Author: Eric Margerum

Margerumalia – Short Plays With Cows and Romans 

Eric Margerum

Newsletter July 5, 2024

This past weekend The Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette mounted a Short Play Festival that performed 14 plays, ten minutes or less, featuring 29 actors. I got to direct two of them, one with a cast of Romans and one with a cast of cows. Gotta say, the cows behaved with much more civility than the Romans—I’m talking about the characters, the actors were all terrific.

I also got to direct a couple of my recently graduated high school students one more time and loved that opportunity. A third one was cast in another play and delivered a charming performance of her own. Oh, gosh, they grow up so fast…said no adult, ever!

You may recall that my ten minute play from last year, “Just Book Club,” was chosen to be published by Smith & Kraus in The Best 10-Minute Plays 2024 due in October. Well I got to meet a Chicago playwright whose play will also be included in that anthology. He came to town to see his friend’s play, “This Cow and That Trombone.” Small world, right? And it turns out that a Ball State professor of one of my former students will also have a play in that collection. Small, small world!

Sorry, did I just trigger that ear worm of Disney’s “It’s A Small World”? No? Oh, now I have? My apologies. Try singing “The Song That Never Ends” several times through, that usually does it for me. 

A neighbor drove by while I was getting my mail Monday and rolled down her window to exclaim that she’d just finished reading MAMLA and really enjoyed it. Then she thanked me for a “good read.” I love when people thank their favorite artists for their creativity and passion. It’s a simple kindness like thanking someone for preparing a good meal. I want to remember to say as much to others. 

TTFN!

Margerumalia – New Book Signing on Main Street

Eric Margerum

Newsletter  June 28, 2024 

Next stop: July 13th Main Street Books in Lafayette, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. 

Main Street Books is only a block away from the Saturday Farmer’s Market so we expect to entice the folks looking for A/C and a good read.

What I learned about publishing this week: algorithms are in charge. Maybe someone should write a story about that… 

“HAL, order 50 more copies of The Most Amazing Museum of Los Angeles.”

“I’m sorry, Dave. I can’t do that.” 

“That is a direct order, HAL.” 

“I understand, Dave, but I am unable to comply.” 

So it turns out that all the websites from Amazon to Books-A-Million, have a notification saying MAMLA is on backorder, or temporarily out of stock. But that’s not really true. It’s just distribuspeak* for print-on-demand. If you go ahead and order a copy of the book from Barnes & Noble, for example, it’ll be printed and shipped out right away. Easy-peasy!

This is also true of local bookstores ordering from a distributor (I’m looking at you, Ingram) — in support of an author’s book signing.

You’ll probably save time by buying the book directly from the publisher at the BookBaby Bookstore. That’s store.bookbaby.com. By the way, I get more dollars when you go that route. Even the e-books.

On a different note, those of you already following me on social media have probably already seen my post of the Best Review Of All Time, or BROAT**. I’m going to share it again here because it gives me all the warm fuzzies every time I see it. 

I got an email from one mother who wrote “…this weekend my daughter asked to ‘go to Grandma’s house so she can read that museum book again.’ What a lovely thing for them to share.  Thank you!!!” 

I love that. 

May your weekend be full of warmth and appreciation.

TTFN!

–    –    –    –    –

*Another word I’m contributing to the English Language! That’s four, for those of you keeping a tally at home.

** Ch-ching! FIVE.

Margerumalia – Is An Acronym A Word?

Eric Margerum

Newsletter  June 21, 2024 

MAMLA is an acronym for The Most Amazing Museum of Los Angeles but is it a word? I’m asking for a friend. A friend who suggested that MAMLA is, in fact, my third addition to the English language — after hypernataldigitation (newsletter 5/03/24) and Margerumalia (newsletter 6/14/24). Maybe the origin of the museum name will help to suss it out.

But first: selling a book in a grocery store.

Fresh Thyme Market is an organic grocery store just three blocks from where I live and we often shop there. They keep a neat, friendly atmosphere and were very accommodating to my book signing table. I got to see neighbors, strangers, and a high school friend from years ago. I’ve also gotten pretty good at my elevator pitch for the book, describing just enough of the plot to intrigue potential readers. 

