Westside Stories

On Thursday, I attended a meet-and-greet with local author A.S. Martin as part of the Appelo Archives Author Series. It was an informative afternoon discussing his debut book, Chasing Shadows, the first installment in the Whispers of the Forgotten series.

The book's back cover synopsis provides a glimpse into the story: "Secrets never die; they wait. When Evelyn Hart inherits her grandmother's bookstore, she expects a quiet life filled with childhood memories. However, a hidden letter changes everything, thrusting her into a forgotten history involving a lost city called Elara, buried secrets, and an ancient artificial intelligence that was once built to protect humanity but now seeks to destroy it. As Evelyn delves deeper into her grandmother's mysterious past, she uncovers a web of secret societies, the hidden truths of Earth's history, and a chilling glimpse into humanity's possible future. Her world unravels when she discovers she is central to a plan to erase mankind.

"Armed with her grandmother's cryptic journal, a small group of unlikely allies, and a man concealing his own dark past, Evelyn must uncover the truth behind her family's legacy before it unleashes a power capable of reshaping the world forever. Time is running out, and Evelyn is the key to humanity's survival-or its end."

Author Shaun Martin and his wife, Angela, have lived in Naselle for the past 22 years. The pen name A.S. Martin is derived from a combination of their names, as Angela has greatly contributed to Shaun's writing and is his greatest supporter. Shaun is well-educated, having earned his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering, a master's in civil engineering, as well as a master's and a PhD in National Defense and Security. Most of his professional career was spent with the Army as an Engineer Officer. With that background, his stories explore the complex aspects of technology, war, and human nature. He brings a strategist's mindset and a storyteller's instinct to his writing, drawing from a career that included advanced tech, global travel, and a front-row seat to human behavior under pressure.

It was a pleasure to hear directly from him about his writing process, the ins and outs of self-publishing, and what he has planned for the rest of the series. I look forward to reading Chasing Shadows, which is available for purchase at Appelo Archives. They do an amazing job of supporting local authors and artists by showcasing their products and wares.

The rest of my Memorial weekend was busy with my sister, Bethany, visiting from Denver. We typically take visitors to our standard places, but we wanted to explore some new activities with her. Thankfully, we found a lot of fun things to do.

On Friday, after picking her up from the airport in Portland and meeting our aunt for lunch, we headed to Toledo to Bateaux Cellars. There, we enjoyed a performance by Carl Wirkkala and the Whistle Punks, who played several original tunes along with some classic country covers. Listening to them is always enjoyable.

On Saturday, the weather was beautiful, so we strolled through the Ilwaco Saturday Market, then grabbed pizza and enjoyed some afternoon drinks at the Ilwaco Cider Co. In the evening, we attended the Skamakowa Grange Hall to hear the Skamakowa Swamp Opera. They delivered a top-notch performance filled with rousing country tunes. Our favorites included songs that featured local places, the frog song, and, of course, the Sheriff's Report.

We rested on Sunday, so on Monday, we headed to Astoria for lunch and shopping. Unfortunately, several stores were closed for the holiday, but we managed to visit Port Hopper, a newer store on the west end of Commercial Street, which I have wanted to check out for quite some time. It's a beautiful shop filled with a unique blend of items made by local artisans, fun Astoria souvenirs, and a collection of decor, art, crafts, and cuisine from all corners of the globe. If you haven't been there, I highly recommend it.

Since it was Memorial Day, our final stops were at several local cemeteries. The freshly cut grass, blooming shrubs, and trees made them look absolutely beautiful. Thank you to everyone who helped with the cleanup and maintenance at the cemeteries; you did an amazing job. A special thanks goes to those who placed all the flags on the headstones of all the service members.

It was a great weekend spent with my sister. What unique and fun activities do you do with vi

tors? I'd love to hear about your favorite places.

Westside Happenings

June

1 – FAFF Meeting at Naselle

Community Center, 4 p.m.

4 – NGRV Schools Evening of

Excellence, 6 p.m.

7 – NGRV High School Graduation, 4 p.m.

11–Grays River Flood Control Dist. Meeting

at Grays River Fire Hall, 5:30 p.m.

12 -Appelo Archives Author Series,

Greg Jacob, 1 p.m. – NEW DATE

17–NGRV School Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

19–Farm & Kitchen Barter Night at

Grays River Grange, 5 – 8 p.m.

20-22 – Astoria Scandinavian

Midsummer Festival

21–Finnish Midsummer Tea at

Appelo Archives Center, 1 p.m.

21–Bazaar, Art, and Garage Sale Summer

Kickoff at Johnson Park, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

To include an event on the calendar or to give feedback, please contact me at writerlisayeager@outlook.com. You can also follow me on Facebook @ Writer Lisa Yeager.