every year — or maybe I’m just getting older.


So I woke up to see that I made the front page of the local newspaper, the Pharos-Tribune, but Butler’s advancement to the Final Four did not! A nice write-up about my book, complete with the schedule of the events I have planned for the next two weeks and the links to where you can pre-order the book: www.butnotforgottenbook.com


See the story from the Pharos-Tribune here:
http://goo.gl/x8gAx

We’ll be heading out for Logansport in just a few minutes. Technology is great and all, but I remember a time when I could just pack a bag and walk out the door. Now I have to gather up all of the essentials of travel in the digital age — the adapters and attachments for the MacBook, iPad, iPods, and two iPhones. I’m glad I’m not trying to get through airport security with all of this electronic stuff!

Final Preparations

The giant cow outside Mr. Happy Burger West

I am about to leave the office and pack for tomorrow’s departure for Logansport. For the first of the two weeks I am away, I will be officially unemployed for the first time since 1997 — a one week furlough.

Since I started writing my book and took a real interest in the plight of small business owners — who are struggling to compete in a world dominated by chains and big box stores — I have religiously made it a point to ONLY shop and dine at locally owned establishments while in Logansport. If I could buy gas at an old independent filling station (like I could when I was in high school), I would do that too. I’m proud to say that I have not purchased a thing from Walmart in over three years.

I’m so looking forward to a chocolate malt from Sycamore Drive In, a spanish hot dog from B&K, a grinder from Boardwalk Cafe, french fries and tartar sauce from Hap’s, and the absolute BEST chinese food I have ever had (and I live two blocks from Chinatown in Philly) at China Lane (also a favorite of Della’s).


Watch for updates from the road and my blogs about the book tour, experiences and encounters along the way, and my sampling of the finest cuisine Logansport has to offer.

The Presentation

I finally have the presentation done for the three events I’ll be doing in Logansport over the next two weeks. Now all I have to do is rehearse it with the slides. I’m fortunate to have my girlfriend Della helping out, who still remembers shorthand and took notes while I was talking it through. And Evernote, which will allow me to access my notes wherever I am so I can rehearse anywhere, anytime using my computer, laptop, iPad, or iPhone. Ah, technology!


Now, as long as the bulb doesn’t burn out in the projector, I should be good to go!

The Other Side of the Conversation

Restored stained-glass skylight at the Logansport City Building. Photo by KEVIN BURKETT

So I did my first telephone interview today as the “subject” instead of the reporter — a very odd experience.


There will be a story in Logansport’s Pharos-Tribune (probably in Sunday’s edition) about the book and the upcoming events I have scheduled back home over the next two weeks to promote “But Not Forgotten.”


As we ended our conversion, I told the reporter, Denise Massie, that “I’m much better at asking questions than answering them,” then directed her to the book’s website to fill in the gaps where I uhmed and hmmed. She was quite understanding…


Saturday’s departure for Logansport is coming up pretty quickly. I have business cards in hand, signature cards ready, the slideshow completed, and, thanks to good friend Maria Rogers, posters are up in Logansport and I have a digital projector setup and ready to go.


Now I just have to get past my anxiety over public speaking and rehearse the presentation…I’m sure the wine will help!

My first (mini) book tour

As most of you know, I have just completed my first book, “But Not Forgotten,” which is in part an autobiographical collection of memories from growing up in Logansport, Ind., in the 1970s and ’80s — but it’s also a historical analysis of my hometown, and a candid look at the social, economic, and racial struggles the city has endured in the last 50 years. 


It’s been a long three-year journey, but it finally feels like all of that work is coming to fruition. On Saturday, I will be making my first trip back to Logansport since having the book picked up by M.T. Publishing. 


I’ll be doing a number of presentations to promote the book, but also to help a new startup business in Logansport — The People’s Winery — get off to a running start. I’ll also be using this as an opportunity to promote the excellent Cass County Historical Society, which is desperately in need of funding.


It should be an interesting two-week trip, and I’m really looking forward to getting feedback from the folks back home on the book. I’ll be writing about the trip and the experience here, so check back soon. In the meantime, you can read more about the book, find excerpts, and pre-order the book at my website:


butnotforgottenbook


Or my publisher’s site: 
mtpublishing 


…Maybe I’ll see you next week in Logansport!