Crossings: McCullough’s Coastal Bridges and The Crossings Guide to Oregon’s Coastal Spans kept me busy this past week—especially this weekend. The old Crossings and the new Crossings Guide are both to blame for me being three days late in posting this blog. Somehow, I thought I could squeeze it in.

First time through, there were many changes. On the top sheet, I also added all of the photo credits.

In last week’s blog, I had just received the first draft of the laid out version of The Crossings Guide. I read through it last Saturday evening and loved how it turned out. I did find some changes.

The next day I did a very thorough check—every word, every photo, every punctuation mark, every photo credit, and checked font sizes, font types, and underlined where it should be Italics. Just everything. I spent all day. I checked to see that the Contents page numbers were correct, and then I added the page numbers for the photo credits section. And I added in the new Haynes Inlet Bridge photo acknowledgments. And so on and on and on. By every little thing, I mean every little thing. Even the odd period stuck where it shouldn’t be.  All my years of editing experience at Oregon Coast & Northwest Travel magazines came in mighty handy.

On the second go-round, I found that we had the wrong photo credit. Best to find these before it’s published.

On Monday, I returned it to Bob with all changes noted. Now it was his turn to put them in on the computer. He brought the corrected version to me on Wednesday afternoon at the Siuslaw Pioneer Museum where I was on duty as a docent. That evening, I checked all the changes he had put in and went through it one more time. This time went much faster with far fewer changes. I was surprised, however, to see two incorrect photo credits that had totally slipped by me.

Not many changes on second go-round, but this was one––wrong photo credit. Needs to be Siuslaw Pioneer Museum.

I returned it to him on Thursday. Then on Friday, he called when he had made the second batch of changes. I went over and picked it up for one last go through. It didn’t take long to check all the changes early Saturday morning. But I took my time going through it on Sunday (yesterday), since it would be the last time.

I found a few places where a different word or slight rewording would work better. These could be classified as “nice but not necessary” changes. When I worked at the magazine, it used to drive my boss nuts and she’d use the ‘P’ word. She’d tell me that I didn’t have to be such a perfectionist. I can’t help it. Once I see a better way, I’m compelled to change it. What can I say? I’m an editor––and a Type A one, at that!

I also found that I had been so hung up on finding a photo for the Haynes Inlet Bridge, that I hadn’t checked out the facts like I had on every other bridge where I felt unsure. So I researched it in one reference book and online yesterday and found that we had the name incomplete and the completion date wrong. The proper name is Haynes Inlet Slough Bridge, so I changed that. The more I looked, the more I saw a discrepancy between 2001 and 2004 completion dates. Sort of an even split—until I found an article dated 2002 explaining how the bridge was built in two phases with the first side completed in 2001 and the second phase completion date scheduled for the end of 2003. The person being quoted was Frank Nelson, whom I know and highly respect. So I felt it was reliable info, which meant that I had to rewrite the section. Sure glad I checked it out.

I have heard and read and firmly believe that the McCullough Memorial Bridge is still the longest bridge in Oregon that is totally within the state. Only a couple of bridges that cross the Columbia are longer. But I wanted to verify it to make me feel more sure of my facts. I went through a reference book of historic bridges in the state and looked at the length of every single one and the McCullough Bridge still came out the longest. Then I Googled it and found several references to being the longest bridge in the state when it was built, but nothing saying that it still is. Then I checked through all my research material from when I wrote Crossings. Nothing! I e-mailed ODOT with the question and received an answer just a few minutes ago as I’m writing this. They are 98 percent sure that it is still the longest within the state.  I can live with that. Finally, I was ready to give it back to Bob.

The holiday craft fair was held at the Three Rivers Casino.

So the new Crossings Guide kept me busy this past week, but the old Crossings kept me busy Thursday morning and all day Friday and Saturday. During those times, I was at a holiday craft fair to sell it.

All visitors to the Casino could see the holiday craft fair sign.

