Hi, Everyone,
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for supporting my writing adventure. Kathy and I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting and talking with so many of you during our book tours throughout Northern and Central California. Thanks to you, Badges, Bears, and Eagles and The Game Warden’s Son have done extremely well. It’s because of your support, kind words, and encouragement that I’m now working on Book Number 3.
Kathy pointing at a pod of passing humpbacks. Photo by author
It was early September when Kathy and I arrived in Pacific Grove to find the whole town buzzing with excitement. Something strange was going on, the likes of which no one had ever seen. Water temperatures in Monterey Bay were reportedly five degrees warmer than normal for this time of year. Baitfish numbers were off the charts, and wherever anchovies, sardines, and other prey species swam, congregations of larger fish, seabirds, and marine mammals followed. Among the marine mammals in relentless pursuit of these tiny, silver-sided fish were sea lions, dolphins, and the largest creatures on earth—the whales.
Outdoor Writers Association of California president Tom Martens and yours truly.
Last week, the Outdoor Writers Association of California presented me with the “Best Outdoor Book of 2016” award for my sequel, The Game Warden’s Son. What an honor to be recognized by this prestigious group of outstanding professional writers. I couldn’t be more excited!
Last Saturday’s Redding Costco book signing was special for Kathy and me. We had the opportunity to visit with many old friends, lots of wonderful new friends, and even a few future game wardens. We also sold out in record time. Thank you, everyone!
The next stop on our book tour is the Chico Costco, Saturday, February 11; I’ll be signing copies of The Game Warden’s Son and Badges, Bears, and Eagles.
Please scroll down to see more photos from the Redding Costco book signing.
I can’t thank the Redding Writers Forum enough for the warm welcome you gave Kathy and me yesterday. Giving my presentation about The Game Warden’s Son to such an interesting, intelligent, and gracious group of fellow writers was a gratifying experience I will not soon forget.
Please scroll down to see more photos from the event.
Ring-necked pheasants were plentiful in and around the rice fields of Butte County during the 1950s. Photo by author.
“That’s strange,” said Berg, pulling to a stop and reaching for his binoculars. “What’s that fancy new car doing out here in the middle of all these rice fields?” It was mid-morning in early August 1954, and the enthusiastic young rookie warden was patrolling for pheasant poachers near the Northern California farming community of Biggs.
Kathy and I had a great time last Saturday at our Chico Barnes and Noble book signing. Longtime friends from Orland, Chico, and Fish and Game came by for a visit, and we made a passel of new friends. Thanks so much to everyone who dropped by. Thank you, also, to the staff at the Chico Barnes and Noble store for hosting our event.
Our next stops on the book tour are the Redding Writers Forum on January 14 and the International Sportsmen’s Expo in Sacramento on January 21.
Warden Wally Callan in the ghost town of Newville, circa 1962. Photo by author.
Out of beer and three sheets to the wind, the three deer poachers turned west on Newville Road and headed northeast toward Paskenta. Rounding the first bend, they passed the ghost town of Newville. Newville had thrived from the early 1850s until 1929, when all but a few buildings burned to the ground. During its heyday, the little pioneer town boasted a general store, two livery stables, two saloons, a blacksmith shop, two hotels, a post office, a race track, and a service station. Now only the ramshackle, two-story Newville Hotel and the falling-down service station remained.
Last Saturday, Kathy and I had the pleasure of doing a book signing at Lassen Volcanic National Park‘s Art and Wine Festival. We had a ball signing books and meeting a lot of wonderful people. Thank you to all who came.
Thank you, also, to Melanie Allen and the Lassen Association for inviting us. As passionate supporters of our national parks, Kathy and I are honored to have The Game Warden’s Son in the bookstores of the Lassen Park visitor centers.
I’ve often said that the reason I enjoyed the old Andy Griffith Show so much was because I practically grew up there. Growing up in Orland was as close to living in Mayberry as you could get without being a member of the cast.
My family moved from the Los Angeles area to Orland, a small farming community at the northern end of California’s Sacramento Valley, in 1960. By the end of our first day in school, my brother Kenny and I felt as if we’d lived there all our lives. The following Saturday, we joined several of our new friends and walked the railroad tracks to Stony Creek, where I caught my first smallmouth bass and began a childhood adventure that would last until I left for college years later.