T-R PHOTO BY ANDREW UBBEN — Author Laura Sohl-Cryer visits Stepping Stones Christian Bookstore in Marshalltown for a signing of her first book, “Remembering the Home Place: Sonnets and Stories From Our Family Farm.”
While Stepping Stones Christian Bookstore celebrated their 20th anniversary this past week at both the Grinnell and Marshalltown stores, author Laura Sohl-Cryer conducted a signing at the Marshalltown location on Friday to promote her debut, Remembering the Home Place: Sonnets and Stories From Our Family Farm.
Sohl-Cryer grew up in northwest Iowa on her family’s Century Farm established by her great grandfather between Boyden and Hull. For the past 24 years, she has lived in Cedar Falls, teaching at Hawkeye Community College and some online classes for DMACC. Sohl-Cryer has been writing intermittently since graduate school and is also a renowned member of the Iowa Poetry Association, from which she has won multiple awards of recognition.
The new book stems from a place of sadness as Sohl-Cryer’s mother passed away last October, leaving her to make the difficult decision to take the semester off from teaching and move back to the family farm to address estate matters and her grieving process. In the midst of handling paperwork regarding the estate, she had spare time to grieve, but given that she is a farm girl at heart, Sohl-Cryer did not want to just sit on her hands.
According to Sohl-Cryer, God started waking her up every morning around 4:45 a.m. when chores were typically started on the farm, reminding her of His presence growing up as a child. Recalling her childhood spent there, she wanted to be on the farm during this difficult time to ride the waves of grief and turn it into something productive and positive.
“Writing this, Remembering the Home Place, has helped me to just know that He has been present throughout my whole life,” Sohl-Cryer said. “It came out of grief and provided me with a lot of hope.”
Grief is not the only theme of the book, as there are humorous accounts of growing up on a farm and multiple stories of levity. The book also serves as a catalyst for people to share their own stories, and Sohl-Cryer encourages them to do so since, as she puts it, many of these small family farm stories are one or two generations from being long-forgotten unless they are shared.
In celebration of 20 years of business in Grinnell and 12 years in Marshalltown, Stepping Stones held a week-long sale giving customers 20% off of one regular price, in stock item of choice in Marshalltown along with daily door prizes and refreshments at both stores.
“It’s just our way of saying thank you to all of our loyal customers over the years. Especially thank you to all of our past and current team members and all the volunteers over the years,” said Mindy Uitermarkt, the owner of the bookstores. “We just want to say thank you to everyone.”
In addition to Sohl-Cryer, the bookstore also hosted book signings featuring Rosa Clark and Jocelyn Green throughout the week. Stepping Stones Christian Bookstore encourages everybody to check out the sidewalk sales this coming weekend for Ridiculous Day on Saturday, July 23 in Grinnell. For more information on Stepping Stones Christian Bookstores, follow them on Facebook at Stepping Stone Christain Bookstores or call store owner Mindy Uitermarkt at 641-990-1381.
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Contact Andrew Ubben at 641-753-6611 or aubben@timesrepublican.com.
‘Book Talk’ with bestselling author Kate Quinn to be held virtually May 19
A discussion about The Diamond Eye, a historical fiction novel based on the story of a real Ukrainian woman WWII sniper, will be held virtually with the bestselling author at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 19. The discussion is co-sponsored by Del Mar Community Connections’ Page Turners and the Del Mar branch Library’s Book Talk groups. Kate Quinn, a resident of San Diego County whose books have appeared multiple times on the New York Times bestsellers, list will be the featured guest and discuss her new book.
Registration is required. Those interested in attending will find the registration link at dmcc.cc/calendar, or they may call the DMCC office at (858) 792-7565 to receive assistance.
Quinn is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. A native of Southern California, she attended Boston University where she earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in classical voice. She has written four novels in the Empress of Rome Saga, and two books in the Italian Renaissance, before turning to the 20th century with The Alice Network, The Huntress, The Rose Code, and The Diamond Eye. All have been translated into multiple languages. Quinn and her husband live in San Diego with three rescue dogs.
