Apr
22
Amazing!
Preface: As you can see from the amount of blog entries, I’m not much of a blogger. But, the experience I had this weekend at Barnes & Noble is too good not to share.
Amazing! That’s about all I can say about my debut at Barnes & Noble. However, I need to elaborate just so you too can say amazing too after reading this.
I arrived at the State College B&N early Friday evening April 18th 2008 with 111 books (weird amount I know, but it’s what I had in my truck – 4 full cases and 1 partial case). I set up my display (very nice I must say) and set out about a dozen books on the table. Even though my signing event didn’t start till 7pm, I was ready by 5:30 and it was a good thing because folks were coming in to buy my book before the clock struck 6.
Person after person walked in and headed straight for my table. With so many comments and compliments, my book found a new home with each happy customer. By the evening’s end over 30 books were signed and sold. Meredith Rogers, B&N’s Community Relations Director and the one responsible for me being there, was thrilled with the sales despite a “quiet night” due to the beautiful weather and the Blue White weekend activities. “When the weather is really nice, not too many people want to be inside” she said. “However, you did great! The staff and store is abuzz with your book and I know you’re going to do really well tomorrow too.”
She was right. Saturday was crazy. Again, the store was quiet but between the emails I sent out and the Centre Daily Times article, my book went out the door one right after another. Meredith hung out with me most of the afternoon and was thrilled at the response and enthusiasm. She was so encouraged that she invited me to return Sunday if I wanted. I wasn’t scheduled for a Sunday appearance and I kinda hoped to go hiking. I decided that if it was nice Sunday I would head for the woods, but if it was not nice, I would return to B&N. At this point, I had signed and sold 40 books so I, as well as Meredith, was very happy.
Sunday morning arrived with clouds and rain on the way. Meredith said that if it rains, the store would be packed. I got cleaned up, caught the mid morning service at Calvary Baptist Church and headed for my little table at one of the biggest bookstores in the country. Meredith was right. Even at 11am the place was hoppin and I was glad I didn’t go hiking. Book after book was signed and very happy folks gathered to talk and express their excitement for what I’ve done to promote local eateries. I couldn’t believe the turnout considering I wasn’t even supposed to be there.
Two women from Lemont came to buy a book that afternoon. When I told them that I had my digital stolen the day before at my table and that I had lost some really valued photos, including ones of me with my booth there at B&N, they drove back to Lemont, got a camera and returned to take some photos for me. The one you see with this entry is from these wonderful women – Donna and Suzzanne – thank you!
Well, at 5pm Sunday evening I needed to get my butt going because I was meeting my family for dinner but books were still selling. I just had to pack up and when I gathered up the remaining books I had 5 left. That’s right; I signed and sold 106 books at the end of my 1st book signing at Barnes & Noble. The staff was ecstatic and Meredith said Monday that that was the most successful signing event that the State College B&N has had that she is aware of.
Amazing? From my vantage point yes!
Thanks to all who came and supported me at Barnes & Noble this past weekend! God keeps blowing me away by the blessings he’s given this book project and the wonderful folks who keep encouraging me by their purchases and kind words.
THANK YOU!!!
Mar
02
going LOCAL! is going LOCO!
Well, I’ve reached my 3 month anniversary and what I thought would be a slow winter has been LOCO! What I mean is, I thought book sales and signings would drop off significantly after Christmas but they didn’t. Yes things slowed down, but I am amazed at how well the book is still doing in the midst of winter. At this point I’m around 1,150 copies sold!!! I’m booked for signings out through summer at everything from places in my book to bookstores, motorcycle shops and beer and wine festivals. The book has been featured now in 4 newspapers, 2 magazines and on an hour long PBS special produced by WPSX at Penn State.
