#238–Books by locals worth checking out . . .

Posted on May 1, 2020 by

Last week, I used my story of going from my best year in 2019 to my absolute worst with no sales since March 1 as an example of how many local authors are being affected by the shutdown due to the pandemic. The post was a plea to support local authors, and I listed my books with their reduced prices during the shutdown.

To give my readers more choices, this week I’m recommending books from 16 other local authors whom I know. By local, I mean from Eugene, Florence, and towns north and south of Florence on the coast. Some books came out years ago and some just this past year. Most of these authors have written several books, of which any would be good to read. I happen to have picked ones that I particularly liked. They cover a wide range from fiction to nonfiction including murder and madness on the coast that is totally true. All are a good read or a good reference book to have. I’ve also listed where to acquire these books.

  • William Sullivan (Eugene)––Best known as a writer of Oregon hiking guides, he has written quite a variety of books. My favorite is about his family’s cabin near the coast––Cabin Fever. I’ve seen Bill at book fairs and attended more than one of his workshops.  (This book is both Fiction & Nonfiction.) http://www.oregonhiking.com
  • Bob Welch (Eugene)––One of Oregon’s most notable writers and a newspaper columnist for decades, he can write about anything. I loved the books that were a compilation of his columns, especially his first one––My Oregon. And Pebble in the Water which chronicles his four years of research in order to be able to write American Nightingale. I’ve seen Bob at book fairs and attended his workshops. (Nonfiction) bobwelch.net

  • Tracy L. Markley (Florence)––Tracy is a personal trainer with an amazing knowledge of the human body—especially the muscles. I’m partial to two of her books because I edited them––Stroke Recovery and The Power of Your Spine. But the one that is most useful for me is Tipping Toward Balance. (Nonfiction) http://www.tracymarkley.com

  • Marcia Phillips (Florence)––Lighthouses of Oregon: A coloring and history book. There are several books about the lighthouses, but this is the only combo coloring/history book. And it is intended for adults as well as children. (Nonfiction) http://www.drawing4Nature.co

  • Pattie Brooks Anderson (Florence)––Star and Raven’s Legend is also a children’s book about one of the world’s rarest bears, the Spirit Bears of the Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia, and it has the goal of helping children through knowledge become better stewards of the land. I love this book and its wonderful illustrations by the author. It’s another book that I edited. (Fiction) www.amazon.com/Star-Ravens-Legend-Spirit-Rainforest/dp/1544172338
  • Andrea Scharf (Yachats)––Saving Big Creek is the true story of how a persistent group of activists blocked a multi-million-dollar resort. This is a well-researched book that chronicles the nearly 40-year battle. I know Andrea from my years at Oregon Coast magazine. (Nonfiction) http://www.savingbigcreek.com
  • T. McCracken (Waldport)––Holy Rollers: Murder and Madness in Oregon’s Love Cult. Although T. McCracken is a cartoonist, this book covers a serious and unbelievable chapter in the history of the Waldport area that happened more than 100 years ago. T. McCracken and I were involved with coastal Elderhostels in early 2000s. (Nonfiction) www.amazon.com/Holy-Rollers-Murder-Madness-Oregons/dp/0870044249
  • Sue Fagalde Lick (Newport)––Sue is an author of several books and a fellow blogger on the coast whom I’ve seen over the years at various writing events. My favorite of her books is Shoes Full of Sand that chronicles her and her husband’s life after moving from San Jose, CA, to the coast. I could relate, since my late husband and I did the same thing from San Jose some years earlier. (Nonfiction)  www.amazon.com/Shoes-Full-Sand-Fagalde-Lick/dp/0983389411

  • Lori Tobias (Newport)––During my years as an editor at Oregon Coast magazine, Lori was a freelancer who contributed articles. She also was a regular coast writer for The Oregonian. I enjoyed her novel Wander so much, I bought two of them. She is another writer I see at book fairs. (Fiction) www.amazon.com/Wander-Lori-Tobias/dp/1597099899

  • Ron Lovell (Gleneden Beach)––Many of his mysteries take place on the coast. I love reading about familiar places in his books. Although, my favorite of his books is Yaquina White, which is a mystery that takes place in the Arctic. I’ve known Ron for years and see him each year at book fairs.  (Fiction)  www.amazon.com/Yaquina-White-Thomas-Martindale-Mystery/dp/0976797860
  • H.S. Contino (Coos Bay)––Shipwrecks of Coos County and Shipwrecks of Curry County. Because these books are published by Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America Series, each one is filled with at least 180 photographs from south coast museums. Together these books cover the shipwrecks of the southern Oregon coast. Hannah is another author that I see at book fairs each year. (Nonfiction) www.arcadiapublishing.com/Products/9780738581576    www.arcadiapublishing.com/Products/9781467125482 

About crossingsauthor

Judy Fleagle spent 22 years teaching 1st and 2nd grades and 21 years as editor/staff writer with Oregon Coast and Northwest Travel magazines.Since 2009, she has written five books: "Crossings: McCullough's Coastal Bridges," "The Crossings Guide to Oregon's Coastal Spans," "Around Florence," "Devil Cat and Other Colorful Animals I Have Known," and "The Oregon Coast Guide to the UNEXPECTED!!!."
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