Save the Date

After all my fussing about what to read at the Four-Eyed Frog, it turned out I probably should have fussed more.  There was a good turnout and a respectful audience.  What I had not considered was that Clarisse, the protagonist in the story of the same name, has a mouth like a sewer!  It’s not that it bothers me to use that language, but looking at the faces of some in the audience, I realized that it might not have been the best choice!  Not only that, but one of the things that I enjoy most about this story is how Clarisse names every color she sees.  That seems to work well in print because you can italicize the name of the color . . . you know it’s a color.  But I found it difficult when I was reading to make sure that I read in such a way that it was clear I was referring to a color.

It turns out Joel Crockett (who, with his brother, Jeremy owns the Four-Eyed Frog) and I went to and graduated from the same high school.  And in the same year!  We didn’t know each other but serendipity was at work!

Next up is a reading in Guerneville at Susan Ryan’s River Reader.  Should be fun and for sure I’ll read something else.   Here’s what Susan Ryan sent out about the reading:

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April 9, Thursday at 7:00 pm
Local Author Michael Fels
Gone to Ground
Reading, Signing, & Strawberry Shortcake

Gone to Ground is a collection of nine fictional short stories and one, three-part memoir. These stories are touching and heartwarming, rich with characters that burst with life and capture your heart. Silver Hawk, the fearless alter-ego of a boy ordered to burn his father’s books; Orin, a depressed Viet Nam vet who digs a hole in the west Texas desert and moves in; Clarisse, expert at helping her customers find the perfect paint but can’t manage to find the color in her own life: these are only three of the many characters who, after meeting in Gone to Ground, you will want to introduce to your friends.

About Michael Fels. Michael lives with his wife Luisa in Cazadero. He is the former principal and upper grades’ teacher at Fort Ross School and has held positions in education on the Navajo reservation in Chinle, Arizona and in El Paso, Texas. For twenty years he was an administrator at California State University, Los Angeles where he was the director of University Judicial Affairs and the director of International Student Services and Programs. He currently operates a consulting business in the field of international education exchange and serves as the volunteer Chairman of the Board for a non-profit hospital in the Los Angeles area. In his spare time Michael studies Brazilian Portuguese, enjoys photography, and writes stage plays. He and Luisa have twelve grandchildren.

River Reader, 16355 Main Street, Guerneville, CA 95446, 

707-869-2240

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preparing to read this afternoon at the Four-Eyed Frog in Gualala is more stressful than I had imagined. You think it would be simple to choose a couple of stories to read but it turns out to be complicated.

The idea behind a bookstore reading is to generate a "buzz" about the book; to support the bookstore by encouraging attendance at an interesting event; and to let the author and readers meet face to face. So, do you read your personal favorite? The one that is most "entertaining?" Or the one that is best suited to pique the interest of your audience? With luck, they are all the same. That's what I've been grousing about.

Right now, I'm leaning toward reading, "Clarisse." Why? It's a good example of how I like to write. I hope that it will entertain the audience and that Clarisse, the main character, will be somebody with whom, by the end of story, a listener/reader can identify. Clarisse is not charismatic; quite the opposite. She is opinionated, tough and often her own worst enemy. She can cope with the world but now, maybe, she is on the verge of doing more.

Then, I think I'll also read one of my three, short Lebanese memoirs. I read "The Professor" on the radio and the recording is posted on this blog. So maybe I'll read "Up at Harissa." I haven't read that before and I think it's an amazing story. Click the link to watch a short video of Harissa.

I'm hoping that I'll have time to put the story into context for the audience since it's important for them to know how I came to be in Lebanon and to meet the men who are the subjects of the memoir. My hope with these three pieces is that they will help us see the Lebanese as people with whom we can empathize.

Next up is a reading at the River Reader in Guerneville (April 9th, 7:00 PM).

I'll be a pro by then!

Here's to good writing and good reading!

Gone to Ground is available at Amazon.com; PublishAmerica and at Independent Bookstores everywhere.

Will you write a review?

I've just finished reading another of Michael Pollan's books: In Defense of Food. The point he makes, and supports and elaborates in fascinating detail is "Eat food. Mostly plants. Not too much." If you haven't read it, put it on your list!

Now I want to do more to promote my own Gone to Ground. Yes, books have been sold! (I've just received my February royalty check and we're going out for pizza!) Most sales have been through Amazon.com. We've planned readings/signings at The Four-eyed Frog in Gualala at 4:00 PM on Saturday, 21 March, and at The River Reader in Guerneville but I'd like to do more.

