It's been 4 months since the stroke and I seem to be coming along fine.  Still have problems with tinnitis and loss of hearing, but can walk (doing 3 miles a day now) and am still losing weight.  Attended a function in Seattle a couple weeks ago (Annual Women's Convention): sold some books and made a small presentation.  Here are some pictures.  Am working on the second book and it is called (working title) Tales of Tremora-Michael's Quest, Book Two.   Am sculpting a scene from the second story and a few hummingbirds under glass as well.  Will keep you posted.  It is really helpful to hear from you, in any format.

  The woman in the third picture is Shalawn Leahy, mother of the remarkable young author, Tiffany Leahy, who wrote the pre-teen novel Annadyomene.

A RATHER DIFFICULT BLOG ENTRY

Three weeks ago, while returning from a trip to California, I had a stroke.  After short stints in three diff hospitals I am now home with my loving wife Heather.    They are saying it could  take a couple to several months to recover...  I'm giving it my best.  Hope to return to my creative self by summer.   Thanks to all for the visits and prayers.  Please feel free to call or write any time.  In my humble opinion, friends, family, and faith are the keys to most if not all problems in life.  425 338-7003  william.westwoodjr@yahoo.com

11-11-2011

Thought I'd bought a little bit of Middle Earth and Narnia when we moved to NW in 1991.  Now know it was Tremora all the time...  Storm coming today.  These leaves don't have much time left.  Rake, rake, rake is in my future

Heather's love of Pai Gow gave us this rig for our annual trip to CA that starts tomorrow.

This window gives us a stained glass view of the seasons sans the stains.

A little bit of British style landscaping out back.

And every man's need: A tool shed.  Sharing ground with a hemlock, Douglas fir, and a couple Western Red Cedars.
 
Hope to see some of you at the Everett Mall during a 3 day craft show in December.  Details will be posted soon on the website, williamwestwoodjr.com.  Will have a few Christmas specials in case you give books and artwork for Christmas!   And, as to book 2, Prelandora and Ohndrea are getting down right nasty.  Hope to keep writing, even on vacation, but I think a little one named Chloe will be crawling up on my lap a lot.  Not to mention Jordie and Tyler wanting to play over the line with Paps...  Will have my cell phone and computer with me so drop me a line or give me a call any time.  Cheers and have a great Thanksgiving.

Days in a life

The Shimmering on the book shelf at the local Barnes & Noble

Preparing for a rainy day at the Kirkland Bookfest

JJ Books, Bothell, WA

Happy Customer at Kirkland Bookfest

4 am   Today's To-Do list!

Mom's Choice Award, New Sculpture, NW Bookfest

Just received notification that The Shimmering has won an international Mom's Choice Award for excellence in family friendly content.  A packet with seals, press releases, and other details is in the mail.  It is the book's first competition! 

Here are pictures of a sculpture just completed for a series of children's books about Pinky and Peanut.  Delivered "Pinky and Ralphie" to fellow authors Deena Cook and Cherie Mcintosh this weekend. Thanks so much Deena!

Yesterday's NW Bookfest was fun, but the event was hit pretty hard by bad weather.  Hopefully today's weather will improve.   Participated in a panel with another author and answered questions about Young Adult novels and the publication process.  Got my feet wet in more than one way!

Thanks again to Jason and June at JJ Bookstore in Bothell, WA for their support in arranging multiple book signing events.  I've sold books, met other authors, innumerable customers and learned so much about the challenges of the marketing process...

Magnets

Meet Waz and Tralana's hummingbird!  I needed to complete these guys in time for the Bookfest in Kirkland.  I sculpt, paint, and sign each one individually.  Right now they're available through the Hummingbird Lane gift shop in Bothell and at book signing events.  I will eventually figure out methods and costs so I can ship these safely through sales on my website.

I hope to add other characters to this collection by Christmas. As you can see from the pictures, each one turns out a little bit different whether I intend it or not.  I start with a mold that I make from the first piece I sculpt and bake, then insert wire where needed as an armature for the wings and tail, add the eyes, sculpt details and accessories (add feather texture, harness and hair), bake, then hand paint and airbrush as the mood dictates.  A little labor intensive, but  they're made in the USA!

 

website addtions

I've made several updates to my website today:  williamwestwoodjr.com or talesoftremora.com.

Sold books the last couple of days through Amazon.com to folks in Indiana and Bellvue, WA, an eBook on Barnes & Noble and have had 5 website visits from Moscow, Russia!  It's always exciting to make sales based on word-of-mouth or marketing efforts...  But, progress remains glacial at best.  Just gotta keep on keepin on...

Thanks to all of you (14 to date) who have left comments on Amazon.com.  You're amazing! I'm going to send you all Shimmering bookmarks in the very near future as another thank you.  Hope I have all of your addresses.

Next project is to get the magnets ready for the bookfest in Kirkland Oct 1-2.  BTW I will be on a panel with another author from 11-noon on Saturday answering questions about the process of writing...