I am so blessed with support from my listings in the book, indie bookstores and most of all, my readers. The positive comments have been so good to read and hear! Just today at my signing event at Mount Nittany Winery, a young woman and her boyfriend stopped to get his book signed that she had given him for Christmas. He was a fellow biker and was so pleased with what I wrote AND how it was written (something I worried about a lot prior to the book’s release). We talked for awhile, then as they were leaving, she leaned to me and said “thank you for this book, it’s the first book he’s read cover to cover in a long time.”
Wow, I can’t express very well how it feels to put yourself out there and have people react so positive and complimentary. Like my art, it’s tough to create something and set it out for the world to see and judge. God has truly blessed me and I’m grateful.
Feb
18
No Winter Blues Here!
My friends and close acquaintances know I loathe winter. I guess I’m just a fair weather boy. Shoveling, can’t do much riding, salt residue on everything and just plain COLD – yuck! Well, I must admit that when the snow is fresh, the sun is shinning bright and the sky is deep blue, it’s actually quite beautiful.
On this day I took up trusted Toyota Tacoma up behind Tussey Mt. Resort for a hike up to a place called Bald Knob. The fresh snow was deep and I had to work hard to get up the ridge. But once there, the beauty of it all was awesome! Any hate towards winter was blown away by sunlit trees coated in ice and a silence that was only broken by its crackling. When I reached Bald Knob, I was stopped in my tracks. I shot a video which you can watch from the front page of this site.
Winter? Yes, but no blues, except for the sky above on this amazing day!
Jan
01
Happy 2008 & I'm halfway there!
Well, it's 2008 and all is AWESOME!
My book is selling way better than I ever dreamed of and as of Christmas I passed my halfway mark to breaking even with my publishing costs. That my friends means since the book was released on December 1st at Herwig’s, I’ve sold well over 600 copies!
Now it’s time to chill-out and begin to map out a plan for a spring splash. Spring is a great time to shed your winter skin and get out and explore – going LOCAL! is just the book to inspire and guide you.
Don’t expect too much in the journal here or getting many of my informative (some say annoying) emails over the next two months or so. I need to regroup, recoup and recharge my creative spirits to have some cool things ready for you this spring.
A HUGE THANKS to all, and to all my very best in this wonderful new year of 2008!!!
Dec
19
The Cat Rules!
Holy Crap! I can't believe it's Wednesday and I forgot to enter this. I’m just not a “blogger” I guess.
Anyway, what an awesome night at the Otto’s Pub & Brewery signing event last Friday! Man, did folks come out. I’m not sure if it was for my book or the free beer when buying a book. Either way I sold a *#@! load of books and Otto’s gave out a ton of beers – wow what a night – I even had groupies – thanks Amy, Kristen and Beth! Plus a bunch of friends showed up. Otto’s did an emailing and their peeps turned out and supported me too!
Charlie, Roger and Doug are sooo ____ing cool and basically rolled out the red carpet for me and gave me a huge space in their dinning area on a Friday night (their busiest) for my setup.
Super cool place, super cool event! Thanks everyone at Otto’s – especially Joe and Dags who dealt out tons of beer without missing a beat! You rock dudes!
— Otto's
Dec
13
Webster's Book Signing
This was a great event despite the weather. Many books were purchased and my friend Robert who is a wine importer stopped by with some great wines to help my event!
Two of my best artist friends, Jim Farah and Susan Nicholas Gephart came by and the vibe in the whole place was great.
Thank you, to all who turned out and supported Webster's and me.
Dec
12
going LOCAL! is Official!
My name going LOCAL! has been granted a United States Patent and Trademark Office official trademark! This protects it from any other use or user, and allows me to do all kinds of things including a possible series of book and stuff. Sweet!
Dec
12
Anne Quinn Corr honors my book in the Centre Daily Times
Anne Quinn Corr, a local food guru, celebrated author and just a cool person came to my book release party at Herwig’s. She bought a book and took the time to chat with me over a beer from Otto’s. She left, and I was honored to have had her attend my event and buy a book to boot!
Well this morning my mom calls me and says “Hey son, nice spread in the paper.” I said “What, what spread?” She then went on to tell me of this huge photo spread and nice article that Ann Quinn Corr wrote. I was super excited and bolted to the unimart in my jammies just to check it out.
