Events

A list of appearances, programs, book signings, etc.

Check back often for updates. Times are local to the event (Columbus, Indiana, is in the Eastern Time zone).

Upcoming:

Aug. 11: I’ll be on 101.5 WKKG-FM radio in Columbus, Indiana, promoting “Over the River and Through the Woods,” the play I’ll be in in October in Hope. 8 a.m.

Aug. 16: Ripley County Reads Author Fair, Batesville Memorial Public Library, 131 N. Walnut St., Batesville, IN, (812) 934-4706, 10:30 a.m. to 12: 30 p.m.

Oct. 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12: I’ll be portraying an Italian grandfather in the play, “Over the River and Through the Woods” at Willow Leaves of Hope, Hope, IN.

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Previous:

2012

July 11: Book signing, Edinburgh Wright-Hageman Public Library, Edinburgh, IN

July 31: Radio interview aired on the Lake Effect program on WUWM 897. FM (Milwaukee).

Aug. 1: Book signing/extravaganza. Wine, cheese, jazz music, a talk by me on the making of the Buddy book, Milwaukee Artists Resource Network, Milwaukee

Aug. 11: Book signing, Starbucks, National Road, Columbus, IN

Aug. 16: Book signing/program, Bartholomew County Public Library, Columbus, IN

Sept. 23: Fox-6 TV in Milwaukee, 8:45 a.m. LIVE, in-studio interview with Brad Hicks on the Weekend Wake Up Show.

Sept. 25: Book signing/program, Wauwatosa Public Library, Wauwatosa, WI.

Oct. 6: Featured speaker at The 2012 Writers Conference at the Crump Theatre, 425 Third St., Columbus, Indiana. Sponsored by Pen It! Magazine. Spoke on journalism and a little on my book.

Oct. 13, Program/book signing at the Rosebud Cinema Drafthouse, Wauwatosa, WI.

Oct. 13, Book signings at Costco Warehouse, Grafton, Wisconsin and at Costco Warehouse, Pewaukee, WI

2013

Jan. 8, Wauwatosa Historical Society event: program and book signing, First Congregational Church, 1511 Church St., Wauwatosa, WI

Jan. 23, Private book club event in Franklin, IN

Jan. 23, Book signing at 66 Water Street Arts Cafe, Franklin, IN.

March 19, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee Osher Lifelong Learning Institute program at the  UWM School of Continuing Education, 161 W. Wisconsin Ave. (The Plankinton Building), Milwaukee.

March 21, Program at Wauwatosa Hart Park Senior Center, Wauwatosa, WI.

June 22, July 20 and Aug. 17, at the Bartholomew County Writers Group table at The Columbus City Farmers Market. Columbus, IN.

Aug. 19, 7 p.m., multimedia presentation/book signing at Yes Cinema, Columbus, IN. Also a benefit for the Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Care Center, a nonprofit agency helping out folks in central Columbus. Experts spoke on societal subjects that are introduced in the book.

Nov. 9, Greenwood (Ind.) Public Library local author fair. Greenwood, IN.

2014

March 28-29: Indiana Authors Book Signing at the Jennings County Public Library in North Vernon, IN.

June 16: Presenting at the Central Indiana Writers Association monthly meeting, Greenwood, IN.

Sept. 27: Edgerton (Wis.) Sterling North Book and Film Festival, Edgerton High School. Several authors and film types gave presentations, and many more sold books. I gave presentations on my book. The event is named for Thomas Sterling North, an author who went by Sterling North professionally and was born a few miles from Edgerton in 1906.

2015

April 6: Taught at the Scribblers Writing Club on conducting personal interviews. We meet at Sogna Della Terra bakery and coffee shop, Columbus, IN.

April 25: Presented “RESEARCHING NONFICTION: From personal interviews to document discovery” at the Spring Writers Conference, at the Yes Cinema, Columbus, IN.

