Category — Eagles

So what I have been up to these past few months?

Well, I went and co-founded a publishing house: Ashland Creek Press.

As you know, I’m passionate about animal rights and the environment.That’s why I wrote The Tourist Trail.

But one of the reasons I struggled to find a mainstream publisher for this novel was that mainstream publishers didn’t know how to market the book.

Publishers want to publish books that address well-established markets. Like mystery novels or thrillers or chick-lit.

Publishers are not very good at identifying new markets.

Like eco-literature.

The eco-lit label has been traditionally used to describe nonfiction environmental works. But there is no reason why a novel can’t he labeled eco-lit. For example, we recently published a young adult paranormal romance novel, which also happens to be the world’s first “vegan vampire” novel. I would consider this book to be eco-lit, but also one that fits more established categories as well.

Amazon does not yet offer an eco-lit category for publishers. For now, we will build upon existing categories. Next year, we’ve got an eco-mystery planned, as well as two novels that both fall under the eco-lit theme.

The best thing about starting this press is that I’ve realized how many other writers out there who share our passion for eco-literature. I believe the readers are out there as well, and that their numbers will continue to grow.

Every genre has got to start somewhere.

I came across a live video stream today of a pair of bald eagles and their three chicks living in a tree in Decorah, Iowa.

You can check it out here. Warning: It’s highly addictive.

And here is a screen grab…

Granted, this is a brief list of birds, but you’ve got to start somewhere.

I will expand it. I’m currently searching for the elusive Bufflehead. Every time I see one I’m without camera.

Here’s what I’ve photographed so far, all along Elliott Bay.

A goldeneye. There are two different types; I’m not sure which one this is.

A seagull, with meal in beak:

Bald eagle flying in front of the Seattle PI building

Oh, and let’s not forget the Calder Eagle…

In Seattle, you don’t have to walk far to catch glimpses of nature going about its business.

But today I was fortunate enough to catch an eagle and seal going about their business — and catch them on camera.

I had gone for a walk along the Sound, or the Salish Sea, with the goal of taking pictures of a grain ship leaving port. We have a view of a grain terminal from our apartment and I’m kinda obsessed with watching the ships come and go. The process requires two tugboats and I’ve never actually watched the process up close.

As I was making my way along the trail I heard commotion above. Seagulls and crows flapping around and making lots of noise. Living here over the past year, I’ve figured out that when both seagulls and crows get riled up about something a raptor isn’t far away. Sure enough, I spotted a bald eagle in front of the Seattle PI globe.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen an eagle and not had my camera let alone zoom lens ready. But I was ready this time. Eventually he returned and perched over some food he had caught. You can see the crows hovering nearby. They were not in a good mood.

Eventually the eagle got tired of the harassment and moved on…

And I did the same. I kept in an on the water because ever so often I see a seal peaking out. Sure enough, one was only about twenty feet away from shore.

And now here are pictures of the ship leaving town. First the ropes fell, then the tugboats pushed the ship away from the pier.

And then a new moved into place.

Just another day in Elliott Bay.