Sure enough, there was practically a whole page with huge photos that Ann must have taken with some sort of “James Bond” camera hidden in a mini telephone. Oh wait. Uh, I think that’s a cell phone (don’t have one). Anyway, I didn’t know she was taking my picture or planning to submit such a grand piece to the CDT.
I’ve included the link, but it is in no way what the real paper one was. If you can get a copy you’ll see.
Thank you Anne!
(I’ve put her book in my Cool Links and below)
— Article in CDT
— Anne's Book; Seasons of Central Pennsylvania: A Cookbook
Dec
10
Big Week! Big Events!!!
Two big signing events are taking place at weeks end.
Webster’s Bookstore & Café on Thursday evening and Otto’s Pub & Brewery on Friday evening. Go to my “In the News” link and check out the details. What a fun weekend this will be!
Dec
08
Signing Event at VFW Post 5020 Osceola Mills
This was a fun day but not as crazy as the other events. I sold some books for sure, but I think the highlight of my day was when I was presented with an honorary membership to the Post for 2008! That was a very special gift to me. And if you read all 22 pages in my book you will realize I’m an outsider who was taken in by an entire community last March and to now be made a member of their club was so cool. Now I can confidently walk in anytime and buy a 90 cent glass of Straub – oh how sweet it is!!! I can buy you one now too. Wanna come along?
The photo is of my first legal purchase of a beer as a member for my friend and insanely talented musician, Richard Sleigh, who came out that day to support me.
Dec
04
Selin's Grove Brewery Signing Event
Wow! Another banner event!
Heather McNabb has one of the sweetest brewpubs on earth and what a night it was to be there. They are usually closed Tuesday nights in the winter, but it was Late Night Shopping in Selinsgrove and her place was packed. The folks who go there are some of the nicest people I've met and they really support SGB. They also really supported me. I sold a pile of books that night and one couple bought 16 to give as gifts for friends. They said that this year they were buying ONLY locally made gifts – boy, I was in the right place at the right time!
Thank you to all who came out that night to support Selin’s Grove Brewing Co. and me.
Dec
01
Book release Party!!!
My book release party was an amazing success! The Brandstatter Family at Herwig's Austrian Bistro in State Collegetreated me like royalty and the response to my book and their food was awesome! I sold over 100 books that day and not a moment was free - not even to take some photos. My friend Topher did thank goodness, so i'll be posting them soon.
Thank you to all you came out and supported me and Herwig's that day!
Nov
30
Tomorrow's the Big Day!
Tomorrow is my book release party! I'm so excited and nervous at the same time. I sure hope a lot of people come and I sure hope we all have a great day!
The crowd's already out of control :)
Nov
29
IT'S HERE!!!
My books arrived today! All 5,000 copies of going LOCAL! were delivered to Advanced Color Graphics from the binder in Baltimore MD.
I'm ready to go!
Nov
29
I'll be on WPSU's Pennsylvania Inside Out
My day started out with two copies of my book sent via FedEx so that I could have some during my interview with Patty Satalia and her puplic TV series Pennsylvania Inside Out. It was really fun and Patty is an excellent interviewer. The show will air Monday night December 3rd at 5:30 pm on local channel 3 WPSX.
Nov
26
BOOK DELIVERY WEEK!
This is the week my friends.
5,000 going LOCAL! books will finally make their way out the "birthing canal." It’s been a looong 11 months and this “dad” is ready for his “kid” to be born!
This week is going to be nuts. I’ve been invited to have my books at the Centre Furnace Mansion for their 5th Annual Stocking Stuffer Sale and then to Herwig’s for the big Release Party!
I’m really excited and really nervous at the same time. I’m nervous because I don’t know how the eateries as well as the public are going to receive my book. My buddy Mike said it must be like my first art exhibition. Actually I don’t remember but I bet he’s right.
I’m excited and I pray everyday that God will bless this phase as well as the previous ones.
