I just got word that 250 copies of "Counting Crows" have been shipped.
    Well, actually I got word a few days ago but the elections got in the way. My wife, Leslie, and I spent the last two weeks going door to door, urging residents to vote. We knocked on more than 400 homes. It was quite the experience. I found out, much to my dismay, that when the door opened and out popped an older white male, the response was usually the same: Not interested. A few slammed the door. One blurted out: "Are you kidding me?"
    Maybe it had to do with the Obama for President door-hangers we were handing out. I have to admit the Latinos we met were very cordial, pleasant and highly motivated to support the president. Republicans have underestimated this energized part of the electorate. And Obama did his part by signing through executive order parts of the DREAM Act that allows immigrants, who were brought here as kids, a chance to improve their lives without threat of deportation.
    Anyway, the doorbelling was hard work but very gratifying to see so many people, who clearly make up the 47 percent that Romney dismissed as too poor to act for themselves, so excited about the elections. It gives you hope.

    At 1:34 p.m. today, I hit the "Publish My Book!" button on the CreateSpace website. I am now officially a published book author. Three cheers for the written word!
    My book immediately became available on the CreateSpace's eStore, which I found from comments by other writers turns out to be impossible to find using a Google search. Really what good is an eStore if you can't get a bite from Google? Not much.
    There's a reason for this. Why would CreateSpace compete with its mother ship, Amazon? That's why in five to seven business days — as early as Nov. 8 — "Counting Crows" will pop up on Amazon's website for sale. It will also show up in Europe. Yes, I can see the French hitting the buy button.
    I ordered 230 books (CreateSpace is sending me 20 free copies). My order will be in hand by Nov. 20 and we will be off to the races. Well, sort of. Next week I will start to line up book signings at Inklings bookstore in Yakima and at two of my favorites wineries, Kana and Naches Heights. Starbucks even wants to hold a book-signing event. Vino and espresso — now that's an attractive combination.
    Now the next task for me is to come up with a catchy phrase to inscribe inside the book's jacket. "With Warm Regards" doesn't work for me. "Keep Smiling" rings hollow. "Your Friend" has its limits.
    Maybe I will just go with "Spencer" inked in sweeping letters. The problem is I think I've used up all my good phrases in the book. I wonder if John Updike ever faced this dilemma? I doubt it.