Oregon State Fair Authors Table

Oregon Authors Return to State Fair

By William L. Sullivan

Author booksignings returned to the Oregon State Fair in 2022, with 50 Oregon authors discussins and autographing their works. The same arrangement will be used in future years. Authors who are interested in attending should send an email to sullivan@efn.org with a sentence about themselves and a sentence about each of their books.

The Oregon Authors Table is located n Columbia Hall, between the fair’s quilts and cakes. Unlike those exhibits, however, the authors take turns, with no more than a dozen on hand at a time.

Some authors attend the fair every day, but most attend just for a few two-hour shifts or a few days. Each day a different author is featured as the headliner. A complete schedule of author appearances for 2022 is below. Here are day-by-day headliners that appeared at the fair in 2022.

Friday, August 26, 2022: Joe R. Blakely

Best known for his Oregon history books about come-from-behind sports teams, this 82-year-old Eugene author has turned his attention to the pioneer photographer who saved Oregon’s wildlife refuges. The resulting biography, “William Lovell Finley”, is an illustrated account of the man who lugged a giant box camera with glass negatives to treetops, swamps, and ocean islands in the early 1900s in order to document the plight of Oregon’s birds.

Saturday, August 27, 2022: Kurt Cyrus

Featured by the New York Times, Kurt Cyrus of McMinnville has illustrated two dozen popular children’s picture books. His current bestseller is “Be A Good Dragon”, but “Fix That Clock” won the Oregon Spirit Award, and his counting books are library legends. The latest is “Trillions of Trees”, preceded by “Billions of Bricks” and the classic, “20 Big Trucks in the Middle of the Street.”

Sunday, August 28, 2022:

Mark Fearing

This Portland author claims that he might have been raised by geese or gophers. More likely, he grew up in Minnesota and helped to animate TV shows in LA before coming to Oregon to write and illustrate children’s books. In his latest, “Castle Gesundheit,” the Baron Von Sneeze's sniffling is keeping the village of Handkerchief awake, perhaps because of his many cats?

Monday, August 29, 2022:

Melanie Campbell

After earning a degree from the University of Oregon while she was struggling as a single mother, Campbell learned enough about life to write women’s fiction with inspiring themes. Her debut novel, “One Woman Falling”, won the 2020 Oregon Christian Writer’s Cascade Award. In “One Way Home”, a recovering alcoholic battles to escape her family’s past.

Tuesday, August 30, 2022:

David Espinoza.

Uplifting sports stories are the subjects of this Salem author’s books. His memoir, “Half Blind with Full Vision”, describes his own effort to overcome childhood trauma to succeed using sports as counseling. His new book, “Oregon Latino Basketball Tournament” recounts how a Woodburn event wound up uniting the Latino community with pride.

Wednesday, August 31, 2022:

Elizabeth Rusch.

This Portland author/editor has written dozens of children’s books about everything from volcanoes to pianos. “A Day With No Crayons” won the Oregon Book Award. In her newest, “Zee Grows a Tree”, a girl is born on the same day that a Douglas fir seedling sprouts on her parents’ Christmas tree farm. As the two grow up together, readers learn a lot about trees and little girls.

Thursday, September 1, 2022:

Stephen Holgate.

The spy novels of this Portland author ring true because he really did serve with the State Department in Morocco and Sri Lanka. His latest book, “To Live and Die in the Floating World”, is a thriller with another setting he knows, having once worked on the canal boats of Burgundy, France. Gifted with a craggy face and oratorical baritone, Holgate sometimes serves as an Abraham Lincoln impersonator.

Friday, September 2, 2022:

William Burt.

An Aurora, Oregon teacher of American Sign Language for the deaf, Burt has become a State Fair favorite for his “King of the Trees” fantasy books. The seven-part young adult series, set in a happy place somewhere between “The Hobbit” and “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe”, opens when Rolin son of Gannon shimmies down an unusual tree to a land of grumpy griffins, evil sorcerers, dangerous batwolves, and prophecy.

Saturday, September 3, 2022:

Jennifer Chambers

Host of the Hodgepodge podcast, this Lane County author’s first book was about surviving traumatic brain injury from a high school car crash. Since then she’s written biographies of other courageous Oregon women, including her latest, “Abigail Scott Duniway and Susan B. Anthony in Oregon: Hesitate No Longer".

