Most authors say selling the book is the part they enjoy the least, but so far I love selling Crossings: McCullough’s Coastal Bridges. I get to go up and down the Oregon Coast and stop at all my favorite places. What’s not to like! Especially last Friday when it was our first sunny day in ages. It was spectacular heading north. If I hadn’t been on a schedule, I would’ve stopped again and again to ooh and aah just like any other tourist. With all our spring rains, I hadn’t seen a blue ocean in weeks—maybe months.

I had called ahead and set up approximate times of arrival. I stopped at Cape Perpetua near Yachats and the Alsea Bay Bridge Interpretive Center in Waldport. In Newport, stops included the Oregon Coast Aquarium, Hatfield Marine Science Center, and Yaquina Bay and Yaquina Head lighthouses. I went as far as Lincoln City and stopped at the North Lincoln County Historical Museum. They all wanted the book.

All I have to do is show it. The book sells itself thanks to Bob Serra’s beautiful cover photo and the great historic photos inside. People look at the cover, flip through checking out photos, and maybe skim through the words on the back cover and table of contents before deciding whether to buy or not. As an author, it’s humbling to realize that the words inside don’t sell the book.

Hatfield and the Yaquina lighthouses bought books to sell. The Aquarium took information and the Alsea Bay Interp Center and North Lincoln County Museum both bought a single copy, and all three will show to committees to determine whether they will sell the book. And Cape Perpetua, with the Forest Service, means dealing with the government. So far we are approved to sell in the Siuslaw National Forest, which will include the Oregon Coast Dunes National Recreation Area. When the paperwork is completed, we should have books for sale at both Cape Perpetua and the Dunes Headquarters.

I also stopped to see a woman whose father, Otto Hermann, was the construction company superintendent for building the Yaquina Bay Bridge, the most photographed of the McCullough coast bridges, and presented her with a comp copy. She was thrilled, and we had a lovely visit.

Tomorrow I head down the coast to Gold Beach for a presentation at my favorite coast bookstore—Gold Beach Books. On the way, I’ll drop off more books at Coos County Historical Museum in North Bend located at the southern end of the McCullough Memorial Bridge and deliver a first order of books for the gift shop at Shore Acres State Park. I’m hoping for sunny weather and another spectacular blue ocean day.

Crossings: McCullough’s Coastal Bridges, with the beautiful cover, can be yours for only $24.95 plus $3.99 shipping. Order from Pacific Press, www.connectflorence.com    or   pacpub@oregonfast.net

Crossings Presentations by Judy in June:

• June 11, 2 p.m.—Highway 101, Gold Beach Books, Gold Beach

• June 17, noon––City Club, Ocean Dunes Golf Course Clubhouse, Florence

• June 18, 1:30––Community Center, Centennial & Beachcomber Days celebrations, Waldport