Coinneach MacLeod, ‘The Hebridean Baker’ stops on his world tour at ‘Diesel, A Bookstore’ in DM Highlands
“Diesel, A Bookstore” in Del Mar Highlands Town Center will host bestselling author Coinneach MacLeod on Wednesday, May 11 at 6:30 p.m.
The event will feature recipes and wee stories from the Scottish Islands and a cup of tea or two. Scotland’s bestselling author shares the Hebridean lifestyle in his debut cookbook, The Hebridean Baker. Featuring rustic, old family favorites and classic recipes with a Scottish twist as the Hebridean Baker always says “Homemade is Always Best.”
MacLeod was born and raised on the Isle of Lewis, the most northerly of the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Inspired by traditional family recipes and homegrown produce, MacLeod rose to fame as the Hebridean Baker on TikTok in 2020. He has motivated his worldwide followers to bake, forage, learn Gaelic, enjoy a dram or two of whisky, and to seek a more wholesome, simple life. Along with his partner Peter and their Westie pup Seoras, MacLeod’s aim is to bring the best of the Scottish islands to a worldwide audience.
This is a ticketed event and seating is limited. Reserve a seat with the purchase of a book at bit.ly/3s8vwzM
Masks are required to attend. Event address: Diesel, A Bookstore, 12843 E Camino Real Suite 104, Carmel Valley, 92130.
Restaurants partner with Promises2Kids for Foodies 4 Foster Kids
Show you care by dining where it matters throughout the month of May to benefit 3,000 children in foster care. Promises2Kids has partnered with 37 local restaurants to raise funds for San Diego foster children. The campaign will run throughout the month of May, in celebration of National Foster Care Month.
Each restaurant will designate select menu items which will support the Foodies 4 Foster Kids campaign. Funds raised will benefit foster children by reuniting siblings living apart in foster care, supporting high school and college students in reaching their educational goals, providing birthday gifts, school clothes and opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities, and providing an emergency shelter where children feel safe and cared for.
Promises2Kids helps foster children overcome the difficulties of their past and grow to become healthy and successful adults. The community is invited to support Promises2Kids by dining in or ordering online at participating businesses. The community can also make an online gift at give.promises2kids.org/foodies4fosterkids2022
For more information on Foodies 4 Foster Kids, including participating restaurants, visit: promises2kids.org/foodies2022/
Helen Woodward Animal Center to hold Puppy Prom
Rancho Santa Fe-based nonprofit Helen Woodward Animal Center will hold a Puppy Prom for alumni adopters, their pets and all animal lovers 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 14 at Original 40 Brewing Company, 3117 University Ave. in San Diego. The event will feature music, food, drinks, vendors, a prom costume contest, a corsage making station, a photo station, special prizes and the crowning of a four-legged Prom King and Queen. Free to attend. Costume contest participants are asked to make a $15 donation to the Helen Woodward Animal Center. Visit animalcenter.org.
It’s Independent Bookstore Day, and Kenosha’s Blue House Books is hosting a celebration. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., six area authors will read excerpts from their books, take questions and sign autographs. Food offerings by Hydn Cheese will start at noon. The free event is in Friendship Park, 5834 Sixth Ave. The bookstore itself is nearby, at 5915 Sixth Ave. A. For more information about the shop, go to blue-house-books.com
“She Kills Monsters” — a play rooted in the Dungeons & Dragons universe and featuring numerous sword-fighting scenes, advanced projection technology and loads of special effects — continues tonight in the Main Stage Theater at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, 900 Wood Road. The show runs April 30-May 1 and May 6-8. Performances are 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. There is also a 10 a.m. matinee on Friday, May 6. Tickets are $20 for adults; $15 for senior citizens (55 and older) and students. Go to uwp.edu/therita.
People are also reading…
“Radio Show” — featuring performances of the classic radio dramas “Sorry, Wrong Number” and “The Hitchhiker” — continues at 7:30 tonight in the Studio Theater at Bradford High School, 3700 Washington Road. Tickets are $6-$13 at kusd.edu/finearts.
