Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Steering Toward Normal ARC Rodeos into Ohio

by Kim Van Sickler

I first herd (ha, ha, couldn't resist) about Rebecca Petruck's upper MG steer-raising-themed Steering Toward Normal ARC (advanced reader copy) tour from Carol Baldwin. She dissected Petruck's debut novel according to the fifteen beats of Blake Snyder's Save the Cat here on her blog. She also individually called out some of her writing friends on Facebook who live in different states, and urged us to enter her lend-away contest.

Carol's contest incorporated Rebecca's desire for her book to graze in as many states as possible prior to its May release date. Here's what happened:
1) the last reader mailed the ARC from its home state of NC, where Rebecca now lives and Carol also resides, to me.
2) ARC was read
3) comments were left within its pages
4) a choice was made whether to snap a picture or make a short video with the book
5) photos made their way to Rebecca via electronic notification of this post
6) the ARC passed to its next recipient
A literary version of Flat Stanley. How fun is that? Rebecca plans on sending blue ribbons to all of the ARC readers and showcasing her pictures/videos closer to the release date.

I loved the book. Although set in the 4-H world of Minnesota, the book opens on the MC, Diggy's "normal" life. He's being raised by his real father (Pop Lawson), after his mother abandoned him on Pop's doorstep, and putted out of town forever on a tractor. We meet Diggy in the fall of his 8th grade year, when a schoolmate is dropped on that same doorstep by the husband of a recently deceased local teacher. The reason? Why, Pop Lawson is the biological father of that second boy too.

Whoa! Diggy's "normal" existence turns on its head.

My review of this heart-tugging battle of mind vs. heart is here.

It just so happens that Ohio is a big fair state. People I know exhibit guinea pigs and pies and flowers in the Lake County (the next county over from Cleveland) Fair and sell their maple syrup in the Geauga County Fair. And the Ohio State Fair in Columbus, well, it's always a whopper. I was there a couple of years ago with my youngest stepdaughter and so...I resurrected those pictures for you now. (After just a wee bit of editing.)

Introducing...Steering Toward Normal visits the Ohio State Fair!
STN enjoys the marching band and some requisite fried fair food.

STN takes in a pig race.

STN visits the other animal exhibits.

STN appreciates a hefty squash.


The ARC didn't stay in OH long. Right after I finished it, I contacted MG writer Marcia Hoehne, and told her this is a story she'd like to wrangle with. She agreed to welcome the ARC and show it a good time...in Wisconsin.

Get along little dogie. Spread your tale across the nation.

18 comments:

  1. What a fun idea to mail your ARC around. Sounds like a great book. Thanks for sharing about it.

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    1. Natalie, I was surprised I had so much fun with it!

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  2. Omigosh! I LOVE THIS POST. LOOK at those photos! Your daughter is gorgeous and boy does she make STN look good. Also, pig racing!

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    1. Glad you like it, Rebecca! I wish you the best of luck selling this wonderful book.

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  3. Kim, You went to town (or to the farm???) to create a great post showcasing Rebecca's book. So glad you won it and enjoyed it! You get the blue ribbon for sure!

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    1. Ha, ha. that will be the closest I ever get to winning a ribbon at a fair. Although, when I was younger I did grow flowers and enter them in a local contest. I always came in second place. Red ribbon. Behind Bill Cheetham, who always won blue with his monstrous vegetables.

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  4. This post will be a tough act to follow, Kim! :) Enjoying the arc now.

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  5. This post will be a tough act to follow, Kim! :) Enjoying the arc now.

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    1. I set the bar high, huh? Can't wait to see what you do with it. Hope there are some pics!

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  6. That was awesome! i live in ohio, never knew there were so many fairs! great idea to spread the word!!

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    1. Now you probably want to visit fairs next summer and search for pig races, right? Rebecca is really the creative one for coming up with the promotional plan. It dovetails together so nicely.

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  7. This really got your creative juices flowing! What a perfect setting for STN! Great photos, especially the one with your beautiful daughter!

    Julie

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    1. Anne, my stepdaughter in the photos, was the one who first turned me on to doctoring photos. She transposed her father's face on a photo of Liam Neeson posing in an advertisement of Taken (one of hubby's favorite movies) for a Father's Day card. It's amazingly easy to do!

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  8. Wow it's an awesome idea! It sounds like a great story too. :-)

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  9. This is a really great idea! Thanks for sharing these photos

    www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

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    1. Glad you liked them. I hope you check out this heart-warming story. Thanks for stopping by Misha and Gina!

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  10. These doctored photos are great! I had my ARC over Christmas, so I made my dogs pose with it in front of the Christmas tree. I tried to make them stand in the cow stance, but they were not on board with that. :-)

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    1. Yes, I saw your photo on Rebecca's blog! I like the antlers!

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