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About Cannon Beach gazette. (Cannon Beach, Or.) 1977-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 27, 2017)
January 27, 2017 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com • 5A Author has ‘romance’ with Cannon Beach By Lyra Fontaine For Cannon Beach Gazette From impassioned citizens at Cannon Beach city meet- ings to the antique stores and charm of small towns, author Mindy Hardwick has found no shortage of writing materi- al on the North Coast. “I feel like I have lots of stories I can write for a long time,” she said with a laugh. Hardwick, a part-time Cannon Beach resident since 2013, writes contemporary romance, young adult and children’s books. She also facilitates poetry workshops at the Denney Youth Juvenile Justice Center in Washington state and will soon publish a memoir on the experience. Hardwick decided to pur- sue writing while teaching seventh grade. “I took my kids to a young authors conference and I re- ally resonated with the chil- dren’s writers,” she said. In 2002, Hardwick was selected to work with youth at the National Book Award Foundation summer writing camp. At the camp, Hardwick met an author she admired, Norma Fox Mazer. Hardwick went on to receive a master’s in fine arts at Vermont College of Fine Arts, where she wrote LYRA FONTAINE/FOR CANNON BEACH GAZETTE Cannon Beach resident Mindy Hardwick has found no shortage of writing material on the North Coast writes children’s, young adult and contemporary romance books. ‘I feel like I have lots of stories I can write for a long time.’ Author Mindy Hardwick two children’s books. Since then, her young adult book “Stained Glass Summer” was a 2013 EPIC eBook Award finalist and she has published sweet contem- porary romance novellas. “I had always done those stories in my head, ever since I was in my 20s,” she said. ‘Cranberry Bay’ Hardwick used parts of Wheeler and Nehalem, includ- ing the vintage shops, as the backdrop for her “Cranberry Bay” romance series. “It just screamed ‘story,’” she said. The series, which focuses on three brothers in a family each falling in love, is avail- able at the Cannon Beach Bookstore. “I’ll come here and say, ‘If you sit here for two hours and get 1,800 words done, then you can go,’” Hardwick said. “It’s very strict and I set goals.” Before writing a book, Hardwick maps out scenes and chapters and creates detailed character descriptions. Recently, she’s been writing in an unlikely place — an Ap- plebee’s near her primary home in Lake Stevens, Washington. She started writing reg- ularly at the restaurant and befriended a waiter who has helped her throughout the writ- ing process, such as figuring out what dates her characters will go on. “He brought in that guy perspective,” she said. “It’s funny when you have someone playing with your characters with you. This is not typical for how I write my books.” Hardwick’s experience get- ting involved in local govern- ment issues served as inspira- tion for scenes in a “Cranberry Bay” book. In August, the third Cran- berry Bay book, “Sweetheart Wedding,” will be released. When she’s not writing at Bella Espresso, Hardwick en- joys walking the beach with her cocker spaniel, sewing, cook- ing and traveling. Memoir took ‘courage’ A memoir of Hardwick’s experience teaching at the ju- venile justice center, “Kids in Orange: Voices from A Ju- Parenting classes offered at Seaside Heights Elementary Music night! R.J. MARX/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE Thursday nights are music night at Bill’s Tavern and Brewhouse in Cannon Beach. Northwest Parenting and the Lower Columbia His- panic Council are offering two parenting classes held at Seaside Heights Elemen- tary School. Lori Honl of Northwest Head Start will lead the “ABC’s of Parenting” class on Thursday nights through March 8. A dinner will be served at 6 p.m. and the class follows from 6:30 to 8 p.m. “ABC’s of Parenting” for children five to eight years is a free, seven-session group-based program. Par- ents learn about nurturing parenting skills and ways to promote their children’s success in school. This class is taught in English only. Maritza Beltran of the Lower Columbia Hispan- ic Council will lead the “Building a Better Future through Parent Leadership” class on Wednesday nights through March 22. A dinner will be served at 6 p.m. and the class follows from 6:30 to 8 p.m. This class is a nine-week program for parents who want to learn how to support their children academically in school. The class will be taught in Spanish only, and is for parents of children who are preschool age up to third grade. Childcare will be provided. To enroll in the “ABC’s of Parenting” program or for further information, call 503-325-8673, ext. 1; or visit www.nworparenting. org. To enroll in the “Build- ing a Better Future through Parent Leadership” class or for more information, call 503-325-4547; or visit www.lchispaniccouncil.org. Seaside Heights Elemen- tary School is located at 2000 Spruce Drive, or call 503-738-5161. venile