The Adventures of Bubba Jones #4 was included in the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ recommended reading list of “Books that Celebrate the Earth“
The fourth book in Jeff Alt’s award-winning series follows the beloved time-traveling siblings as they uncover amazing facts about the Grand Canyon while on a mission to solve a park mystery. They encounter all sorts of wild creatures and plants, meet the people involved in the establishment of the national park, learn about the Native Americans that call this land home, and unravel some of the park’s secrets.
To see the full list of recommended books, click here.
To learn more about The Adventures of Bubba Jones #4, click here.
Two Beaufort titles were named finalists in the 2020 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards
On March 12th, 2021, Foreword Reviews released the list of finalists for their 2020 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards. The School Choice Roadmap by Andrew Campanella was nominated in the Nonfiction/Education category, and A Small Earnest Question is one of 13 finalists in the General Fiction category.
More than 2,000 entries spread across 55 genres were submitted for consideration, and we’re thrilled that both of these wonderful titles were recognized. The finalists were determined by Foreword’s editorial team. The winners will be announced on June 17, 2021.
To view the complete list of finalists, click here.
To learn more about The School Choice Roadmap, click here.
To learn more about A Small Earnest Question, click here.
U.S. News: 20 Fun Things to Do in Your Free Time That Cost Nothing
Jeff Alt, author of Get Your Kids Hiking, A Walk for Sunshine, Four Boots One Journey, and the Adventures of Bubba Jones series, was quoted in the following excerpt from U.S. News.
Go on a Nature Hike
Get out of your home and into the great outdoors. Although some nature parks have admission fees, it’s often free. AllTrails.com is a good website to check out to find trails near you. And if you’re a camper, this may be an excellent time to plot a route and pitch a tent.
“Putting one foot in front of the other on a hike is one of the least expensive and healthiest forms of recreation there is. You can find a recreation area just about anywhere, and after you acquire the essentials, the gear will last a long time,” says Jeff Alt, a Cincinnati-based author of numerous hiking books, including “A Walk for Sunshine” and “Get Your Kids Hiking.”
“Much research has emerged about the mental health benefits of walking and immersion in nature. A walk in the woods keeps my body fit, enhances my positive thoughts, inspires my creativity and helps to de-stress me from the daily grind,” Alt says.
The Midwest Book Review reviews J.F. Riordan’s A Small Earnest Question
Synopsis: It’s spring on Washington Island. Despite her concerns about Roger’s desire to bartend, Elisabeth is eager to plan a grand opening for their newly remodeled hotel, but she quickly realizes that she may also need to make accommodations for Roger’s proposed goat yoga classes. Bored and lonely, Oliver Robert joins bartender Eddie in forming a great books club at Nelsen’s, and Emily Martin, determined to make her mark on the community, forms a new Committee of the Concerned. When Emily decides that the Island needs a literary festival, complete with a famous author, she imprudently seeks out a notorious celebrity, hoping, as always, to enhance her own prestige. Real estate agent Marcie Landmeier confides that an unknown someone is buying up the Island’s shoreline, newly-appointed Fire Chief Jim Freeberg contends with a string of suspicious fires, and Pali and Ben have a spiritual encounter that will change them both. Meanwhile, drawn once more into local controversy, and awash in suspicion herself, Fiona Campbell must determine the answers to questions that will affect her future, and the future of the entire Island.
Critique: Set on a remote island in the Great Lakes, “A Small Earnest Question” is Book Four in the outstanding North of the Tension Line series from novelist J. F. Riordan. A deftly crafted and engagingly entertaining story from beginning to end, “A Small Earnest Question” will be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Contemporary American Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated Riordan fans that “A Small Earnest Question” is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
A Small Earnest Question featured in Madison Magazine’s “2021 Reading List: Local books to add to your collection”
Every year we publish a list of books that have Wisconsin authors or connections. From “Wisconsin cocktails” to “Storied and Scandalous Wisconsin,” you might find an interesting read to add to your own 2021 reading list.
