tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13275834077000722012024-03-13T05:05:40.510-07:00Dogman BlogFrank Holes, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03659889835311210942noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1327583407700072201.post-59700428808815786082011-07-19T19:03:00.000-07:002011-07-19T19:07:00.007-07:00Dogman Blog: July 19, 2011Dogman Update: July 18, 2011<br /><br />Hello Dogman Fans!<br /><br />We’re a little more than a week away from the debut of our new novel, and there is plenty of news from here in Dogman Country!<br /><br />Be sure to check out our website for the latest information: <a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br />And for the most up-to-date info and postings, like us on FACEBOOK!<br /><br /><br />NEW BOOK INFO:<br /><em>The Dogman Epoch: Shadow and Flame<br /><br /></em>Our brand new novel has moved to the final stages of publication. The final proof was approved today and the first set of books has been ordered to be printed. This fourth Dogman novel (and the FIRST in a new series) is set to debut at the Grayling AuSable Festival on Friday, July 29 and Saturday, July 30.<br /><br />In honor of the new book, we will be offering it at the PRE-RELEASE special price of only $10 for one week on our website (it lists for $14.99 normally), beginning on Friday, July 22. Be sure to get your pre-release copy ordered.<br /><br />This new novel, <em>Shadow and Flame</em>, is actually 2 books under the same cover. It is the longest and most elaborate of my novels to date. A masterful blend of science fiction, fantasy, and folklore, the DOGMAN EPOCH is an epic tale in its own era, stretching from the present day to far beyond the history of humanity.<br /><br />The first book is called <em>The Guardians</em>. 10,000 years in the past, the Nagual and their sorcerer chieftain Xoloctil begin their conquest of the native civilizations. Can the great Guardians, warrior-beasts who stand for justice and the protection of all living creatures, stand against the evil onslaught, or will the looming end of the Third Age of the Sun prove the downfall of humanity?<br /><br />The second book is called <em>The Portal</em>, and it ties the Dogman legend to the 2012 Mayan doomsday prophesy. A secret governmental agency races to solve an ancient puzzle and save the world from destruction, all the while dodging a hidden enemy…<br /><br />I’m pleased to announce that Craig Tollenaar, our world-famous artist, has put his talent to the cover AND to the interior illustrations. This will be the first of the Dogman novels to include Craig’s black and white pen sketches, and they are fabulous!<br /><br />This new novel is the first in a new Dogman series that connects the present and the past as only the legends of the Dogman can do. Want to read a bit of it before its release? Be sure to check out our website often for snippets from various chapters.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br /><br />NEW PRODUCTS<br /><br />Our new CD compilation, “Spirit of Dogman Country” which was co-produced with folklore musician David Martinka, is now available on our website and at our book-signing stops. David has also agreed to join me at the Grayling AuSable Festival to help celebrate the new novel and our CD set.<br /><br />“Scent of the Dogman” candles and body spray, produced by Great Lakes Candle Company’s Pete Gross, are also available for sale on our website and at our appearances. They make excellent additions to the repertoire of any Dogman fan.<br /><br /><br />Be sure to check out our website for more info as it becomes available: <a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br /><br /><br />BOOK SIGNING TOUR<br /><br />Summer has been non-stop action in the field! We’ve just finished our huge show at Traverse City’s Cherry Festival, as well as setting sales records in Frankenmuth, Mackinaw City, Frankfort, and Alpena.<br /><br />We've added several stops to our book signing tour this summer. Check us out at any of the locations (below) and look for our new book and products soon:<br /><br />July 29-30 Grayling Au-Sable Festival<br />Aug 6-7 Lexington Art Fair<br />Aug 10 Meijer Library, Jackson<br />Aug 12 Alanson River Festival<br />Aug 13-14 Ludington Gold Coast Art Fair<br />Aug 17 Eagle River, WI Paul Bunyan Festival (our only Wisconsin show this year)<br />Aug 19-20 DeWitt Ox Roast Festival<br />Sep 3-4 Harrisville Harmony Days<br /><br />We hope to haunt a town near you this summer! Of course, check out our website for any additional dates as they get posted: <a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br />And be sure to LIKE us on Facebook to get the latest, most up-to-the-minute postings and information as it happens here in Dogman country!<br /><br />That's about all for now, it's been a busy couple of months, but there are still busy weeks ahead as the new book is finalized to meet our debut weekend. Watch our website for all the great details! <a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br />Thanks for your support, and hopefully I'll see you down the trail this summer!<br />FrankFrank Holes, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03659889835311210942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1327583407700072201.post-88953802729303840772011-06-15T21:01:00.000-07:002011-06-15T21:24:42.596-07:00Dogman Update: June 15, 2011Hello Dogman Fans!<br /><br />Wow, we have a lot of news from here in Dogman Country! New products, a NEW BOOK on the way, and new stops on the book signing tour.<br /><br />Be sure to check out our website for the latest information: <br /><a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br />And for the most up-to-date info and postings, like us on FACEBOOK!<br /><br /><br />NEW PRODUCTS<br /><br />We are proud to be releasing three new products this month. The first is a collaboration with folklore musician, David Martinka. We are co-producing a musical CD compilation, entitled "Spirit of Dogman Country" which is based upon scenes and characters from my books. I met David Martinka, a wonderful musician skilled in the playing of the American wood flute and Native Slovak Courting Flute, last summer. Having traded stories with me, he felt compelled to try his hand at the interpretation of the Dogman legends. And it has been a wonderful partnership ever since! <br /><br />Beginning June 28, we will be offering David's "Spirit of Dogman Country" CD set on our website for only $15. This has 10 tracks featuring David's earthy, deep and dark music with eerie special effects. It will be cherished by Dogman fans!<br /><br />Our second and third products are from a collaboration with scent-master Pete Gross. Another fellow conspirator, Pete has designed Dogman candles and cologne. The candles, packed in special tins, are the perfect accoutrement to snuggling up with a spooky Dogman novel on a dark and stormy night. And the cologne is reminiscent of the old 'barbershop' smell, perfect for the Dogman lover on your gift-giving list. These will also be available for order on our website starting June 28. <br /><br />Be sure to check out our website for more info as it becomes available:<br /><a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br />NEW BOOK<br /><br />There will be a new Dogman book coming this summer! The tentative release date is July 16, and we plan to make its debut in Alpena, MI at several locations that weekend. Right now, it is under the code name of: Dogman Origins: Shadow and Flame, and it is a fabulous blend of science fiction, fantasy, and of course the horror we've all come to appreciate with the Dogman. Under one cover, this new novel is 2 BOOKS! The first builds upon the Omeena Tale from our last collection of short stories, Tales From Dogman Country. This book 1 delves deeper into the pre-dawn history of the primitive cultures and their struggle for survival against the Dogman and the forces of evil. Book 2 jumps back to the modern day, where we once again meet Agent Travis, the goverment man who is tracking the Dogman. He is in the midst of a world-wide conspiracy, trying to save the world as the year 2012 and its End-of-Days prophesy approaches. <br /><br />This new novel is the first in a new Dogman series that connects the present and the past as only the legends of the Dogman can do. Be sure to check out our website often for snippets to be released.<br /><a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br />BOOK SIGNING TOUR<br /><br />We've added several stops to our book signing tour this summer. Check us out at any of the locations (below) and look for our new book and products soon:<br /><br />June 17-18-19 Frankenmuth Zehnder's Park<br />June 25-26 Mackinaw City Conklin Park<br />July 3 National Cherry Festival, Traverse City<br />July 4 Elberta Art Fair<br />July 16-17 Alpena Art in the Park<br />July 16 Thunder-Con, Alpena Mall<br />July 29-30 Grayling Au-Sable Festival<br />Aug 6-7 Lexington Art Fair<br />Aug 10 Meijer Library, Jackson<br />Aug 12 Alanson River Festival<br />Aug 13-14 Ludington Gold Coast Art Fair<br />Aug 17 Eagle River, WI Paul Bunyan Festival<br /><br />We hope to haunt a town near you this summer! Of course, check out our website for any additional dates as they get posted:<br /><a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br />And be sure to LIKE us on Facebook to get the latest, most up-to-the-minute postings and information as it happens here in Dogman country!<br /><br />That's about all for now, it's been a busy couple of months, but there are still busy weeks ahead as the new book is finalized to meet our debut weekend. Watch our website for all the great details!<br /><a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br />Thanks for your support, and hopefully I'll see you down the trail this summer!<br />FrankFrank Holes, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03659889835311210942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1327583407700072201.post-58296377416108762982011-05-05T16:59:00.001-07:002011-05-05T17:26:17.388-07:00Dogman Update: May 5, 2011Hello fans - happy Cinco de Mayo!<br /><br />It has been a pretty busy winter season, and now we're ready to head out into spring and summer book-signing tour mode. So far, we've had some impressive shows at Kalkaska, Indian River, Clare, Saline, and Vermontville. We also had a fabulous day at Hope Middle School in Holt, where we shared the Dogman legends with students and staff the entire day.