July 18: Taught a class at AllWriters’ Workplace & Workshop, Waukesha, WI. Title was: “RESEARCHING NONFICTION AND TURNING IT INTO FICTION.”

Nov. 21: Author’s Fair at the Bartholomew County Public Library, Columbus, IN

2016

Feb. 3: Presentation at the White River branch of the Johnson County Public Library, Greenwood, IN 46142-1563.

April 3: Read about Vivian Carter, a pioneering African-American deejay and record producer during a book launch event for Louise Hillery’s “Bold Women in Indiana” at Hotel Indigo, Columbus, IN

April 9: Part of a panel for the Young Authors & Illustrators Forum, for kids age 10 and up, at the Bartholomew County Public Library, Columbus, IN.

May 28: Pen It! Publications Authors Fair, Edinburgh Premium Outlets, Edinburgh, IN.

Oct. 7-9: Imaginaium Convention, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Louisville, KY. Served as a panel expert at the following sessions: Historical Writing; New Author Boot Camp; Faith in Fiction; Breaking into Freelance Writing; Homonyms, Semi-Colons, Serial Commas, Oh My!

2017

June 26: Program/book signing at Bartholomew County Public Library, Columbus, IN

June 27: Program/book signing at the Harlequin Theatre, Fair Oaks Mall, Columbus, IN

Aug. 5: PenIt! Publications Day. Bartholomew County Pubic Library,  I spoke on researching and writing nonfiction.

Aug. 12 and Aug. 19: Signature Saturday Authors Event at Viewpoint Books

Sept. 30: Presentation at the White River branch of the Johnson County Public Library, Greenwood, IN 46142-1563

Oct. 6-8: Imaginaium Convention, Ramada Plaza Hotel and Conference Center, Louisville, Kentucky. Served as a panel expert for the second consecutive year, this time on the following panels: Finding Inspiration for Stories, Non-Fiction, and Fantastic First Lines.

Oct. 14: Greenwood Public Library Local Authors Fair, Greenwood, IN

Oct. 21: Half Price Books, Greenwood. Book signing, Greenwood, IN.

Oct. 28: Friends of the Brookfield Public Library Meet the Author event. Brookfield, WI

Nov. 18: Half Price Books, Bloomington. Book signing, Bloomington, IN

Nov. 19: Book Signing at River City Winery Franklin Tasting Room, Franklin, IN.

Dec. 7: Program at Meridian Kiwanis Club meeting, Columbus, IN. My wife and I spoke on our journeys as writers.

Dec. 21: Program at Meridian Kiwanis Club meeting, Columbus, IN. I spoke on “Wicked Columbus, Indiana.”

2018

April 14: 8th Annual Kentuckiana Authors Fair,  La Grange Community Center, La Grange, KY.

April 21: Pen It! Publications Writers Conference, Brown County Historical Society, Nashville, IN, 47448

July 21: Local Authors Rock! Bartholomew County Public Library , Columbus, IN.

Oct. 5-7: Imaginaium Convention, Ramada Plaza Hotel and Conference Center, Louisville, KY. Served as guest panelist on the following panels: Book signing etiquette, non-fiction, tips to become a freelance magazine writer.

Oct. 20: Greenwood Public Library Authors Fair, Greenwood, IN. 1-3 p.m.

Oct. 25: Columbus Past, Present & Future program at Ivy Tech Community College, Columbus, IN.

Nov. 3: Wild Geese Bookshop, Franklin, IN, 1-3 p.m. Second anniversary celebration. Coincided with the Shop Small Saturday promotion in downtown Franklin.

Nov. 8: Pappy Wilson’s Harvest Frolic. I played the part of Homer Portnoy, a theater projectionist who gave a review of Alfred Hitchcock’s movie, “Rope,” in this radio-style play. At The Historic Artcraft Theatre, Franklin, IN.

Nov. 11: Christmas Gift & Hobby Show, Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis.

