I need a break

I am trying to motivate myself to go to my book signing today in Murray from noon to six. I am tired, having spent about ten hours yesterday working on book three. I will be in Bountiful tomorrow during the same times.
I have noticed as I have been writing about Amy and her parents and the contention that swells around them, that I am emotionally disturbed by that contention. I am not sure if it hits too close to home, but as an eternal peacemaker, it goes against my nature. As I work through these things in my writing, I feel good when it is over, but when I am in the thick of it, I am on edge and cantankerous and nothing is right with the world. I suppose that is one reason I gave up TV a few years ago--I find myself living whatever I see--somehow the emotions of whatever it is translate into my real life in a negative way.
Case in point...this morning I am a little perterbed about a movie I took my kids too last night-Where the wild things are. I loved this book growing up, but this movie is a total flop from my point of view--no real story line, bad cinamatography, a movie dedicated to the bad behavior of children. It began poorly and ended poorly and I am glad I saw it at the dollar movie rather than paying full-price for it. I am sure it had to be an expensive movie to produce because they basically destroyed a whole island. Just a weird, lame movie. I feel sorry for the producers. They really could have done a much better job.
Listen to me be a movie critic! I've never really liked critics and suddenly i just became one. But I feel better and I think I can go sign books now and be okay. Happy New Year.

Merry Christmas

I couldn't let this day go by without giving a shout out to the folks that are reading my book and sharing it with their friends. On Thursday, yesterday, I plopped down my money to print the third printing of Remembering Isaac. I have sold out of the second printing. You can still find some in Costcos, but my distributor is out and back ordered three hundred copies. This is exciting. It is just beginning to hit me that I am an author. It seems so surreal. I have received lots of great emails in the last couple of days, thanking me for the books. It has been a lot of fun to read these--to hear how people are thinking, laughing, crying and wanting to live in Niederbipp. I love it. Tonight, I am tired after a long day of visits with family, but I am feeling like I need a visit to Niederbipp. Maybe I will stay up late and figure out what Jake and Amy have been trying to tell me all day. I also hope in the next few blog entries to begin telling my story. I am glad this the story of Niederbipp and Isaac are touching so many lives, but I never did this for the money. So far, I have spent the better part of $60,000 this year producing and printing the book. Because of the delays in getting paid, I wont see any return on that investment until mid-January. This delay has been a blessing--it has helped to solidify my feelings that I money was never my drive when I jumped into this project. Sure, I hope I don't lose money, but the message is what is important. It has been wonderful to hear from folks of all ages and stripes who are finding themselves in Niederbipp and never wanting to leave. Maybe our world needs more of this. Maybe our world is looking for the answers Niederbipp has to offer.
I want to get to Jake and Amy, so tonight I will just share a portion of my story. When I was in grade school, I remember believing I was born without talent. I was lousy at sports, I was only an average student. I had zero musical talent--even to the point of being asked by the music mom to mouth the words because I was always loud and never on key. I had very few friends my own age. My neighborhood was filled with folks that were mostly at least 60 years older than me, but it was a magical place. Many of these old folks had tools in their garages and cookies in their jars and time to sit on their front porches and tell me amazing stories of their younger years. As I read and re-read the stories of Niederbipp, I find myself reflecting on the village that it took to raise me. So many have had a hand in who I have become. Most of these folks are gone now. Margaret Torkelson, the 95 year old woman who my mother sent me to to practice my reading, passed away more than twenty-five years ago, but I can still remember the smell of her flowered couch and the color of her beehive doo. She gave me jumbo gum drops after each visit. I read to her all of the books that drove my mother crazy--most of which were by Dr. Suess.
I am grateful for those old folks who loved me like a grandson and always welcomed my visits, helped me fix my bike, lent me tools to use as I dug holes in other neighbor's yards-trying to get to China, filled my mind with fun stories and opened possibilities to me that I never could have imagined. It seems my imagination has no limits because they were never imposed on me in my youth. I never watched TV because it could never compete with the world outside. It still can't.
I will write more later.
If any of you have any questions about the book or about my story, this might be a fun forum for question and answers. Ask on--
Cheers, Ben

Second Printing Of Volume One Sold Out!