“A Small Earnest Question” by J.F. Riordan Book No. 4 in the North of the Tension Line series, “A Small Earnest Question” opens a window into the imagined everyday life of Washington Island residents in Door County. With a year-round population of 708, Washington Island certainly makes a fun backdrop for a story involving many interconnected characters, including Elisabeth, who’s eager to open a remodeled hotel; Roger, an aspiring bartender; Marcie, a real estate agent; and Emily, who wants to start a literary festival. You might just have to take a trip to Door County and let this small-town story suck you in. J.F. Riordan, who has been called a modern-day Jane Austen, lives in Wisconsin with her husband and three dogs. –AB
Jennifer Pharr Davis, author of Becoming Odyssa and Called Again, Appointed to President’s Council for Sports, Fitness and Nutrition
For Immediate Release:
Jennifer Pharr Davis has been appointed to the Presidential Council for Sports, Fitness and Nutrition. A noted hiker, speaker, and author, Pharr Davis has hiked more than 14,000 miles on six different continents. In 2011 she set the overall record on the Appalachian Trail by completing the 2,189 mile footpath in 46 days. As a mother she has backpacked 700 miles in her second and third trimesters of pregnancy, hiked in all 50 states with her daughter, and walked across the state of North Carolina while nursing her newborn son. According to the White House Press Release, Pharr Davis was appointed to the position alongside several notable figures and sports personalities, including New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick, former Ohio State Head Football Coach Urban Meyer, and TV host Dr. Oz. The co-chairs of the council are beach volleyball Olympian Misty May-Treanor, New York Yankees Hall of Fame pitcher Mariano Rivera, and noted NFL running back Herschel Walker.
According to its website, the Council for Sports, Fitness and Nutrition website’s objective is to “increase sports participation among youth of all backgrounds and abilities and to promote healthy and active lifestyles for all Americans.” Appointments are for two years and include annual meetings in Washington, DC.
Pharr Davis is no stranger to getting people outside and on trails. In 2008, she founded Asheville, North Carolina-based Blue Ridge Hiking Company, a guided service with retail shop and bunkhouse that strives to “make the trails accessible and enjoyable to everyone at every phase of life.” In regards to her appointment, Pharr Davis said, “I am looking forward to representing Outdoor Recreation and Public Lands on a council that has traditionally been focused on mainstream sports. It’s time to take a hike, America!”
Click here to learn more about Jennifer Pharr Davis.
Click here to learn more about Becoming Odyssa and click here to learn more about Called Again.
ENJOYING NATURE: 9 great books to get you though these crazy times
Winter is always a good time for reading. Actually, anytime is a good time for reading. It’s just that sitting in front of a fireplace on a cold winter day with a good book seems like the perfect place to be and thing to do.
I read 99% non-fiction, and I stumbled into some outstanding books that I know you will like. The reason I know you will like these books is because I passed them on to my wife, sister and friends, and they all loved them, too — so they come well recommended.
So here is a list of nine of the best books I read this summer, in no particular order.
Becoming Odyssa: Adventures on the Appalachian Trailby Jennifer Pharr Davis. I heard Jennifer speak at the Appalachian Trail Festival in Damascus, VA, a few years ago and bought this book from her there. My wife read it, but I never got around to it until this summer. It is an excellent account of Jennifer’s solo hike on the AT. This isn’t your typical AT book about what to wear, what to eat, etc. This is about one woman’s experiences — some funny, some sad, and some inspiring — as she hikes 2,190 miles alone. Everyone I passed this book on to (at least six) loved it. $8.78
Rose City Reader: A Round-up of Reviews: Six Gift-Worthy Books Sure to Surprise
Who doesn’t like getting books for gifts? It’s my favorite part of holiday gift giving! I haven’t gotten as clever as Christie at Raising Whasians with her adorable Christmas Book Advent Tree, pictured above, but lots of books get unwrapped at my house Christmas morning.
One snaggle with choosing books for gifts is worrying if the person has already read the book! Here are some ideas for recently published books that have flown under the radar. There’s probably someone on your list who would enjoy one of these:
A Small Earnest Question by J. F. Riordan. This is the fourth book in Riordan’s North of the Tension Line series set on Washington Island, a remote island in the Great Lakes. Fiona Campbell is the main character at the center or an eclectic mix of locals, visitors, pets, and even goats for the goat yoga classes. This fourth book involves the grand opening of a remodeled hotel and the island’s first literary festival, but the point of the series is to wallow in the charm.
This one is perfect for all the pumpkin spice latte lovers on your list. Riordan brings readers up to speed enough to enjoy this as a stand-alone, or splurge on the set of four.
Marvin Scott Celebrates his 40th Anniversary at PIX11 News
When we say New York’s Very Own, there is one journalist who defines those words: Marvin Scott.
For 40 years, Marvin has been a reporter and anchor at PIX11 News. He’s covered more than 15,000 stories.
