Thursday, November 26, 2015

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'd like to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving.

May your day be filled with love, laughter, and loads of food!

 
 
 
 

Sunday, November 15, 2015

NaNoWriMo 2015!

It's November, do you know what that means? It's National Novel Writing Month (also known as NaNoWriMo)!

 
 
The goal of NaNoWriMo is to write the rough draft of a novel with a minimum total word count of 50,000 words. The catch is that you've only got the 30 days in November to write it.
 
 
This is often affectionately referred to as "30 Days and 30 Nights of Literary Abandon."

I've participated in NaNoWriMo every November since 2011. I enjoy the challenge, the company (the web page is full of forums and chat rooms where you can chat with fellow writers, offer advice, vent frustrations, and share the writing experience).

Noisy Neighbors


This year, I'm attempting to finish a (very) rough draft of a science fiction novel. I'm calling it "Noisy Neighbors." It'll be a while before a polished draft that's ready for publication, but I'm enjoying the mess and struggle that comes with composing the first draft.

My current total word count is 38,682. So, slowly but surely, I'm getting there.

Alright, enough procrastinating! Time for me to get back to work! Back to the writing cave I go!

For more information, please visit: www.NaNoWriMo.org



 















Hmm, I seem to have lost my 2013 winner badge...



Friday, September 25, 2015

Upcoming Events

5th Annual Florence Festival of Books

Saturday, September 26, 2015
Florence Events Center
10 am until 4 pm

This annual event gives the public a chance to meet local authors and purchased signed copies of their books. The number of participants increases every year. If I remember right, there were around 60 authors in attendance last year. There are also usually a few publishers. So, if you're interested in becoming a published author, feel free to visit those booths to learn more.

There are usually events spaced out throughout the day including book and poetry reading, live music (usually a piano player), and the kitchen sells a variety of lunch options.

I'll have all four of my published books available in my booth. Please, stop by and say "hi."

www.FlorenceFestivalofBooks.org

www.eventscenter.org






1st Annual Oregon Authors Day

Saturday, October 10th, 2015
Coos History Museum
10 am until 3 pm

The museum will be hosting its first annual Oregon Author Day in the newly constructed building on Front Street in Coos Bay. Come visit with some of your favorite local authors and check out the shiny new building. At least a dozen local authors will be in attendance. They'll be representing both non-fiction and fiction genres.

www.cooshistory.org

Sunday, May 10, 2015

2015 Market Season

Hello everyone!

I hope you're all enjoying the wonderful spring weather that we've had here on the Oregon coast over the past few weeks. I know all the sunshine and warmth has made the plants in my garden happy. It seems like nearly everything is either budding or blooming right now.

This post is a little late, but the 2015 farmers market season kicked off last week. I'm happy to report that my first few markets were all successful. As usual, I brought my combination of handmade crafts and my books. We had a few rain showers on Wednesdays and of course there's the charming Oregon "breeze" (read: wind gusts), but my fellow vendors and I didn't let these complications stop us. The market manager at the Coos Bay Farmers Market said that she had the most vendors that she's ever had on opening day.

I'd like to send out a heartfelt thank you to all of the people that visited local farmers markets over the past week. Your support means a lot to both myself and my fellow crafters, bakers, and farmers.

For the 2015 market season, I've had to cut back on the number of markets I attend. I'll be cutting back to two regular farmers markets per week plus a few festivals and other special events throughout the summer.


The following is my current 2015 market schedule:




Coos Bay Farmers Market-- every Wednesday on Central Avenue from 9 am until 3 pm. The largest local farmers market.

My booth is located in front of the quilt shop, Threads that Bind, on the first block. I'll be there every week (weather permitting) from May until October.

Coos Bay has a smaller Sunday market that begins in August and runs through the end of October. This market is located in the parking lot of the Coos Bay visitor center. I'm going to try to attend this market as well this year, but I may not be there every week. It depends on how hectic my week has been (I have a 2nd job in addition to running my crafting business).






Coquille Valley Farmers Market-- every Saturday from 10 am until 4 pm. This market is located at the old mill site in Coquille. The old buildings have been torn down, so we set up in the large grassy field.

I'm planning on setting up at this market on most Saturdays this season (weather permitting). I will be missing a few weeks in order to attend other Saturday events.

Market runs from May until the middle of September each year.

Directions-- If you're heading east on highway 42, turn right at the first traffic light. The market sets up in the grassy field down the hill on the right. If you're heading west, it'll be the last traffic light and you'll be turning left.


Green Acres Grange-- The Green Acres Grange hosts a two day sale several times a year. The vendors are usually a mix of crafters, farmers, and people selling second hand items. There's always a variety of different items available for sale. The grange also has a small kitchen. They usually have coffee, muffins, and donuts available in the morning. In the afternoon, you can purchase an affordable hot lunch (burgers, fries, sandwiches).

Do to my busy schedule, I'm only planning on attending on the Saturdays this year (the markets are Fri-Sat). Doors open at 9 am and close at 4 pm.

Directions: From Coos Bay head south on highway 101. At the juncture, turn left onto highway 42. Just past the small store on "Confusion Hill" turn left (be on the look out for the Green Acres sign). After crossing the railroad tracks, turn right and follow the windy road for half a mile or so. The grange will be on your left side.

I will be set up at the Green Acres Grange on the following Saturdays:

August 1st
October 3rd
December 5th





Florence Festival of Books-- This annual event will be held at the Florence Events Center on Saturday, September 26th. I'll be there with signed copies of all of my published books. Each year, the event grows and they add more activities. I'll write an additional blog post with more details when the event gets closer.



And, that's it for now. I'll continue to add updates and I schedule more events throughout the season. Cross your fingers that 2015 is a great market season!

As always, thank you for supporting my little crafting business.

~~ Hannah

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Purchasing Books

Hello!

Here on the Oregon coast we've been fortunate to enjoy-like weather for the past week or so. Meanwhile, according to the news, much of the rest of the country has been experiencing an especially cold, a cold, snowy winter. Sorry guys! Here's hoping the rest of the country begins to thaw out soon.

During the past few weeks, I've had several different people ask me where they can purchase my books. Since it discusses local history, my shipwreck book is available for purchase at most of the local museums and visitor centers (along the southern Oregon coast). Several local businesses stock the book including Books by the Bay.

If you're from outside of the area or if you'd prefer to purchase an autographed copy of any of my books, you can buy a copy directly from me through my Etsy shop, Reprieve's Corner. Now through the end of February is the perfect time to make a purchase because I'm offering a 20% off discount on all orders through my Etsy store. Simply enter the coupon code "Love20" while checking out. The Valentine's Day special expires February 28th, 2015.

As always, thank you for visiting my blog and helping support my writing career. Your support means the world to me.

~ H. S. Contino, author

 
The wreck of the Sujameco on Horsfall Beach, 2010.