“Wagon ho!”

All right, it was really “SUV ho!” I loaded up my luggage, boxes of books, poster with stand, camera bag, and courage—or should I say “gumption”—and made the trek west for a two-day, four-library tour.

I left at nine o’clock on Wednesday, April 13th, and arrived in Colby, Kansas, around three in the afternoon, including stops for lunch and refueling, plus a quick walk and stretch. The weather was sunny and windy, and temperatures dropped as the day progressed. After checking into my hotel, I had a chance to look around town. Wouldn’t you know it? One of the first shops I drove by seemed to indicate that I would be a welcome guest here.

An “Ozzy” storefront in Colby, Kansas.

Colby is a really nice town with lovely homes, schools, churches, and stores. I was glad I had the opportunity to explore it for a few hours that afternoon.

A typically beautiful residential area in Colby, Kansas.

Overnight, things got kinda chilly, especially for mid-April, and it rained a bit. The next morning, I had a few hours to kill before heading over to the library. I decided to check out the Prairie Museum of Art and History and was happily surprised by the scope, attention to detail, and quality of the exhibits. It’s a first-rate historical museum with an extensive collection.

The Prairie Museum of Art and History in Colby, Kansas.

Furniture and decorative arts on display at the Prairie Museum of Art and History in Colby, Kansas.

An unexpected exhibit: international opera sensation Samuel Ramey, a celebrated bass-baritone who was born and raised in Colby, Kansas. Several of his costumes are on display at the museum. These are from the San Francisco Opera’s production of “Faust.”

I arrived at the Pioneer Memorial Library for my first event around eleven o’clock.

The Pioneer Memorial Library in Colby, Kansas.

My contact there was Melany Wilks. I do love her name! She is one terrific lady, also a recent California transplant, and the chief reason I was able to coordinate this book tour. Melany connected me with the other libraries in the region, suggested an itinerary, helped me with hotels and contacts, and answered all my general questions. I owe her a great deal of gratitude for helping to make this trip happen!

Melany Wilks, librarian at the Pioneer Memorial Library in Colby, Kansas, assists me with the set up for my first presentation of the day.

This event was a luncheon sponsored by the Friends of the Library, part of a monthly program featuring guest authors and speakers discussing books. However, with this being National Library Week, they had an event planned for each day. Despite the weather taking a turn for the worse, we had a very nice turnout. I would guess around forty people. They were attentive, inquisitive, bright, and funny, and seemed to really enjoy the presentation. Many of them stayed to buy books afterward.

Socializing, dining, and gathering for the presentation on the lower level of the Pioneer Memorial Library in Colby, Kansas.

Signing books and meeting the patrons at the Pioneer Memorial Library in Colby, Kansas.

I was barely able to thank Melany and her colleagues for making this event such a success when I had to pack up my “traveling show” and hit the road for my next stop: Oakley, Kansas, for a three o’clock appearance.

By this point, the weather had turned nasty with bitter gusts of wind up to 20-30 miles per hour. The temperature was close to freezing (in mid-April), and it was raining off and on. Still, like the pioneers of yore, I forged ahead!

The Oakley Public Library in Oakley, Kansas.

A welcoming sign at the library in Oakley, Kansas.

I arrived at the Oakley Public Library about forty-five minutes before showtime and met the wonderful Victoria Halbleib and staff who were ready, willing, and able to assist me in a fast prep.

Victoria Halbleib of the Oakley Public Library in Oakley, Kansas.

Unfortunately, the weather proved to be a major deterrent, and turnout was small. But what they lacked in quantity, they made up for in quality. The audience was engaged, attentive, and asked some really good questions about the creation of the story. They wanted to know about the sequel, too!

Presenting at the Oakley Public Library in Oakley, Kansas.

Fielding questions at the Oakley Public Library in Oakley, Kansas.

After that, it was over an hour’s commute through the pouring rain and driving winds to Oberlin, Kansas.

But more about that in Part Two!