It’s nice to get fan mail. I guess it’s the best part of being an author—learning that other people get as much fun out of the books as I had writing them. Here’s a comment from Chelsey, a young man who lives in Denver:

“Bravo again! I just finished book 2 and can’t wait to snag book 3! I just can’t put them down once I start reading! The books not only make me wish I could fly a broomstick, but as a life-long resident of Ridgway that has since moved away, it is like taking a trip home. It is especially enjoyable to personally know the characters; it often makes all the laughs that much more enjoyable! I spent a large amount of my reading time laughing or chuckling. I think my girlfriend thought I was a little nuts at first because I would just randomly break the silence of the room in tear-jerking laughter! Thanks for all the hard work Dave! Great books! Now its on to book 3! Any plans for a book 4? Best Regards, and Safe Brooming, Chelsey”

I remember Chelsey when he was in high school several years back. He led the team from our tiny little high school that entered a solar-powered car in a national race. He’s a ham radio operator, too. Sharp guy!

Well, regarding Book 4, I have the idea—see the chapters in Book 3 that take place in Manchester, England and you’ll see what it’ll involve. But right now I’ve decided to try my hand at a full-blown fantasy with the working title of The Unexpected Traveler, so Book 4 will be put off a bit.

Find out what Chelsey’s enjoying so much—buy your copy of The Story of the Great American Flying Broomstick today!

American Flying Broomstick, Fantasy, Reader Comments

Reader Norm Delucchi sent this comment:

“Reading my copy of Narrow Gauge Railroading in the San Juan Triangle – I questioned an item – going to my reference library I found that the SS Otto Mears (Hull # 2157) was built by Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond #2 Yard, Richmond, CA, not Matson Navigation of San Francisco as stated on page 90.”

Norm is correct. I might also note that in researching this, Wikipedia states that 2710 of these handy, easy-to-build cargo ships were built during the war years, not quite measuring up to the “over 3000″ on page 90. That still a lot of ships! Out of all these ships, only two are still seaworthy, the SS John W. Brown (pictured) and the SS Jeremiah O’Brien, the latter being preserved as a memorial in San Francisco with occasional trips at sea. The SS Otto Mears itself was launched in 1943, sold private in 1947, and wrecked and scrapped in 1967.

How’s that for information in a book about railroads! Check out Narrow Gauge Railroading in the San Juan Triangle: The Rio Grande Southern, the Ouray Branch of the D&RG and Otto Mears’ Silverton RR, in our catalog for $19.95 + shipping. You can be assured that Otto Mears was a railroad guy; it’s interesting to learn of the ship built twelve years after his death that was finally scrapped when Mears would have been 128 years old.

Railroad, Reader Comments

Here’s a comment from Pam:

My mom bought the first two Great American Broomsticks as a gift for me at [ARRL Amateur Radio] Field Day. I started reading #1 Sat night and had to be very firm with myself to go to bed so I could get back to the mesa the next morning. I finished up this afternoon (Mon.) I love the first person style and am trying to decide whether to save book two for a day or two so I can savor book one longer—or if I just won’t sleep tonight!

I’ll be watching for #3. Thanks for writing them and thanks to my mom for being sharp enough to snag them for me.

Thanks for the kind words, Pam. And Broom 3 is now ready for order!

American Flying Broomstick, Reader Comments

The Ridgway Railroad Museum’s book, Narrow Gauge Railroading in the San Juan Triangle: The Rio Grande Southern, the Ouray Branch of the D&RG and Otto Mears’ Silverton RR, is earning plaudits from the magazines that follow narrow-gauge railroading.

From the NG&SL Gazette Review, Sept/Oct 2009:

This book describes three of the 3-foot gauge railroads that once ran in the Silverton, Ouray, and Ridgway areas of Colorado. There are stories, short histories of the area described, maps and black and white photos. These include “Ridgway Street Names,” “The Legacy of Robert M. Ridgway,” “The RGS Through Telegrams,” “Unusual Spikes on the RGS,” and an item about a runaway RGS flatcar. The book also describes the Ridgway Railroad Museum, and the narrow gauge equipment located there. Included are D&RGW Boxcar #3130, Stock Car #5574, and Drop Bottom Gondola #702. Articles also describe the restoration of Caboose #0575, Goose #4 and the re-creation of Motor #1. All great reading!

