I have just learned from my Swedish cousin that the mother cat, pictured on the cover of My Enemy's Child, has died of complications of giving birth yet again.  The only surviving kitten is being nursed carefully by the children at the farm.

No one really knew the cat's age, but it was estimated at seventeen or eighteen years.  She was well along when she lost her right eye, fending off an attacking Tom Cat which was trying to kill her latest litter.  That was just days before I took the cover photo for the novel with "Cat" and Pauliina.

When I saw the mother cat last August (2010), she seemed quite strong and was expecting once again.  She had earlier risen to the position of "Boss Cat" in the barn and defended her title vigorously, accepting no nonsense from the other cats.

See the photo of Paulina who was five years old on the book cover and "Cat", which I took in August:

http://www.smultron-pub.com/My_Enemy%27s_Child/Paulina_Page.html

Believe it or not the economy even affects authors.  For instance, we've seen a consistent decline in book sales at the fantastic Nordic get-together in North Dakota, Höstfest (fall festival).  This flies in the face of previous sales since my first invitation to attend Höstfest, when I only had one novel to my credit.  In the last year I attended with seven novels.

Discouraging?  Well, no.  Not at my age and experience.  I think it's to be expected.  Of course, this might have been somewhat different if I was being offered by an international publisher.  The pitfalls that come from that avenue are complicated by distribution and book returns which can be dangerously expensive  to authors.  Something I haven't yet been willing to risk.  All in all, the publishing business is in a shambles right not and bookstores like Borders, with their recent bankruptcy, are paying the price.

Amazon or one of the major booksellers, you might say, would better serve you.  Possibly, especially in numbers of books distributed, but the aforementioned pitfalls also lie waiting to claim my time (I have to write sometime) and profits.  The share an author receives from these big distributors and resellers is quite small in comparison.

For all that I am willing to continue taking myself and books to the assorted festivals and occasional speaking engagements...just waiting and seeing.  We expect Smultron will one day soon, be serving e-books from their office and not have to pay several middle-men for something they are capable of doing right now.

What sustains a writer, you might ask, or an actor or other artist is not the same as, for instance, a politician, or businessperson.  For my part, I find that I must write, despite the reward, or not, of book sales.  I'm certain other "artists" feel much the same.

I always say that every customer has a story and I usually hear many of them.  The best ones often come from someone who has read one or more of my books.  Often they are older and perhaps may have had some experience with the subject matter and/or the era.  You can read some of them on our web-site's Readers Forum on www.smultron-pub.com.

Yet, I remember a young woman still in high school who stopped to chat at one of the Nordic Festivals.  She told me that she had "watched" that book (My Enemy's Child) for a year and hesitated to spend her limited funds, but finally did.  Returning to the festival the following year she related the story and told me that it was the very best book she had ever read.

Considering her age in comparison to some of my older customers, one might discount her praise.  Well, what does a girl of that age know, afterall?  On the other hand one can be extremely proud to have reached so deeply into the psyche of a teenager for her to share that with me...and I am.

This year's annual Nordic Höstfest (Fall Festival) supposedly had record attendance.  As usual, the four, twelve hour days of book signing and talking with people passed quickly.  Here are some photos and appropriate comments.

This fall I was invited to discuss Swedish  genealogy at Eau Claire's Ramada Inn, downtown.  A genealogical researcher I definitely am not, but have encountered enough who are to having a passing knowledge of the process (frustration/reward).  I showed a DVD quickly concocted from footage we (Norden Folk) have taped regarding the subject, for a later program of much greater size.

Two beautiful days on the east bank of the Mississippi River.  Thanks to old friends and former readers who came by, the days went quickly.  The Laura Look-alike contest pits little girls of all ages (by age categories) for the title of Little Laura, 2010.

If you mother didn't have the time or skill to sew your period costume, you could purchase one of several right off the rack.

