Different Year, Same Old Dilema

I’m getting really excited to be taking my first vacation after what seems like an eternity after all the health issues this year. This year I’m very excited to be heading back to the “homeland” – New Jersey – where I’ll be picking up shipping containers full of Criterion Salt Water Taffy in Eatontown, cartons of Wise Cheese Waffies from Stop and Shop, and visiting where it all started for the Cuhaj’s - Ellis Island. But more on the vacation in another post.

It’s a quiet time with my writing right now. When I get back from vacation, I have several projects – again – that need to be worked on like the edits for the new book, Hidden History of Mobile, research on Hiking Waterfalls Alabama, as well as several short stories heading to publishers, and a new outdoor-centric podcast coming soon.

In the meantime, and before the vacation, I’m really looking forward to hearing author Carolyn Haines speak at the Mobile Writer’s Guild meeting Thursday. I was introduced to Carolyn’s writing with her Sarah Booth Mysteries, but Carolyn’s writing goes far beyond a single genre and that’s what she will be talking about at the meeting – multi-genre writing, which, if you haven’t noticed, is me.

There are many authors and publishers that think writing in multi-genres is blasphemy. You should pick a genre and stick with it. It makes it difficult to have a work published when you say, “I have a mystery I want to submit” then your resume of published books says, “hiking guides.”

And that’s unfortunate because there are plenty of authors who are just as comfortable writing a travel guide one minute, then a mystery novel, then an historical non-fiction. To me, it only makes a person a better writer.

That’s my problem - getting over the marketing hurdle. It’s difficult promoting my outdoor recreation guides, short stories, novels, and historical pieces without it becoming muddled and giving readers (and publishers) more of a reason to say, “Stick with the hiking guides”.

It’s going to be a great session and if you can identify with what I’m saying, then you need to join the conversation with Carolyn Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Mobile Western Regional Library on Grelot Road.

Falcon Guides Announce Joe Cuhaj's Latest Outdoor Guide - "Hiking Waterfalls Alabama"

Falcon Guides and author Joe Cuhaj are pleased to announce that Joe has contracted to write his 9^th outdoor recreation guide for the publisher. The book will be titled, Hiking Waterfalls in Alabama.

As the title implies, Hiking Waterfalls in Alabama will take hikers of all stripes to some of the most beautiful and secluded cascades in the state. The guide will feature roadside waterfalls that people of all ages and abilities can visit, short easy hikes down a mountain or canyon trail to rushing waters with beautiful blue-green pools, and difficult hikes for more seasoned hikers to some of the state’s lesser known and more remote waterfalls.

Cuhaj says that research for the book is now underway. “The first step is to map out travel plans to visit all of these falls. As of right now, the list is at about 150 waterfalls that I will explore and from that decide the best 50 or 60 to include in the book.”

Of course, waterfalls in Alabama are mostly seasonal. “Yeah, summertime isn’t the prime waterfall watching season in the state, unless there are some decent rains. The best times are in the fall and winter months, maybe into early spring, when there is plenty of rainfall. So, I’ll actually start hitting the trails in September.”

The book is scheduled to be completed by March, 2020.

Cuhaj’s other books for Falcon include:

·     HikingAlabama (formerly Hike America Alabama, now in its 4^th edition)

·     Hiking the Gulf Coast

·     Hikingthrough History Alabama

·     BestDog Hikes Alabama

·    PaddlingAlabama

Joe has also penned a book for Menasha Ridge Press titled, Best Tent Camping Alabama, and a brief history of baseball in the state’s Port City titled, Baseball in Mobile, for Arcadia Publishing. He is currently wrapping up work on a new book for History Press titled, the Hidden History of Mobile, that will be released fall of 2019.

The Great Lemonade War of 1965

Good morning, all. Time for another episode of my short story podcast, "Joe Cuhaj's Shorts". This is a quick one about something we all did as a kid (or most of us, anyway) - make some quick cash with a lemonade stand. It's called, "The Great Lemonade War of 1965".

And don't forget, you can find all episodes at JoeCuhaj.Com. Enjoy, won't you?

The Beat (Heat?) Goes On

Hi, all. Hope you’re having a great summer. I took a short break from the madness of writing but I'm back armed with a full ink cartridge, plenty of blank paper, and a ton of projects.

The completed manuscript for Hidden History of Mobile went in to the publisher, History Press, a few weeks ago. I'm just waiting for the edits to come back so I can look at all the red ink and say, “did I write that? No way. Had to have been someone else!" Only to realize - sigh - it was me. Ah, the editing process.

Anyway, we did decide on the cover photo. I was hoping to use this shot from downtown Mobile. I think it’s a nice photo highlighting old and new Mobile.

But, what do I know? They selected a unique old photo from Mobile’s past to grace the cover courtesy of the Mobile Local History and Genealogy Museum. It’s an interesting shot of a promotional event held by the Mobile Gas Company somewhere in the late 20s, early 30s maybe. A man dressed in a polka-dotted outfit and conical hat is driving a cart pulled by a donkey advertising that residents are “invited”  to the “Old Stove Roundup” where they will give you $13.15 for your old stove then set you up with a credit plan - $1 down, 12 months to pay.

How much are stoves and ranges going for today?

We’re still shooting for a fall release on the book.

Meanwhile, work is just beginning on the new Falcon Guide, “Hiking Waterfalls Alabama”, another title I’ve been dying to work on for years. Trouble is, many waterfalls in ‘Bama are seasonal, so, I’m biding my time writing the front and back matter as I await the fall rains. 