<br /><br />Be sure to check out our website for all sorts of Dogman news: <a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">http://www.dogman07.com/</a><br /><br />Now, we're off and running, and hopefully haunting a town near you soon! For our complete yearly tour schedule, see the link below:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2011schedule">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2011schedule</a><br /><br />Our next few stops include:<br />May 7: Mesick HS, Mushroom Festival<br />May 14-15: Boyne City Morel Festival<br />May 28-29: Houghton Lake MS<br />June 4-5: Pinckney Art in the Park (tentative)<br />June 17-19: Frankenmuth, Zehnders' Park<br />July 2: Gladwin (tentative)<br />July 3: Traverse City, National Cherry Festival<br />July 4: Elberta<br /><br />NEWS FROM DOGMAN COUNTRY:<br /><br />We are in the final stages of the production of 'Spirit of Dogman Country' an instrumental CD set performed by regional folklore artist, David Martinka. The pre-production sounds great, and we're looking forward to getting these CDs into our fans' hands early this summer.<br /><br />ALSO: There is a NEW Dogman novel in the works! I hope to be able to debut it this summer, perhaps at Cherry Fest, where so many of my previous books made their star-studded debut. This new novel, the longest yet, incorporates science fiction and spy mystery as well as delving into the fantasy realms. So far, I think it's the best novel yet!<br /><br />Of course, you will be able to see updates and advanced snippets on our website starting next month: <a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">http://www.dogman07.com/</a><br /><br />Steve Cook, our good friend, has recently posted on his facebook that there may be a Dogman movie in the works? I guess we'll have to (im)patiently wait to hear more on this front.<br /><br />Remember, you can follow the action <em>as it happens</em> by liking us on Facebook. Get instant updates and news from Dogman Country right into your hands immediately.<br /><br />That's about all for now, stay tuned as more great folklore news is shared from Dogman Country!<br /><br />Thanks,<br />FrankFrank Holes, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03659889835311210942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1327583407700072201.post-49558708475903256092010-11-14T18:54:00.000-08:002010-11-14T19:12:48.835-08:00Dogman Update 11/14/2010Hello there fans! <br /><br />I'm very excited to share some great news with you this evening. We're just coming off a stellar weekend in Cadillac where we absolutely SMASHED our previous sales records. 121 books, including 56 copies of our new book, <u>Tales From Dogman Country</u>, made their way into fans hands over the past two days. <br /><br />The new book, fourth in the series, is a collection of short stories from all over Michigan and from across many decades. Its weekend debut also smashed the previous records for book releases (<u>Nagual</u> in 2009, <u>Sigman</u> in 2008).<br /><br />We also had a great two weeks with our online pre-release sales, and I shipped out a ton of packages over the past few days. <br /><br />Interested in joining the excitement? You can order your very own copy of <u>Tales From Dogman Country</u> on Amazon, or get an autographed copy from my website:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogmancountry.htm">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogmancountry.htm</a><br /><br />Amazon.com now has a special page set up for <u>Tales From Dogman Country</u>, and the online bookstore giant is ready to take orders.<br /><br />FROM THE TOUR:<br /><br />We're heading into our winter schedule, and we have book signing stops at the following:<br /><br />Sat, Nov 20: Canton HS (Canton, MI)<br />Wed, Nov 24: Alcona MS (Lincoln, MI)<br />Fri, Nov 26: Inland Lakes Schools (Indian River, MI)<br />Sat-Sun, Nov 27-28: Ford II HS (Sterling Heights, MI)<br />Sat, Dec 4: The Bookstore, Manistee MI (sleighbell festival)<br /><br />Hopefully, you can see us there. <br /><br />BTW - copies of the new book are now at Horizons bookstore in Petoskey, and soon to be in Traverse City and Cadillac. We are also shipping books to Blue Phoenix in Alpena, and The Bookstore in Manistee, among other stores in the near future. Can't find my books in your favorite bookstore? Ask them to carry the Dogman series, and to contact me at my email: <a href="mailto:dogman@griswoldmountain.com">dogman@griswoldmountain.com</a> / website: <a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br /><br />ALSO FROM DOGMAN COUNTRY:<br /><br />It is with great pleasure that I can share more news. I'm teaming up with folklorist David Martinka (<a href="http://www.redbellymusic.com/">www.redbellymusic.com</a>) to produce an instrumental CD, inspired by the characters and events of my Dogman novels. David is a fabulous artist, focusing on Native American flute and Slovakian flute. Both produce such haunting melodies that capture the essence of the Dogman folktales. <br /><br />We're going to be putting these together this winter, and hopefully they'll be available for release in late spring or early summer 2011. <br /><br />And to top it all off, I've started work on a NEW Dogman novel. There are only a few details I can share with you now, but if you want an idea of its storyline, be sure to read <u>Nagual</u> and the first chapter of our new book, <u>Tales From Dogman Country</u>. That'll get you thinking on the right track. Again, if you're interested in a copy of the new book, click the link below:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogmancountry.htm">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogmancountry.htm</a><br /><br />Thanks again to all of the great fans who came out to see us this fall, and we hope to see you later on the tour!<br /><br />FrankFrank Holes, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03659889835311210942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1327583407700072201.post-44293845861106231872010-10-15T19:05:00.001-07:002010-10-15T19:30:17.834-07:00Dogman Update 10/15/2010Hello there Dogman fans!<br /><br />It's been a while since my last post, and it's good to be chatting with you all again. We've been busy up here in Dogman country as of late. Many shows, many miles, and so many great fans and stories to be shared all around the state have kept me hopping. <br /><br />For all up to date information on the Dogman and my books, see our website:<br /><a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">http://www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br /><br />NEWS ON THE NEW BOOK:<br /><br />Part of the delay in the blog has been the delay in the release of my latest book, Tales From Dogman Country. Originally I'd planned to release it the first of October, but it looks now like it will be Halloween weekend. Trust me, it will be worth the wait. This collection of six short stories from all over the state (and across the centuries!) might be my shortest written work (at 118 pages), but it is sure to be a pleaser to Dogman fans all over the globe. Based on both folklore and on real stories I've collected from folks all over the state, it includes many of the 'real' sightings and encounters that make the Dogman such a legendary beast. <br /><br />The stories range from a sheriff's report in Manistee County to a pioneer tale from Evart back in the 1870s. Some old characters will re-emerge as the greater picture of the Dogman legend comes into focus. AND there is an awesome ancient story of betrayal that has already led me into the design of the next full length Dogman novel, which I'm tentatively planning for the summer of 2011. <br /><br />Where can you find more on Tales From Dogman Country? Check out our website:<br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogmancountry.htm">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogmancountry.htm</a><br /><br /><br />FALL APPEARANCES<br /><br />It's going to continue to be a busy fall and winter season. This weekend, I'm at Clarkston High School, then getting ready for the Halloween season:<br /><br />October 16-17: Clarkston High School<br />October 23: Kalamazoo Valley Community College<br />October 29: Blue Phoenix Books, Alpena<br />October 30: Ghost Ship, Manistee (with Steve Cook)<br /><br />November 13-14: Cadillac at the Wex<br />November 20: Canton High School<br />November 24: Lincoln Alcona Middle School<br />November 26: Indian River Christmas Craft Show<br />November 27-28: Sterling Heights Ford II HS<br /><br />Be sure to check out our website periodically in the next two weeks as the final details on the release of Tales From Dogman Country become available. Also, look for some GREAT special pre-release prices on the new book, only on our website. Of course, all books are autographed before being shipped!<br /><br />That's it from Dogman country! Thanks for being such great fans and continuing to believe!<br /><br />FrankFrank Holes, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03659889835311210942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1327583407700072201.post-29555955489428607212010-05-29T17:34:00.000-07:002010-05-29T17:54:49.295-07:00Dogman Update 5/29/2010Hello fans -<br /><br />It's been a very busy month for us here in Dogman country. Though we were greatly disappointed that we were unable to see fans in the Holland area, we did make five great stops in May, including a first-time visit to Corunna. And through it all, we've still smashed sales records for the month of May as well as individual records at Boyne City, Uncle Johns, MSU, and Houghton Lake. <br /><br /><br />Be sure to check out our website for more Dogman information:<br /><a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">http://www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br />Where are we headed next? In June & early July, you can find us:<br /><br />June 5-6 Pinckney<br />June 12-13 Mio Nor'Easter Festival<br />June 18-20 Frankenmuth Zehnders Park<br />June 26-27 Howell Michigan Challenge (tentative)<br />July 2-3 Houghton Lake Middle School<br />July 4 National Cherry Festival, Traverse City<br /><br />Of course, you can check out our website for our full 2010 schedule. Hopefully we’ll be haunting a town near you:<br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2010schedule">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2010schedule</a><br /><br /><br />What's new in Dogman country? Today, we're featuring a sighting as reported on Steve Cook's website. It is from Dowagiac, MI, from 2001. It was recently sent to Steve and posted on his site (see this link for more information: <a href="http://www.michigan-dogman.com/01_encDowagiac.html">http://www.michigan-dogman.com/01_encDowagiac.html</a>)<br />What's interesting about this encounter is its location. Though most of the Dogman stories come from northwest Michigan, there are obviously other sightings all over the state. It's also interesting that Linda Godfrey has mentioned Kalamazoo / southwestern MI sightings in her newspaper article back in October 2008 (see link: <a href="http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2008/10/author_legend_of_the_dog_man_s.html">http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2008/10/author_legend_of_the_dog_man_s.html</a>)<br />I guess there's no hiding from the Dogman, no matter where in Michigan you live, visit, or vacation!