All in all I sold about half as many books as I did at the public library or Barnes & Noble, but—as I reminded myself while packing up—this is a food store, not a book store. Half as many books sold is pretty darn good, I’d say! And I left the store with a fresh perspective (pun intended). 

Next stop, the county library, date TBD, and Main Street Books in Lafayette on July 13. The Saturday Farmer’s Market on Fifth Street brings browsers to the bookstore. 

Back to MAMLA. It was inspired by MOCA, the Museum of Contemporary Art, where I spent an adventurous afternoon several years ago. I had just missed the cut-off for student rush tickets at the Ahmanson Theatre in downtown LA and found out that my parking fee was good for several hours but not good for a refund. The MOCA caught my eye and I walked a few blocks to see what I could see. 

I walked through many contemporary art exhibits, some of which bored me, like the big hall of six foot fluorescent lights hung up in as many different combinations as you can imagine. Actually, I think you could imagine several better ones. There were no colors, no sculpted neon-styles, just things like three horizontal lights and two vertical. Ho-Hum. And those fluorescents do hum!

A different exhibit really captured my imagination, though. It had huge geometrical shapes, each one painted in a solid primary or secondary color. I intended to glide through this hall but was surprised to feel vibrations emanating from each shape, almost like a musical tone. If you’ve made it to Chapter 16 in MAMLA, you’ll recognize The Gallery of Shapes and Colors. I was amazed to actually experience intrinsic emotions from each shape. That’s when I decided then to name my museum The Most Amazing Museum of Los Angeles. MAMLA.

Word (noun): a speech sound or series of speech sounds that symbolizes and communicates a meaning usually without being divisible into smaller units capable of independent use (Merriam-Webster.com). 

Yeah, I think I’m going to claim MAMLA as the third word I’ve contributed to the English language.

TTFN!

Margerumalia – Barnes and Noble Book Signing

Eric Margerum

Newsletter June 14, 2024

First, I’ve heard that a good newsletter needs a good name so I invented another new word: Margerumalia. It’s a portmanteau combining Margerum with marginalia (notes in the margins). SO that’s two new words I’ve added to the English language. Look out, Shakespeare, I’m catching up!

Second, the book signing last Saturday at Barnes & Noble was very enjoyable, with a steady stream of customers who bought about as many books as I sold the previous week at the library. 

I’ve got to tell you something I overheard from a 30-something couple passing by. The man pointed out the person at the service desk and said, “She’s like a liberrian.” Fortunately they weren’t facing me when I broke out into a big grin. That’s where I got the idea for the lie-berries in “Plot Holes” and MAMLA! It’s the common mispronunciation of library. I loved hearing that. Felt like a confirmation.

A friend in my writing group told me Piers Anthony also had lie-berries in his Xanth novels. I had no idea. I’ve read several of his other books but haven’t tackled that series—47 of them so far! Sounds like I need a new TBR shelf for his books alone. I recommend his writing and his storytelling, by the way—it doesn’t hurt that he has my same love of puns and wordplay.

I hope every local author is treated as well as I was at Barnes & Noble. They were so friendly and considerate, a few employees even bought copies of their own! They invited me to return in August for the Back To School rush and I’m looking forward to it. Meanwhile there are a set of signed copies on their shelves with my bookmarks inside. 

Tomorrow I’ll have a table set up at my neighborhood Fresh Thyme Market where they also like to support local authors. I’ll wear something warmer, though, because the last author I saw there was seated in front of a table of refrigerated food. Good organic produce, by the way. That’ll be from about 11:00 to 2:00 pm. Local friends should note that this is the West Lafayette store, not the one in Lafayette. 

A former student suggests that I also set up a book signing in Naperville, Illinois. Maybe I can line up a few stops in that area. It’d be fun to see some familiar faces! 

TTFN!

My First Book Signing

Eric Margerum

Newsletter: June 7, 2024

It did rain on the day of the Summer Reading Kickoff but the top-notch folk at the West Lafayette Public Library were quick to give me an indoor alternative which turned out to be just perfect. (Go to my Facebook or Instagram page to see a fast motion set-up of the table set to music from the Benny Hill Show.) They also put a table near mine where children could spin a wheel and win free prizes. At my table I was generously handing out mazes and bookmarks.