My question: If you've read Gone to Ground, would you be willing to write a short review for Amazon.com? You needn't have purchased the book from them. Just log on to www.amazon.com, click on "books" go to "Michael David Fels," click on Gone to Ground and write something about the book.

What can it hurt?

And . . . . if you enjoyed my book and think others might too, would you consider asking your local bookstore if they would host a reading/signing? I'll arrange for a complimentary copy of the book to be sent to them so they know what they are getting into. If your bookstore is interested, please have them contact Judy Rosales at her email: jrosales@mcn.org.

Here's to good reading and writing!

Gone to Ground is available at amazon.com, publishamerica.com,
and at independent bookstores everywhere.

I've just finished reading two Michael Pollan books: The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food. Each is a powerful and clarifying statement illuminating what and how we eat and how that impacts our health and the health of the planet.

Next, I want to do more to promote Gone to Ground. Yes, books have been sold (I just received my royalty check for February and we're going out for pizza!!). Most sales have been through Amazon.com. We've planned readings/signings at the Four-Eyed Frog in Gualala and the River Reader in Guerneville for March, but we can do more.

My question: If you've read Gone to Ground, would you be willing to write a short review for Amazon.com? You needn't have purchased the book from them. Just log on to www.amazon.com, go to "books"; go to "Michael David Fels"; click on Gone to Ground and say something about the book.

What can it hurt?

Also . . . if you enjoyed the book and think others might, too, would you consider asking your local bookstore, wherever, if they would consider hosting a reading/signing? I'll arrange for a complimentary copy of the book to be sent to the bookstore so they know what they are getting into.


Here's to good reading, good writing, good sharing!

Michael

Gone to Ground is available at amazon.com, publishamerica.com, and at independent bookstores everywhere.

Gone to Ground is available on Amazon.com; through the publisher (PublishAmerica) or through independent booksellers everywhere.

Can you help?

I've just finished reading two Michael Pollan books: The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food. Each is a powerful and clarifying statement illuminating what and how we eat and how that impacts our health and the health of the planet.

Now, I want to do more to promote Gone to Ground. Yes, books have been sold (I just received my royalty check for February and we're going out for pizza!!). Most sales have been through Amazon.com. We've planned readings/signings at the Four-Eyed Frog in Gualala and the River Reader in Guerneville for March, but we can do more.

My question: If you've read Gone to Ground, would you be willing to write a short review for Amazon.com? You needn't have purchased the book from them. Just log on to www.amazon.com, go to "books"; go to "Michael David Fels"; click on Gone to Ground and say something about the book.

What can it hurt?

Also . . . if you enjoyed the book and think others might, too, would you consider asking your local bookstore, wherever, if they would consider hosting a reading/signing? I'll arrange for a complimentary copy of the book to be sent to the bookstore so they know what they are getting into.


Here's to good reading, good writing, good sharing!

Michael
Gone to Ground is available at amazon.com, publishamerica.com, and at independent bookstores everywhere.

Care to write a review?

I've just finished reading two Michael Pollan books: The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food. Both are powerful and clarifying statements that illuminate what and how we eat and how that impacts our health and the health of the planet.

Now (thanks to Anthony Solana) I'm engaged in reading The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. If you think that I'm behind in my non-fiction reading, you're right!!

The Tipping Point has made me realize that I'm not doing enough to promote Gone to Ground. Yes, books have been sold (I just received my royalty check for February and we're going out for pizza!!). Most sales have been through Amazon.com. Readings/signings at the Four-Eyed Frog in Gualala and the River Reader in Guerneville are planned for March, but I think there is more to do.

Here's my question: If you have read Gone to Ground, would you be willing to write a short review for Amazon.com? You needn't have bought the book from them. Just log on to www.amazon.com, go to "books"; go to "Michael David Fels"; click on Gone to Ground and say something about the book.

What can it hurt?

Also . . . if you enjoyed reading the book and think that others might, would you consider asking your local bookstore (anywhere!) if they would consider to host a reading/signing? I will arrange for a complimentary copy of the book to be sent to the bookstore so they know what they are getting into.

Have books, will travel.

Here's to good reading, good writing, good sharing!

Michael

Gone to Ground is available at amazon.com; publishamerica.com and at independent bookstores everywhere.