I would have updated this blog earlier, but I have been busy with my open house here at my studio. Every other spare minute has been dedicated to getting Remembering Isaac ready for its third printing. I got a call from my distributor last week congratulating me. I didnt know what he was talking about, but he explained that he had sold out of his 4500 copies of the book and is back ordered 350 copies. I actually printed 5000 copies, but held onto about 500 to sell myself. I have only about 150 of those remaining. I will begin the process for the third printing today. One of my pottery clients purchased my book-first printing- this spring and brought it back to me last week with alot of minor changes. Apparently I dont know how to use a colon, semi colon or comma correctly. So, in the third printing, for all you english majors and nitpickers, the aforementioned tools of punctuation will be correct. We are also branding the cover with BOOK ONE so folks don't get confused which one comes first.
I am signing today in Orem at Costco. Tomorrow I will be in SAndy and on Christmas Eve, I will be at the Bountiful store. Come and see me and pick up book 2 if you havent already. Cheers and Merry Christmas. Ben

Discovering Isaac should be in Costco!

By now, Discovering Isaac should be in all Utah Costco stores. I will be signing today, Dec 15th in Sandy and tomorrow at the Lehi Costco from noon to 6. I hope to see you there or if that doesent fit your schedule, you can find me at my studio this Saturday from 9-5 at 1150 E 800 S in Salt Lake. The studio will be stocked with mugs, bowls. platters, tiles and Lynnette's tasty victuals--as well as both books. Come on over. Ben

Discovering Isaac Shows Up In Ogden Costco 4 Days Early!

Yep, that's right. It is officially in Costco, at least in the Ogden store. I signed several copies today for those who were anxious to get a head start. It was actually really fun to sign those. I have been watching for months as folks peruse the book aisle at Costco until they stumble upon an author they know. Then, without even reading the dust jacket, the pick up the book and put it in their carts. I have wondered what that would be like as I am accosting people, trying to talk them into a book by an uneducated potter who is no one in the literary world. Today I got my first glimpse of what that is really like to have someone recognize my name, my book, and pick it up simply because they loved the last one. I just had to write about that. I know it probably sounds silly for you, but I have to say it feels good.
Sarah Palin signed in the Salt Lake Costco yesterday. I signed in Murray. She has folks lined up for 30 hours to get a signed copy. I strolled in about noon and began my work of accosting innocent people who may or may not be looking for a book. I sold 81 books. I'm sure she sold hundreds, but one small difference is--I wrote my book all by myself! No ghost writers for me. Sure, I had a lot of inspiration, but I typed every one of them thar words with my own two index fingers.
Anyway, you are going to love Discovering Isaac. For some reason, even though both books retail for the same price, $19.99, Discovering Isaac is selling for $12.49 where Remembering Isaac is selling at Costco for $11.99. I had nothing to do with that. Costco set the price up at headquarters. Don't ask me why--I just write books and accost people.
I am up late firing a kiln for Saturday's Studio Open House here at my studio--1150 E 800 S in Salt Lake, just a block from East High School. The show runs from 9-5. I will have a studio full of pots, both books and some of Lynnette's finest treats. Come on over. Sarah Palin and her enterage are planning on camping out tonight to be first in line! Cheers

Costco Delays Debut of Discovering Isaac until Dec 14

Yep, that's right--not until the 14th. I spoke to my distributor today after receiving several phone calls from unhappy folks who went to Costco to find Discovering Isaac and discovered it was not available yet. I am sorry. The only explanation I have been given is that it is a busy Christmas season. I apologize to those of you who have been waiting. I am already getting feed back from those who have read the second one and they all tell me they liked the second one even more than the first.
My schedule for signing at Costco has changed a little. Several of the days I planned to sign have been cut.
This week I will be in in Bountiful on Tuesday, the 8th from noon to 6.
Wednesday the 9th at Murray fron noon to 6 and
Thursday the 10th at Ogden from noon to 6.
On Saturday I will be having my pottery open house at my studio at 1150 E 800 S in Salt Lake. I will post next weeks schedule as it is confirmed. Apparently, lots of other folks wanted to start doing book signings too and they are working their way into the stores and squeezing little guys like me out.
The Studio Open House was very well attended this weekend. Lots of folks came to pick up the second book as well as copies of the Remembering Isaac for gifts--All together I sold about 150 books on Saturday. Come on over on Saturday. I would love to see you. Ben

Getting Ready for Book 2 Debut at Open House this weekend.