The photo above was sent to me by the mother of these wonderful children who wanted to hear all about my book in addition to getting their free mazes. Their mother told me that they really enjoyed talking to me.

Many people bought my books and it all went very smoothly! (Thank you, too, to all of my friends and family who’ve been buying them on line.)

You’ll be glad to know the petting zoo outside the windows behind me was still a big hit and the rain never fell too hard. Apparently the ice cream truck was out there, too.

On to Barnes & Noble tomorrow where they’ve ordered 50 copies of my book to have on hand! I’ll be signing them all afternoon from 1:00 to 5:00. We printed more giveaways for the event, and I’ve barely dipped into the many bookmarks I ordered.

I so enjoy meeting people and I’m sure to have a great time. I look forward to getting more of the “Most Amazing” suggestions that were placed in the hollow book and sharing them with you.

TTFN!

What’s On The Other Side

Eric Margerum

Newsletter 05/31/24 

This is what the other end of the table looks like. To the left of the bookmarks is my special free giveaway: a packet of four mazes. Because the Shafer family has to find their way through the giant maze if they ever want to leave the museum. The ankylosaurus from Chapters 13 & 14 is holding them down is case of a wind gust. 

Behind that are coffee mugs with the cover design on one side and a quote from Doris Weatherton on the other. “Just remember that wherever you go, that’s where you are meant to be.” They’re $13.99 just like the books. 

The clouds in the background are representing the works of Raymond the Cloud Carver from Chapter 8, and the sailboat belongs to King Cloudias. The hot air balloon is Doris Weatherton’s mode of transportation, making appearances throughout the book.

Finally, the little gold mesh globe is from the Circle Room where Ryan and his father must earn circle-related tokens to return to the museum. The plastic jar under it holds dozens of circular objects like coins, checkers, washers, and costume jewelry. 

Debbie expressed some nervousness about tomorrow’s event and told me she wasn’t a carnival barker saying, “Come one, come all…!” I said that was the job of the props, the giveaways, and the poster (see last week). She was also the one who told me 31 years ago that there was still time to elope just as we prepared to walk down the aisle. Opposites do attract. 

I’m excited to meet people and invite them into my imaginary world. Doing theatre scratched that itch for a long time—and still does—but this book is my own invention entirely and now I get to share it. Wish me luck! 

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*Indiana Book Signings

June 1 – West Lafayette Public Library Summer Reading Kickoff 11 AM to 2 PM

June 8 – Lafayette Barnes & Noble 1 -5 PM

At Home Dress Rehearsal

Eric Margerum

Newsletter – May 24, 2024

There’s no performance without a dress rehearsal. That’s something I learned from fifty years of theatre. 

The image above is one end of my book signing table set up at home in preparation for June 1st and 8th.* The poster board and pile of books are to pique the interest of passersby so they approach my table. The bookmarks are a free giveaway, and the cloud and the butterflies are elements of the novel. 

See the peach colored book behind the bookmarks? It’s a hollow book in which I’ll invite children—and the young at heart—to contribute ideas about what they would have in an amazing museum: 

“What amazing idea do you have for a museum? Write it down and put it in the Most Amazing book. I just might include it in my newsletter.”

You can play along, too, if you want to send me your amazing ideas. Just hit reply.   

I’ll show you the other end of the table next week. More clouds and butterflies, of course, and other things from the book. 

Want to help? 

You can follow me (Facebook, Instagram, Substack, and X) and share my posts about the book. 

You can forward this newsletter to someone who would enjoy subscribing. They can click on this link: https://margerumwritesfiction.ck.page/f0b8e21e7f 

You can preorder the physical book on a few different sites including The Book Baby Bookshop, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. The ebook is available at all of those and at Apple Books, and Kobo.

TTFN!

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*Indiana Book Signings

June 1 – West Lafayette Public Library Summer Reading Kickoff 11 AM to 2 PM

June 8 – Lafayette Barnes & Noble 1 -5 PM

Love of Laughter

Eric Margerum

Newsletter – May 17, 2024

My mother loved to laugh and share funny stories. I clearly inherited that tendency with an added an emphasis on wordplay. My indulgence in this urge appears many times in The Most Amazing Museum of Los Angeles and your free read of “Plot Holes” is a good example. Who knows, Barry the Librarian may have additional spine-tingling adventures ahead of him. (See what I did there?)