Nov
21
going LOCAL! goes on Facebook!
My web kid is awesome!
Without asking, Bien posted my book on Facebook. Now I guess I'm somewhat "hip" but, I thought I was already.
Nov
20
Seriously, Global!
Well, my site has only been posted officially since Friday the 17th and it’s received over 500 visits and as far away as Peru and Slovakia! Wow! And best of all, the orders are coming in!!! Hey, send my website to your friends around the world and lets see how many places on the planet I can reach. How Fun!
Nov
17
going LOCAL! has gone Global!
My new website for the book launched (or Lunched as my subject heading read) yesterday and the results are awesome!
The orders are already rolling in and with email responses like the one below, I'm not only encouraged and excited, but confident that this project is blessed and will be successful. Check out this email I got this morning:
Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2007 9:47 AM
To: ken@kenhull.com
Subject: Re: Website Lunched and Book Release Date
AWESOME!!
ken,
hi, i am a neighbor in boalsburg and have been to your studio as a volunteer for CVIM to pick up a donation for our charity auction in the past and always admired your work as an artist. i just want to say...CONGRATULATIONS!!! i think your book looks amazing !!! you are right ...the cover and graphics are great and the web site is sooo cool and easy to navigate...really awesome!. i am excited to buy your book and begin to explore central Pa. i have always been a fan of wandering and trying out of the way places too but really haven't done much since moving here a few years ago. it is fun to read about the local people as well and find out how or why they ended up where they have. good luck with your book...i am sure it will do well and it will make a great gift for holiday buying. so... even though it has been delayed months in the making....the timing is really perfect.....i do believe every thing happens for a reason.
it is very exciting.
good luck and happy trails.
but.... please don't forget to wear a helmet!!!
: )
nancy
Now that's encouraging! Have a great weekend everybody!!
Ken
Nov
14
Great sadness amidst great joy
Today was a milestone in my book project. I spent the morning at Advanced Color Graphics (they’re printing my book) checking final proofs with one of my design team members, Bryan Benner. Everything is going to look and be awesome!
However, behind the scenes my cat PeeDee was falling ill. She had been with me since 1992 and was as good a friend as a pet. She was one of the smartest cats I’ve known and was as obedient as they come. Well, today after a great morning at ACG, and seeing the book progress one step closer to print, I came home to find PeeDee in desperate health. The vet report was total kidney failure and her chance of living more than a few days was bleak.
As hard as it was, I had her put down. She was too nice of a cat and too good of a friend to let her “tough it out” only to die a slow death anyway.
She’s buried in my backyard alongside Q.B. and Matty Cat.
PeeDee as well as the other two will be missed.
Nov
14
Final Proofing Day!
Checking final proofs at ACG. One huge step closer!
Nov
08
Any Day Now!
Well, I'm only a day or two away from going to press! Rose Ann Hoover and Bryan Benner, my two graphic designers are the best. They have worked their butts off for me and now the fruits of our labors will be forever imortilized in print.
Their files will be going to Advanced Color Graphics tomorrow and the book should be done in two weeks!!!
Stay tuned.
Ken
Jan
02
I'm writing a book!
Yes, after years of traveling around PA, logging thousands of miles (mostly on The Mighty Steed – my Harley 883 Sportster), searching out, finding and enjoying some of the most unique places to eat and drink, I’ve decided to take my vast knowledge of these sweet places and where they are, write about them and put them in a book for all to find, experience and enjoy too.
Most of you know the places right around your neighborhood, but did you know that I’ve identified over 75 places within a 75 mile radius from Boalsburg? Well, I have, and not one is a member of the infamous Chain Gang! These are indie places where you get freshly prepared soups, sandwiches and vegetarian delights served-up with world class handmade beers; places that serve fresh-cut French fries on a cafeteria tray and piled eight inches high; cafés that thumb their noses at the McCoffee places yet have a large and loyal following; mom and pop wineries that bring home gold medals and places with brew masters of such artistry and passion who create beers that rival and sometimes surpass their European contemporaries. What a wonderful time and place we live in!
