More accolades

I'm a big fan of documentarian Ken Burns. I would love to follow in his footsteps so you can imagine how proud I am to tell you that "Tales of the Road-Highway 61" has won a national award that Burns has won in the past: the CINE Golden Eagle. 

Other award recipients this year include NBC, CNN, WGBH in Boston and the Smithsonian Channel. We are in good company and I'm shocked (but thrilled!!!) Seriously, when I set out to do "Tales" I figured it would be a nice little documentary, done with the help of some friends, and it would run on Minnesota Public Television stations and that would be that! I didn't foresee two Emmys, a national CINE award, a Midwest Independent Publisher's book award, inclusion in a film festival, and other good stuff happening with this project. We broadcasters tend to do a story/documentary/etc and then move on to the next thing. 

When I tell groups that this has been the road trip of a lifetime, I am not lying! It really has been amazing. 

I wish you and your friends and family a great 2010. Thank you for following our progress down one of the most interesting highways in the country. Don't worry. We aren't going away. In fact, there's more work to be done in 2010. We need to park that old Cadillac for a little bit and take a rest and then decide which tales to tell for our encore!!! 

Happy New Year from all of us at "Tales of the Road-Highway 61"

Odds and Ends!

I figured that once the documentary "Tales of the Road-Highway 61" ran on TV that I'd be all done with most of the public events surrounding the book and the film. I was (happily) incorrect.

I have been a little less busy this holiday season with "Tales" than I was last year at this time. Last year was a mad dash between bookstores and we wound up selling out of the book just before Christmas which wasn't exactly the best timing, but it happened.

This year, I am doing book signings and talks in support of the book and the film with one of the final events happening at a local car dealership. Appropriate because it was a Cadillac dealership and my favorite Caddy (the "Star Car"--the 1946 Cadillac I drove in the film) was in attendance for admirers to "ooh" and "aah" over. The event was sponsored by the Upper Midwest Chapter of the Classic Car Club of America. We had a nice group of old car collectors and lovers of road trips.

She is a classy car. She's also a rolling PR machine and the documentary's mechanical mascot. People always ask about her during public events. The photo is of me and her owner, Winston Peterson. Someday, when I win the lottery, I'd love to buy a car like that Caddy!!

More on Whispering Pines

Thanks to my friends Tom and Linda who were on the North Shore and took these photos of what is left of the Whispering Pines Motel. 

I do hope that the owner rebuilds but I haven't had the chance to talk with him yet, nor the son of the original owner--Rudy Illgen. 

I've heard from many people who stayed at Whispering Pines and really hope that the site won't be used for a chain motel or yet another townhouse complex. The land obviously is extremely valuable, but after talking with the owner several times in the past, he has a sense of history and loves the "old" North Shore so we'll see what he ultimately does. 

We are close to wrapping up what has been a LONG road trip!!! This weekend, I'll be in Moose Lake for the Moose Lake Area Historical Society's annual book sale. It is at the Blacklock Gallery.  After that, I'm signing some books for the Duluth Aquarium (their otter was a STAR in the documentary. If you haven't seen it--you should. It is one of my favorite stories!) 

My last event for 2009 will be at the Bibelot Shop on Grand Avenue in St. Paul on Saturday, December 12th.  If you need a "Tales of the Road" book or notecards--stop by and say "hello." 

Stay tuned for more information on TOTR--The Sequel and several big events in 2010!