Book signings set for Fred Miller’s second book
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CHESTER -- Retired local journalist/columnist Fred Miller has published his new collection of stories, titled "Falling Under Honey's Spell," and plans three book-signing events, the first one this Saturday at Chester City Park.
Miller will be selling and signing copies of the book from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in the park at a crafts fair sponsored by the Chester Lions Club. The book contains 100 of Miller's most popular columns that appeared in The Review newspaper over three decades. A paperback, it sells for $10.
His next book signing will be at the East Liverpool Museum of Ceramics on Thursday, Oct. 8, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Prior to the public book signing, he is to speak privately to a group of artists in a painting workshop taught by Sheri Liebschner at the museum.
Pottery City Antique Mall on Washington Street in East Liverpool will host the third planned book-signing, on Thursday, Oct. 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
His first book of 50 columns, "Worshrag, Shark and Seed," was published in 2019. Pottery City Antiques and the Museum of Ceramics are the only local outlets which offer both of Miller's books.
The new book features an introduction written by a friend and local writer, Catherine Vodrey, in which she explains how Miller got the nickname "Mook:" a faulty optical character reader in the early days of newsroom computers at the Review, Miller said, had a bad habit of printing "Hookstown" as "Mookstown."
Miller said he has had this second book in hand for months, but has not been able to promote it properly because of the coronavirus lockdown.
"When I got ready to sell my first book, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. As soon as I got the second one printed, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. I'm a little worried about what might happen if I do a third book next year," Miller said.
He dedicated "Falling" to his wife Caren ("Honey" in the column) who he called his mate, hero, and central figure in his life. "She still laughs at my jokes, but she's getting a little testy about my singing," he states in the dedication.
He said the title of the book comes from his wife's gift for making instant, honest, meaningful connections with complete strangers. "On one vacation, I talked to the motel owner about where the ice machine was. When Honey talked to her, she got the story of the couple's life, problems, dreams and how to get rid of troublesome renters."
While his first book focused on columns from the early 1990s, especially those about his children, "Falling Under Honey's Spell" spans the 24 years his column appeared in The Review, from 1983 to 2007. It includes introductions to each decade section with additional "story behind the story" details. A bonus section features several pieces from his return in 2019 to writing a weekly column in The Review.
Columns in the new book include his imaginary nightmare about City Hospital and Potters Medical Center fighting over him as a patient; the story of his daughter, Shark, age 5, who tried to change her mind after getting one ear pierced; and the funny, true-life heroic story of how Frank C. "Digger" Dawson saved an overweight family beagle which had fallen through pond ice.
"Several friends have told me they think the second book is better than the first one," Miller said. "I don't know if it's better, but it is twice as big, for the same price. A bargain."
In addition to Pottery City Antiques and the Museum of Ceramics, "Falling Under Honey's Spell" is available at Davis Brothers Pharmacies, Connie's Corner Kitchen, Frank's Pastries, Green Marble Coffee, Giant Eagle Calcutta, and online at fredmilleratlarge.com.