Dec. 13-14: It’s a Wonderful Life radio-style play at the Edinburgh Pixy Theatre.  I played the parts of Uncle Billy and Sam Wainwright in this radio-style play put on by The New Mercury Theater. Edinburgh, IN

2019

Jan. 19: Bartholomew County Genealogical Society program on “Wicked Columbus, Indiana,” at the Bartholomew County Public Library Red Room. Columbus, IN

March 23: Johnson County Public Library’s inaugural local authors fair.  Clark-Pleasant Branch community room, New Whiteland, IN.

March 28: Columbus High 12 Club meeting at Sirloin Stockade, Columbus, IN, Presentation on “Wicked Columbus, Indiana.”

Sept. 14: Local author book signing, Viewpoint Books, Columbus, IN.

Oct. 11-13: Imaginaium Convention, Ramada Plaza Hotel and Conference Center, Louisville, KY. An all-weekend fiesta of writing, gaming, film, etc. I served as a guest panelist on the following panels: How to Get Along with Editors, Research Done Right, Non-Fiction Writing, Walking in Another’s Shoes (writing from different points of view).

Nov. 8: Christmas Gift & Hobby Show, Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis, IN

Nov. 9: Wild Geese Bookshop, book signing, 10 a.m. to noon. Franklin, IN.

Dec. 7: Holiday Craft & Gift Show, Greenwood High School, Greenwood, IN.

Dec. 13 and Dec. 21: Greenwood Park Mall Local Authors kiosk, Greenwood, IN.

2020

Feb. 10: Writing presentation at Columbus Signature Academy – Central Middle School, Columbus, IN.

Feb. 22: Book signing at Books & Brews, Indianapolis, IN.

April 23: Program for Meridian Kiwanis Club meeting, Columbus, IN. Via video. My wife and I will speak on all the exciting professional changes we’ve made in the past six months, which include adjusting to the Coronavirus.

Sept. 21-27: 7th Annual Imaginaium Convention, based in Louisville, Ky., via video chat. I participated as a guest on these panels: “To Tale the Truth,” a nonfiction writing panel, “How to be a Good Panelist,” and “Contracts: The Good, the Bad and the Oh Heck No!”

Oct. 26: Presentation at the Golden K Kiwanis Club meeting, Columbus, IN

2021

Jan. 21: Zoom presentation with my wife on being an author and publisher for a Girl Scout troop in the San Francisco Bay area.

July 9-11: 8th Annual Imaginaium Convention, Louisville, Ky. I moderated two panels and served as a guest panelist on four other panels: Let the Truth Be Told (researching and writing nonfiction); Importance of Cover Art; Layout/Design; Character Clichés (avoiding them); The Search for Editors (and what types of editors there are); Writer’s Programs (computer programs to help with organization, spelling, grammar, etc).

July 20: Tales of Columbus, program on my book, Wicked Columbus, Indiana, at the Bartholomew County Public Library, Columbus, IN. Live in the conference room. Library will have a feed on its YouTube and Facebook accounts, too. 

2022

Feb. 21: Interviewed with Bait and Switch podcast, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Podcast segment one features discussion of Murder in Wauwatosa: The Mysterious Death of Buddy Schumacher and posted Feb. 27-28. Segment two covered Wicked Columbus, Indiana, as well as my publishing efforts with PathBinder Publishing and other avenues, and posted March 7-8.

March 19: Book signing, Book Warehouse of Edinburgh, 3140 Outlet Drive, Suite F060, Edinburgh, Ind., For the Book Warehouse corporate site, click here.

March 31: 7th annual Columbus Women’s Expo, 3-7 p.m., at The Commons in downtown Columbus.

July 8-10: Ninth annual Imaginarium Convention. Louisville, Ky., At Holiday Inn Louisville East. I served as a guest panelist on these panels: Historical Fiction, Freelancing Choices, Writing Prompts, Nonfiction, Poetic Writing.