From the Colorado Railroad Journal, Sept 2009:

The 110-page volume contains 40 carefully researched short articles by seven museum members, along with 60 photographs, maps and drawings. The articles contain information available nowhere else. Some of the topics covered include history of each of the museum’s railcars, snow fighting on the narrow gauge, life working for the railroad, locations along the featured routes, the Corkscrew Gulch turntable, Ouray depot, water tanks on the narrow gauge, Ouray to Ironton by rail, the Ramona townsite affair, dispatcher’s train sheets, and many more.

Check out the book in our catalog.

Mt. Sneffels Press, Railroad, Reader Comments

I received a query from Karen about Book 3 and whether I’d be at the Mensa AG Conference this July in Pittsburgh. In short, it’s “almost” ready and, no, I won’t be in Pittsburgh.

But…I will be at the Reno regional Mensa event in October. For sure with Broom 3!

Broom 3 is “almost” done. It’s been “almost” done for quite some time—months even! It seems there’s one little bit that didn’t satisfy a key reviewer. He thought it irrelevant. I thought it vital to set up the central problem that’ll be addressed in Broom 4. So…I’ve rewritten most of it, but still have a couple chapters to go. Once that’s done, Broom 3 will go into production, which means creating cover art and sending it off to the printer.

I was invited to Pittsburgh, but my schedule just won’t permit it. However, my good friend Randy Cassingham Read more…

American Flying Broomstick, Mt. Sneffels Press, Reader Comments

Arlene sent this comment to me using the American Flying Broomstick comment form:

I’ve been getting the free weekly subscription for a while now, since Randy C. talked about it in his “this is true” newsletter. When you told us you were reducing the cost of the books, I immediately went to the website to buy it. Before I did, however, I realized how much I am enjoying the little snippets once a week. If I bought the book, I would lose the weekly e-mails, and I decided I didn’t want to do that. Thanks!

Arlene, not to worry! You are welcome to stay on the free chapter a week e-mail list. But you can do both. I sold both books to a Mensa Convention attendee, who wrote me to say he was signing up for the free chapter a week e-mail list to “relive” the experience. You can too! Your purchase supports this site and the free list. I’m glad you’re enjoying the flying broomstick experience!

American Flying Broomstick, Mt. Sneffels Press, Reader Comments

I started the Mt. Sneffels Press blog just a few days ago (today is Dec 30th, 2008) and have been transferring legacy comments and legacy blog entries from the American Flying Broomstick website to this blog. My old blog entries all had dates, so I transferred them under those dates. The reader comments, however, were undated, and I’ve long lost track of the original dates, so I’ve arbitrarily saved them under the date of Nov 30, 2008, so they’d all be in one place. They were received across 2008 and are here presented oldest first (meaning the oldest has the most recent time tag).

American Flying Broomstick, Reader Comments

From a This is True reader: The real question is not “Why is this man flying a broomstick?” but rather: “Why is this man flying a broomstick _backwards?” As any good witch knows, the bristles go in front–to hold the candle. (One of the earlier dangerous designs which made it to production…..

Hmph. Interesting question. I did a search on Google Images for broomsticks, and not a single image showed anyone flying in reverse. So I must assume that having the tail behind you is the standard position. But, as I note in my books, the broomstick is as happy going backwards as forwards, so I suppose what you propose is possible, although I would put it in the category of aerobatics, plus it would put the control area behind you. —Dave

American Flying Broomstick, Reader Comments

From Spock in MD: The referenced web page is from my recent copy of This-is-True and I found the idea delightful enough to want to share it with my students and, in fact, anyone else who may have a similar sense of the ridiculous. There are four samples of the book to read. It should be enough to whet your appetite for more. (See his original post.)

Thanks Spock! —Dave

American Flying Broomstick, Reader Comments

From Don in Ridgway, CO: I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dave Casler’s fanciful and witty novel. His devilish sense of humor and his amazingly realistic descriptions of his “broom flights” around the mountains of Southwestern Colorado and beyond, help make this book a “page turner.” I look forward to reading his next book.

Thanks, Don! Your comment about the “amazingly realistic descriptions” is one I get frequently. And the next book is Book 2: The Missing Wand which will be released July 4, 2008.

American Flying Broomstick, Reader Comments