Book Tour in Ohio

Blue Jacket Books in Xenia

I had a wonderful time on my book tour last week in Ohio.

I spoke at four locations: 

Blue Jacket Books in Xenia

(with one of the largest and best selections of used and rare books I've ever seen)

Blanchester Public Library

Books N More in Wilmington

and

at the Friends of the Library Annual Dinner in Amherst

Books N More in Wilmington, Ohio

The Conversations Club in Wilmington

The Conversations Club in Wilmington is a woman's group that has existed for over a century!

Books N More

 Books N More in downtown Wilmington has a great selection of toys and gifts in addition to all of the books!

The Friends of the Library Annual Dinner in Amherst, Ohio, was a great event! I was the featured author for this gathering.

Program for the Annual Author Dinner in Amherst, OH

President Sharon Vollmer introduces me after lunch

The lunch drew around 140 people in support of the Amherst Library!

Inscription Rock on Kelleys Island

The islands of Lake Erie hold some unique history. On Kelly's Island, there is a large slab of limestone where Native Americans used to carve messages.

It is thought that these pictographs gave information about hunting and fishing sites on and around the islands and told of events in the area.

Inscription Rock under protective roof

While the rock has been weathered over time, there was a sketch made of the pictographs by an army Captain that preserves some of what has been eroded away.

This is a representation of a drawing made by Captain Seth Eastman (of the US Army) in 1850 

The rock is over 32 feet x 21 feet

The weathered carvings are still evident on the rock

Enbridge Pipeline: Replacing the section that leaked

Illinois Book Tour

 I had a wonderful time touring in Illinois 
with my books, 

A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Walk
and 
A 1,000-Mile Walk on the Beach

I gave a lecture at the beautiful Lake Forest Open Lands Association property called

Mellody Farm.

Gates to the once grand estate

This land was once part of the 1,000 acre estate of the Armour family (of the Armour meatpacking fortune). 

 Fifty acres of this estate are now preserved and efforts are underway to restore the land to pre-farming days. There are diverse habitats found here.

John Sentell, President of Lake Forest Open Lands, introduces me to the audience

Resident turtle at Lake Forest Open Lands

 In between my book tour events, I spent some time at the gathering of regional independent booksellers at the Heartland Fall Forum held in Rosemont, IL.

 It was wonderful to mingle with bookseller friends and to celebrate the indie spirit.

Evergreen Park Public Library

My last appearance in Illinois was in Evergreen Park at the lovely library there. I had time to stop in at Anderson's Bookshop (they graciously supplied books for my library appearance).

Anderson's Bookshop, a wonderful indie bookstore

Anderson's!

These boots are made for HIKING!

While on my book tour, these boots travel with me. It's only fitting since they were with me for 700 miles of my last 1,000-mile adventure.

My 700-mile boots!

People come up to the boots at events, pick one up and turn them around to check the wear on the soles. 

"These look like they have a few miles left in them," they say.

"I still wear them. They're incredibly comfortable," I tell them.

It's only when you see them side-by-side with a new pair of the same model that you see how far they've travelled, how rocks and rain and mud and miles have transformed them.

New and old

Sole check

I only hike in Keen boots. 

And in these photos, I'm sure you can tell why.

They conform to my stride

Promotional consideration given