“Something Rotten” — a musical comedy that spoofs musicals and Shakespeare — continues tonight at Carthage College. Performances are 7:30 tonight (April 30) and 3 p.m. Sunday (May 1); continuing at 7:30 p.m. May 5-7. Tickets are $14 for adults, $10 for senior citizens (55 and older) and $8 for students. Go to carthage.edu/arts/box-office.
Wake up and smell the all-you-can-eat-pancakes (and enjoy the music) at Pancake Day. The event is 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Roma Lodge, 7130 Spring St. in Mount Pleasant. The music starts at 7 a.m. with Betsy Ade and the Well-Known Strangers.$10 at the door; free for kids 5 and younger.
Looking for live music tonight? Here are some options:
Petty Union (a Tom Petty tribute group) plays at the Brat Stop, 12304 75th St. 9 p.m. $10 cover charge.
Local favorite Ash Can School performs, starting at 8 p.m., at Union Park Tavern, 4520 Eighth Ave. No cover.
And Wisconsin favorite Pat McCurdy brings his brand of music and comedy to the Wyndham Garden Hotel Ballroom, 125 Sixth Ave. 7:30 p.m. $10. Get tickets at brownpapertickets.com/event/5415317.
Nine Networking, Workshop and Fireside Chat Events in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee, Focused on Connecting Angels, Investors and Startup Founders for increased scaling of companies that matter in Scotland
Ash Maura, bestselling author of ‘Scaling Lean: Mastering the Key Metrics for Startup Growth’ will be headlining nine events throughout Scotland.
The Startup Race, an accelerator program reinventing how startups both scale and connect with investors, announced today that it will host nine events in Scotland, each headlined by bestselling entrepreneurship author Ash Maurya. The nine events in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dudee, will focus on connecting angels, investors and startup founders for future economic growth in Scotland and the United Kingdom. Maurya, who is one of the world’s leading business startup gurus is the thought leader behind Running Lean,’ which is both a book and an entrepreneurship movement. As the Austin, Texas-based author headlines the nine events around Scotland, he hopes to meet Scottish entrepreneurs and investors to discuss how to systematically identify risk in their business model at every stage. The events are supported by both The Startup Race through a partnership grant with the Scottish Government’s Technology Ecosystem Initiative.
Ash Maura, bestselling author of ‘Scaling Lean: Mastering the Key Metrics for Startup Growth’ will be headlining nine events throughout Scotland.
The Startup Race, an accelerator program reinventing how startups both scale and connect with investors, announced today that it will host nine events in Scotland, each headlined by bestselling entrepreneurship author Ash Maurya. The nine events in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dudee, will focus on connecting angels, investors and startup founders for future economic growth in Scotland and the United Kingdom. Maurya, who is one of the world’s leading business startup gurus is the thought leader behind Running Lean,’ which is both a book and an entrepreneurship movement. As the Austin, Texas-based author headlines the nine events around Scotland, he hopes to meet Scottish entrepreneurs and investors to discuss how to systematically identify risk in their business model at every stage. The events are supported by both The Startup Race through a partnership grant with the Scottish Government’s Technology Ecosystem Initiative.
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND, April 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Startup Race, an accelerator program reinventing how startups both scale and connect with investors, announced today that it will host nine events in Scotland, each headlined by bestselling entrepreneurship author Ash Maurya. The nine events in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dudee, will focus on connecting angels, investors and startup founders for future economic growth in Scotland and the United Kingdom. Maurya, who is one of the world’s leading business startup gurus is the thought leader behind Running Lean,’ which is both a book and an entrepreneurship movement. As the Austin, Texas-based author headlines the nine events around Scotland, he hopes to meet Scottish entrepreneurs and investors to discuss how to systematically identify risk in their business model at every stage. The events are supported by both The Startup Race through a partnership grant with the Scottish Government’s Technology Ecosystem Initiative.
“As I always say, ‘Building a scalable and successful business starts with knowing what to measure and how,’” said Ash Maurya, entrepreneurship thought leader and the author of The Lean Canvas. “Being able to bring this mission to Scotland with the support of both The Startup Race and the Scottish Government’s Technology Ecosystem Initiative, in order to meet with like minded individuals – this is a true honor.”