22
Amazing!
Preface: As you can see from the amount of blog entries, I’m not much of a blogger. But, the experience I had this weekend at Barnes & Noble is too good not to share.
Amazing! That’s about all I can say about my debut at Barnes & Noble. However, I need to elaborate just so you too can say amazing too after reading this.
I arrived at the State College B&N early Friday evening April 18th 2008 with 111 books (weird amount I know, but it’s what I had in my truck – 4 full cases and 1 partial case). I set up my display (very nice I must say) and set out about a dozen books on the table. Even though my signing event didn’t start till 7pm, I was ready by 5:30 and it was a good thing because folks were coming in to buy my book before the clock struck 6.
Person after person walked in and headed straight for my table. With so many comments and compliments, my book found a new home with each happy customer. By the evening’s end over 30 books were signed and sold. Meredith Rogers, B&N’s Community Relations Director and the one responsible for me being there, was thrilled with the sales despite a “quiet night” due to the beautiful weather and the Blue White weekend activities. “When the weather is really nice, not too many people want to be inside” she said. “However, you did great! The staff and store is abuzz with your book and I know you’re going to do really well tomorrow too.”
She was right. Saturday was crazy. Again, the store was quiet but between the emails I sent out and the Centre Daily Times article, my book went out the door one right after another. Meredith hung out with me most of the afternoon and was thrilled at the response and enthusiasm. She was so encouraged that she invited me to return Sunday if I wanted. I wasn’t scheduled for a Sunday appearance and I kinda hoped to go hiking. I decided that if it was nice Sunday I would head for the woods, but if it was not nice, I would return to B&N. At this point, I had signed and sold 40 books so I, as well as Meredith, was very happy.
Sunday morning arrived with clouds and rain on the way. Meredith said that if it rains, the store would be packed. I got cleaned up, caught the mid morning service at Calvary Baptist Church and headed for my little table at one of the biggest bookstores in the country. Meredith was right. Even at 11am the place was hoppin and I was glad I didn’t go hiking. Book after book was signed and very happy folks gathered to talk and express their excitement for what I’ve done to promote local eateries. I couldn’t believe the turnout considering I wasn’t even supposed to be there.
Two women from Lemont came to buy a book that afternoon. When I told them that I had my digital stolen the day before at my table and that I had lost some really valued photos, including ones of me with my booth there at B&N, they drove back to Lemont, got a camera and returned to take some photos for me. The one you see with this entry is from these wonderful women – Donna and Suzzanne – thank you!
Well, at 5pm Sunday evening I needed to get my butt going because I was meeting my family for dinner but books were still selling. I just had to pack up and when I gathered up the remaining books I had 5 left. That’s right; I signed and sold 106 books at the end of my 1st book signing at Barnes & Noble. The staff was ecstatic and Meredith said Monday that that was the most successful signing event that the State College B&N has had that she is aware of.
Amazing? From my vantage point yes!
Thanks to all who came and supported me at Barnes & Noble this past weekend! God keeps blowing me away by the blessings he’s given this book project and the wonderful folks who keep encouraging me by their purchases and kind words.
THANK YOU!!!
02
going LOCAL! is going LOCO!
Well, I’ve reached my 3 month anniversary and what I thought would be a slow winter has been LOCO! What I mean is, I thought book sales and signings would drop off significantly after Christmas but they didn’t. Yes things slowed down, but I am amazed at how well the book is still doing in the midst of winter. At this point I’m around 1,150 copies sold!!! I’m booked for signings out through summer at everything from places in my book to bookstores, motorcycle shops and beer and wine festivals. The book has been featured now in 4 newspapers, 2 magazines and on an hour long PBS special produced by WPSX at Penn State.
