Category Archives: Events

After Action Report: River Reads 2017

Image October 17, 2017 philgiunta@ptd.net

Gloomy skies and humid summer temperatures did little to diminish our spirits at the second annual River Reads Book Fair at Prallsville Mill in Stockton, NJ this past Sunday.

Over 40 writers were on hand, selling and singing copies of their books including organizer Brandi Megan Granett and returning participants Kathryn Craft, Kelly Simmons, Kerry Gans, and others. Among the new faces this year were Aaron Rosenberg and Russ Colchamiro from Crazy 8 Press, Heather Hutsell, Carol L. Wright from the Bethlehem Writers Group, and fellow Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group member, Christopher Ochs.

While the crowd was a bit thinner than the previous year’s event—and I sold only one book—the time spent with friends and fellow writers was absolutely worth the trip!

My Table at River Reads

Russ, Aaron, and Heather at River Reads 2017

Carol L. Wright & Christopher Ochs at River Reads 2017

Russ, Aaron, Phil, and Heather at River Reads 2017

Russ Colchamiro & Aaron Rosenberg at River Reads 2017

Blog, Events

Afternoon at the Zoo

September 16, 2017 philgiunta@ptd.net

On more than one occasion this year, my wife and I had discussed visiting the Lehigh Valley Zoo since the arrival of Murphy the Giraffe. However, with the constant stream of disruptions that nearly consumed my summer, we could not make the time for it until this weekend—which also happens to be our anniversary.

I took comfort in the fact that summer has not yet left us, despite cooler weather moving in at the end of August. Today, we hit 81F degrees and I loved every perspiration-inducing minute of it. Of course, this meant that several of the animals decided to find a shady corner of their residences and curl up for a nap, but we were not disappointed by those that were active including:

African Penguins
African Spurred Tortoise
Alpacas
Auodads
Axolotl (in the reptile and amphibian house)
Black and White Swans
Blue Heron (a recurring visitor to the zoo)
Chuckwalla
Gila Monster
Camels
Zebras
Murphy the Giraffe (the zoo’s newest attraction)
Ostriches and Emus
Scimitar-Horned Oryx
Mexican Gray Wolf
Cocatoos, Lories, and Lorikeets in the bird habitat
Laughing Kookaburra
… and more!

African Penguin

African Penguin African Penguins African Spurred Tortoise Alpaca Aoudad Axolotl Black Swan Camels in the shade Chuckwalla Cockatoo Desert Iguana Emu Ostrich Murphy the Giraffe

Murphy the Giraffe Blue Heron White Swan Kangaroo Laughing Kookaburra Red Lory

Lorikeet and Red Lory

Lorikeet

Lorikeets

Mexican Gray Wolf Scimitar-Horned Oryx

West African Dwarf Crocodile

Zebra

Blog, Events

A Visit to the Toy Robot Museum

August 13, 2017 philgiunta@ptd.net

My wife and I had a fantastic time at the Toy Robot Museum in Adamstown, PA with friend and former colleague, Dan Torok and his daughter.

It’s always a blast to hang out with museum curator Joe Knedlhans and see the latest additions to the museum. What’s more, Joe gave me an awesome birthday gift: A rare 1978 Metropolis Souvenir Magazine from Japan with English translation by Forrest J. Ackerman. The entire thing unfolds to a black and white poster of Maria the robot from this classic silent film.

We also enjoyed several hours of antiquing along Route 272 at Renninger’s Antique Mall and the German Trading Post. There are, of course, about a dozen more antique shops there that I’ve been to before, but we ran out of time to visit them all today. Some of my favorite shops include The Mad Hatter, Mother Tuckers, 272 Antiques, and the Antique Co-Op. I’ll probably get out there again closer to the holidays.

AlphaBot Wooden Robots Twiki and Company Robots on Display! R2-D2 Toy Chest Rockem Sockem Robots Robots Galore Remote Control Robots Robot Movie Posters Maria from Metropolis Little Bots Japanese Robots Gort and Company Robot Display Cases Daleks ClimbTron Robots BotStock Robots

Blog, Book Signings, Events

River Reads Returns!

