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