I am so blessed with support from my listings in the book, indie bookstores and most of all, my readers. The positive comments have been so good to read and hear! Just today at my signing event at Mount Nittany Winery, a young woman and her boyfriend stopped to get his book signed that she had given him for Christmas. He was a fellow biker and was so pleased with what I wrote AND how it was written (something I worried about a lot prior to the book’s release). We talked for awhile, then as they were leaving, she leaned to me and said “thank you for this book, it’s the first book he’s read cover to cover in a long time.”
Wow, I can’t express very well how it feels to put yourself out there and have people react so positive and complimentary. Like my art, it’s tough to create something and set it out for the world to see and judge. God has truly blessed me and I’m grateful.
18
No Winter Blues Here!
My friends and close acquaintances know I loathe winter. I guess I’m just a fair weather boy. Shoveling, can’t do much riding, salt residue on everything and just plain COLD – yuck! Well, I must admit that when the snow is fresh, the sun is shinning bright and the sky is deep blue, it’s actually quite beautiful.
On this day I took up trusted Toyota Tacoma up behind Tussey Mt. Resort for a hike up to a place called Bald Knob. The fresh snow was deep and I had to work hard to get up the ridge. But once there, the beauty of it all was awesome! Any hate towards winter was blown away by sunlit trees coated in ice and a silence that was only broken by its crackling. When I reached Bald Knob, I was stopped in my tracks. I shot a video which you can watch from the front page of this site.
Winter? Yes, but no blues, except for the sky above on this amazing day!
01
Happy 2008 & I'm halfway there!
Well, it's 2008 and all is AWESOME!
My book is selling way better than I ever dreamed of and as of Christmas I passed my halfway mark to breaking even with my publishing costs. That my friends means since the book was released on December 1st at Herwig’s, I’ve sold well over 600 copies!
Now it’s time to chill-out and begin to map out a plan for a spring splash. Spring is a great time to shed your winter skin and get out and explore – going LOCAL! is just the book to inspire and guide you.
Don’t expect too much in the journal here or getting many of my informative (some say annoying) emails over the next two months or so. I need to regroup, recoup and recharge my creative spirits to have some cool things ready for you this spring.
A HUGE THANKS to all, and to all my very best in this wonderful new year of 2008!!!
19
The Cat Rules!
Holy Crap! I can't believe it's Wednesday and I forgot to enter this. I’m just not a “blogger” I guess.
Anyway, what an awesome night at the Otto’s Pub & Brewery signing event last Friday! Man, did folks come out. I’m not sure if it was for my book or the free beer when buying a book. Either way I sold a *#@! load of books and Otto’s gave out a ton of beers – wow what a night – I even had groupies – thanks Amy, Kristen and Beth! Plus a bunch of friends showed up. Otto’s did an emailing and their peeps turned out and supported me too!
Charlie, Roger and Doug are sooo ____ing cool and basically rolled out the red carpet for me and gave me a huge space in their dinning area on a Friday night (their busiest) for my setup.
Super cool place, super cool event! Thanks everyone at Otto’s – especially Joe and Dags who dealt out tons of beer without missing a beat! You rock dudes!
— Otto's
13
Webster's Book Signing
This was a great event despite the weather. Many books were purchased and my friend Robert who is a wine importer stopped by with some great wines to help my event!
Two of my best artist friends, Jim Farah and Susan Nicholas Gephart came by and the vibe in the whole place was great.
Thank you, to all who turned out and supported Webster's and me.
12
going LOCAL! is Official!
My name going LOCAL! has been granted a United States Patent and Trademark Office official trademark! This protects it from any other use or user, and allows me to do all kinds of things including a possible series of book and stuff. Sweet!
12
Anne Quinn Corr honors my book in the Centre Daily Times
Anne Quinn Corr, a local food guru, celebrated author and just a cool person came to my book release party at Herwig’s. She bought a book and took the time to chat with me over a beer from Otto’s. She left, and I was honored to have had her attend my event and buy a book to boot!