The events intended to connect angel Investors, venture capitalists and high growth entrepreneurs, kick off on May 3, 2022. Each event is free with limited capacity, and each attendee will receive a copy of Maurya’s new book, Running Lean.
Dundee 3rd May
Glasgow 4th May
Edinburgh 5th May
The nine events with Maurya are part of the runway to kick off a £10,000 Startup Race under The Startup Race brand and company. Founded by Startup and VC veterans Michael Clouser and James Shoemark, The growth hacking competition begins in May 2022, with a Hackathon (£5,000 Cash prize), and continues through the fall of 2022. A winner will be announced and awarded the £10,000 cash prize in December of 2022.. Currently, more than 300 Entrepreneurs (and Angel Investors who will observe their performance) have already registered their interest in taking part. The Startup Race will be partnering with Scottish Investors to run a £300,000 Startup Race and then a £1,000,000 International Startup Race in 2023.
Mr. Maurya’s visit to Scotland is focused on meeting Scottish Angel investors and Scaleup Entrepreneurs to discuss how funded Scaleups need NOT accelerate their business into a wall but can instead continue to exploit the “Lean Startup principles” as competitive advantage and organizational dynamic to achieve revenue and profit growth. Entrepreneurship topics may range, but a core focus will be on discussing how to systematically identify what’s riskiest in a business model at every stage in order to know how or what to optimize.
“Introducing Ash Maurya to the Scottish startup community has been a goal for quite some time, and we are thrilled to be able to launch this partnership,” said Michael Clouser, co-founder of The Startup Race. “We hope Scottish based startup founders, angels and investors find value in these events for future growth in all of their entrepreneurship endeavors.”
Ash Maurya has been an entrepreneur for nearly three decades, and has been in search of a better, faster way for building successful products since 2010. His mantra is “Life’s too short to build something nobody wants.” Greatly inspired by the works on Customer Development and Lean Startup pioneered by Steve Blank and Eric Ries, he became very well-known in the global lean startup community and went on to create the highly popular one-page business modelling tool “Lean Canvas” and write two bestselling books that taught entrepreneurs how to implement the philosophies – “Running Lean: How to Iterate from Plan A to a plan that works” and “Scaling Lean”. He also founded LEANSTACK, which provides world-class tools, courses, and training that help early-stage entrepreneurs find repeatable and scalable business models. Ash is praised for offering some of the best and most practical advice for entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs all over the world. Driven by the search for better and faster ways for building successful products, Ash has developed a systematic methodology for raising the odds of success built upon Lean Startup, Customer Development, and Bootstrapping techniques. Ash is also a leading business blogger and his posts and advice have been featured in Inc. Magazine, Forbes, and Fortune. He serves as a mentor to several accelerators including TechStars, MaRS, Capital Factory, and guest lecturers at several universities including MIT, Harvard, and UT-Austin. Ash serves on the advisory board of a number of startups, and has consulted to new and established companies.
ABOUT THE STARTUP RACE
The Startup Race, based in the UK, is a hackathon and accelerator dedicated to proving that sales and revenue are the true benchmark of a successful startup, rather than the initial pitch. The event and company itself is the product of a young entrepreneur asking Mr. James Shoemark in 2014, how the startup process could be gamified. Shoemark decided that a business competition using the Pirate Metrics (AARRR as popularised by Dave McLure) of Acquisition, Activation, Retention, Referral and Revenue as a benchmark for ambition, competition and growth could be the answer. He soon teamed up with Michael Clouser, a former Silicon Valley VC and other Edinburgh based Entrepreneurs and Investors to partner with him on this new venture in order to support Fast Growth startups in the UK and around the world. The first £10,000 Startup Race will continue though the fall of 2022, where a winner will be announced and awarded the £10,000 Cash Prize. After this Startup Race has completed, they will be partnering with Scottish Investors to run a £300,000 Startup Race and then a £1,000,000 International Startup Race.