Marvin started his career 60 years ago, in the same building PIX11 News studios are located in today. He was a teenager selling a photo of a fire in the Bronx to the Daily News. That was just the beginning of a career that led to 11 Emmys and induction into the New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
But it’s his five visits to Iraq and Afghanistan to be with local soldiers at Christmas that have touched him deeply.
Three years ago, Marvin published a book in “As I Saw It: A Reporter’s Intrepid Journey,” where Marvin reflected on the stories that have stuck with him personally.
With a street sign named after him, this kid from the Bronx is a storyteller who continues to share the stories that shape our city and our lives.
Happy holidays, readers! If you’re searching for the perfect gift for your friend, family member, or colleague, we’ve got you covered. Even better: every single one of these books is 40% off when purchased on ipgbook.com! Check out our recommended gifts, and then head over to IPG’s website and use the code IPGHOLIDAY40 to get 40% off from now through December 31st, 2020!
Gifts for Kids
The Adventures of Bubba Jones Series: Explore America’s national parks with Bubba Jones and his time traveling family. This graphic novel series is perfect for inspiring kids to get outside and learn about the outdoors.
Hide!!!:Hide!!! is an interactive children’s book that not only tells the story of a game of hide-and-seek, but readers can also ‘seek’ for other objects hidden in the illustrations.
My Feet Aren’t Ugly: Debra Beck provides a wonderful book full of advice for growing up as a teenage girl. This is the perfect gift for pre-teen and teens to learn how to tackle pressing issues like bullying and social media.
Gifts for Dads
A Game of Inches: The third installment in the Jack Patterson series has everything dad’s love: politics, sports, and mystery. It’s a gripping story of murder accusations and the politics of professional sports.
Hidden Falls: This book is perfect for those who might not know what genres they like (or for those who don’t know what genres their dads like to read). Kevin Myers intertwines mystery and family drama to concoct a story that is both thrilling and comedic.
Anchored:Everyone’s dad knows Ron Burgundy, or at least they know of Will Ferrell’s character in Anchorman. The real journalist Mort Crim tells the story of his life and his persistent search for truth.
Gifts for Moms
North of Tension Line series: Fans of Jan Karon and Jane Austen will delight in J.F. Riordan’s North of the Tension Line series. Riordan combines engaging characters, wry humor, and observations of everyday life that make her books feel like talking to an old friend.
Woman in the Park: If your mom loves psychological thrillers, she’ll love The Woman in the Park. Filled with shocking twists, secrets, and lies, this story is reminiscent of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train.
Red Carpets and White Lies: Written by The Real Housewives of Miami alum Lea Black, avid reality TV watchers will love Red Carpets and White Lies for its drama, secrets, and scandals.
Gifts for Coworkers
Big Ten of Grammar:Do you have a coworker that struggles with the difference between “who” and “whom”? They’ll love this digestible grammar guide that highlights how to correct the ten most common errors in English grammar.
Success Freak:Perfect for the coworker who needs a little motivation, Success Freak combines helpful exercises and step-by-step activities to help you master 7 essential skills that will transform your life in only one week.
Reboot Your Life:After a year like 2020, it’s easy to feel burnt out and uninspired. Reboot Your Life will encourage you and your coworkers to re-examine your priorities, re-evaluate your career, and come back after the holidays feeling refreshed and excited.
Gifts for Grandparents
Always Have Popsicles:A long-time favorite among grandparents, Always Have Popsicles is filled with thoughtful ideas that will inspire new and seasoned grandparents alike to develop a meaningful relationship with their grandchildren.
Garth Williams, American Illustrator: As the illustrator for iconic American classics like Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little, and The Rescuers, it’s likely your grandparents grew up with Garth Williams’ drawings. This biography of his inimitable career will bring their childhoods back to life in a beautiful and nostalgic way.
Do Not Go Quietly: Winner of 9 national book awards, Do Not Go Quietly is an inspiring call to action and guide to a life of greater meaning, consciousness, and passion for those “who weren’t born yesterday.” If your grandparents ever complain about aging, this is the book for them.
Of course, our Holiday Gift Guide wouldn’t be complete without a few goodies from some of our favorite local bookstores! These goodies make perfect gifts for book lovers who already own every book on their TBR list.
Books Are Magic Mug
Sip, sip, hooray! We’re loving this clay and ceramic mug from Brooklyn-based independent bookstore, Books Are Magic.