Well this morning my mom calls me and says “Hey son, nice spread in the paper.” I said “What, what spread?” She then went on to tell me of this huge photo spread and nice article that Ann Quinn Corr wrote. I was super excited and bolted to the unimart in my jammies just to check it out.
Sure enough, there was practically a whole page with huge photos that Ann must have taken with some sort of “James Bond” camera hidden in a mini telephone. Oh wait. Uh, I think that’s a cell phone (don’t have one). Anyway, I didn’t know she was taking my picture or planning to submit such a grand piece to the CDT.
I’ve included the link, but it is in no way what the real paper one was. If you can get a copy you’ll see.
Thank you Anne!
(I’ve put her book in my Cool Links and below)
— Article in CDT
— Anne's Book; Seasons of Central Pennsylvania: A Cookbook
10
Big Week! Big Events!!!
Two big signing events are taking place at weeks end.
Webster’s Bookstore & Café on Thursday evening and Otto’s Pub & Brewery on Friday evening. Go to my “In the News” link and check out the details. What a fun weekend this will be!
08
Signing Event at VFW Post 5020 Osceola Mills
This was a fun day but not as crazy as the other events. I sold some books for sure, but I think the highlight of my day was when I was presented with an honorary membership to the Post for 2008! That was a very special gift to me. And if you read all 22 pages in my book you will realize I’m an outsider who was taken in by an entire community last March and to now be made a member of their club was so cool. Now I can confidently walk in anytime and buy a 90 cent glass of Straub – oh how sweet it is!!! I can buy you one now too. Wanna come along?
The photo is of my first legal purchase of a beer as a member for my friend and insanely talented musician, Richard Sleigh, who came out that day to support me.
04
Selin's Grove Brewery Signing Event
Wow! Another banner event!
Heather McNabb has one of the sweetest brewpubs on earth and what a night it was to be there. They are usually closed Tuesday nights in the winter, but it was Late Night Shopping in Selinsgrove and her place was packed. The folks who go there are some of the nicest people I've met and they really support SGB. They also really supported me. I sold a pile of books that night and one couple bought 16 to give as gifts for friends. They said that this year they were buying ONLY locally made gifts – boy, I was in the right place at the right time!
Thank you to all who came out that night to support Selin’s Grove Brewing Co. and me.
01
Book release Party!!!
My book release party was an amazing success! The Brandstatter Family at Herwig's Austrian Bistro in State Collegetreated me like royalty and the response to my book and their food was awesome! I sold over 100 books that day and not a moment was free - not even to take some photos. My friend Topher did thank goodness, so i'll be posting them soon.
Thank you to all you came out and supported me and Herwig's that day!
30
Tomorrow's the Big Day!
Tomorrow is my book release party! I'm so excited and nervous at the same time. I sure hope a lot of people come and I sure hope we all have a great day!
The crowd's already out of control :)
29
IT'S HERE!!!
My books arrived today! All 5,000 copies of going LOCAL! were delivered to Advanced Color Graphics from the binder in Baltimore MD.
I'm ready to go!
29
I'll be on WPSU's Pennsylvania Inside Out
My day started out with two copies of my book sent via FedEx so that I could have some during my interview with Patty Satalia and her puplic TV series Pennsylvania Inside Out. It was really fun and Patty is an excellent interviewer. The show will air Monday night December 3rd at 5:30 pm on local channel 3 WPSX.
26
BOOK DELIVERY WEEK!
This is the week my friends.
5,000 going LOCAL! books will finally make their way out the "birthing canal." It’s been a looong 11 months and this “dad” is ready for his “kid” to be born!
This week is going to be nuts. I’ve been invited to have my books at the Centre Furnace Mansion for their 5th Annual Stocking Stuffer Sale and then to Herwig’s for the big Release Party!
I’m really excited and really nervous at the same time. I’m nervous because I don’t know how the eateries as well as the public are going to receive my book. My buddy Mike said it must be like my first art exhibition. Actually I don’t remember but I bet he’s right.
I’m excited and I pray everyday that God will bless this phase as well as the previous ones.