<br /><br />Book News:<br /><br />The second installment in the Longquist Adventures series has moved to print stage, and we hope to have these available by the middle of June. <u>Viking Treasure</u> has completed all stages of formatting and publishing. Based on the story of Treasure Island, and featuring Scandinavian folklore, exotic creatures & monsters, and Viking culture, this sequel to the popular action-adventure <u>Western Odyssey</u> is sure to be a hit.<br /><br />We're even offering a PREORDER SPECIAL on the Viking Treasure novel. That's right, copies of the novel are only $12 on our website for this preorder. You can even get a combination pack ofboth Longquist novels, <u>Viking Treasure</u> and <u>Western Odyssey</u> for only $24. See our website for more information:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_order.htm">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_order.htm</a><br /><br />That's about it from Dogman country for May. Look for more this summer on the newest Dogman book, Tales From Dogman Country, a collection of short stories from all across Michigan and from across the centuries all the way back to the ice age. Its going to be an instant classic!<br /><br />FrankFrank Holes, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03659889835311210942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1327583407700072201.post-68116534785085695042010-04-13T19:25:00.000-07:002010-04-13T19:28:09.128-07:00Dogman Update 4/13/2010Dogman Blog April 2010<br /><br />Hello Dogman fans! <br /><br />Well, we weren’t disappointed with the History Channel’s Monster Quest season finale featuring the Michigan Dogman. Sure, there were many strong opinions voiced by fans all over the country, but in the end, we found that so many great folks around Michigan still love the Dogman, and most still believe the creature is still lurking in the depths of the wilderness.<br /><br />Be sure to check out our website for more Dogman information:<br /><a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">http://www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br /><br />So, what’s been going on in Dogman country? We’ve been all over the state this past month. We started in Northville and Canton, and then returned north for stops in Mancelona and Petoskey. In Mancelona, we were joined by our good friend Steve Cook who threw down a splendid version of “The Legend” live for the good folks. <br /><br />And where are we headed next? This upcoming weekend we make one of our only trips to the Upper Peninsula, to the Escanaba fairgrounds for the TV6 Arts & Craft Fair. We’re already getting some good feedback from our Yooper fans on Facebook who’ll be stopping by. <br /><br />Where are we going after that? Here’s our traveling schedule for April & May:<br /><br />April 17-18: Escanaba fairgrounds<br />April 24-25: Maple Syrup Fest, Vermontville, MI<br /><br />May 1: Corunna, MI<br />May 8-9: Uncle Johns Cider Mill, St. Johns MI<br />May 15-16: Michigan State University Union arts show, East Lansing MI<br />May 22-23: Mushroom Festival, Boyne City, MI<br />May 29-30: Houghton Lake Middle School craft show<br /><br />Unfortunately, we’re very disappointed that the Tulip Fest in Holland did not invite us back this year. Sorry fans in southwest Michigan, you’ll have to look for us at another stop later this summer. If anyone is in Holland for that weekend, please stop by the craft fair information and show your displeasure at not having the Dogman make an appearance. <br /><br />Of course, you can check out our website for our full 2010 schedule. Hopefully we’ll be haunting a town near you:<br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2010schedule">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2010schedule</a><br /><br />More of our summer schedule will be finalized in the upcoming few weeks and you can see the full schedule on our website and on next month’s blog. <br /><br /><br />Be sure to visit our Facebook page for more information as I get it. For our fans not on Facebook, this is your opportunity to join the Dogman community! There are great discussions, sightings, encounters, and news from Dogman country updated constantly by our fans! <br /><br /><br />Update on the new Dogman (part 4) novel:<br /><br />Yes, there will be a fourth novel in the Dogman series! The official title is Tales From Dogman Country. It will feature a series of short stories based on some of the real sightings and encounters that fans have shared with me from all over Michigan. Of course, I’ve changed a few of the details (and the names) to protect the ‘not-so innocent’ and preserve some of the sacred areas of the Dogman. I’ve also added a few short stories of my own, and again, though they are fictional they are still based on real folklore and legend. <br /><br />That’s as much as I’m able to give away right now. Be sure to check out our website often as I will be posting some snippets of the new novel over the next two months. I don’t have a tentative release date, but hopefully sometime this summer. <br /><br />Well, that’s all for April. As always, we’ll keep you posted if we hear of any Dogman happenings. Until summer then, DON’T GO OUT AT NIGHT!<br /><br />FrankFrank Holes, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03659889835311210942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1327583407700072201.post-19205201372813046372010-03-07T11:34:00.000-08:002010-03-07T12:05:54.822-08:00Dogman Update 3/7/2010Dogman Blog<br />March 2010<br /><br />Hello Dogman fans! A warm welcome to everyone from our Facebook page and those of you on the official Dogman Email list. Be sure to check out our official website: <a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">http://www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br />It is with extreme anticipation that I write to you today. That is because the History Channel has finally released the preview of their MonsterQuest episode that will be featuring, the one and only, Michigan Dogman!<br /><br />It will air on Wednesday, March 24 at 9:00 pm. Undoubtedly, it will be re-run several times within that same week for any fans who can't catch the premiere. <br /><br />And I don't know about you, but I can hardly wait to see it!!!!<br /><br />We caught wind of this upcoming TV show last October when my good friend and co-conspirator Steve Cook, the father of the Dogman "Legend" song, and I were tag-teaming a book & CD signing at the Haunted Ship of Manistee. Steve told me that the MonsterQuest crew was indeed in northern Michigan on a follow-up to the 2007 episode (the one that focused on Wisconsin). They were poking around the swamps and forests and interviewing folks to get a sense of the Dogman legends here in Michigan. <br /><br />I even had the pleasure to meet Deputy Jeff Chamberlain of the Lake County Sheriff's office. He was actually on duty when the original break-in at the cabin in Luther took place back in 1987. He shared some truly fascinating stories. <br /><br />Since that time, the word has leaked out and we have all been waiting (some less patiently than others) for the announcement. Now we know! The Michigan Dogman will make its worldwide debut in less than three weeks!<br /><br />What will the MonsterQuest episode show? None of us knows for certain, even Steve Cook. I know that Steve was interviewed at length by Linda Godfrey - the true expert in all things weird, wicked, and wild - in and around the Great Lakes. And I have my own hunches that we may see several re-enactments from Dogman sightings. I think we may even see that ol' controversial Gable Film show up too. Perhaps the folks at MonsterQuest can finally give us some sort of definitive evidence to proclaim the film a real or a fraud, once and for all. And then again, maybe we'll never know. There are certainly no shortage of opinions on that piece of evidence!<br /><br />I'll keep updating our Facebook page with more information as I get it, so please check in there periodically. For our fans not on Facebook, this is your opportunity to join the Dogman community and the discussion!<br /><br /><br />WINTER/SPRING BOOK TOUR:<br /><br />We're heading to Canton H.S. this upcoming weekend for the second show in two weeks on Detroit's west side. Then on March 24, just before the MonsterQuest episode, we'll be at Mancelona H.S. for an after-school extravaganza! We wrap up the month in Petoskey at the Methodist Church craft fair on Saturday, March 27. <br /><br />Of course, you can see our full 2010 Book Tour dates on our website:<br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2009schedule">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2009schedule</a><br /><br />March 13: Canton H.S., Canton<br />March 24: Mancelona H.S.<br />April 17-18: Escanaba Fairgrounds<br />April 24-25: Shephard Maple Syrup Fest<br />May 1-2: Holland Tulip Fest<br />May 8-9: Uncle Johns Cider Mill, St. Johns<br />May 15-16: Boyne City Mushroom Fest<br /><br /><br />LATEST BOOK NEWS:<br /><br />I've finished up the second Longquist Adventures novel and we're getting the final editing and pictures wrapped up. We hope for a May 1 debut at the Tulip Festival in Holland. If all goes well, the new <u>Viking Treasure</u> novel will be ready for fans!<br /><br />I've also started a fourth Dogman novel, tentatively titled <u>Tales From Dogman Country</u>. It is a collection of short stories from all around Michigan and from different times in history as well as the modern day. It is sure to be an instant classic! I'm shooting for another July 4th debut at the Cherry Festival in Traverse City, but this one might be tough to pull off. We'll see.