HOMETOWN FESTIVAL WITH FRIENDS

8/6/2017

As Brian and I wrestled my tent Saturday morning at the first-ever Pendleton Music and Art Festival downtown, a task that emphasizes my vertical challenges, here comes a helpful soul who lends a hand. He didn't know us, but quickly I recognized him. Never mind the FAMOUS AUTHOR tag -- I had heard about George Kramer the day before via a text from son Sam.

George works with Sam at St. Vincent Hospital, and the heads-up came that this good Samaritan would be selling his books at the festival. Turns out George had the next booth, and is a friendly guy who loves writing The Arcadis Series in the sci-fi genre. (www.amazon.com/author/georgekramer). I love his sense of humor, spotted immediately in the author tag.

The least I could do was share my chicken pasta salad, above.

Even though I was in my adopted hometown of Pendleton, and quite a few friendly local faces stopped by, it was also old-home day in the form of author friends.

Tipton writer Janis Thornton bunked with me and as usual, we did some brainstorming on a variety of writing and marketing ideas. Here she signs one of her cozy mysteries, the spanking-new one being Dead Air & Double Dares.

My pal Sandy Moore took part as well, signing a copy of her children's book, Sadie's Search for Home.

How cool is the local coffee house, Falls Perk, just steps from our booths? An iced mocha was in order for my own personal afternoon perk.

Not a bad time when there's pleasant local music in the background throughout the day, community folks passing by and stopping to say hi, authors and other friendly vendors all around, including Spiceland's Mark Herbkersman and Mt. Summit-turned Pendleton resident, writer Christy Luellen who was there selling antique musical instruments and sheet music.
It was fun to make a new friend in George. Thanks for telling me about him, Sam. Nice guy!

Life is about people and relationships. It was fun to visit with old friends, and make a new one besides. Saturday was a good day. Thanks to everyone who visited the festival.

6 Comments

Sandy Moore

8/6/2017 06:03:27 am

It was the most beautiful day for a festival. Pendleton is a great little town. Very beautiful and welcoming. I can understand why people like to live there. The peach smoothie at the Falls Perk was totally amazing too!

Donna Cronk

8/6/2017 08:16:03 am

Thanks Sandy. Glad to know you enjoyed the day. Isn't that a cool coffee shop?

Susan Hoskins Miller

8/6/2017 08:00:18 am

Hi Donna, That chicken pasta salad looks great. Do you share the recipe? I would love to have it, but understand if that is a family secret.

8/6/2017 08:18:01 am

Susan,
Guess what? You have the pasta salad recipe! It's in the back of my first book. And yes, it is good and is my go-to for pitch-ins. I took it yesterday to share with friends and then I realized since it was in the book I could offer samples as a marketing tool. How did your recent signing go?

Debbie M. link

8/17/2017 08:08:12 am

Donna... So many "little" changes (and I imagine big ones too) in Pendleton since our family called it home. It sounds like it was a fun atmosphere to enjoy connections, new and old! (P.S. I love the name of Falls Perk as a play on words of Falls Park!)

8/18/2017 04:56:10 am

I don't know that there are so many, Debbie ...
You'd recognize it all as about the same in most ways, I would guess. Of course with age and changes in circumstance (no longer parents of kids in school) we see he community in different ways, from new angles.

HOME ROW

with Donna Cronk