One More Month--Gone?

It's hard to believe but another month is almost gone. Where did it go? Looking back a ways, I see that ever since Behind the Sings was published, time has no real value. It doesn't exist. The days just flow together. Okay, enough about that, you get the picture. It's been a joyous ride sending books out, responding to people who contact me through my website (which is never going to be completed), and watching the numbers grow through different channels, knowing that the message within the story is actually being heard. It's being responded to in a positive way. A few of my associates have commented that the only reason I am volunteering at the Egan Warming Center is to promote my book. That couldn't be farther from the truth. Hell, they don't even know about it, and it will stay that way unless someone connects the dots. The reason I am spending time with the much needed program is very simple: I have been down that road and have done some off-the-wall things just to stay warm and not freeze to death so I see first hand the need for such shelters. That's why. My being an author of such an intense story has nothing to do with the centers. Okay, I have now explained myself so I'll shut-up and get back to polishing my upcoming novel, DISCHARGE.
http://KirkToncray.com

Later,
-Kirk

Getting Prepared

All the projects seem to come along just like life does...all at once. With the Thurston Book Exchange signing coming up the 15th, I looked ahead and ordered what I believe to be enough books to cover it all. With other places on the dock, I don't know how that's all going to work out but I'm sure I'll find a way if it comes to that. Everything else I have, bookmarks, pens, posters, all that stuff. I've got the advertising all planned out for that signing, just waiting to schedule the other ones. I'll keep this short an sweet, I've got a ton of things to do today, tomorrow, and . . .
http://KirkToncray.com/behind-the-signs.php

Later,
Kirk

Never Plan to Write

I should know better by now--whenever I plan to just sit down, gather my thoughts and write, it never works out quite like that. Looking out the window at the wind bending the trees over to the point of up-rootion, (yeah, I made that up), I figured it would be the perfect time to shoot a new video for my website. I opened the closet to dig out my tri-pod when I was immediately clobbered in the back of the head by some unknown object of particularly dense and uncomfortable proportion. As I looked up to see where this mysterious mass of whatever came from, I was welcomed by yet another thud on the head from something else. What's next? I asked myself as I carefully lifted my chin upwards to get a better view of whatever else may come crashing down on my already throbbing noggin. I shrugged that off and tossed my tripod onto a nearby chair an grabbed my raincoat and hat. I was all set up outside, wind a blowin' like there wan't any tomarra when I noticed that my video camera was still inside. After a few harsh obscenities fell from my mouth and echoed in the wind, I moseyed back inside to gather my camera. I finally snapped the Panasonic onto the tripod, opened the view screen, and pushed the power button, only to have this annoying beep telling me that it was without a SD Memory Card. Now thoroughly pissed off, I stomped back inside, found the card, and walked back to the camera, rain blasting sideways against every inch of my body. I grabbed my equipment, walked once more back inside and shut the door. I put everything away, only to get it all back out a half an hour later to take my video and put the results on my website.

Please look at it!
http://kirktoncray.com/behind-the-signs.php
Until next time,
Kirk Toncray

Event Date is Set

Well, it looks like the book signing event for Behind the Signs will be Saturday, December 15, 2012 starting at 3:30 and run until closing at 4:30. I will offer discount prices on both soft and hard cover copies of Behind the Signs, signed by me and with a custom message if you are giving the book as a gift or something along those lines. There will be door prizes as well so come on in and get your signed copy as you shop around the large selection of books of all genres. Books make excellent gift ideas and great stocking stuffers.

The place:
Thurston Book Exchange
5505 Main St.
Springfield, OR 97478

The friendly store is located in the same shopping center as Safeway and difficult to miss.

You can visit my website for more information here and contact me through my website if you have any questions. I will repeat this notice a couple times before the event.

See ya there!
Kirk Toncray

http://KirkToncray.com/events.php

Sugar and Salt

That's just the way it goes...anticipation then patience go hand-in-hand like sugar and salt. The anticipation can be sweet as the waiting game can be drawn-out and enjoyed after years of painstakingly crafting and manipulating a bunch of words into what hopefully be a successful story. But...the patience part of waiting for a date to be set for this upcoming book signing is hard to deal with. That's the salty part. I keep telling myself, you've waited this long to finish this story, dammit, wait a little longer! That's a whole lot easier said then done, as you can imagine. Oh well, I am prepared for the signing. I have ordered a s---pile of books, both hard and soft-cover, I had custom bookmarks printed along with business cards and posters. I am working on a bank account for only the Behind the Signs business part of my life so I won't get incredibly confused with anything else. (Writing my novels under a pseudonym takes care of most of the confusion in my life.) It'll all work out, one day at a time. Sometimes I think this is an eternity, waiting for a signing, but in reality, I spent four and a half years--homeless. That's an eternity!

Until next time,
Kirk Toncray

The Dedication of Behind the Signs

Behind the Signs was written about homelessness among several persons. Of all the persons involved in the creation of this dramatic memoir, only three remain of the original bunch. This post is to stretch my sorrows and to dedicate Behind the Signs in other places, not just the book.

For all those who suffered the difficult journey with me during the most challenging and memorable part of my life. (In respective order of their departures from this earth)

• Billy--Warehouse Supervisor and Truck Driver
• John--Personnel Training Coordinator
• Linda--Certified Nurses Aid
• Nimrod--Timber Harvester
• Dusty--Certified Welder/Fabricator
• Danny--Filbert Farmer/River Guide
• Beth--Lincoln-Mercury Service Writer, battered housewife

Rest in peace, my friends.

Behind the Signs availability

I never knew how many places the publisher of my book was going to place it for sale. I had a very narrow view that it would only be available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble, as well as a hand-full of other online stores. I'm finding it available in all kinds of different places. Here's one, I checked it out-it's okay and legitimate.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/111201429/Behind-the-Signs

If you do not have adobe reader, download it here:http://www.adobe.com/products/reader.html

Until next time,
Kirk Toncray

That was fast

I released Behind the Signs one week ago today. One major on-line retailer sold out of stock in one day! That's a good thing and they have them in stock again, I just don't know how many. Two family members ordered the book from a different retailer and the two books came via UPS from two different locations, one a day sooner than the other. Wow, that was fast; my hopes are to keep the trend going, obviously, but we'll see. The ecstastic part of it is that I have no clue as to who is buying these books. Since Behind the Signs is the first book that I have ever written, I guess the joy ride is more exciting than what Clive Cussler or Stephen King experiences. I hope the book does what I intend it to do, allow people to look at the other side of the homeless scenario and take in some of the realities these persons actually go through just to survive. I invite you to leave a comment or follow this weblog and I'll keep posting as things happen--which they no doubt will.

Until next time,
Kirk Toncray