The fair was put on by the Victorian Belles at the Three Rivers Casino just outside of Florence on Highway 126. So that took my time. I was able to leave for about a half hour Friday afternoon to go pick up the Crossings Guide changes from Bob. Otherwise I was in the convention center at the Casino from 10 a.m. til about 7 p.m. both days. Each day, I left the house at 9:30 a.m. and returned at 9:30 p.m.

On Friday, I left at 6:45 p.m., so I could get to a concert that I had a ticket for that began at 7 p.m. On Saturday, I met a friend for dinner at 7:30 p.m. after we had packed everything up. Very long days, and I thought I could put my blog together Friday night and Saturday morning. Ha! What was I thinking?

Karen Nichols and Connie Bradley are at the author’s table and so is a potential customer.

At the craft fair on Friday, we had four Florence authors sharing a table and three on Saturday. Besides me, Connie Bradley was there with Snowball, the Nanny Goose of Sutton Lake for young children and her new book about the discovery of the Sea Lion Caves—Captain Cox and the Cave of Many Voices for older children. Connie and illustrator Carol Unser, who illustrated both books, have started Sutton Shores Press. The Captain Cox book is their first book not written by Connie; it is written by Sea Lion Caves general manager Boomer Wright (and, incidentally, edited by me).

Multi-talented Karen Nichols, also a noted local artist, was there with her novel of mystery and romance—Thornton House, which appeals mostly to women. And James Heintz was there on Friday only with his two charming memoirs—The Apple Box Boy and How Did You Find Me?

I had Crossings and a sign-up sheet for those interested in The Crossings Guide and after I picked up the second draft of the laid out version of the book, I had that to show anyone who was interested. Many of my buyers are men. So we had something for everyone.

Ann Stonelake of the Victorian Belles helped us set up the writer’s table and epitomized the holiday spirit both days.

We all saw lots of people we knew, had a good time, and sold some books. And I was, also, able to generate interest in my new book. Definitely worthwhile!

When I add in the “knock your socks off” classical piano concert on Friday night and a lovely dinner with a good friend on Saturday night, it was a very full  weekend . . .  and why I’m writing my Friday blog on a Monday!

 Note: I was writing this during a major storm with things going clunk on the roof and the power going off three times for short periods. Winds were expected to reach 70 mph and the rain was torrential with flooding here and there. When it was at its worst, Bob called and I drove off to give him the final changes. I dodged lots of branches going down our road into town, but Bob now has the final changes to put into the computer. We’ll meet tomorrow, and that should do it!

TO BUY JUDY’S FIRST BOOK

Crossings: McCullough’s Coastal Bridges can be yours for $24.95 plus $4.99 shipping. Order from Pacific Publishing at http://www.connectflorence.com or pacpub@oregonfast.net. It is also available on the coast in bookstores, museums, and gift shops; in Eugene at the airport, the historical museum, and several bookstores; in Portland at Powell’s and the Oregon Historical Society; in Made in Oregon stores throughout the state; and more and more bookstores, libraries, and museums in western Oregon. This book makes a good coffee-table book. With the holidays coming up, it would be an excellent gift.

JUDY’S SECOND BOOK DUE EARLY DECEMBER

The second book The Crossings Guide to Oregon’s Coastal Spans––will cover 15 bridges and have at least one color and one historic photo for each one. The cost will be $15 plus shipping. This book will also be published through Pacific Publishing. This guide with its sturdy cover will travel well. When heading for the coast, don’t drive 101 without it.

Current happenings:

The half-hour interview with Dr. Veronica

Esagui for the “Author’s Forum” program on public access TV in the Portland Metro area ended it’s two-week run June 1-14, 2012, but can be seen on YouTube in two parts: Google Judy Fleagle YouTube.

Upcoming events:

February 9, 9–5, Bridge Tour, Outward Ventures, Florence campus, Lane Community College––This bridge tour includes 12 bridges with many stops from Depoe Bay to Coos Bay and has a lunch stop at a fabulous restaurant in Depoe Bay. Once the new catalogs are out, sign up at the Florence campus or online. A fee will be involved. I will be the bridge tour guide.