Every book deserves a birthday party. Five hundred copies of book 2, Discovering Isaac, were delivered to my home last Tuesday. I have already sold nearly 100, but I figured it's time to do it right. This Saturday (Dec 5) will begin my open house at my Studio. I spent the day glazing and am now firing the kiln. I will don another firing on Wednesday so I will have loads of new pots along with copies of both book one and two available. I hope to see you there.
1150 E 800 South in Salt Lake. The open house will continue on December 12 and 19. Cheers, Ben

Well, after many months of preparation, work and worry, the second volume of my series is officially out. I picked up my first two boxes on Friday on my way home from a book signing at the Murray Costco. Discovering Isaac is amazingly beautiful. The layout is fun with lots of eye candy in the form of sketches and some awesome old woodcuts from historical sources. My graphic designer, my friend Bert Compton is very pleased as well. I dropped him off a copy late Friday night, hoping to shine a glimmer of happiness in his life. After twelve years as an art director for Jacobs, he was laid off on Friday. I hope this will give him the impetous he needs to follow his heart and do what he has been wanting to do for years--own his own business doing graphic design. Spread the word.
I have said it before, but if you enjoyed book one, you are really going to love book 2. 500 books will be delivered to my home on Monday. The rest of the 5000 are being delivered to Brigham Distributing on Monday. With any luck, they will be available in Costco by the first week in December. Hope to see you soon at a Costco near you. For now, I think I will shut off my kiln and finally get to bed. Good night. Ben

Sarah Palin 6, Ben Behunin 74

I don't why I get a kick out of competing with the big boys and girls, but it's fun. Sarah's book came out this week, I think and from what I've observed, it is not selling very well. Today I signed in Bountiful at the Costco and sold 74 book and met lots of great people. Some of them buy my pots. Most of them, I have never met. It was a strange day--so many people in a big fat hurry that they didnt have much time to stop. I wonder if it has something to do with the phases of the moon.

GOOD NEWS! Book two has been printed and is going to be delivered to my distributor on Friday. I will have books on Friday as well so if anyone can't wait, I will be around all day Saturday, glazing and loading a kiln, but I'll have time to stop and sign a book if you want to stop by. Give me a call first 801-883-0146.

I also have the schedule for book signings for the next month. It is as follows;

*Friday Nov 20th--Murray Costco 12-5

*Friday Nov 20th--Art Access Gallery- Gallery Stroll 6-9pm

*Tuesday Nov 24--SLC Costco 12-6

*Friday and Saturday Nov 27-28 Clay Arts Utah Holiday Sale--I will be showing my pots and signing books, both volume one and two. Sugarhouse Garden Center 2100 South 1600 East 10-5pm

* Tuesday Dec 1 Lehi Costco

* Thursday Dec 3- Orem Costco

*Friday Dec 4-Sandy Costco

*Saturday December 5- Wild Rooster Artworks Studio Open House 1150 E 800 South SLC- come see my pots and both books available

*Tuesday Dec 8 Bountiful Costco

*Wednesday Dec 9 Murray Costco

*Thursday Dec 10 Ogden Costco

*Friday Dec 11 Orem Costco

*Saturday Dec 12 Wild Rooster Artworks Studio Open House 1150 E 800 South-pottery and books

*Tuesday Dec 15 Sandy Costco

*Wednesday Dec 16 Lehi Costco

*Thursday Dec 17 Sandy Costco

*Friday Dec 18 Orem Costco

Saturday Dec 19 Wild Rooster Artworks Studio Open House-Pottery and books

Monday Dec 21 Sandy Costco

Tuesday Dec 22 Orem Costco

Wednesday Dec 23 Sandy

Thursday Dec 24 Bountiful

Tuesday Dec 29 Murray

Wednesday Dec 30 Bountiful

This is going to be a grueling schedule, but I guess that is what this business is all about. I will sleep when I am dead. But first, I have a lot of pots to make. Cheers. Ben

*

We're off the the Presses

Well, somehow we made the deadline for the second book, Discovering Isaac. The book will be printed this weekend and be delivered to my distributor in ten days for delivery to Costco. I am holding back 500 copies for my open houses and pottery shows. I have said it before, but if you liked book one, you are going to love book two. I know I am biased, but it is really good. I am exhausted. I need a break, but I have too many pots to make and too many books to sign. I will be in the Sandy, West Valley and Lehi Costcos in the next three days.
I am also busy working on my annual newsletter. If you would like to recieve it, send me an email with your address. This newsletter includes an announcement for my studio openhouse on December 5th, 12th and 19th. This is a great time to pick up treasures for Christmas gifts. While you're here, you can pick up book two. Goodnight