<br /><br /><br />SPECIALS THIS MONTH:<br /><br />In honor of the MonsterQuest episode, we're going to offer some GREAT specials on our website. These will include greatly reduced prices on novels and t-shirts, as well as our new awesome Dogman Country hats. Check in with us in the next week as we begin unveiling the specials.<br /><br />Again, I thank all of you for your support. As I get updates, I'll keep you all posted through our various channels. It is a fabulous time to be associated with the legends of the Dogman. I'm really looking forward to sharing these legends with a world-wide audience. We welcome everyone to Dogman Country!! <br /><br />FrankFrank Holes, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03659889835311210942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1327583407700072201.post-44457372821544305152009-11-29T19:37:00.001-08:002009-11-29T19:54:57.951-08:00Dogman Update 11/29/09Dogman Blog<br />November 2009<br /><br />Autumn greetings to all of our Dogman fans! Thanksgiving has been a wonderfully busy time with both family and fans. Now we head into December ready for the holiday season!<br /><br />This past ten days were just insane! Shows in Traverse City, Indian River, and Grayling culminated in rocking the St.Nick's Warehouse in Sterling Heights. A thanks to all the fans who showed up and helped us to sell 101 books this weekend! We set new November sales records and shared the legend of the Dogman with fans all over the metro Detroit area. <br /><br />We have two book signings left this year. This upcoming Saturday we're at Boyne City high school, and the following Saturday we're in Saginaw at the Horizons Event Center. These last two events will be the last chance for fans to get autographed and personalized books in time for Christmas. <br /><br />See our website for the full fall book signing tour schedule:<br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2009schedule">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2009schedule</a><br /><br />We're beginning to set our 2010 schedule. Hopefully we'll be haunting a town near you! Be sure to watch our calendar for updates.<br /><br /><strong>News from Dogman Country:</strong><br /><br />Many of you've heard about the upcoming History Channel Monster Quest special, focusing on the Michigan Dogman. The film crew was here at the end of last month tramping around the swamps and forests outside Cadillac. They also extensively interviewed the folks at WTCM, including my good friend Steve Cook. Prominently featured, I've heard, will be a re-creation of the infamous 1987 Luthor cabin break-in. Also, I've heard the Gable Film will be examined in great detail. As I get more information, I'll be sure to update you all.<br /><br /><strong>Book updates:</strong><br /><br />We're going to set up a special website with special holiday prices on books and t-shirts. This site will be available beginning December 5, so be sure to check out our Dogman page for updates. But don't wait for the last minute - I can only ship them out so fast, you know! Of course, you can order your copies of all my books at our website link below:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_order.htm">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_order.htm</a><br /><br /><strong>Dogman on Facebook:</strong><br /><br />For our many fans who are on Facebook, be sure to check out our fan page where I keep the constant daily stream of news and information. Search for Dogman, we are the page with the plethora of fans - 639 and still counting! And share us with your friends - we're trying to get to 1000 by the end of January! You can use this link too:<br /><a onmousedown="'UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this)," href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dogman/109181048455?ref=search&__a=1#" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dogman/109181048455?ref=search&__a=1#</a><br /><br /><br /><strong>Updates on the new book:</strong><br /><br />I've updated the Longquist webpage with some snippets of the new book, <em>Viking Treasure</em>. This new book is coming along slowly, but the storyline is very good, and it will be an excellent sequel to the first Longquist Adventure novel. See the link below for the snippets:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/longquist.htm">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/longquist.htm</a><br /><br /><strong>New merchandise:<br /></strong><br />We now have Dogman pencils and pens! They are really cool and make great stocking stuffers. We are also expecting to have a few of the new 2010 hats available before Christmas. The new design is very cool and we'll get them in our online store as soon as they are available from our manufacturer. They are black with red accents, and feature a Dogman head graphic on the front. <br /><br />Well, that's about all for this month. Watch your emails for more updates and of course the holiday book & t-shirt specials.<br /><br />FrankFrank Holes, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03659889835311210942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1327583407700072201.post-89349693495117072302009-10-29T19:08:00.000-07:002009-10-29T19:28:57.507-07:00Dogman Update 10/29/2009Dogman Blog<br />October<br /><br />Halloween greetings to all of our Dogman fans! Tis the season, the season of the Dogman! The chill of incoming winter can be felt as the velvety blackness of night steals the sky from the twilight of the autumn sunsets. The time of the harvest has arrived, and the demon moon shall rise on Halloween night!<br /><br />But enough of all that.<br /><br />What have we been up to? This past weekend was a big one, as we sandwiched a Saturday morning & afternoon in Traverse City between nights at the Ghost Ship in Manistee. Tons of fans showed up to hang out, talk folklore, and share in the legend. We were also honored to be joined at the Ghost Ship by our good friend, and father of "The Legend" Steve Cook. And to top off the evening on Saturday, we got to meet Deputy Jeff Chamberlain, one of the two original officers on the scene at the original Dogman attack/cabin break-in in Luthor back in 1987! <br /><br />Now, as to the rumors everyone's waiting breathlessly for...Yes, MonsterQuest was back in Michigan!!!! They're filming a follow-up to the first season finale (the American Werewolf, primarily featuring the Wisconsin legends.) But this time, I'm assured, the whole show is on our own beloved Michigan Dogman legends!!! How's that for cool? MonsterQuest hung out at WTCM all week, interviewing Steve Cook and the other radio personalities, and our friend Jeff Chamberlain took them all over the swamps of Luthor, setting the stage for a 're-enactment' of the famous 1987 Dogman attack. <br /><br />Of course, as I get more details, I'll be sure to share them with you. Will the Gable Film be featured prominently? I would think so. Will there be scenes from around the state? I sure hope so. Will they play "The Legend" during the episode? Almost a guarantee!<br /><br />From what I have heard, this new MonsterQuest episode will air sometime in January or February of 2010. That's perfect timing, as the remake of the original 1941 classic The Wolfman (starring the ever-famous Lon Chaney Jr.) opens in theaters on February 12, 2010.<br /><br />Where are we off to next? October wraps up with a Haunted Halloween afternoon at Horizons bookstore in Petoskey. I've been asked to guest judge the second annual 'Scariest Story In Northern Michigan' contest. And let me tell you, I'm really looking forward to reading northern Michigan's best thrills and chills!<br /><br />See our website for the full fall book signing tour schedule:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2009schedule">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2009schedule</a><br /><br />Our upcoming schedule for November (tentatively) is below:<br />November 14: Cadillac craft fair at the Wexford Civic Center<br />November 22: Traverse City Park Place Hotel holiday show<br />November 28: Indian River -Inland Lakes Schools craft show<br />Novemver 29-30: Sterling Heights Ford II HS -St. Nicks Warehouse<br /><br />Anything else new? How about our book + t-shirt special? It has been such a hot item that we're going to extend it through November 15 (the first day of fire-arm deer season). You can see the special prices of any book with any t-shirt (black or white) for only $20 on the website below:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_Halloween_order.htm">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_Halloween_order.htm</a><br /><br />We are now getting more books all around northern Michigan, and new stops on our book tour are being added for fall, winter, and (hard to believe) spring of 2010 already! <br /><br />Thanks for your support and keep scouring the woods for signs of the elusive legendary folklore creature, the Michigan Dogman!!!<br /><br />FrankFrank Holes, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03659889835311210942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1327583407700072201.post-85529663602520821582009-09-27T07:52:00.000-07:002009-09-27T20:57:12.773-07:00Dogman Update 9/27/2009Dogman blog<br />September<br /><br />Please note: this was written last weekend but with all the crazy events and travel this week I've only just been able to post it today. Enjoy!<br /><br />Greetings from Frankenmuth! I'm writing to you today on my new iPhone which enables me to keep in contact with all of our fans and I can now process credit cards while out and about! This is a new enhancement that will enable more books to reach the hands of our fans. Processed right on our website securely through PayPal, we can now take Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and AmericanExpress. <br /><br />At the moment, I'm enjoying a bananas foster crepe from Frankenmuth's Crepe duJour, and they definitely get two thumbs up! In two days I've had the opportunity to sample four different crepes and each was fabulous If you're in Frankenmuth you've got to try them! Tell 'em the Dogman sent you!<br /><br />Where are we heading next? September ends with a trip to Clinton Township for the Festival of the Senses. October finds us visiting Grayling, Charlevoix, Traverse City, and The Ghost Ship in Manistee. We will be joined at the Ghost Ship by our good friend, and father of "The Legend". Steve Cook. The month culminates with a Haunted Halloween afternoon at Horizons bookstore in Petoskey.