That reminds me of the book I co-authored with my friend (I think he’s still my friend..better check), Curt Burdick. It’s titled, Paddling Alabama, and no, it’s not about corporal punishment – or general punishment, for that matter. It’s about canoeing and kayaking the state. We would be sit at our desks at our day job every Friday afternoon and watch the Christmas tree lights of the American Whitewater website, waiting for the reds on the rivers to turn green meaning that the rivers we wanted to check out were flowing enough to paddle. 

Many times by the time we made it from the Gulf Coast to north Alabama, the rivers had dried up again. At times we thought the book should have been called, “Walking the Rivers of Alabama”.

PS, we have no idea who that is on the cover.

But that was then, this is now, and I’m ready to hit the trail again!

Till next time – cheers!

50th Anniversary

Good morning, everyone. Just a quick note to announce that, as promised, excerpts from my manuscript, "Everyone's Gone to the Moon" have been posted for your reading pleasure on my website, joecuhaj.com, just in time for the50th anniversary of Apollo 11. Hope you enjoy it. I look forward to hearing yiur feedback. Till next time...

To the Moon, Alice!

Greetings, all!

Before I start rambling off the tracks like I'm prone to do, I want to remind everyone that I will be doing a book signing at the Barnes & Noble in the Eastern Shore Shopping Center in Spanish Fort, Saturday July 6^th from 11am to 1pm! Another great store with a great staff that I love to visit and they’ve always been very supportive of my writing. Can’t wait! I hope to see you all there. (Directions)

Oh, and one more thing. You never write anymore! :) Of course, that's probably my fault. I never let anyone know how to reach me.

I'd love to hear from you! If you have comments or questions about any of my books or other musings, maybe questions about not only outdoor recreation in Alabama or the Gulf Coast but outdoor recreation in general, or maybe you want to tell me how much you love my podcast series, Joe Cuhaj’s Shorts or my videos, please feel free to drop me a line. 

Simply comment on this Facebook post or directly on this Blog entry, or you can send a message through my website, JOECUHAJ.COM.

Moving on…

As you know, we’ll be celebrating the 50^th anniversary of mankind’s first steps on the moon in July. Yes, I am a space geek at heart. I loved following the space program in the 60s. My folks would let me be late getting to school to watch the Mercury launches, even skip school for special manned spaceflight events.

Of course, I had to build model rockets (long live Estes and Centuri!). Two of my best friends from the gang and I made up the Mahwah (New Jersey) Model Rocket Club where we terrorized the neighborhood with wayward Mars Landers and Big Bertha rockets. Ok, maybe that was ME that couldn’t get them to fly.

Anyway, the point being that I’m still a space geek. My DVR is already locked and loaded (the correct phrasing for that saying, by the way LOL) for all of the anniversary programming on the old TV.

To help celebrate, I have a few things coming up for all of you that I hope you will enjoy. First, I’ll be posting a brand new video in July that I think everyone will enjoy, especially all of you late-Baby Boomers who grew up with the space race.

And do you remember that book I was writing, Everyone’s Gone to the Moon? Sadly, while several publishers REALLY wanted it (or so they said), the book never did pass through their acquisitions process. Needless to say, it won’t be published in time for the anniversary. BUT, for your reading enjoyment, I’ll be releasing select chapters that you can download before it is released as an eBook.

Jonathan King "Everyone's Gone to the Moon" video

It will be a busy July, to say the least – I’ll also be posting some excerpts from the new book, Hidden History of Mobile, that will be released this fall AND, of course, a brand new podcast.

Well, better get to it! Be on the lookout for all of this in July and I’ll see you July 6^th at the Barnes & Noble in Spanish Fort, Alabama.

The Hidden History of Mobile - Uncovered (Mostly)

Good morning, all! I was going to follow that with “been hot enough for you?”, but I can’t stand when someone says that to me. Before the monsoon season hit the other day here on the Alabama Gulf Coast, the heat index was cruising up to 105. “No, it’s not hot enough. Turn it up to broil!”

Anyway, the latest on “Hidden History of Mobile” – the photos for the book head to the editor this Friday! Whoo-hoo! That means it’s nearing the end. Trouble is, the deadline is in 30 days and I keep uncovering more great stories to tell. Yikes! Stop it, Joe!

I need to say a special thank you to all of the members of the Mobile Creole Cultural and Historical Preservation Society. I put out a question or two on their Facebook page the other day and the response was overwhelming! I can’t thank you all enough for your input about the extraordinary Creole history of the Port City.

I really think you’ll love the stories I have picked out from the city’s 300+ year history. A lot of them really surprised me. There are many gems you probably haven’t heard before as well as some stories you know about, but have a twist or two. It’s going to be a fun book and it will be out this fall.

And by the way, it's not all ancient Mobile history. I cover all the way up to at least the 1960s. A little something for everyone.

I was at Mobile’s second oldest cemetery yesterday, Magnolia, to get a few photos for the interior of the book. It’s a fascinating place to just roam and read the tombstones. If you go (it’s located on Virginia Street and Ann), be sure to pick up the self-guided tour map and read the incredible stories of the luminaries buried there.

A couple of notes about upcoming releases and events. First, a brand new episode of the Joe Cuhaj’s Shorts podcasts takes to the air (or over your internet provider's cable or WiFi) this Thursday. It’s titled, “Prom and Circumstance”. Bet you can’t guess what it’s about?

And I have one more book signing coming up on Saturday, July 6^th from 11am to 1pm at the Barnes and Noble in the Eastern Shore Center, Spanish Fort, Alabama. I hope to see you there and we can talk all things hiking and outdoors.

Have a great week everyone. Till next time…Cheers!