Author Archives: Shawn E. Bell

Success Stories, Writer Reference

Question: Why doesn’t self-publishing work?

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Answer: Well, your question starts off with an incorrect assumption.

Self publishing does work.  It’s worked for hundreds and hundreds of years.  Poor Richard’s Almanack was certainly a success – it was printed starting in 1732.  William Blake was very successful self-publishing his work starting in 1783.  Jane Austen was pretty successful – although, to be accurate, she went vanity press before there was a vanity press.  Walt Whitman?  Successful.  Marcel Proust?  Another success.  Virginia Woolf?  Success.

More successes include: Alexandre Dumas, Amanda Hocking, Anais Nin, Barbara Freethy, Beatrix Potter, Carl Sandburg, D.H. Lawrence, David Chilton, Dean Wesley Smith, Deepak Chopra, e.e. cummings, E.L James, Edgar Allen Poe, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Ezra Pound, George Bernard Shaw, Gertrude Stein, H.M Ward, Henry Thoreau, Hugh Howey, Irma Rombauer, J.A. Konrath, Jack Canfield, James Redfield, John Grisham, John Locke, K.A Tucker, L. Ron Hubbard, Lisa Genova, Margaret Atwood, Mark Twain, Michael J. Sullivan, Richard Evans, Rudyard Kipling, Stephen Crane, Stephen King, T.S. Elliot, Thomas Paine, Tom Clancy, Upton Sinclair, William E.B. DuBois, and Zane Grey.

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Activities, Jeep

Remembering Mark A. Smith, founder of Jeep Jamboree

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

On June 9, 2014 a legend passed away.  It is fitting that Mark Smith was eulogized on the Jeep.com website, as the man had contributed so much to Jeep culture over the years.

From the Jeep blog:

There are certain types of people who only come around once in a lifetime. They are the kind of people who regularly inspire everyone around them and bring out the best in others. Mark A. Smith, founder of Jeep® Jamboree USA, was one of those once-in-a-lifetime people. Today, we’d like to take a moment to remember Mark, who passed away at the age of 87 on June 9, 2014.

We recently spoke with Pearse Umlauf, Vice President of Jeep Jamboree USA, about his experience working with Mark and some of his favorite memories.

When did you first meet Mark?

I met Mark in 1996 at the second annual Camp Jeep event in Camp Hale, CO. Mark had been asked by Chrysler to build the off-road test track and staff them with experienced guides. Camp Jeep participants had the opportunity to test drive a variety of Jeep brand vehicles over the off-road course. It was a huge success. I remember being told back then that Mark was an off-road icon. He was sitting on the back of a pick-up truck wearing his trademark white cowboy hat next to his one-eyed dog named “Jeep.” Continue reading →

National Parks

Pinnacles National Park entry fee increases August 1st

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

On August 1, 2014 the 7 day entrance pass for Pinnacles National Park will increase to $10 for passenger vehicles and motorcycles; bicycle and pedestrian entry will increase to $5.00.The Pinnacles Annual Pass will also increase on August 1 to $20.00. This is the first fee increase at the park since the 1990s.

Park managers are planning to utilize the fee revenue generated by this increase to provide better customer service in several ways: increased shuttle bus service within the park during busy weekends, improved shuttle bus stops, and improved trip planning information.

Purchase prices for Golden Age and America the Beautiful passes will remain the same.The free Golden Access and America the Beautiful Annual Pass for Active Duty Military personnel will continue to be offered.

You can find out more about Pinnacles National Park HERE.

State Parks

Nothing says opulence and Hearst Castle quite like a porta potty

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Hearst Castle Visitor Center to Close Public Restrooms in July for Water Conservation

Chemical toilets with hand sanitizer stations will be made available

According to a press release from the California Department of Parks and Recreation, starting on Monday July 7, 2014, the Hearst Castle Visitor Center will begin implementing water conservation measures to reduce water usage and comply with Governor Brown’s Executive Order to redouble drought actions across the State. All day-use restrooms will be closed and chemical toilets (or porta-potties) with exterior hand sanitizer stations will be placed at the Visitor Center. Thirty standard chemical restrooms plus eight Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible chemical restrooms will be available to accommodate all visitors. At least six hand sanitizer stations will also be available.

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State Parks

Free tickets for the Palm Springs Aerial tram!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Okay, you knew there’d be a catch.  But it’s a good catch!

The California State Parks Foundation sponsors the Park Champions Program, which – from their website – “…holds volunteer work days in state parks across California. This program was created in response to the unprecedented budget cuts that California State Parks face right now. In partnership with California State Parks, Park Champions provide consistent, sustainable volunteer support in the areas of park maintenance and beautification.

Park Champions projects improve the quality, safety and preservation of our state parks. Projects in the past year have included trail repair, invasive plant removal, habitat restoration, the rehabilitation of an historic orchard, fence construction, bridge construction, and re-painting park structures. If you enjoy volunteering outdoors, want to work with a fun group of people, and you want to make a difference in our state parks, then become a Park Champion and join us for the next work day happening near you!”

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