<br /><br />See our website for the full fall book signing tour schedule: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2009schedule">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2009schedule</a><br /><br /><br />Our upcoming schedule for October (tentatively) is below:<br /><br />October 3: Grayling primary school craft fair<br />October 10-11: Charlevoix AppleFest<br />October 23&24: Manistee Ghost Ship (evenings)<br />October 24: Traverse City E JrHi craft show<br />October 31: Petoskey Horizons Bookstore<br /><br />We've been in contact with a number of organizations, schools, and libraries so be sure to watch our calendar for added stops on our autumn book tour. <br /><br />News from Dogman Country: <br />We've recently added two new videos to our facebook page. One is the Gable Film in its entirety. The second was suggested by our friend Jason in Manistee. It is perhaps the Gable Film Part 2. Check these out and see what you think. I'd love to read some of our fans' thoughts! While you're at it, join our Dogman fan page on facebook if you haven't already. <br /><br />Book updates: <br />The third book in the Dogman series, Nagual: Dawn Of The Dogmen, has continued to sell well, but it is the number of copies of The Haunting of Sigma we've sold in the past month that is truly exciting. I think the cover art has been a factor since it gives such a fall/autumn look and feel. Of course the first Dogman book is still our top seller, but Sigma isn't too far behind. You can order your copies of all my books at our website link below:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_order.htm">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_order.htm</a><br /><br /><br />Updates on the new book:<br />Losing three grandparents in the last month has sidelined my writing as of late, but I'm getting psyched to get back behind the laptop and finish book 2 of The Longquist Adventures. Craig Tollenaar, our cover artist, is chomping at the bit to put his creativity into bringing the characters to life. This new novel is based on the story of Treasure Island, but like the first book there will be a number of unexpected twists! Look for updates to begin appearing on the Longquist website next month. <br /><br />The new Dogman t-shirts have been hot sellers since their debut in July. Watch your emails and the Dogman facebook for some Haunted Halloween specials on book-and-t-shirt combos starting in October. <br /><br />Well, that's about all for this month. Watch your emails for more updates and of course the October book & t-shirt specials. <br /><br />FrankFrank Holes, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03659889835311210942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1327583407700072201.post-87717456490945093582009-08-04T14:37:00.000-07:002009-08-04T14:39:48.792-07:00Dogman Update 8/4/2009Dogman Blog August 2009<br /><br />Hello to all of our Dogman fans! <br /><br /><br />News from the Book Tour:<br /><br />WOW! What a weekend in Lexington. We set a new 2-day sales record, selling 113 novels and meeting fans from all over the Thumb and Metro-Detroit areas. Folks shared a number of stories about the Wichy Wolves from the Standish/Au Gres area and one creepy account of a sighting outside of Mio. But mostly we heard about ghost stories from the Blue Water area. <br /><br />And my brother and I spent some time in the Cadillac House sharing ghost stories with the staff. My thanks go out to Luke, Tyson, Christina, and Skipper (among the others) who all gave us their stories about the haunted upper floors of the building. Talk about a building with history! Originally built in the 1840s, the Cadillac House (Hotel) has seen some wild times in Lexington. And George, the ghost who haunts the building, has been up to his old tricks lately – locking doors, messing with the lights, sitting in the booths with patrons. Of course, my brother Mike and I managed to get the girls to bring us a bowl of the Cadillac’s famous cheese soup, even at 1:30 in the morning. But tours to the upstairs of the building will have to wait for a future visit!<br /><br />These ghost stories have given me some great ideas for a potential series of stories about Lake Huron and the hauntings around Port Huron, Lexington, Port Sanillac, etc. <br /><br />Speaking of great food, make sure to visit the Stone House restaurant in Port Sanillac for great fish fry. Also, the Quay Street Brewery in Port Huron extended its hospitality and good eats too. Both receive my highest recommendation!<br /><br /><br />Where are we off to next?<br /><br />This weekend we’re slated for a three day showing in Onekama at the Manistee County Fairgrounds. But that may depend upon how well I recover from knee surgery (I tore the meniscus in my right knee). I've made it through surgery fine, but we'll see how the next few days of recovery go. Of course, you can see our full 2009 tour schedule through the link below. Hopefully we’ll be haunting a town near you:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2009schedule">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2009schedule</a><br /><br />Our upcoming schedule for August and early September (tentatively) is below:<br /><br />August 7-9: Onekama craft fair (tentative)<br />August 14-16: Mint Festival, St. Johns, MI<br />August 29-30: Mackinaw City craft fair<br />September 5-6: Harrisville arts fair<br />September 7 (Labor Day): Ducks Landing, Mackinaw City (tentative)<br />September 14: Port City Craft Fair, Manistee<br /><br />We’ve also set a tentative book signing at the Ghost Ship in Manistee, the SS City of Milwaukee, for October 23 & 24, and our good friend Steve Cook, the father of the Dogman, may be joining us!<br /><br /><br />Update on the New Novel:<br /><br />The third book in the Dogman series, Nagual: Dawn Of The Dogmen, has continued to sell in great numbers. And as one local author told me, this third novel will drive the sales of the first book. Amazing! He was right – sales of the original Dogman novel have doubled in through the month of July! You can order your copies of all my books at our website link below:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_order.htm">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_order.htm</a><br /> <br /><br />Dogman Merchandise:<br /><br />We now have two t-shirts available. Of course, the original, official Dogman Survival Guide t-shirts can be purchased $10 on our website, they come in all sizes S-XL (we’re currently out of 2X and 3X sizes) and include good advice: Don’t Go Out At Night!<br /><br />We also have the new BLACK t-shirts with ripped claw marks across the front, the beast peering through from the back. The logo says, “I don’t have to outrun the Dogman, I just have to outrun you!” These are currently only available at our book signings, so make sure to stop out and see us and pick yours up. <br /><br />Remember, 10% of all sales go to support the Cheboygan Humane Society.<br /><br />See our Dogman store for all official merchandise:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_order.htm">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_order.htm</a><br /><br />And be sure to check out our official website for all Dogman news and information!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">http://www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br /><br />As always, we thank you for your support and for following Michigan’s folklore! Watch for the little blue tent to make an appearance near you this summer and fall. And do be careful when you’re out at night! <br /><br />FrankFrank Holes, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03659889835311210942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1327583407700072201.post-13919153491050495542009-07-30T13:39:00.000-07:002009-07-30T13:40:06.121-07:00Dogman Update 7/30/2009Dogman Blog July 2009 (part 2)<br /><br />Hello to all of our Dogman fans! <br /><br />There are still two days left for our GREAT ONLINE SPECIAL OFFER. For our fans, website readers, and email subscribers, we are offering books, including the new novel Nagual: Dawn of the Dogmen at the low price of just $10.99 each through July 31. You can also purchase the special Dogman Survival Guide t-shirts and copies of Steve Cook’s “The Legend” CD/DVD set. However, you MUST use the link below to this special, secret website:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_summer_special.htm">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_summer_special.htm</a><br /> <br />There are FABULOUS specials on book prices (online only through the special link above) and good now through the end of July. <br /><br /><br />News from the Book Tour:<br /><br />A gracious thanks go out to the Elks Club of Grayling for their steak dinner this past weekend. It is strongly recommended by the Dogman for anybody traveling to Grayling for next year’s AuSable Festival. They cooked up a steak the size of my foot along with all the fixin’s. And they delivered it right to the little blue tent! <br /><br />There were a TON of fans out in Grayling, Indian River, and Charlevoix, and we collected several stories on haunted houses and potential monster sightings. <br /><br />We head out to Lexington this upcoming weekend, and then we’re slated for a three day showing in Onekama at the Manistee County Fairgrounds. Of course, you can see our full 2009 tour schedule through the link below. Hopefully we’ll be haunting a town near you:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2009schedule">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2009schedule</a><br /><br />Our upcoming schedule for August and early September (tentatively) is below:<br /><br />August 1-2: Lexington arts fair<br />August 7-9: Onekama craft fair<br />August 14-16: Mint Festival, St. Johns, MI<br />August 29-30: Mackinaw City craft fair<br />September 5-6: Harrisville arts fair<br />September 7 (Labor Day): Ducks Landing, Mackinaw City (tentative)<br /><br /><br />Update on the New Novel:<br /><br />The third book in the Dogman series, Nagual: Dawn Of The Dogmen, has sold through its original print run, and we’ve received our second shipment of books! You can order your official copy at our website link below:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_summer_special.htm">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_summer_special.htm</a><br /> <br /><br />So, what else am I up to these days? I’ve started work on the sequel to my fantasy adventure novel The Longquist Adventures: Western Odyssey. Not too many details are out at this time, but we can tell you it involves Vikings, buried treasure, and sea monsters. <br /><br />There are also some very early ideas being kicked around for the 2010 Dogman novel. Yes, I’m going to write another one! For those of you who have read the Nagual: Dawn of the Dogmen novel, you know there are a number of new elements that were introduced, including a mysterious government agent and the historical origins of the Dogmen. Both of these elements will be expanded upon in future Dogman novels. <br /><br /><br />Dogman Merchandise:<br /><br />We still have the official Dogman Survival Guide t-shirts available. Only $10 on our website, they come in all sizes S-3X and include good advice: Don’t Go Out At Night!