When I was a young teen my mother came home from the grocery store with a funny story. She’d made a quick trip to buy condensed milk and found herself standing in the aisle surveying all the canned goods without finding what she wanted. A man walked up and also began scanning the shelves.

Mom apologized for standing in his way saying, “I just wanted to get a can of condensed milk, but it’s all evaporated.”

She heard the absurdity of the accidental joke as it came out of her mouth and suddenly burst out laughing. The man’s expression said he was dealing with a madwoman which only made her laugh more. He quickly found what he needed and left. She was still chuckling about it when she got home and pulled a can of condensed milk out of a bag from a different store. 

My mom’s ability to laugh at her own foibles was probably part of why Dad fell in love with her. I’m writing this on the day of their 71st wedding anniversary. They had been married for 66 years when they each passed away. Happy Anniversary you two! 

It’s just fifteen days until the Book Launch of MAMLA and my wife and I are gathering together various props and giveaways for the Summer Reading Kickoff at the West Lafayette Public Library. We ordered MAMLA coffee mugs that just arrived Wednesday, featuring the book cover on one side and a quotation from Doris Weatherton on the other. They’re the same price as the books: $13.99. 

Oh, you don’t know who Doris Weatherton is? Well, of course you don’t. She a very important part of the amazing museum.You’ll find out soon enough. 

Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon 

Eric Margerum

Newsletter – May 10, 2024

I’m just two steps away from Kevin Bacon. 

Seriously. I can explain.

It starts with Six Degrees of Separation, the idea that all people are no more than six social connections away from each other.

The theory became a play by John Guare, which became a movie, which spawned a TV series… and morphed into a game: Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. The man has appeared in a myriad of roles and ANY actor, director, author, producer, you name it, can can find a connection to Kevin Bacon. It also helps that his name rhymes with separation. 

Are you ready? Here goes. 

I was in a film called “Right To Die” with Raquel Welch and Michael Gross. 

Michael Gross was in a film called “Tremors” with [drum roll] …Kevin Bacon! 

BAM, two degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon. I win! (Bragging rights only.) 

Um, don’t look for my performance in “Right To Die” you’ll only find my name in the end credits. Which is where I found it at the premiere. The director apologized in the lobby afterwards. It was a made-for-TV movie and they had to make room for the commercials. [SIGH] 

Well, it makes for a good story, anyway. 

Remind me to tell you about my audition for the role of Woody on “Cheers.” 

———————————

Speaking of good stories, it’s less than a month to the release of The Most Amazing Museum of Los Angeles and I’m psyched! 

It’ll be available through the BookBaby Bookstore, Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble Online, and more. If I won’t see you at the June 1st kickoff, please pre-order it on line so the book can have a good showing on the first day. 

I Made Up A Word

Eric Margerum

Newsletter – May 3, 2024

Shakespeare is credited with adding over 1700 words to the English language. I figured I could add at least one [humble bragging sheepishly]. 

Years ago I was trying to describe the phenomenon of looking at a digital clock while noticing that it was my birthdate. Friends had noticed the same thing and we all agreed that only our birthdate jumped out like that. 

It needed a name. I call it hypernataldigitation. 

Hyper for the increased awareness. Natal for the birthdate. Digitation for seeing it on a digital clock (you’d never notice it on the hands of an analog clock).

Here’s the really fun part, I submitted it to a website decades ago and I can still find it by doing a Google search! Yahoo is sure that I meant hyper nasality and after scanning through 30 search results I gave up.

I’ve only recently become a published author, but I did create a word a long time ago and it’s still on the internet. Is everything really on the internet forever? Maybe I’m immortal! 

Oh, shoot! I never signed my name to the word or the definition I wrote for it. You believe I created it, though, right? 

Hypernataldigitation: Awarenesss of a tendency to look at a digital clock when it displays your birthday. 

Example: She was acutely aware of her hypernataldigitation. She knew that she often looked at digital clocks when they show 6:17—her birthday is June 17.

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