Though it was iffy, the weather cooperated for both the opening festivities on Thursday evening and the race and parade the following morning.  Fortunately, we were indoors (AC!) and didn't have to suffer the heat and humidity.

What is it about Iowan's...so free with their hugs?  We reaped the affection and complements from previous year's readers, anxious to pick up a copy of Stolen Genes-Stolen Children.  Along with the complements (thank you!) we heard the usual number of stories.  A big thank you to the organizers who make this event happen every year.

In particular, Patricia, originally from England, related her own tragic childhood experience.  The heavy bombing of London by the Luftwaffe forced her parents to farm her out, along with many other of London's youth, to an orphanage in the north.  When it came time to pick her up when things became safer, the orphanage matron convinced her mother that she didn't want to go home and preferred the orphanage.  Likewise, Patricia was told her mother didn't want her any more.  She didn't find her (blood) mother until much later in life, just before her mother died.  The same was true for her father.  We encouraged Patricia to take this story public, both to American and British television and in her own book.



Alicia and Katrina, tried playing my fiddle.  Alicia seemed a natural, but Katrina...a budding photographer, decided she still preferred her guitar.

After nearly being rained out at Norway Days the weekend before, Stockholm's Arts Festival carried the same weather forecast.  Luckily, however, there were only sprinkles late the the day as the event shut down.  This is one of the best festivals on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi.



The buses bring the visitors down from the parking lots in droves:



And they're quickly met by a couple of strangely-dressed ladies handing out programs:



When she wasn't looking over my shoulder as I signed books, my energetic neighbor joined others in admiring this century  old cottonwood tree:



Before we left I bought enough rhubarb from Martha for two pies:

All of these social networking devices/forums require a good deal of my time, sometimes more than I can dedicate.

That's why it has been a while since I've posted anything on the blogcast.  Many readers are either going to the Readers Forum (http://www.smultron-pub.com/Forum/phpBB2/index.php) or FaceBook, although I can't acknowledge every "friend" who asks, there.


(Seems awfully intense, doesn't he...maybe it's stage fright)

Danish Days, Midsommar at ASI, Svenskarnas Dag and Norway Day, all in Minneapolis were, as usual, invigorating.  I missed Scandia's Midsommar this year due to contracting Lymes and only learned about it the evening of that event.  I did make the other festivals, however and want to say thanks for all your comments (and purchases).  So good to see old friends and make some new ones, too.

If you have never attended the weekend folk festival at Nisswa Minnesota, Nisswastämma, you're missing some pretty nice music and dance.  Five state area and some internationals visit every year to perform over two days, beginning Friday evening with a great concert in a local church.

There is music, dance, children's events, food and just fun all day long in the village park, followed by a great smorgasbörd, followed by a dance until midnight.

I don't do the books here but will take you for a spin around the dance floor if you show up.

Here's my friend Valorie expressing one of her multiple talents.

Earlier this week as a total surprise, I was invited to give a presentation about Swedish genealogy at the Eau Claire Public Library and offer guidelines to some members of the GRSEC, a local genealogy group.

I am first and foremost not a genealogy expert, or even close, but years ago through friendships in Sweden I happen to fall into the acquaintance of several persons who are.

Thus, my "roots" were handed to me in a thick brown envelope. The friendships that followed led to further interest in my Swedish ancestors and the (Swedish) customs, long-abandoned by my ancestors upon emigrating to Nord Amerika to excape oppression from the Swedish Lutheran Church and to find a better life.

Through the research that followed, my genealogy skills quickly developed. I hope I was able to offer some assistance in the couple of hours Ispent together with this group of Swedish Americans in Eau Claire.

Copies of old church book pages, emigrant lists and Swedish words presented the greatest obstacles to the researchers. What a fun group and somehave really excelled in their family research.



This eventled to another invitation to present to the entire genealogy group at theirmonthly meeting on 10 April. Held at the Chippewa Valley Museum(http://www.cvmuseum.com), this time I have the option to speak about my otherside, my father's links to Olde England.

Jerry