<br /><br />We have also unveiled the new LATEST t-shirt design! They are BLACK with ripped claw marks across the front, the beast peering through from the back. The logo says, “I don’t have to outrun the Dogman, I just have to outrun you!” These are currently only available at our book signings, so make sure to stop out and see us and pick yours up. <br /><br />Remember, 10% of all sales go to support the Cheboygan Humane Society.<br /><br />See our Dogman store for all official merchandise:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_summer_special.htm">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_summer_special.htm</a><br /><br />And be sure to check out our official website for all Dogman news and information!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">http://www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br /><br />As always, we thank you for your support and for following Michigan’s folklore! We look forward to seeing all of you on the trail! Until then, be careful when you’re out at night!<br /> FrankFrank Holes, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03659889835311210942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1327583407700072201.post-43200922993935051502009-07-07T14:43:00.000-07:002009-07-07T14:44:04.133-07:00Dogman Update 7/7/2009Dogman Blog July 2009<br /><br />Summer greetings to all of our Dogman fans! <br /><br />Well folks, it’s here! The long-awaited debut of the third book in the Dogman series, Nagual: Dawn Of The Dogmen, has come! You can order your official copy at the website link below:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_summer_special.htm">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_summer_special.htm</a><br /><br />There are FABULOUS specials on book prices (online only through the special link above) and good now through the end of July. <br /><br /><br />News from the Book Tour:<br /><br />Wow, did we had a tremendous weekend! Both Steve Cook and I were totally blown away by the outpouring of greetings we received by our fans in both Lake City and at the National Cherry Fest in Traverse City. It was great to spend two days with my good friend, the ‘Dog-Father’ as he’s been nicknamed. Steve and his wife Pam braved the crowded Traverse City streets and the hot temperatures to graciously share the legends of Michigan’s Dogman with fans from all across the country and around the world. <br /><br />And the records fall:<br /><br />This past weekend blew away several of our previous sales records for 1-day, 2-day, and 3-day sales. Once all of the dust cleared, 186 novels were sold in the three day span, including a record 117 on Sunday at Cherry Fest. We also celebrated the sale of book #5000 on Sunday! That’s right, we’ve sold 5000 books since Year of the Dogman first hit shelves nearly two years ago.<br /><br />A huge thanks goes out to our many fans, especially those of you who subscribe to our email and blog. We know quite a few of you did stop by this weekend to pick up your new copy of the new novel. <br /><br />So, how do we attempt to top off the ‘Super Bowl’ of the year? We hit the road again, that’s how! Weekend shows will follow in Charlevoix, Mackinaw City, Indian River, and Grayling. <br /><br />Be sure to check out our website for our full 2009 schedule. Hopefully we’ll be haunting a town near you:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2009schedule">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2009schedule</a><br /><br />Our upcoming schedule for July and August (tentatively) is below:<br /><br />July 11-12: Charlevoix arts fair<br />July 17: Duck’s Landing Gift Store, Mackinaw City<br />July 18: Indian River craft fair<br />July 24-25: AuSable craft fair, Grayling, MI<br /><br />August 1-2: Lexington arts fair<br />August 7-9: Onekama craft fair<br />August 14-16: Mint Festival, St. Johns, MI<br /><br />Want to see our full 2009 schedule? Check out the link below:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2009schedule">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2009schedule</a><br /><br /><br />Update on the new Dogman (part 3) novel:<br /><br />So how has the new novel been doing in its four days of existence? Nagual: Dawn Of The Dogmen kept a pretty good pace with the first novel, Year of the Dogman, but in the end, the first book just edged the rookie this weekend. But, we’ve had orders for dozens of books from all the local bookstores, and things look promising for the Nagual! <br /><br />Want to read more about the third novel or pick up your own copy online? Interested in some snippets from the new novel? Want to see the novel’s COVER ART, done by the acclaimed artist, Craig Tollenaar? Click on the link below:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/nagual-preview.htm">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/nagual-preview.htm</a><br /><br /><br />Dogman Merchandise:<br /><br />We still have the official Dogman Survival Guide t-shirts available. Only $10 on our website, they come in all sizes S-3X and include good advice: Don’t Go Out At Night!<br /><br />We are also getting ready to unveil the new LATEST t-shirt design! We hope to have them available this upcoming weekend in Charlevoix. <br /><br />Remember, 10% of all sales go to support the Cheboygan Humane Society.<br /><br />See our Dogman store for all official merchandise:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_order.htm">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_order.htm</a><br /><br />And be sure to check out our official website for all Dogman news and information!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">http://www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br />From what I hear from Steve Cook and Linda Godfrey, there are more Dogman sightings in Michigan and Wisconsin than ever before! Is it the endless supply of tourists as bait? Or are the Dogmen up to something sinister this year? Stop by and see us on our summer tour, we’ll be haunting a town near you! As always, autographed books make great gifts! All of our books are autographed and personalized upon request. <br /><br />Again, check our official website for more on the myth and folklore of Michigan’s Dogman. Thanks for your continued support and love of northern Michigan folklore!<br /><br />FrankFrank Holes, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03659889835311210942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1327583407700072201.post-58063224221638172742009-06-24T20:24:00.000-07:002009-06-24T20:25:14.440-07:00Dogman Update 6/24/2009Dogman Blog June 2009<br /><br />Summer greetings to all of our Dogman fans! <br /><br />Summer is here and we are preparing for the official release of the new novel, Nagual: Dawn Of The Dogmen, the third in the Great Lakes thrillers series! Scroll further below for more details on this new exciting book, set for tentative release July 4th! And see our website for the new COVER ART for the new book, just posted! <br /><br />And be sure to check out our official website for all Dogman news and information!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">http://www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br /><br />This month, we have been smashing our own sales records from last June. Stops in Owosso, Saginaw, and Frankenmuth have already more than tripled the number of novels that have gotten into the hands of our beloved fans! So far, after nearly a year, our first novel, Year of the Dogman, continues to just barely outsell the prequel, The Haunting of Sigma. <br /><br />And we are spreading the folklore of the Dogman into realms previously unknown to purveyors of northern Michigan legend. <br /><br />The last two stops for the little blue tent this month are this weekend, Saturday in Mackinaw City (Conkling Heritage Park) and then Sunday in Traverse City (Old Town craft fair on Union Street). Be sure to check us out!<br /><br />July is going to be very busy. We pick up again on July 3 & 4 in Lake City, followed by July 5 at the National Cherry Festival craft fair in Traverse City. Weekends will follow in Charlevoix, Indian River, and Grayling. <br /><br />Be sure to check out our website for our full 2009 schedule. Hopefully we’ll be haunting a town near you:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2009schedule">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2009schedule</a><br /><br /><br />Our upcoming schedule for July and August (tentatively) is below:<br /><br />June 27: Mackinaw City craft fair, Mackinaw City MI<br />June 28: Old Town craft fair, Traverse City MI<br /><br />July 3-4: Lake City craft fair<br />July 5: Cherry Fest craft fair, Traverse City, MI<br />July 11-12: Charlevoix arts fair<br />July 18: Indian River craft fair<br />July 24-25: AuSable craft fair, Grayling, MI<br /><br />August 1-2: Lexington arts fair<br />August 7-9: Onekama craft fair<br />August 14-16: Mint Festival, St. Johns, MI<br /><br />Want to see our full 2009 schedule? Check out the link below:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2009schedule">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2009schedule</a><br /><br /><br />Update on the new Dogman (part 3) novel:<br /><br />The third book in the Dogman series, Nagual: Dawn of the Dogman, has moved to printing!!! We still have a tentative release date of July 4, 2009 if everything works out through our publishers and printers. We hope to have these books available for debut at the National Cherry Festival craft fair, where we will be graciously honored with the presence of our good friend, and the true father of the Dogman legend, Steve Cook. Steve wrote and sang “The Legend”, the Dogman song that started it all and became the basis for a true urban legend that has continued to reinvent itself over the past 22 years. <br /><br />You can also see a copy of the novel’s COVER ART, done by the acclaimed Craig Tollenaar. Click on the link below:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">http://www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br />But on to the story of the third novel. The first half of the new book chronicles the emergence of the Nagual, the evil, shape-shifting Skin-Walkers. These magical beings from some world beyond our own have overtaken the bodies of humans and changed them into an army of Dogmen. It is this army, led by a powerful sorcerer-chieftain, which is besieging the prehistoric North American civilizations. <br /><br />We will also see a return of an old friend from the original novel, Year of the Dogman. Yes, that’s right, part of this new novel will chronicle the frantic and frightfully perilous journey of a familiar French fur-trader as he flees the horrific spirit he released. <br /><br />The second half of the novel jumps forward to 1977 in the outlying communities of Lake Ann and Interlochen in Grand Traverse and Benzie Counties. The horrible growling in the night hasn’t been heard in this part of Michigan for a millennia or more. Not only has the local wildlife been scared off, but the unlucky residents of the area’s summer camps, cottages, and resorts are beginning to wonder if they’ve picked the right part of Michigan for their summer destinations. <br /><br />Interested in some snippets from the new novel? We are continually adding more ‘teasers’ from the novel each week for our fans. Check the link below and be sure to stop by often for more updates. