The Authors Road, John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck
Author #9

Next week marks the 43rd anniversary of the death of John Steinbeck, arguably one of America’s greatest writers and author who won almost every literary award available, including the Nobel Prize for Literature. As fellow authors, we can tell you that Steinbeck’s writing drives us nuts because it’s so damn good.

When we began this journey to meet America’s authors, we bought a truck we named “Rosinante Tres.” The first was, of course, Don Quixote’s faithful nag, and the second Rosinante was Steinbeck’s truck and camper in his Travels with Charley.

We drove Rosinante Tres to the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas, California where we met Herb Behrens. In a basement office crowded with Steinbeck photos and memorabilia Herb shared his passion on the subject of Steinbeck. And before you ask, yes, in this interview, Herb tells where Charley is buried.

With particular thanks to the National Steinbeck Center for arranging this interview, and to Herb for taking the time to enthusiastically share his knowledge – we are pleased to share with you this special interview in time for the Holidays.

And stay tuned. Our next interview is a spirited chat with Oregon’s fifth poet laureate, Lawson Inada.

Happy Holidays to All!

George, Salli & Ella

The Authors Road

Author's Road Posts Jack London Review

Author # 8: Jack London

We’re pleased to introduce you to the first in our series that could be named, “The Dead Authors Society” – but we’re not that tacky. In addition to the exciting and very lively authors we’ve been interviewing, we realized there is a chance to also learn from experts on some of our deceased writers as well. In the month ahead we will also share our interviews with experts on John Steinbeck and Mark Twain.

But now, let us re-introduce you to a dynamic writer, listed by Writers Digest as one of the 20th Century’s 100 Most Influential Writers. Oyster pirate, boy socialist, self-educated, adventurer, gold prospector, seal hunter, novelist, and the world’s first millionaire artist, Jack London’s brief but brilliant and tumultuous life is legendary, and he’s been an inspiration to countless writers for the last century.

For fourteen years, Louis Leal, a volunteer at the Jack London State Park, has studied London’s life and art and shared his insights with the millions of visitors to The Jack London State Historic Park Wolf outside of Glen Ellen, California, less than two hours north of San Francisco.

Louis agreed to be interviewed for our series, and we met him at London’s cottage on a beautiful autumn day. Like so many others, we were enthralled with his stories and insights, and excited to be able to share with you. Go to www.authorsroad.com.

Also, if you’re interested in reading an article about us that appeared in the San Jose Mercury and Pacifica Tribune, go to http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_19435216?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com .
And today, Salli participated on behalf of Authors Road in a fun bloggin experience at JungleRedWriters.com

Stay tuned friends! Our next interviews to be posted will be with Oregon’s 5th Poet Laureate, Lawson Inada; and with Herb Behrens on John Steinbeck at the National Steinbeck Center.

Salli, George and Ella
The Authors Road

Emigrant Online Posts Review of Lizzy Shannon's A Celtic Yearbook

Orgeon author pens a year’s worth of Irish traditions

Lizzy Shannon.

Oregon resident Lizzy Shannon is celebrating her Irish heritage in style by releasing A Celtic Yearbook, a guide for everything Irish divided into thirteen chapters corresponding to the thirteen Druidic months.

Shannon’s varied works span live stage plays, science fiction novels, short stories and a children's Japanese picture book to name but a few genres. Within the pages of A Celtic Yearbook, readers can enjoy her unique take on Irish festivals, folklore, recipes, superstitions, traditional remedies and much more.

Born in Belfast but now celebrating her ninth year as a US citizen, in Northern Ireland she learned mostly British history in her early studies and did not initially realize the rich Irish heritage from which she had come.

“It wasn’t until I emigrated to the United States that I found out people loved Ireland,” she told the Sherwood Gazette recently. “I said, ‘why can’t you be Irish and British’? And I am.”

Her own family research has revealed many things; one eureka moment being the discovery that her father’s uncle was a man named Ernest Blythe, a member of the Irish Republican Army who worked closely with Eamon de Valera.

Other parts of her heritage which have made it into the book are diary entries from her late mother, Maureen, including a passage detailing how to properly clean a house, Irish style. There are also home-made how-to-dos, covering pomanders to potato bread to soap-making. On top of all that, the new title contains plenty of folklore tales which have enthralled Shannon down the years, including stories about fairies, leprechauns and the dreaded banshees.

A Celtic Yearbook is released on November 10 and can be purchased on Amazon.com for under $10. For more information visit LizzyShannon.com.

Ladder Memory, by Mark Ellis, Published

Ladder Memory: Stories from the Painting Trade

by Mark Ellis

(Mark was a student of mine, and it was my pleasure to read the stories collected here).

In Ladder Memory, Stories from the Painting Trade, freelance journalist and writer Mark Ellis recalls his 30 year journey from apprentice painter to successful painting contractor. A memoir that will resonate for painters, those in the paint retail marketplace, trade contractors and for anyone who has ever hired a painter or picked up a brush.


In “Mrs. Peltzer’s Husband” a floor epoxy job becomes a look into the life of a woman suffering from emotional abuse. “The Stairwell” takes readers through the hellish painting of a seven-story industrial stairwell with a certifiably motley crew. “Plants I Have Known” humorously catalogues the obstacles to a good paint job created by bushes and trees. “Sam Drucker and the Frogs” recounts the story of a celebrity client and a controversial neighborhood frog abatement project. A useful appendix offers proven painting tips.


These stories scrape the knuckles and get under the fingernails. Ellis brings authenticity and discovery to his exploration of the experiences of a housepainter, and the entrapments, frailties, and indomitable spirits of those living and working in the structures he paints.


This title is also available through Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/dp/159299668X?tag=inkwaterpre07-20.

Authors Road Interview Features Tom Robbins

Friends and Fellow Authors Road Passengers,

We are very pleased and proud to present our latest video and audio interview with one of our favorite writers, Tom Robbins. At 36 minutes it is longer than our usual 20 minute goal, but we just couldn't help ourselves.

Since early childhood Robbins has been in love with writing, and he has devoted his life to this art with his publication of some of the most well-known, well-loved books of all time. It’s no surprise that he was named as one of the 100 Best Writers of the 20th Century by Writer’s Digest Magazine. We found him to be an intensely intelligent and generous man – and the funny, charming, slightly off-kilter writer we know from his books.

We hope you enjoy watching or listening to this interview as much as we did making it.

George & Salli
The Authors Road

Todd Williams Rescue the Problem Project

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Todd Williams speaks about his book, Rescue the Problem Project. Todd speaks at business conferences around the US about how companies can rescue a failing project.

I shot this video at the new Willamette Writers house in West Linn, Oregon.