OK, this has to be one of the more pathetic blog sites on the World Wide Web. Sorry about the yearlong delay since my last posting. I’ve been busy. However, that’s no excuse. I now pledge to write at least once a week. I might even set up an entirely separate blogging site so I can not only help to spread the word about my books (yes, I’m working on a second book) but also to jot down commentary on local and national issues. Yeah, that’s just what we need — another pundit. At least I have one thing going for me. I don’t take myself too seriously. Others should do the same.

      As for this website, I have added a new story in honor of Mother’s Day. It appeared in “Counting Crows” and tells about a wonderful mother — Jed and Andy’s. It’s quite a saga, especially suited for honoring mothers all across the world. We fathers have it easy. We head to the bar to celebrate our child’s entry into the land of the living, handing out cigars and accepting pats on the back from well-wishers, while the one who did all of the work tries to recover from the Herculean task of giving birth. That was certainly true when Bronnie gave birth to our first son, Andy. Again, it’s quite a story. Read on …  

Guess what? "Counting Crows" has done it again — another national book award. Yahoooo!

The 2013 Beach Book Festival awarded first place in the “Wild Card” category to my book. "Counting Crows" was one of 13 winners. The contest honors what promoters call the “summer’s hottest reads.”

"Counting Crows" lost out to the grand prize winner, a definitive biography about Linda Lovelace, the porn star of "Deep Throat." I'm sure that's a sizzling page-turner. Another winner in the general non-fiction category was the top-seller on Amazon in April, selling more than 40,000 Kindle books.

“Counting Crows” and other winners in the competition were honored in a private ceremony on June 21 at the Grolier Club in Manhattan, one of the oldest private clubs in the nation (the club is dedicated to book lovers). 

Beach Book Festival is sponsored by JM Northern Media LLC, a company that produces annual events and reports on people who are involved in the world of digital media.

I have entered my book in one more national contest this year. I will know the results of that competition in October.

What an honor it is to have my book recognized by others. What a wonderful experience. A year ago I was still in the throes of putting together the final pieces to the book. And now look where it's at — unbelievable!

     It’s time to party! My book, “Counting Crows: Stories of Love, Laughter and Loss,” has been named a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards. It’s rarefied air for a first-time author like myself. My book was only one of two finalists selected in the Non-Fiction category.

            The national contest is in its 7th year and apparently had a flood of entries.

            Here’s a press release about the NIEA contest and a link to its Website:            

            Not only has the number of entrants increased, but the excellence has risen to a whole new level. Advances in technology and the increase in sophistication of self-publishers has produced a bumper crop of books that stand proudly next those published by mainstream houses. This has created a challenge of unexpected magnitude for the contest judges.
            The National Indie Excellence Awards criteria for recognition are stringent and include overall excellence. This award celebrates the highest achievements in self-publishing, a sector of the industry that has grown exponentially in recent years.
            For more information and a complete list of the winners and finalists visit www.indieexcellence.com

     The five-star book reviews keep rolling in. So far, there are five on the Amazon website Here's a recent review by Paul R.:
      "Spencer Hatton has hit a "home run" with his first book, "Counting Crows." He writes as if he is talking to the reader and that is what makes it so enjoyable. He can make you laugh and make you cry within the span of only a few pages. Now that is real talent!
I am looking forward to his next book with great anticipation."

     Thanks, Paul, for the wonderful review. I don't know about a second book just yet. I am, though, going to have a number of book readings for "Counting Crows." On Sunday, April 7, from 1 to 3 p.m., I will be reading stories from "Counting Crows" at Naches Heights Vineyard. Joining me for the readings will be a very talented photographer and artist, Sara Gettys, who will be displaying her crow-themed art. Yes, we have wood etchings of crows alongside storytelling about counting crows. Not a bad combination.
    And next week, "Counting Crows" becomes an ebook, joining the swelling ranks for books that are in a Kindle-ready format. I've checked out an advance copy and it looks super.
    I have three more reviews from Amazon to share on future blogs. What a humbling and wonderful experience this has been — telling the story of my life through "Counting Crows."

    What can I say — “Counting Crows” is a bestseller.
    Yes, that’s the verdict from none other than Susan Richmond, owner of Inklings Bookshop in Yakima, Wash. Last week she declared “Counting Crows” was the No. 1 Bestseller for her independent bookstore. Not only that. She also notified other bookstore owners across the nation. The book is sweeping across the USA.
    To say things are going well is an understatement. My two book signings in December were phenomenal. On Saturday, Dec. 8, when we arrived at Inklings for a book signing at 11 a.m., Leslie and I were met with a line of people waiting for a copy of “Counting Crows.” By 2 p.m. when the event ended, I had signed 75 books. On Monday of this week, I delivered another 28 books to Inklings with nearly half of them already sold.
    And then last Friday, I mixed red wine with more book signings at Kana Winery in downtown Yakima. After two hours of chatting with friends and fellow journalists from the newspaper who showed up, I sold another 23 books. It’s a buying frenzy … well, sort of.
    I never thought I would like autographing books this much, but I do. And it’s so inspiring to meet strangers who have read my columns over the years and say they couldn’t wait to buy a copy of “Counting Crows.” That happened again Tuesday afternoon when Jerry, who is a private contractor specializing in home improvements, showed up at my front door to pick up two books. We shook hands and I signed the books. He even donated extra money to Bronnie’s scholarship fund at CWU. Not a bad way to spread Christmas cheer.
    I have another shipment of 75 books arriving next week. It looks like I will need them in a hurry. We are now down to 24 copies from a total of 325 books I received during the past month.

            It bears repeating: I love signing books, especially when they have my name on the front cover.

     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.

            The die is cast.

            The deed is done.

            The word is written.

            OK, enough of the hackneyed phrases. Let’s just say that after 10 months of collating newspaper columns, scanning them into my computer, editing out grammar gaffes and a few dangling participles, my book is off to Createspace for publication of a final proof copy. When I receive that in a few days and if it meets with my approval, all I have to do is hit the “Publish my book” button on the Createspace website and the deed will be done. “Counting Crows” will be available for purchase.

            What an ordeal. What a triumph of patience and persistence. I never imagined how difficult getting a book into print could be. Several writers told me to expect multiple delays and headaches. They were manifestly correct. A friend of mine also said he was so sick of the process that he would never try to publish a book again.

            While my first-ever publishing venture has taken much longer than I imagined — yes, I had hoped the book would be printed by late spring, — it’s been rewarding. I’m very pleased with the final product. Yes, it sounds like I’m manufacturing something for consumption. And that’s not far from the truth. As Mark Twain once opined, you don’t write a book; you make a book. It takes constant rewriting, reaching a point when you finally have to step away from the keyboard and say, “I can’t take this anymore. I’m done.”

            Now comes the task of marketing the book. I have already pre-sold about 170 books. That’s thanks to putting out the word on Facebook and giving special readings to my Yakima Kiwanis Club, Zonta Club members and cancer survivors at Memorial Hospital’s NorthStar Lodge.  I’m also planning to do book signings at Inklings Bookstore and several wineries, including Kana and Naches Heights. Starbucks at 72nd Avenue in Yakima has also expressed an interest in a special event. From vino to espresso, not a bad combination.

            It’s going to be fun. Yes, a bit tiring but what’s the point of being a writer if you don’t publish anything. I still have more than 150 other columns that are on the bookshelf, just waiting to be put between the covers of a book.

            But first things first (there I go again with another hackneyed phrase). Let’s see how “Counting Crows” does before I consider another publishing venture.

            And with that, my initial blog entry comes to a not-so dramatic end. I guess they all can’t be best sellers.