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/nagual-preview.htm">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/nagual-preview.htm</a><br /><br /><br />Dogman Merchandise:<br /><br />We still have the official Dogman Survival Guide t-shirts available. Only $10 on our website, they come in all sizes S-3X and include good advice: Don’t Go Out At Night!<br /><br />We have restocked our Dogman hats and they are now available. Word on the street is that we will debut a new t-shirt design over the July 4th weekend. You’ll have to stop by and see us for the latest in Dogman apparel!<br /><br />Steve Cook’s The Legend Legacy Edition CD/DVD is also available for only $20. Remember, 10% of all sales go to support the Cheboygan Humane Society.<br /><br />See our Dogman store for all official merchandise:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_order.htm">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_order.htm</a><br /><br /><br />Now that summer is here, and the many tourists have returned north as potential bait, be on the watch for Dogman sightings! Stop by and see us on our summer tour, we’ll be haunting a town near you! As always, autographed books make great gifts! All of our books are autographed and personalized upon request. <br /><br />Again, check our official website for more on the myth and folklore of Michigan’s Dogman. Thanks for your continued support and love of northern Michigan folklore!<br /><br />FrankFrank Holes, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03659889835311210942noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1327583407700072201.post-26847206019918015412009-05-29T19:22:00.000-07:002009-05-29T19:24:06.298-07:00Dogman Update 5/29/2009Dogman Blog May 2009<br /><br />Greetings Dogman fans! <br /><br />Summer is here and the folklore of Michigan’s Dogman is revving up! Be sure to check out our official website for Dogman news and information!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">http://www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br /><br />The month of May has been extremely busy as our summer tour kicks off for 2009. The Tulip Fest in Holland was a banner weekend, followed by stops in Mesick, Michigan State University, and Muskegon. We’ve had great weather so far and met a lot of great Dogman fans around the state!<br /><br />The little blue tent is set for the season, and June and July are going to be very busy. We pick up again on June 6& 7 in Owosso, followed by weekends in Saginaw, Frankenmuth, Makcinaw City, Traverse City, Lake City, and Charlevoix. <br /><br />Be sure to check out our website for our full 2009 schedule. Hopefully we’ll be haunting a town near you:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2009schedule">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2009schedule</a><br /><br /><br />Our upcoming schedule for June and July (tentatively) is below:<br /><br />June 6-7: Owosso craft fair, Owosso MI<br />June 12-13: Green Acres, Saginaw MI<br />June 19-21: Zehnders Park, Frankenmuth MI<br />June 27: Mackinaw City craft fair, Mackinaw City MI<br />June 28: Old Town craft fair, Traverse City MI<br /><br />July 3-4: Lake City craft fair<br />July 5: Cherry Fest craft fair, Traverse City, MI<br />July 11-12: Charlevoix arts fair<br />July 18: Indian River craft fair<br />July 24-25: AuSable craft fair, Grayling, MI<br /><br />Want to see our full 2009 schedule? Check out the link below:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2009schedule">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2009schedule</a><br /><br /><br />Update on the new Dogman (part 3) novel:<br /><br />The third book in the Dogman series, Nagual: Dawn of the Dogman, has moved from manuscript to editing. We have a tentative release date of July 4, 2009 if everything works out through our publishers and printers. <br /><br />The Nagual are the evil, shape-shifting Skin-Walkers. In the first half of the new book, we learn of the origins of the Dogmen, magical beings that have overtaken the bodies of humans and changed them into horrible creatures. We also learn of a prehistoric North American civilization under siege by the Dogmen and their horrid sorcerer-chieftain. <br /><br />The second half of the novel jumps forward to 1977 as the Dogman rampages through Grand Traverse and Benzie Counties. Can two young camp counselors stop both the supernatural Dogman and the rich tycoon who’s got his own plans to ransack the little communities of Lake Ann and Interlochen. <br /><br />Interested in some snippets from the new novel? Check the link below and be sure to stop by often for more updates. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/nagual-preview.htm">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/nagual-preview.htm</a><br /><br /><br />Dogman Merchandise:<br /><br />We still have the official Dogman Survival Guide t-shirts available. Only $10 on our website, they come in all sizes S-3X and include good advice: Don’t Go Out At Night!<br /><br />Dogman hats are on order too and we should have them restocked by our next show. <br /><br />Steve Cook’s The Legend Legacy Edition CD/DVD is also available for only $20. Remember, 10% of all sales go to support the Cheboygan Humane Society.<br /><br />See our Dogman store for all official merchandise:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_order.htm">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_order.htm</a><br /><br /><br />Now that summer is here, be on the watch for Dogman sightings! And watch for us along our summer tour, we’ll be haunting a town near you! Again, check our official website for more on the myth and folklore of Michigan’s Dogman. <br /><br />FrankFrank Holes, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03659889835311210942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1327583407700072201.post-22299157821673035432009-04-27T15:52:00.000-07:002009-04-27T15:58:42.718-07:00Dogman Update 4/27/2009Dogman Blog April 2009<br /><br /><br />Hello to all of our wonderful Dogman fans around Michigan and around the world! <br /><br />The winter season is well behind and good riddance! It’s hard to believe all of the cold weather, the ice storms, and of course the inches and inches of glorious snow we survived this past winter! But the Dogman has made it through, stronger than ever!<br /><br />So, what have we been up to? A lot of traveling! The old gold Tahoe has made a number of trips outside of northern Michigan, spreading the Dogman legends all over the state. We’ve been in the metro Detroit area a few times, and sampled some great treats at the Maple Syrup Fest in Vermontville and the Irish Fest in Clare. We braved the weather in Manistee, in Escanaba, at Tip-Up Town (Houghton Lake), and at the Snow Fest in Cadillac. We also hung out at Standish-Sterling Middle School and had a rockin’ good time with the students in our writing workshops. <br /><br />Its now time to get the little blue tent, dust off the cobwebs, and prep for the outdoor season. First stop will be Holland, the place we kicked off the summer last year. We’ll be looking for our good friends Wolf and Bonnie from Sault Ste. Marie and their world famous kettle corn. With any luck, they’ll be our neighbors again. We also have new stops this May at Michigan State University (my alma mater) and in Muskegon for Memorial Day weekend. <br /><br />Be sure to check out our website for our full 2009 schedule. Hopefully we’ll be haunting a town near you:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">http://www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br /><br />Dogman Sightings:<br /><br />There have been two recent Dogman reports, this time from Brazil! That’s right, the Dogman has made a run for the border. I’d imagine he wanted in on Carnivale (and he was escaping the cold Michigan weather for a nice, warm vacation!). Check out the links below for the entire story.<br /><br /><a href="http://forgetomori.com/2009/skeptcicism/a-brazilian-werewolf-is-back/">http://forgetomori.com/2009/skeptcicism/a-brazilian-werewolf-is-back/</a><br /><br /><a href="http://forgetomori.com/2209/skepticism/a-brazilian-werewolf-is-back/">http://forgetomori.com/2209/skepticism/a-brazilian-werewolf-is-back/</a><br /><br />If any of our fans have more stories to tell (or confirmations on these stories here), please email us immediatly:<br /><br />Frank's Email:<a href="mailto:dogman@griswoldmountain.com">dogman@griswoldmountain.com</a><br /><br />Be sure to check out our website for more information, as well as links to Steve Cook's website where the Dogman encounters and sightings are posted.