Three to four weeks till book launch. Editing is getting there – mostly just polishing now. I’m trying to place an article with a periodical right now in advance of the book that might help a little with publicity. Susan, a competent graphic designer, has created an incredible book cover that is just what I’d had in mind for this book. Another confidant, and better writer, who’s read the book already is creating an improved synopsis to replace the brief one already published here on the site. A year ago I couldn’t have imagined all that would go into the tail end of a huge book project like this. Still, I’m enjoying it; maybe just the unplanned and fortuitous elements, just like back on the trail.

Along those lines, I’ve been fortunate to receive a couple of endorsements for the work already. These will appear in the form of “blurbs,” probably on the book’s cover. Joseph Bast, president of the Heartland Institute has offered his endorsement as has Doug Stange, Editor-in-Chief of In-Fisherman magazine. I’m at least as much a fan of both of these men as they are a fan of my book. I have other “maybe’s” on this front too including a “big fish” who bit early and is still reviewing the book, someone who I wouldn’t have believed could take an interest in a humble unpublished author such as myself. “Big fish,” if you’re out there, you know who you are and, thanks.

At times like this, stuck at the desk,

I have to remind myself to appreciate the nature all around me, even here in the Pittsburgh suburbs. No-one needs to go to the mountain tops or spend months immersed in the forest like I did to experience the wonders of nature. The strips of forest between our buildings and parking lots are returning and with them the forest creatures. I was reminded of this a couple of days ago when I saw a picture of an elusive fisher taken near where I live instead of in the heart of the Appalachians.