21
going LOCAL! goes on Facebook!
My web kid is awesome!
Without asking, Bien posted my book on Facebook. Now I guess I'm somewhat "hip" but, I thought I was already.
20
Seriously, Global!
Well, my site has only been posted officially since Friday the 17th and it’s received over 500 visits and as far away as Peru and Slovakia! Wow! And best of all, the orders are coming in!!! Hey, send my website to your friends around the world and lets see how many places on the planet I can reach. How Fun!
17
going LOCAL! has gone Global!
My new website for the book launched (or Lunched as my subject heading read) yesterday and the results are awesome!
The orders are already rolling in and with email responses like the one below, I'm not only encouraged and excited, but confident that this project is blessed and will be successful. Check out this email I got this morning:
Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2007 9:47 AM
To: ken@kenhull.com
Subject: Re: Website Lunched and Book Release Date
ken,
hi, i am a neighbor in boalsburg and have been to your studio as a volunteer for CVIM to pick up a donation for our charity auction in the past and always admired your work as an artist. i just want to say...CONGRATULATIONS!!! i think your book looks amazing !!! you are right ...the cover and graphics are great and the web site is sooo cool and easy to navigate...really awesome!. i am excited to buy your book and begin to explore central Pa. i have always been a fan of wandering and trying out of the way places too but really haven't done much since moving here a few years ago. it is fun to read about the local people as well and find out how or why they ended up where they have. good luck with your book...i am sure it will do well and it will make a great gift for holiday buying. so... even though it has been delayed months in the making....the timing is really perfect.....i do believe every thing happens for a reason.
it is very exciting.
good luck and happy trails.
but.... please don't forget to wear a helmet!!!
: )
nancy
Now that's encouraging! Have a great weekend everybody!!
Ken
14
Great sadness amidst great joy
Today was a milestone in my book project. I spent the morning at Advanced Color Graphics (they’re printing my book) checking final proofs with one of my design team members, Bryan Benner. Everything is going to look and be awesome!
However, behind the scenes my cat PeeDee was falling ill. She had been with me since 1992 and was as good a friend as a pet. She was one of the smartest cats I’ve known and was as obedient as they come. Well, today after a great morning at ACG, and seeing the book progress one step closer to print, I came home to find PeeDee in desperate health. The vet report was total kidney failure and her chance of living more than a few days was bleak.
As hard as it was, I had her put down. She was too nice of a cat and too good of a friend to let her “tough it out” only to die a slow death anyway.
She’s buried in my backyard alongside Q.B. and Matty Cat.
PeeDee as well as the other two will be missed.
14
Final Proofing Day!
Checking final proofs at ACG. One huge step closer!
08
Any Day Now!
Well, I'm only a day or two away from going to press! Rose Ann Hoover and Bryan Benner, my two graphic designers are the best. They have worked their butts off for me and now the fruits of our labors will be forever imortilized in print.
Their files will be going to Advanced Color Graphics tomorrow and the book should be done in two weeks!!!
Stay tuned.
Ken
02
I'm writing a book!
Yes, after years of traveling around PA, logging thousands of miles (mostly on The Mighty Steed – my Harley 883 Sportster), searching out, finding and enjoying some of the most unique places to eat and drink, I’ve decided to take my vast knowledge of these sweet places and where they are, write about them and put them in a book for all to find, experience and enjoy too.
Most of you know the places right around your neighborhood, but did you know that I’ve identified over 75 places within a 75 mile radius from Boalsburg? Well, I have, and not one is a member of the infamous Chain Gang! These are indie places where you get freshly prepared soups, sandwiches and vegetarian delights served-up with world class handmade beers; places that serve fresh-cut French fries on a cafeteria tray and piled eight inches high; cafés that thumb their noses at the McCoffee places yet have a large and loyal following; mom and pop wineries that bring home gold medals and places with brew masters of such artistry and passion who create beers that rival and sometimes surpass their European contemporaries. What a wonderful time and place we live in!