McNally Jackson (multiple NYC locations) knows the key to our hearts. Also available as a tee, this adorable, cozy sweatshirt is the perfect addition to any book lover’s wardrobe.
Are you and your family in need of a new quarantine puzzle? This bookshelf puzzle from Books of Wonder in Chelsea and the Upper West Side will bring hours of bookish entertainment.
Virginia Walden Ford is one of the few people who actually knows the answer to the question, “What actress would play you in the Hollywood version of your life?”
Ford made national news in the 1990s as leader of a grassroots effort to broaden school choice for public school students in Washington DC. That struggle has now been featured in the film Miss Virginia, which was released in October 2019 and stars Uzo Aduba in the title role.
For those who want to know the full story with all the details and complexity that won’t fit in the two-hour film version, Ford has now released her memoir, School Choice: A Legacy to Keep. Most fascinating, especially for Arkansans, is the major role that Ford’s youth in Little Rock played in the formation of this strong woman’s character
Born in 1951 as Virginia Fowler, the real “Miss Virginia” grew up in the thick of the intense civil rights struggle that followed the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School. A cross burned on her family’s lawn in 1967 when her father, William Harry Fowler, was selected as the first black administrator for the Little Rock School District. Both Fowler and his wife, Marion Johnson Fowler, had graduated from Philander Smith College and earned masters’ degrees from the University of Arkansas. The Fowler family was deeply invested in education and in the Little Rock community, frequently hosting many of the people whose names have now gone down in history for civil rights activism such as Thurgood Marshall and Daisy Gatson Bates. But most importantly, as Ford now testifies, growing up in her family taught her to raise her voice on behalf of others.
Hello readers! How have you been? It’s been a while since we’ve talked.
Since finishing my internship at Beaufort in May, I’ve been busy. I completed my last round of undergraduate exams and (virtually) graduated from college. I repainted and redecorated my room, finding a permanent home for some of my favorite dorm-room photos. I applied for what felt like millions of jobs, heard back from few, and interviewed with even fewer. To my delight, I eventually received an offer, and before I knew it I had a company-issued laptop and was training and working from home.
But above all of these things—aside from the little joys and the frustrations and the change—I have been busy dreaming of going back to New York City. As a born-and-raised New Jerseyan (Jerseyite? Jerseyer?), NYC has always been on the horizon. And I mean that literally: there is even a spot in town where you can even see the upper quarter of the city skyline. But since being sent home from college and with the potential of a second lock-down looming overhead, the idea of actually being back in New York feels more like a far-off dream than a reality.
I recently finished Ling Ma’s novel Severance, which follows a young woman as she flees New York to escape a deadly pandemic that is ravaging the world. Timely, right? While the book’s greater focus is on identity and loneliness, I couldn’t help but be drawn to the scenes where Candace, the main character, walks around the city. Ma’s depiction is one of desolation and complete destruction: store windows have been smashed, sidewalk carts abandoned and overturned, taxis crushed into one another. Candace is alone on the streets aside from a handful of armed guards outside of banks, museums, and other wealthy institutions, but even they disappear eventually.
While I know that our real-life pandemic situation looks vastly different from the one Ma offers, it’s sometimes tempting to think of New York in this way. With all the statistics, warnings, and safety precautions, the city can feel like some far-off, dystopian danger zone that you would have to be crazy to visit at the moment. But at the same time, I’m wishing I could be back every second of the day. I want to spend sunny afternoons reading in Central Park, wander around and inevitably get on the wrong subway train, and stare at the skyline as it changes from block to block. I can’t wait to find a coffee shop close to my new office and stop in every morning, even though it will probably make me late more often than not. The reality is that walking around NYC has always made me feel like the main character in an upbeat YA novel, either about to bump into my soulmate or land my dream job. As corny as it is, that’s the feeling that New York gives me: a feeling of excitement, opportunity, and joy.
Hopefully I will be getting back to the city soon, but in the meantime, wear your masks, wash your hands, and read some well-written books!
Madison Magazine: Fall reading recommendations from three local bookstores
As the leaves begin to turn and aggressive marketing campaigns for pumpkin spice-everything crop up around Madison, it’s once again time to find that new fall companion: a good book. This autumn, let local novels be your guide to the wonderful worlds created by Wisconsin writers, many of whom have new and recently released reads just in time for the fall season.