Sunday, September 4, 2022:

Jason Kilgore

A scientist at a Eugene biotech company, Kilgore has written scifi, poetry, and fantasy novels. In his new book, “Dragons of the Federation”, an Iron Dragon joins with a young female mage to stop an elvish conspiracy that might end the world’s magic.

Monday, September 5, 2022:

Marina Richie

Kingfishers are those plucky top-knotted birds that dive into Oregon rivers to spear fish. Did you know they nest underground? In her nature book, “Halcyon Journey: In Search of the Belted Kingfisher”, Bend author Richie tracks this unusual bird clan from Montana to three continents and back.

Many of the 49 authors attendied on multiple days in 2022. Here’s a complete schedule of author appearances:

Friday, August 26

10am-8pm, Joe Brown (fantasy mystery)

10am-8pm, William Burt (Christian fantasy)

10am-8pm, Kurt Cyrus (children’s books)

10am-8pm, Craig Comer (fantasy)

10am-8pm, David Espinoza (sports)

10am-8pm, Gary Hartman (woodworking)

10am-8pm, Julie Kooch (Wallowa memoirs)

10am-8pm, Lisa Lowell (fantasy)

10am-8pm, William Sullivan (hiking, novels)

10am-2pm, Carol Dare (historical novels)

10am-2pm, Tania Wall (Christian)

10am-4pm, Joe Blakely (history, novels)

2pm-4pm, Marilyn Milne (Tillamook history)

2pm-6pm, Micah Thorp (fiction)

4pm-8pm, Jennifer Rich (contemplation)

Saturday, August 27

10am-8pm, Joe Brown (fantasy mystery)

10am-8pm, Kurt Cyrus (children’s books)

10am-8pm, David Espinoza (sports)

10am-8pm, Gary Hartman (woodworking)

10am-8pm, Julie Kooch (Wallowa memoirs)

10am-8pm, Lisa Lowell (fantasy)

10am-8pm, William Sullivan (hiking, novels)

10am-2pm, William Burt (Christian fantasy)

10am-2pm, Bob Crites (memoir)

10am-2pm, Carol Dare (historical novels)

10am-4pm, Dan Armstrong (novels)

10am-4pm, Lynn Ash (adventure memoirs)

2pm-4pm, Angus Curran (mystery)

2pm-8pm, Craig Comer (fantasy)

2pm-8pm, Mark Fearing (children’s books)

4pm-6pm, Curt Angeledes (photography)

4pm-8pm, Beauford Averette (sci-fi)

Sunday, August 28

10am-8pm, Joe Brown (fantasy mystery)

10am-8pm, Kurt Cyrus (children’s books)

10am-8pm, David Espinoza (sports)

10am-8pm, Mark Fearing (children’s books)

10am-8pm, Gary Hartman (woodworking)

10am-8pm, David Hascall (historical fiction)

10am-8pm, Julie Kooch (Wallowa memoirs)

10am-8pm, William Sullivan (hiking, novels)

10am-2pm, Carol Dare (historical novels)

10am-2pm, Tania Wall (Christian)

10am-4pm, Dan Armstrong (novels)

10am-4pm, LeeAnn Kriegh (nature)

2pm-6pm, Dan Liberthson (historical thriller)

2pm-8pm, Craig Comer (fantasy)

4pm-6pm, Paul Fattig (memoir)

4pm-8pm, Beauford Averette (sci-fi)

Monday, August 29

10am-8pm, Joe Brown (fantasy mystery)

10am-8pm, William Burt (Christian fantasy)

10am-8pm, David Espinoza (sports)

10am-8pm, Gary Hartman (woodworking)

10am-8pm, Julie Kooch (Wallowa memoirs)

10am-8pm, William Sullivan (hiking, novels)

eadline10am-2pm, Melanie Campbell (novels)

10am-2pm, Carol Dare (historical novels)

10am-2pm, Deborah Handman (novel)

10am-2pm, Tania Wall (Christian)

10am-4pm, Joe Blakely (history, novels)

2pm-8pm, Patsy Brookshire (fiction)

