Town enters book publishing world

Available
thru
PokingFun Press UnLtd.



Grace is
now Book Published

PokingFun Press, UnLtd., the pride of Grace civic communications, this month entered the book publishing business with the introduction of The State of Grace . . . and Other Calamities.

         Columnists La Conner Fats, Elsie Fats and Polly Anna Jones of the Greater Grace OnLine Gazette have had their stories plucked from the Gazette archives for this page-turning chronicle of postmodern Grace Township.

         Rave reviews are pouring in, according to Eloise “Twinkle” Starr, publicity director for PfPUL. Mayor-for-Life Terry Jarvis wrote, “It’s an honor and a privilege to be maligned in this important book.”

         In it’s introduction, compiler Lauron Lindstrom welcomes readers with, “Gaudere res seria est. Loosely translated from Latin in our Abridged Too Far Dictionary, that means: ‘Having fun is serious business’. Please note that it does not translate from old German to mean: ‘I’ve got sauerkraut in my leder­hosen.’ Actually, it’s the motto of the Mystical Township of Grace, Washington, a place unlike any other town in America. Perhaps it might even be the off-center of the known universe.”

Lindstrom recalls how former auto recyclers Terry Jarvis and Don Fitzpatrick Jr., decided to re-establish the town of Grace in 1992 following considerable research into the town’s early days of the 1880s. Characters populating postmodern Grace, however, appear distinctly different than the pioneers who established the mercantile, grade school, train station and various lumber mills.

          The State of Grace includes two novellas featuring Grace personalities, recalls never-ending attempts by traveling preacher Billy Bob Biggotte to pedal his religious will on the town, takes readers through the town’s presidential political season of 2004, and offers a full rundown on the first season of Upson Downs, the Grace thoroughbred racetrack.

Taking considerable more license, Lindstrom adds,  “the Gazette’s disgustingly dusty archives provide insight into the comings and goings and doings of the town’s sometimes zany and occasionally self-important residents and interlopers. It is hoped they will make you agree with the town’s motto.”

But, The State of Grace is not for the humor-impaired, Lindstrom warns.

The book is available for purchase over the Internet at http://www.lulu.com/lauronl  where browsers will see a photo of the cover produced by town illustrator Ken Steacy. Steacy’s original cartoons once published in the Gazette are included in the 244-page book.

In addition to Grace Town Hall, copies may be found at the famous Maltby Café, Ostrom’s Drugs in Kenmore, Alexa’s Café in Bothell and Gathering Fabrics quilt shop in south Woodinville.