Detention,” will be re- leased early this year. Hardwick guides young adults in writing poetry about their life experiences. “It’s very raw and honest,” she said. “They were the ones who inspired me to write my memoir. It took me multiple drafts to get to that level of honesty where they go instant- ly. They taught me a lot about having the courage to get to that place.” Many of her students have committed drug-relat- ed crimes, but Hardwick said their stories allow others to see that “you may have done something, but that’s not com- pletely who you are.” After the workshop, the children might be released or start a long-term program. “There’s so much that they’re working with and that you’re working against,” Hard- wick said. Hardwick will read from the memoir in May at the Can- non Beach Library as part of an authors series. BUSINESS DIRECTORY M INI -S TORAGE SPACE AVAILABLE CANNON BEACH MINI-STORAGE Units Available 5’ x 10’ • 10’ x 10’ Contact Shawna at 503-436-2235 C ONSTRUCTION “Helping shape the character of Cannon Beach since 1973” Residential • Commercial • Remodeling New Construction • Storm Damage Repair Full Service Custom Cabinet Shop 503.436.2235 www.coasterconstruction.com • CCB# 150126 H EATING & C OOLING Expert Service, Repairs & Installation Residential & Commercial Gas, Oil & Electric Furnaces Ductless Systems • Fireplaces Water Heaters • Heat Pumps & AC Licensed & Bonded Commercial Refrigeration Locally Owned & Operated Cannon Beach, Oregon CCB#199205 Wheeler and Nehalem a backdrop for romance series 503-440-6975 coastheating@gmail.com P AINTING Randy Anderson Licensed • Bonded • Insured CCB# 89453 36 Years Experience Anderson Painting (503) 738-9989 • Cell (503) 440-2411 • Fax (503) 738-9337 PO Box 140 Seaside, Oregon 97138 PUBLIC MEETINGS www.andersonpainting.biz Tuesday, Feb. 7 Thursday, Feb. 23 Tuesday, March 21 Cannon Beach City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall, 163 E. Gower St. Cannon Beach Planning Commis- sion, 6 p.m., City Hall, 163 E. Gower St. Tuesday, Feb. 14 Friday, Feb. 24 Cannon Beach Public Works Committee, 9 a.m., City Hall, 163 E. Gower St. Cannon Beach City Council, 5:30 p.m., work session, City Hall, 163 E. Gower St. Thursday, Feb. 16 Cannon Beach Parks and Commu- nity Services Committee, 9 a.m., City Hall, 163 E. Gower St. Cannon Beach Design Review Board, 6 p.m., City Hall, 163 E. Gower St. Tuesday, Feb. 21 Cannon Beach Public Works Committee, 9 a.m., City Hall, 163 E. Gower St. Seaside School District, 6 p.m., 1810 S. Franklin, Seaside. Cannon Beach Emergency Pre- paredness Committee, 10 a.m., City Hall, 163 E. Gower St. Seaside School District, 6 p.m., 1810 S. Franklin, Seaside. Tuesday, March 7 Cannon Beach Emergency Pre- paredness Committee, 10 a.m., City Hall, 163 E. Gower St. Cannon Beach City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall, 163 E. Gower St. Tuesday, March 14 Cannon Beach City Council, 5:30 p.m., work session, City Hall, 163 E. Gower St. Thursday, March 16 Cannon Beach Parks and Commu- nity Services Committee, 9 a.m., 163 E. Gower St. Cannon Beach Design Review Board, 6 p.m., City Hall, 163 E. Gower St. Friday, March 24 Cannon Beach Planning Commis- sion, 6 p.m., City Hall, 163 E. Gower St. Tuesday, April 4 Cannon Beach City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall, 163 E. Gower St. Tuesday, April 11 Cannon Beach City Council, 5:30 p.m., work session, City Hall, 163 E. Gower St. Tuesday, April 18 Cannon Beach Public Works Committee, 9 a.m., City Hall, 163 E. Gower St. Thursday, April 20 Cannon Beach Parks and Commu- nity Services Committee, 9 a.m., City Hall, 163 E. Gower St. Cannon Beach Design Review Board, 6 p.m., City Hall, 163 E. Gower St. YARD DEBRIS DROP-OFF (no Scotch Broom) 503-717-1454 34154 HIGHWAY 26 SEASIDE, OR Cannon Beach Emergency Pre- paredness Committee, 10 a.m., City Hall, 163 E. Gower St. Laurelwood Farm COASTER THEATRE C ONSTRUCTION 45 TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON B oB M c E wan c onstruction , inc . E xcavation • u ndErground u tiitiEs r oad w ork • F ill M atErial s itE P rEParation • r ock owned and operated by M ike and C eline M C e wan 503-738-3569 2017 34154 Hwy 26, Seaside, OR P.O. Box 2845, Gearhart, OR S erving the p aCifiC n orthweSt S inCe 1956 • CC48302 Jan 28 • Puffi n & Friends Feb 4 • Best Buys of the Year Feb 11 • Wines for Romance Feb 18 • Urban Wines Feb 25 • Wine Shack Favorites Mar 4 • Puffi n Wines Mar 18 • Storm Large Pre-show Party THE CELEBRATION BEGINS MARCH 3 “Best Wine Shop” Tickets: 503-436-1242 or costertheatre.com - 2016 Reader’s Choice Award 124 N. Hemlock, Cannon Beach - 503.436.1100 - www.thewineshack.wine Laurelwood Compost • Mulch • Planting MacMix Soil Amendments Cannon Beach Planning Commis- sion, 6 p.m., City Hall, 163 E. Gower St. Friday, April 28 Cannon Beach’s Best Selection of Oregon and Washington Wine! Shack Hours Daily 11am to 5:30pm Tasting Room Hours Saturdays • 1 to 5pm L ANDSCAPING Thursday, April 27 1972 UPCOMING TASTINGS “Custom Finishing” 108 N Hemlock St Cannon Beach OR 97110 BUSINESS DIRECTORY