4pm-6pm, Angus Curran (mystery)

Tuesday, August 30

10am-8pm, Joe Brown (fantasy mystery)

10am-8pm, William Burt (Christian fantasy)

10am-8pm, David Espinoza (sports)

10am-8pm, Gary Hartman (woodworking)

10am-8pm, Julie Kooch (Wallowa memoirs)

10am-8pm, William Sullivan (hiking, novels)

10am-2pm, Carol Dare (historical novels)

10am-2pm, Lona Feldman (children’s book)

10am-2pm, Tania Wall (Christian)

10am-4pm, Joe Blakely (history, novels)

10am-4pm, Bob Crites (memoir)

12noon-4pm, Donna McFarland (children’s)

2pm-8pm, Patsy Brookshire (fiction)

4pm-6pm, Angus Curran (mystery)

Wednesday, August 31

10am-8pm, Joe Brown (fantasy mystery)

10am-8pm, David Espinoza (sports)

10am-8pm, Kayla Hansen (fantasy)

10am-8pm, Gary Hartman (woodworking)

10am-8pm, Julie Kooch (Wallowa memoirs)

10am-8pm, William Sullivan (hiking, novels)

10am-2pm, Carol Dare (historical novels)

10am-2pm, Kay Runyan (memoir)

10am-4pm, Joe Blakely (history, novels)

12noon-4pm, William Burt (Christian fantasy)

10am-4pm, Joe Blakely (history, novels)

2pm-6pm, Elizabeth Rusch (children’s books)

2pm-6pm, Addie Boswell (children’s books)

2pm-8pm, Patsy Brookshire (fiction)

4pm-8pm, E.H. Watts (Biblical science)

Thursday, September 1

10am-8pm, Joe Brown (fantasy mystery)

10am-8pm, David Espinoza (sports)

10am-8pm, Kayla Hansen (fantasy)

10am-8pm, Gary Hartman (woodworking)

10am-8pm, Julie Kooch (Wallowa memoirs)

10am-8pm, William Sullivan (hiking, novels)

10am-6pm, Sharleen Nelson (fiction)

10am-2pm, Catherine McGuire (fiction)

10am-2pm, Stephen Holgate (spy novels)

10am-2pm, Stephanie Shaw (children’s books)

10am-4pm, Joe Blakely (history, novels)

10am-4pm, Bob Crites (memoir)

2pm-4pm, Angus Curran (mystery)

2pm-8pm, Patsy Brookshire (fiction)

4pm-8pm, Lisa Lowell (fantasy)

4pm-8pm, E.H. Watts (Biblical science)

Friday, September 2

10am-8pm, Joe Brown (fantasy mystery)

10am-8pm, William Burt (Christian fantasy)

10am-8pm, Craig Comer (fantasy)

10am-8pm, Kurt Cyrus (children’s books)

10am-8pm, David Espinoza (sports)

10am-8pm, Kayla Hansen (fantasy)

10am-8pm, Gary Hartman (woodworking)

10am-8pm, Julie Kooch (Wallowa memoirs)

10am-8pm, William Sullivan (hiking, novels)

10am-2pm, Carol Dare (historical novels)

10am-4pm, Joe Blakely (history, novels)

10am-4pm, Bob Crites (memoir)

2pm-8pm, Patsy Brookshire (fiction)

Saturday, September 3

10am-8pm, Joe Brown (fantasy mystery)

10am-8pm, Kurt Cyrus (children’s books)

10am-8pm, David Espinoza (sports)

10am-8pm, Gary Hartman (woodworking)

10am-8pm, Julie Kooch (Wallowa memoirs)

10am-8pm, William Sullivan (hiking, novels)

10am-2pm, William Burt (Christian fantasy)

10am-2pm, Carol Dare (historical novels)

10am-4pm, Dan Armstrong (novels)

10am-4pm, Lynn Ash (adventure memoirs)

10am-4pm, Jennifer Chambers (Oregon history)

10am-4pm, Pat Edwards (Oregon history)

2pm-6pm, Debra W. Alexander (novels)

2pm-8pm, Craig Comer (fantasy)

4pm-6pm, Curt Angeledes (photography)

4pm-8pm, Beauford Averette (sci-fi)