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND, April 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Startup Race, an accelerator program reinventing how startups both scale and connect with investors, announced today that it will host nine events in Scotland, each headlined by bestselling entrepreneurship author Ash Maurya. The nine events in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dudee, will focus on connecting angels, investors and startup founders for future economic growth in Scotland and the United Kingdom. Maurya, who is one of the world’s leading business startup gurus is the thought leader behind Running Lean,’ which is both a book and an entrepreneurship movement. As the Austin, Texas-based author headlines the nine events around Scotland, he hopes to meet Scottish entrepreneurs and investors to discuss how to systematically identify risk in their business model at every stage. The events are supported by both The Startup Race through a partnership grant with the Scottish Government’s Technology Ecosystem Initiative.
“As I always say, ‘Building a scalable and successful business starts with knowing what to measure and how,’” said Ash Maurya, entrepreneurship thought leader and the author of The Lean Canvas. “Being able to bring this mission to Scotland with the support of both The Startup Race and the Scottish Government’s Technology Ecosystem Initiative, in order to meet with like minded individuals – this is a true honor.”
The events intended to connect angel Investors, venture capitalists and high growth entrepreneurs, kick off on May 3, 2022. Each event is free with limited capacity, and each attendee will receive a copy of Maurya’s new book, Running Lean.
Dundee 3rd May
Glasgow 4th May
Edinburgh 5th May
The nine events with Maurya are part of the runway to kick off a £10,000 Startup Race under The Startup Race brand and company. Founded by Startup and VC veterans Michael Clouser and James Shoemark, The growth hacking competition begins in May 2022, with a Hackathon (£5,000 Cash prize), and continues through the fall of 2022. A winner will be announced and awarded the £10,000 cash prize in December of 2022.. Currently, more than 300 Entrepreneurs (and Angel Investors who will observe their performance) have already registered their interest in taking part. The Startup Race will be partnering with Scottish Investors to run a £300,000 Startup Race and then a £1,000,000 International Startup Race in 2023.
Mr. Maurya’s visit to Scotland is focused on meeting Scottish Angel investors and Scaleup Entrepreneurs to discuss how funded Scaleups need NOT accelerate their business into a wall but can instead continue to exploit the “Lean Startup principles” as competitive advantage and organizational dynamic to achieve revenue and profit growth. Entrepreneurship topics may range, but a core focus will be on discussing how to systematically identify what’s riskiest in a business model at every stage in order to know how or what to optimize.
“Introducing Ash Maurya to the Scottish startup community has been a goal for quite some time, and we are thrilled to be able to launch this partnership,” said Michael Clouser, co-founder of The Startup Race. “We hope Scottish based startup founders, angels and investors find value in these events for future growth in all of their entrepreneurship endeavors.”
Ash Maurya has been an entrepreneur for nearly three decades, and has been in search of a better, faster way for building successful products since 2010. His mantra is “Life’s too short to build something nobody wants.” Greatly inspired by the works on Customer Development and Lean Startup pioneered by Steve Blank and Eric Ries, he became very well-known in the global lean startup community and went on to create the highly popular one-page business modelling tool “Lean Canvas” and write two bestselling books that taught entrepreneurs how to implement the philosophies – “Running Lean: How to Iterate from Plan A to a plan that works” and “Scaling Lean”. He also founded LEANSTACK, which provides world-class tools, courses, and training that help early-stage entrepreneurs find repeatable and scalable business models. Ash is praised for offering some of the best and most practical advice for entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs all over the world. Driven by the search for better and faster ways for building successful products, Ash has developed a systematic methodology for raising the odds of success built upon Lean Startup, Customer Development, and Bootstrapping techniques. Ash is also a leading business blogger and his posts and advice have been featured in Inc. Magazine, Forbes, and Fortune. He serves as a mentor to several accelerators including TechStars, MaRS, Capital Factory, and guest lecturers at several universities including MIT, Harvard, and UT-Austin. Ash serves on the advisory board of a number of startups, and has consulted to new and established companies.
