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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 2, 2015)
Polk County News Polk County Itemizer-Observer • December 2, 2015 13A Author takes romance to alpacas By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer M O N M O U T H — Ro - mance novels often have a ranch for the beautiful back- drop as two people find love. But an alpaca ranch? “I don’t know if they’re ro- mantic,” said author Maren Anderson, 42, about alpacas. “I think they’re a d o ra b l e. They make amazing sounds.” Why not an alpaca ranch? An- derson, an Anderson avid reader of romance novels, said she is attracted to books with horses. She and her husband have owned an alpaca ranch in Monmouth since 2004. “There’s a whole genre of romance novels on horse ranches,” she said. “I’d never read any of them that had an alpaca in it.” And so Anderson set out to rectify the situation. She wrote “Fuzzy Logic,” which tells the life of a divorcee who moves to the country and buys an alpaca farm. “There’s certainly some lonely points in the story,” Anderson said. “When she first moves in, there’s noth- ing in her house because her furniture hasn’t caught up with her.” The book is set in the Willamette Valley. Going from the country to the city, the heroine, Meg, has to acclimatize to the true darkness one experiences without nearby neighbors or Courtesy of MAREN ANDERSON Alpacas bring people to- gether in “Fuzzy Logic.” city lights. “The problem she has is, she has gone through a cou- ple nights of being really lonely, and then suddenly, it’s raining men,” Anderson said. But who should she choose? “She’s gone through this terrible divorce and a year of really bad dates, and now she has two really good choices and doesn’t know what to do,” Anderson said. This is Anderson’s fourth book — her first three were s e l f - p u b l i s h e d . “Fu z z y Logic” is published through Black Opal Books, a small, independent publisher. Andersen has always been a story-teller and writer. “I’ve been a writer basi- cally since I was a little bitty kid,” she said. “When I couldn’t go to sleep, I’d just tell myself stories. I started writing them down in third grade. My first book was called, ‘T-shirt Trouble,’ about a pair of identical twins who would switch shirts and get in trouble.” “Fuzzy Logic” took one A good read What: “Fuzzy Logic” release party. Where: Yeast Beasty, 167 Main St. W., Monmouth. When: Saturday, 4 to 6 p.m. Admission: Refreshments and books will be for sale. Of note: Enjoy specialty pizza and beers on tap available, while meeting author Maren Anderson. Pick up a signed copy of her new book, “Fuzzy Logic.” A second signing party will be at Rick’s Cofee House from 10 a.m. to noon on Dec. 12. Book marks and a signed copy of the book will be given away. Windermere’s 2015 “Share the Warmth” Coat & Blanket Drive is coming up soon and this year we would like to get an early start on it! This year’s donation drive will start on Monday, November 2 and go until Friday, December 11. Five Locations; Windermere-Monmouth, Windermere-Dallas, YMCA Independence, Monmouth Fitness Club, Independence Library. Pencil us in! www.polkio.com month to write the first draft, a habit she developed through NaNoWriMo, or Na- tional Novel Writing Month, which takes place each No- vember online at www.nano wrimo.org. To write a book in one month meant Anderson had to write 90 minutes a day. Anderson said the experi- ence showed her it was pos- sible to write a 50,000-word novel in one month. “That was the start of me being a serious writer,” she said. “It got me into a habit.” She teaches writing and literature at Western Oregon Un i v e r s i t y, a n d l e a d s NaNoWriMo workshops through Ash Creek Arts Cen- ter. While she doesn’t have any firm plans to continue the story of Meg and her suitors, she said an alpaca farm is “ripe with possibili- ties.” Chances are good Meg and her alpacas will pop up in future novels, Anderson said. BIZ BRIEFS Edward Jones to host open house DALLAS — Kelly Denney, from Edward Jones, will host a hol- iday open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at the i- nancial services irm, 244 E. Ellendale Ave., Suite 2, Dallas. For more information: 503-623-2146. West Valley Taphouse open on Main St. DALLAS — Craving a good brew? Or maybe wine or cider? West Valley Taphouse, 957 Main St., Dallas, has 63 taps to help you ind just what you are looking for. West Valley has a full menu, and craft soda and kumbuca (fermented tea) on tap as well. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days per week. Minors are welcome. For more information: 503-420-4277. Book store opening in downtown Dallas DALLAS — Calmlee's Bookstore, at 147 SW Court St. in Dallas, will host its grand opening on Saturday. The book store will feature best-selling titles and authors, with all in-stock titles priced at less than $10. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. For more information: 503-623-3025. One of a Kind Gifts from the Heart Art gifts from Willamette Valley artists. Holiday Show Many styles to choose from Options for every budget Expires 12/31/15 Made in America November 3 - December 28 Opening Reception r Novembe 7 m 4-6 p If you haven’t visited our land- mark gallery yet, come visit us this Holiday season. If you know us, you’ll be delighted with the new work of our 40+ artists. Local artists, great art! Something for everyone. Visit our website for hours, samples of our artists work and info on upcoming events. www.rivergalleryart.com 837 Main St. • Dallas • 503-623-3117 Across the street from the courthouse • Mon-Fri 9-5:30 • Sat 9-4 184 S. Main Street, Independence Large Selection of Quality Fabrics, Books, Patterns & Notions • • • • • • • • • • • Tea Pots & Gourmet Tea Coffee Mugs List Pads • Puzzles Quilted Key Chains Boxed Cards Coin Purses Buttons Gift Cards Baby Items Cook Books Cookie Cutters Gift Certificates Available Sewing Emporium, Inc. 167 SW Court St • Dallas • 503-623-0451 www.grandmasatticquilting.com Hours: Mon-Sat 10-5 • Sun Noon-4
