We had a successful day at Second Chance Books for the author signing. We sold eight books in all – three “There Are No Penguins in Alaska,” three “Polly Penguin Wants to Fly,” and two “Adventures on the Amur: The Treasure of Nikolai Nikolaevich.” Thanks to the team at Second Chance Books for offering us the venue.
Continue readingMonthly Archives: September 2020
‘Escape from Magic Valley’ for a Glimpse at Migrant Worker Life
“Escape from Magic Valley” (affiliate link) by Ricardo S. Rivera is an autobiographical book about his childhood in the 1950s in a migrant worker family. Rivera says that he wrote this book for his family, so they could know his history and through it learn about their own. However, Rivera did much more than write for his family, he gifted that story to us.
Rivera’s book takes us from his early days in Texas through to the University of Oregon for the High School Equivalency Program. Rivera details the fun times of his childhood and the abuse and racism he experienced. As a child he was part of a collective that picked cotton, onions, cherries and other crops. They also fished. (The book has my name in it as they use “shad” for bait.)
Rivera’s take on the Texas school system is none too flattering as he is met with unreasonable demands, prejudiced principals, and teachers who belittled the Hispanic students. Corporal punishment was readily and, sometimes, eagerly distributed for the slightest of provocations, including misspelling words and speaking Spanish.
Not all the teachers were bad, but those that were made school hell for anyone with brown skin. “Escape from Magic Valley” provides a glimpse into a lifestyle that most of us will never know. Take a trip back in time and find out how migrant farmers made a life in spite of the hardships they faced, both in their own families and in the world at large.
I purchased this book at Second Chance Books in Independence, Oregon. If you’re in the area, stop by and grab a copy. It is also available at Amazon.com. (The last is an affiliate link. If you purchase the book from Amazon using this link, it doesn’t cost you anything more, and it supports our website. Thank you.)
If it’s too good to be true… How I Almost Got Scammed
I was almost scammed today. Last week, I made inquires about available housing on the coast. After finding out that I wasn’t eligible for a loan because I’m an entrepreneur and the rules changed two years ago to make it more difficult for entrepreneurs to get home loans, I started looking at rental properties. I sent out multiple emails and made several calls. Rental agencies didn’t get back to me. The one that I was able to get on the phone said he had a one-year waitlist for one-bedroom apartments and a three-year waitlist for three bedrooms. I contacted more places and received the same sound of silence.
Continue readingLocal Author to Sign Books at Second Chance Books in Independence
On Saturday, Sep 12, 2020 from 10 am to 2 pm, Local Author Shad Engkilterra will be signing copies of his books in front of Second Chance Books on Main Street in Independence from 10 am to 2 pm. Shad has written 11 books for all ages; come by and get the books that are right for you.
Children of all ages will like “There Are No Penguins in Alaska.” Color the pages while learning about the animals that people find in Alaska. The humor at the end will keep you smiling. Shad has also written “Polly Penguin Wants to Fly,” the story of a young penguin taken with the idea of being able to fly. It’s meant for parents to read to their children.
For those from 8 to 11 and for fans of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, the Adventures on the Amur series is two great adventure stories that take place in Far East Russia. Explore a little history and enjoy Steve and Irina’s adventures as they search for “the Treasure of Nikolai Nikolaevich” or learn firsthand about “the Curse of the Golden Kopeck.”
Young adults, and people who dislike bureaucracy, will love “The Pirate Union,” which explores what would happen if bureaucracy regulated pirate activities. This comedy with a 1990’s sensibility promises magic, puns, and fun as the crew of the Jolly Rogue tries to find out what the nefarious P.U. is up to.
Want to know what it was like growing up poor in the 1980s? “My Life in the Projects” is the mostly true story of how I survived living in government housing as a child.
For nonfiction fans, “Disneyland Is Creativity” and “the Haunted Mansion Is Creativity” offer looks at Disneyland and the Haunted Mansion with an eye toward creativity principles. Take a tour of the Happiest place on Earth and let Walt’s dream bring you greater joy and inspiration through greater creativity, or go through the Haunted Mansion as your Ghost Host leads you on a tour of the beloved attraction while materializing habits to become more creative.
If you need a bathroom reader or are looking for activities to improve your creativity and life, “Tales at an Alaskan Cabin,” “Penguinate! Short Stories and Essays” and “Penguinate! The Disney Company” are the books for you. These collections of short stories and essays provide suggestions for activities to do after each section. Penguinating is the power of positive creativity.
People who join our Patreon will get $1 off for every $10 or more purchased. Join today and support a local author.
Photos from the Oregon Coast
While we are putting in the miles to find a place to rent/buy, we’re taking photos, too! Our target is someplace on the Oregon Coast that takes cats. Ultimately, we’d like to buy our own place and open a store/studios. So far, we like Yachats to Lincoln City, and Garibaldi to Gearhart. Lincoln City, Yachats, Newport, Seaside, Cannon Beach, and Rockaway Beach are pretty cool. While we were told we couldn’t qualify for a loan (because we’ve been out of the country), we are still hoping to find a place to rent.
Living on the coast would allow us to build our network and make the connections we need to be successful in the future. It would also provide a nice backdrop for our creative endeavors. Join us at Patreon — you get some great content, and you’ll help make our dream a reality. Our studios and store can use a few good investors. Get a penguin and have a companion to travel with.
Rockaway Beach’s Crayola House is for sale! 
We looked at this nice house in Rockaway Beach, too. 
Sea Lions in Lincoln City 
Pelicans in Lincoln City 
More Pelicans in Lincoln City 
Look at the Pelicans in Lincoln City 
Pelicans on the sand in Lincoln City 
Sea Lion in Lincoln City 
A sea lion pokes its head above the surf 
Fins of a sea lion 
Form of the sea lion 
Another sea lion 
Seaweed? in Depoe Bay 
Is this sea gull nesting? Depoe Bay 
Sea gull in Depoe Bay 
This is another property that would be cool to own. 
The beach on Oregon’s coast 
Rocks and sea on the Oregon coast 
More rock formations on the Oregon coast 
The layers in this photo were what I liked.
Penguinate! Positive Creativity 