ABOUT THE STARTUP RACE
The Startup Race, based in the UK, is a hackathon and accelerator dedicated to proving that sales and revenue are the true benchmark of a successful startup, rather than the initial pitch. The event and company itself is the product of a young entrepreneur asking Mr. James Shoemark in 2014, how the startup process could be gamified. Shoemark decided that a business competition using the Pirate Metrics (AARRR as popularised by Dave McLure) of Acquisition, Activation, Retention, Referral and Revenue as a benchmark for ambition, competition and growth could be the answer. He soon teamed up with Michael Clouser, a former Silicon Valley VC and other Edinburgh based Entrepreneurs and Investors to partner with him on this new venture in order to support Fast Growth startups in the UK and around the world. The first £10,000 Startup Race will continue though the fall of 2022, where a winner will be announced and awarded the £10,000 Cash Prize. After this Startup Race has completed, they will be partnering with Scottish Investors to run a £300,000 Startup Race and then a £1,000,000 International Startup Race.
Adam Shoalts will share adventures from latest book, The Whisper on the Night Wind, during March 30 event
NEWS RELEASE
ORILLIA PUBLIC LIBRARY
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If mysterious, unexplained tracks in the deepest of woods and a bold, hair-raising attempt to uncover the truth behind a century-old Labrador legend sound like just the kind of thrill you’re after, then the Orillia Public Library has an event for you.
Join professional explorer and best-selling author Adam Shoalts via an exclusive Zoom event on Wednesday, March 30 at 6:30 p.m. as he regales us with his latest adventure from his new book, The Whisper on the Night Wind: The True History of a Wilderness Legend.
He will discuss the fascinating story of a century-old wilderness tale from the Labrador wild involving strange tracks in the woods and Shoalts’s attempt to unravel it.
Shoalts has a PhD from McMaster University in history, is a national champion of the Trans-Canada Trail, and the Westaway Explorer-in-Residence of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.
A regular guest on television and radio, his books include Alone Against the North and A History of Canada in 10 Maps, both being national bestsellers. He is also no stranger to the many Orillians who enjoyed the 2020 Orillia Public Library Big Read selection, Beyond The Trees: A Journey Across Canada’s Arctic.
Please register here to receive the Zoom link. Everyone is welcome.
Last month, new author Julee Pauling self-published her very first novel, View from the Lamplighter Inn.
This suspense/thriller follows Elspeth James on her journey to self-discovery as she attempts to solve a series of mysterious deaths — something she can’t do until she has worked through her past trauma.
According to author Julee Pauling, View from the Lamplighter Inn explores “human psychology and its effects on society…From the perspective of someone who has survived trauma and must learn how to re-engage with the world.”
Elspeth’s journey in View from the Lamplighter Inn is far from simple. After suffering from this trauma, Elspeth loses her position as a philosophy professor. Despite this, Elspeth pushes on, “investigating social violence as it exists on many levels, from the ways other people try to solve our problems for us, to micro aggressions, to full-on bullying, all the way up to human trafficking and assault.”
While Elspeth’s journey may be a work of fiction, her story was actually inspired by real events in Julee Pauling’s life. After being diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumour, Julee had felt as if her life began to crumble.
“Prior to my brain tumour, I had a career in the public service developing ethics programs and advising on public ethics and conflicts of interest.” Julee said. “The use of the imagination in moral education has always interested me, and I had once thought I would study it at a doctoral level.”
But things took a turn for the worst.
“I was suddenly caught and I then was trapped for a time. There could be no quick escape. I just needed to work it through.” Julee confessed. “It was like one day I had an identity and a role in society and then it was gone.”
Thankfully, it didn’t take long before Julee was able to find herself once again through her writing. She set aside time to write nearly every single day, determined to finish Elspeth James’ story.
“Writing a book was always in my life plan,” Julee confessed. “But, I didn’t expect to write a book until I was over 40.”
She admits that writing her book was definitely the right path for her and urges aspiring writers to explore self-publishing as well.
“If anyone has that burning desire to publish a book,” Julee said, “give it a try.”
But her journey doesn’t stop here. When asked about what readers can expect in the future, Julee assured that View from the Lamplighter Inn would not be the end of this story. In fact, readers can expect the next novel in the series, Polished Stone sometime in the future.
To secure your very own copy of Julee Pauling’s View from the Lamplighter Inn, click here.