Here are the latest recommendations from experts at the three local bookstores: A Room of One’s Own in downtown Madison, It’s More Than Mystery to Me on Monroe Street and Arcadia Books in Spring Green. Whether you’re looking for a collection of poems, essays, a new children’s book or a relaxed novel — these three stores have something to offer for every reading level. While looking for that new literary adventure, Charlotte Colaluca of Mystery to Me reminds readers to not just read local, but to shop local, too.
“When you spend money at any local business, that money goes right back into your community and that money starts to work for you,” Colaluca says. “I think it’s an act of humanitarianism at this point if you shop local instead of shopping from Amazon, because when you send money that goes to the richest man on earth, that money doesn’t come back to you. It goes into his pocket.”
For the reader looking for something a little less intense than grandiose questions on living and dying, “A Small Earnest Question” offers a wry tale full of vivid characters living on Door County’s own Washington Island. Author J. F. Riordan, who resides on the island, has been called a “modern day Jane Austin” for her book, and visited Mystery to Me for a virtual event this month. Colaluca says this book is perfect for anyone looking for a relaxing read.
“[Riordan is] so excellent as far as writing about that place, and it’s not a very high-stakes drama … It‘s like a nice break from the world we currently live in.”
NORTH OF THE TENSION LINE: AN INTERVIEW WITH J. F. RIORDAN
We’ll hazard a guess that, at least once in your life, you’ve fantasized about packing up your life and moving to (what feels like) a different world—an idyllic small town, a bustling metropolis, a remote windswept isle… In J. F. Riordan’s sparkling North of the Tension line series, a writer does just that, moving from Chicago to a sparsely populated island in Door County, Wisconsin. Her ensuing small-town adventures are presented with enormous heart throughout this delightful series. Today in the Bluestocking Salon, Bas Bleu sat down (virtually, no masks required!) with novelist J. F. Riordan to learn more about why she chose Door County as her setting, how opera helped shape her novelist’s voice, and what effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on her writing.
Bas Bleu: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your journey to becoming a writer.
J. F. Riordan: In one way or another I have always been a writer. I can remember at the age of seven or so, walking home on a summer evening, keeping myself company by making up a story. But my writing self has always been entwined with a musical self, and it confused me for quite a while. I spent my young life studying music, and had a career as an opera singer. It was an unhappy time, but it seems to have resolved itself: rhythm, the sound and feeling of words, and the movement of phrases are a very big part of my writing.
I didn’t start writing seriously for myself until quite late. I had a stressful day job, and writing was something that was personal and private, and helped me preserve a sense of purpose—not to mention a little sanity. The first novel took about seven years to write, partly because of the job, and partly because there was no pressure to finish. I had no idea whether anyone would want it. Since North of the Tension Line came out in 2014, I have published five books: four novels, and a book of essays, Reflections on a Life in Exile. It has all come as a bit of a surprise.
BB: Door County, and especially Washington Island, makes such an interesting and atmospheric setting for your series. What is your relationship to the area, and why did you decide to set the books there?
JFR: I have been going to Door County for decades, and it was probably thirty years ago when I decided to take the ferry to Washington Island just to see what was there. From the first moment I set foot on the ferry it was if a spell was cast on me. I can remember standing at the railing, looking out at the water and thinking what it would be like to come there every summer, with all the days spread out before you like a blank sheet of paper. There’s a magic in the island: as if you have fallen off the edge of the earth, and all that’s left is the essence of what matters. In my books I try to capture that mystical, almost magical reality.
I have always wanted to live there, in that sense of deep authenticity, but it wasn’t practical, so writing about being on the island was the next best thing.
Tommy “Bubba Jones” and his sister, Jenny “Hug-a-Bug,” uncover amazing facts about the Grand Canyon while on a mission to solve a park mystery. This is no ordinary brother and sister duo; they are part of a legendary time travel family with a mission to preserve and protect our national parks and have developed a reputation for solving mysteries. As they time travel back hundreds, thousands, and millions of years, they not only learn about the past, but also experience it. They encounter all sorts wild creatures and plants, meet the people involved in the establishment of the national park, learn about the Native Americans that call this land home, and unravel some of the park’s secrets. The fourth book of this award-winning national park series by author/storyteller Jeff Alt, “The Adventures of Bubba Jones: Grand Canyon National Park” is an inherently fun and impressively informative read and one that is especially and unreservedly recommended for family, elementary school, middle school, and community library collections for young readers ages 8-12. It should be noted for personal reading lists that “The Adventures of Bubba Jones: Grand Canyon National Park” is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