4pm-8pm, Mark Fearing (children’s books)

4pm-8pm, J.R. LaMar (children’s books)

4pm-8pm, Rosemary Lombard (poetry)

Sunday, September 4

10am-8pm, Beauford Averette (sci-fi)

10am-8pm, Joe Brown (fantasy mystery)

10am-8pm, Kurt Cyrus (children’s books)

10am-8pm, David Espinoza (sports)

10am-8pm, Gary Hartman (woodworking)

10am-8pm, Jason Kilgore (fantasy)

10am-8pm, Julie Kooch (Wallowa memoirs)

10am-8pm, J.R. LaMar (children’s books)

10am-8pm, William Sullivan (hiking, novels)

10am-12noon, Laura LeHew (poetry)

10am-2pm, Carol Dare (historical novels)

10am-2pm, Catherine McGuire (fiction)

10am-6pm, Evelyn Hess (memoirs, nature)

12noon-4pm, Eli Boschetto (hiking)

2pm-6pm, Laura LeHew (poetry)

2pm-8pm, Craig Comer (fantasy)

4pm-8pm, Beauford Averette (sci-fi)

6pm-8pm, Angus Curran (mystery)

Monday, September 5

10am-8pm, Joe Brown (fantasy mystery)

10am-8pm, David Espinoza (sports)

10am-8pm, Kayla Hansen (fantasy)

10am-8pm, Gary Hartman (woodworking)

10am-8pm, Jason Kilgore (fantasy)

10am-8pm, Julie Kooch (Wallowa memoirs)

10am-8pm, J.R. LaMar (children’s books)

10am-8pm, William Sullivan (hiking, novels)

10am-2pm, Carol Dare (historical novels)

10am-4pm, Joe Blakely (history, novels)

Headliner: 12noon-4pm, Marina Richie (birding memoir)

4pm-8pm, Beauford Averette (sci-fi)

# # #

Oregon Authors!

In 2022 the Oregon State Fair has decided to celebrate Oregon literature by offering authors free space at a newly imagined Oregon Authors Table from August 26 to September 5 in Salem. Authors can sign up for as many two-hour time slots as they like from 10am to 8pm during the 11 days of the fair. There is no booth fee or sales fee, but authors are expected to bring their own books, handle their own sales, and pay their own fair admission, including a $5 parking fee. Admission tickets are $8 in advance or $12 at the door ($1 in advance for seniors, $3 at the door). Because the State Fair is just 2 months away, please let me know within the next few days if you are interested. You are welcome to forward this invitation to other authors living in Oregon, if you like.

The Oregon Authors Table has a nearly 40-year history at the fair in Salem, but has been on hiatus for two years due to the pandemic. The new venue consists of six 8-foot tables in a well-trafficked area near the entrance to Columbia Hall, between exhibits of quilts and cakes. Each author will have 4 feet of table space, a nameplate, and a nametag. The fair will provide publicity on its website and on the handout given to all fairgoers. Newspapers in Salem and Eugene will run articles featuring the schedule of author appearances.

Because there is only space for 12 authors at a time, you may need to limit your times to certain days or certain hours to make room for others. If you are requesting a block of 4 or 6 hours, please have mercy on me as volunteer scheduler and do not ask for just the middle of the day.

If Salem is a long drive for you, you might choose to attend for all of just one day, or you might carpool with another author from your area, share a table for perhaps 2 or 4 hours, and still have time to explore the rest of the fair.

Although the general parking lots are not close to Columbia Hall, the fair offers a golf cart service that can shuttle you and your books. For authors who are older or need more assistance, we have VIP parking passes that would allow you to park across the street from Columbia Hall. If you plan to attend more than one day, Columbia Hall has a storage closet where you can store books.

Let me know what hours you would like to join us at the Oregon State Fair! Available hours are 10am-noon, 12-2, 2-4, 4-6, and 6-8pm from Friday, August 26 through Monday, September 5. And tell me what you’ve been writing recently. Give me the titles of any books you have published in recent years. Add a one-sentence description of each. I’ll do what I can to get out the word as the fair approaches.

Hope to see you at the Oregon Authors Table at the fair in Salem!

Best, Bill Sullivan

541-335-9433, sullivan@efn.org