Nov. 16: Short Story Contest Awards Ceremony at Greenwood Public Library. I served as one of two authors who gave writing and publishing advice.

Dec. 11 and 18: Cider Sundays at Viewpoint Books, Columbus, Ind. Local authors sold books, while the store offered hot cider and snacks.

2023

March 11: Local Author Fair, Clark Pleasant Branch of the Johnson County (Ind.) Public Library.

July 14-16: Tenth annual Imaginarium Convention. Louisville, Ky., At Holiday Inn Louisville East. I served as a guest panelist on these panels: The Ethics of Writing True Crime and Nonfiction.

Aug. 23: Columbus Signature Academy New Tech High School. Spoke to three classes of history students on my books and how I did the research to write them.

Oct. 4: Presented Wicked Columbus, Indiana, at a Columbus Chamber of Commerce event kicking off it’s history month, at Zaharako’s Ice Cream Parlor and Museum.

Oct. 7: Spooky Booky event at Viewpoint Books, 548 Washington St., Columbus, IN.

Oct. 21: Viewpoint Books 50th Birthday Celebration.

Dec. 2-3: Christmas variety show at Willow Leaves of Hope in Hope, Indiana. Music, skits, fun. I played in a skit as George Burns and sang a verse of “White Christmas” as Elmer Fudd.

Dec. 8-10, 15-17: I played 11 parts in It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play at Willow Leaves of Hope in Hope, Indiana.

2024

March 27: Johnson County Public Library Author Talk, Franklin College Branigin Room. I hosted a chat with author Scott Carson, which is the pen name of Michael Koryta, a New York Times bestselling author from Bloomington, Indiana.

April 13: Sing! a karaoke fundraiser dedicated to supporting Advocates for Children, a local program affiliated with the National CASA organization. I was on the Bartholomew Democratic Party team that sang/performed “Friends in Low Places.”

May 10-12, 17-19: I played Judge Omar Gaffney in Harvey at Willow Leaves of Hope in Hope, Indiana.

July 19-21: Eleventh annual Imaginarium Convention. Louisville, Ky., At Holiday Inn Louisville East. I served as a guest panelist on the Captivating Crimes panel.

Aug. 23: Taught a class at Columbus Signature Academy New Tech High School how to research nonfiction for an assignment the students are working on.

Oct. 7: Book club event (private), Columbus, Indiana

Oct. 14: Monday Literary Club appearance (private), Columbus, Indiana

Nov. 1: Haunted History Evening at Viewpoint Books Chapter Two location, 425 N. Washington St., Columbus, Ind., 5-9 p.m.

Nov. 9: Sisters in Crime meeting. Louisville, Ky.

Nov. 23-24: I played 11 parts in It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play at The Crump Theatre in Columbus, Indiana.

Dec. 8 and 15: First Presbyterian Church market, after morning service, Columbus, Indiana.

2025

Jan. 8: I was interviewed through the Johnson County (Indiana) Public Library for its podcast, Back Stories. We chatted about my books, how I came to own a publishing company, and more. The podcast dropped on April 9. Give a listen here.

April 12: Johnson County Public Library’s inaugural local authors fair.  Clark-Pleasant Branch, Whiteland, Ind.

April 22: Part of the Columbus North High School Human Library event. I talked to students about being an author, Columbus, history, and more. This event “is a chance for sociology students to ‘check out’ real people with real stories, offering students the opportunity to connect with different perspectives from our community in a meaningful way. “

May 9: Talking Tombstones, a presentation by the Bartholomew County Historical Society, at City Cemetery, Columbus, IN. I portrayed Chalmers C. Brown, one of the early newspapermen of Columbus.

July 18-20: Twelfth annual Imaginarium Convention. Louisville, Ky., At Holiday Inn Louisville East. I served as a guest panelist on the Your Book Your Path panel.

Aug. 15-16: Performed pre-show skits as a knight prior to the showing of the movie, Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Oct. 3-5, 10-12: