A Cassiopeia (5 star) review

Yeah, either I really know my astronomy or know how to use the Google machine. You guess which.

It's always nice to click on ol' Amazon.com and see a new five-star review pop up. This one for Joshua's Ladder, the e-book version:

"I thoroughly loved reading this book, I was hooked from the start and found myself laughing on one page and crying on the next. The characters are entertaining, charismatic and very well developed as is the plot. Being a resident of the Black Hills of South Dakota I loved the familiarity of the setting. I would highly recommend this book... can't wait to start reading the sequel!"

Haugen Hump Day link-o-rama

This week, featuring stories in the great South Dakota towns of Mitchell, Onida and DeSmet ...

The Mitchell Daily Republic tells us about this 98-year-old first-time author (Good for her!):

God has always had a strong presence in Lorraine Wise’s life. Now, God has a presence in her new 166-page book, “God is Real: Excerpts from my Spiritual Journey through 78 Years.”

Wise will hold a book signing from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the Reader’s Den, Mitchell, promoting the publication, which she wrote when she was 97. The book’s subtitle refers to the number of years since Wise’s spiritual awakening as a young woman.

Wise, who is now 98, said the idea for the book came to her about 15 years ago, during a reunion with two of her closest friends.

And we're always up for a good rodeo here in the Black Hills. We'll soon see if that allure is worldwide, as Amanda Fanger of the Onida Watchman explains:

Sutton Rodeos of Onida are set to participate in a world-changing event – the first ever rodeo in China.

Called Rodeo China, the event is one of historic proportions. This 8-day rodeo will take place at the National Stadium in Beijing, China. It is being organized by Less and Forever More, Inc., an organization started by Richard and Carrie Tucker.

Jill Callison of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader writes about the 40th anniversary of the Laura Ingalls Wilder pagent in DeSmet.

If Charles Ingalls had his way, his family's stay in De Smet would have been brief.

"Given his own way, it seems to me, Charles would have gone into the sunset forever," says Marian Cramer, referring to the wanderlust that took Ingalls and his family more than 1,500 miles in a covered wagon.

But Charles Ingalls had married a woman much less inclined to roam. Caroline Ingalls made him promise to take a railroad job that brought the couple and their four daughters to Silver Lake in Dakota Territory.

And she made him promise to stay.

Amyzon!

Just a heads up to you Kindleheads out there. Amy's Ladder is now available in ebook form at Amazon.

So as not to be confused, or to confuse you more, Amy's Ladder is the sequel to Joshua's Ladder in the ebook format.

In the paperback format, Joshua's Ladder includes the Amy sequel. Got it?

OH! And I received my first-ever royalty check today! Not Koontzian, but it's a start.

Hump day link-o-rama

*** I've written before of my respect for former Argus Leader sportswriter John Egan and how honored I was to work with him and to call him a friend. The Argus has a story about his book, Drop Him Till He Dies.

Imagine growing up believing your father had murdered your mother and had been executed for the crime.

Or that your grandfather had murdered your grandmother and was hanged for it but knowing little else.

Or knowing nothing about it at all.

That was the situation John Egan found himself in 30 years ago when an Argus Leader co-worker writing a story about capital punishment nonchalantly asked, "How come you never said anything to me about Thomas Egan?"

"Who's that?" Egan replied.

*** Bill Keller, executive editor of the NY Times, laments how most of his staff is out writing books instead of doing their jobs. One of his funnier columns.


*** And finally, a good ol' small-town newspaper, the Freeman Courier, has a nice story about a good ol' small-town church celebrating its 125th anniversity.

The people of Salem Mennonite Brethren come together to celebrate 125 years with appreciation, reverence, pride and a renewed call to make 'little things become large.'

Interesting stuff, literally

Last year Ledbury poetry festival asked poets to name their most hated words. For this year's festival – running from 1 to 10 July – they've asked for the expressions that have become such cliches that they have lost all meaning. Here are their responses.

Veto Von Botherland, was born in Germany, he understands German, responds to German and enjoys German Schutzhund Sport. So what is so special about Veto Von Botherland? Veto is the first German Shepard canine with a position on the Black Hills National Forest. Check it out.

Denver's Tattered Cover Book Store has been a focal point for the city's literary community since 1974. Owner Joyce Meskis explains the challenges of operating an independent bookstore in an ever-changing climate, and the future she sees for the nation's independent booksellers. NPR has the story.