In a past column, I interviewed Bill Effinger and wrote about his book, “Confessions of a Serial Entrepreneur.” Now he’s writing a new book titled, “Why Poulsbo?”
Bill and his wife, Diana, have moved around a great deal and now that they have settled in Poulsbo, he has become very interested in why so many interesting people also picked this small town to live in. Toward this end, he has devised a list of questions and I’m asking my readers — if you are interested in participating — to answer these questions and send them back to Bill for inclusion in the book.
He may use direct quotes from you (with your permission), or your comments could become part of a summary of answers. Interested in this survey? If so, here are the questions. You can copy and paste them to a new document, fill in your answers and then send that document to bill@billeffinger.net as an attachment.
I personally can’t wait to see the replies, and I’ll let you know when the book is published and available.
Questions (send the question list with your answers written below each one please.)
When did you first visit Poulsbo?
Why did you decide to move to Poulsbo?
When did you decide to move to Poulsbo?
How long have you lived in Poulsbo?
Do you now belong to a service club or any other nonprofit organization? If the answer to the above is yes, which one? How long have you been a member?
Do you attend a local church? If the answer is yes to the above, which one?
Do you have relatives that live in the area?
Are you a frequent __ infrequent __ visitor of Historic Downtown Poulsbo?
Are you a frequent__ infrequent__ visitor of the Poulsbo waterfront park?
Are you a frequent__ infrequent__ visitor of neighboring communities?
Which three communities do you most often visit?
Are you a year-round resident or “snowbird”? If the answer is “snowbird,” where is your second home?
Don’t forget to add a few sentences about the Poulsbo events you enjoy (like Viking Fest and the fireworks on July 3 or any others you enjoy).
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Last week, I was on the ferry sitting by a little girl who was about 6 years old. She was really busy writing in a notebook. When she finished, she looked at me and smiled.
I said, “You are so busy writing. Is it a story?” She said, “Yes, it is. It’s about a puppy that has too many tails.”
This made me smile. I asked her, “Do you like to write?” She said, “Yes, I do, and Daddy said to keep writing and when I get to be 16, we will put my stories into a book.”
I said, “That will be wonderful. All your stories in a book.”
She said, “And Daddy says that the way I write so many stories, it might have to be two books.”
Just sharing this little bit of literary happiness.
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Now, on to some grown-up writing events. Do you writers out there know about “Meet-ups?” These are advertised meeting places where people of like-minded thoughts and plans can get together and share ideas.
For the writer, these can be critique groups or some are for more detailed information sharing, like marketing your published books. One of these marketing meet-ups is at 7 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays at the Pancake House in East Bremerton. Mark Miller and Peter Stockwell lead this group; they have named it KLAW — Kitsap Literary Artists and Writers.
They also have a KLAW TV show in conjunction with Bremerton Kitsap Access Television, on which they interview authors. It airs at 6 p.m. on Saturdays on BKAT — Comcast Channel 12 or Wave TV. It is also on U-Tube. (Yes, I am going to be interviewed and I’ll let you know the exact date it will be broadcast.)
Finally, my quote for this week: “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” — Mark Twain.
— Donna Lee Anderson teaches writing and is the author of two novels and one reference book for writers. You can contact her at welltoldtales@aol.com.