August 11, 2017 philgiunta@ptd.net

River Reads will be returning to Prallsville Mills on October 15, 2017 from 10 to 4 PM. Join us for a day of books, local authors for all ages, Bonjour Creperie, Unionville Vineyards, and Lulu’s Rescue!

We will also be holding River Writes–4 Writing Seminars on Turning Real Life into Fiction, World Building, Self Publishing, Character Development. Each seminar will be $12 per person or $40 for all four. Each hour long session will be capped at 20 participants. Stay tuned for sign up information!

Check Facebook for more information on River Reads 2017!

River Reads 2017

Blog, Book Launch, Book Signings, Events

Beach Nights & Cool Sand

November 13, 2016 philgiunta@ptd.net 1 Comment

More than half of the authors published in Beach Nights gathered in Browseabout Books between 2-4PM today to celebrate the release of this fourth annual Rehoboth Beach Reads anthology by Cat and Mouse Press.

Beach Nights Paperbacks

To say the turnout was impressive would be an understatement. Many books were signed, much cake and wine consumed, and it was a joy to finally meet editor and publisher Nancy Sakaduski and several of my fellow contributing authors. My heartfelt gratitude to Nancy for all of her hard work on the Rehoboth Beach Reads contest from editing to publishing to arranging the book launch and everything in between!

Special thanks also to writer pal Susanna Reilly for making the trip from PA to show her support and to her dad for buying lunch at the Purple Parrot!

Beach Nights Display at Browseabout Books. — Beach Nights display at Browseabout Books.

Several Beach Nights authors furiously signing books for loyal readers.

Writer pal Susanna Reilly at the Beach Nights book launch.

These beach anthologies are certainly popular!

It's a crowded house at the Beach Nights book launch! — It’s a crowded house at the Beach Nights book launch!

Beach Nights editor and publisher, Nancy Sakaduski of Cat and Mouse Press.

Kathleen Martens, First Place winner in the Beach Nights short story contest. — Kathleen Martens, author of “Flight of the Song Bird” and first place winner in the Beach Nights short story contest.

Emory Au, artist for the Rehoboth Beach anthologies. — Emory Au, cover artist for the Rehoboth Beach anthologies from Cat and Mouse Press.

Weldon Burge, author of "Melvin and the Haunted Mansion." — Weldon Burge, author of “Melvin and the Haunted Mansion.”

Robin Glanden, author of "The Portrait" and "The Attitude of Gratitude List." — Robin Glanden, author of “The Portrait” and “The Attitude of Gratitude List.”

After the signing was over, I took the time to kick off my flip-flops and hit the beach for about 20 minutes before making the journey home with yet more fond memories of this wonderful town that has become my second home.

The Lone Chair on the Beach — The Lone Chair

Blog, Book Signings, Events

River Reads Recap

October 23, 2016 philgiunta@ptd.net 1 Comment

No one could have asked for a more perfect autumn day for the River Reads Book Festival at Prallsville Mill in Stockton, NJ. It was a pleasure to reunite with writer pals Kathryn Craft, Donna Galanti, and Jack Hillman and make some new friends including Kerry Gans, Kelly Simmons, River Reads organizer Brandi Megan Granett, and my tablemate, Kate Gallison.

Attendance was impressive for this first time event. I sold a few books, enjoyed fun conversations, inhaled some delicious crepes, and even managed to write several pages in a fantasy story I’ve been working on.

My Table at River Reads

Above: My table at River Reads Book Festival. Bellow: Sharing a laugh with Kelly Simmons.

Kelly Simmons

Kathryn Craft

Above: Hanging out with Kathryn Craft. Below: My tablemate, Kate Gallison.

Kate Gallison

Donna Galanti

Above: Donna Galanti is ready for Halloween. Below: River Reads coordinator Brandi Megan Granett.

Brandi Megan Granett