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">http://www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br />Steve's website: <a href="http://www.michigan-dogman.com/">http://www.michigan-dogman.com</a><br /><br /><br />Our upcoming schedule for May and June (tentatively) is below:<br /><br />May 2-3: Tulip Fest, Holland MI<br />May 9: Mushroom Fest, Mesick MI<br />May 16-17: Michigan State University Union arts show, East Lansing MI<br />May 25-27: Muskegon arts show, Muskegon MI<br /><br />June 6-7: Owosso craft fair, Owosso MI<br />June 12-13: Green Acres, Saginaw MI<br />June 19-21: Zehnders Park, Frankenmuth MI<br />June 27: Mackinaw City craft fair, Mackinaw City MI<br />June 28: Old Town craft fair, Traverse City MI<br /><br />Want to see our full 2009 schedule? Check out the link below:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2009schedule">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_contact.htm#2009schedule</a><br /><br /><br />Update on the new Dogman (part 3) novel:<br /><br />Yes, there will be a third novel in the Dogman series! The official title is Nagual: Dawn of the Dogman. It could very well be the best Dogman novel yet. The novel is broken into two books. The first book returns to 1707 and follows Pierre, the French fur trader (from the Year of the Dogman novel) in his flight north to escape the spectral beast that he unknowingly released from its earthen prison. But the true origins of the Dogmen is found to trace back much further than the 1700s. We learn of a primitive civilization in the times B.C. which<br /><br />The second book in the novel revs its way forward in time to 1977 and the Dogman’s first hauntings in Benzie County and Grand Traverse County. This time it is the little communities of Lake Ann and Interlochen that succumb to the wrath of our favorite folklore creature. <br /><br />And just what is the Nagual? It is the Meso-American name for the shape shifting Skin-Walkers, evil beings who have overtaken the bodies of humans and changed them into horrible creatures.<br /><br />That’s as much as I can give away this time. Be sure to check out our website often as I will be posting some snippets of the new novel over the next two months. Our tentative release date is July 4, 2009. Coincidentally, that will be for Cherry Festival in Traverse City. We hope to debut with our good friend, Steve Cook, in a grand celebration of Michigan’s Dogman legend. <br /><br />Click here for the snippets we have available:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br /><div align="left"><br />Dogman Merchandise:<br /><br />We now have great Dogman Survival Guide t-shirts available. In all sizes from small to 3-X, they offer great advice for Dogman encounters: Don’t Go Out At Night! These are only $10 on our website.<br /><br />We also have copies of Steve Cook’s The Legend Legacy Edition CD/DVD for only $20. These hard to find copies go fast and we are constantly having to restock our supply. Remember, 10% of all sales go to support the Cheboygan Humane Society. <br /><br /><br />Well, that’s all for April. As always, we’ll keep you posted on any Dogman happenings as the summer approaches. Keep your eyes peeled and watch your back. And, oh yeah, DON’T GO OUT AT NIGHT!<br /><br />Frank</div>Frank Holes, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03659889835311210942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1327583407700072201.post-75408085470400654232008-10-15T14:22:00.000-07:002008-10-15T14:47:32.048-07:00Dogman Update 10/15/2008Hey there all you Dogman fans across Michigan and around the world! <br /><br />WOW! Have we been busy so far this fall! The Little Blue Tent has been sighted all over northern Michigan! Stops so far have included Manistee, Grayling, Frankenmuth, St. Johns, Mackinaw City, and Charlevoix.<br /><br />We've been surrounded by apples, cranberries, pumpkins, and corn stalks as the fall season is fully underway.<br /><br />Stories have flooded in these past two months, including an episode from the 1960s in Pinconning, the annual midnight wolfman run in AuGres (based upon a monster sighting in the area), and a spine-tingling tale of a eerie howling creature from Dansville (which can be found in the local library archives, I've been told!). We'll need to hear more about these events and will be looking into the validity of them in the near future. Of course, if any of our fans have more stories to tell (or confirmations on these stories here), please email us immediatly:<br /><br />Frank's Email:<br /><a href="mailto:dogman@griswoldmountain.com">dogman@griswoldmountain.com</a><br /><br /> Be sure to check out our website for more information, as well as links to Steve Cook's website where the Dogman encounters and sightings are posted.<a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">http://www.dogman07.com</a>Steve's website: <a href="http://www.michigan-dogman.com/">http://www.michigan-dogman.com</a><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">UPCOMING EVENTS:</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Haunted Halloween Literary Extravaganza!</div><br />On October 31, Halloween Night, we will be haunting Horizon Books of Petoskey from about 4:30 pm until late at night. I have the honor and priveledge of hosting a young author's writing workshop at the bookstore and then reading scary selections from my books. Horizon Books is also hosting a costume contest based on literary characters and giving out delicious delicacies prepared by their Mad Scientists!<br /><br />And best of all, Halloween Night will be the judging of the Scariest Stories in Northern Michigan contest in three categories: elementary, middle school, and high school/adult. All story applications are due to Horizons by Wednesday, October 29, and there are fabulous prizes including gift certificates and books. <br /><br /><div align="center">And how about more book signings? </div><br />October 4: Grayling Middle School<br />October 10-12: Applefest in Charlevoix<br />October 18: Ryder Center at Saginaw Valley State University<br />October 25: Traverse City East Junior High, followed by a night visit to the Haunted Ship of Manistee<br /><br />November 8-9: Wexford Arean, Cadillac<br />November 15: Mt. Pleasant<br /><br />Be sure to check out our website to see when we will be haunting a town near you!<a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">http://www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br /><div align="center">MythMichigan News:</div><br />All month long, in honor of Haunted Halloween and Frank's latest book, <em>The Longquist Adventures: Western Odyssey</em>, we are offering $10 books on our website for ONLINE ORDERS ONLY. Prices are good through October 31, 2008. All orders are processed through our website and through PayPal, the nation's number 1 safe and secure online processor. Check out our special page for the great online prices:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_Halloween_order.htm">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/dogman_Halloween_order.htm</a><br /><br />We also now have AWESOME Dogman T-shirts. These are only $10 each, adult sizes available from Small through 2X Large. They sport a picture of the Dogman with the phrase, "Dogman Survival Guide: Don't Go Out At Night" logo (see a picture on our store site). These are excellent for any Dogman fan, and available only on our website. <br /><br />Once again, we thank all of you, our dedicated fans, for your continued support. The Dogman legend is growing and expanding all over the country and the world. Hopefully we'll get a chance to meet and share stories this fall!<br /><br />Frank<br />Year of the Dogman<br />The Haunting of Sigma<br />The Longquist AdventuresFrank Holes, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03659889835311210942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1327583407700072201.post-4082840493955985192008-08-25T20:39:00.000-07:002008-08-25T21:20:38.983-07:00Dogman Update 8/26/2008Hi there to all of the Dogman fans from around the north and around the world!<br /><br />This past few weeks have really flown by since our last post. August has really been a fabulous month for book sales, as we have averaged nearly 100 books sold each week. And we are starting to branch out to new areas, too. Fans are taking the Dogman legend to Florida, California, Nebraska, Okalahoma, Washington (state), Germany, and even to Central America. That's a lot of sharing!<br /><br />We just returned a week ago from our tour of Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and it was great to see that the Dogman is just as famous out of northern Michigan as he is around here! At least 1 in every 3 or 4 folks who stopped by our booth actually knew about theDogman. Now generally, we spend a lot of time sharing the legend with those who've never heard it. But it is great when we get to talk with those who already know some of the legends. These folks often open up with new stories, sightings, and encounters. We even got wind of a few Dogman sightings in Washington County, WI from earlier this summer. We'll be looking into these for more information. <br /><br />Be sure to check out our website for more information, as well as links to Steve Cook's website where the Dogman encounters and sightings are posted.<br /><a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">http://www.dogman07.com</a><br />Steve's website: <a href="http://www.michigan-dogman.com/">http://www.michigan-dogman.com</a><br /><br />Just this weekend, we talked to two different people who shared stories of strange, canine-like creatures haunting the area around Rudyard, MI (20 years ago) and Vassar, MI (50 years ago). Keep the stories coming, folks!<br /><br /><em>The Haunting of Sigma</em>, the bone-chilling sequel to our first novel, is actually keeping up with sales from <em>Year of the Dogman</em>. Folks just can't get enough of our favorite hairy biped. We blew through the first 500 copies of the novel since its July 4th debut, and luckily we have been able to restock right away to keep up with the demand. <br /><br />Readers love Sigma because its set in a real Michigan town. Sigma is a tiny community between Kalkaska and Grayling. There really isn't much there which helps to imagine the Dogman nearly wiping out the town from its previous state of existence. If you're ever in the area, take a side detour up C571 and enjoy the wild Michigan beauty. As you take it all in, just imagine the events of the novel taking place 21 years ago. It's not too hard to do!<br /><br />Read more about <em>The Haunting of Sigma</em> on its site:<br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/sigma.htm">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/sigma.htm</a><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">Upcoming News:</div><br />We finish our summer tour this weekend in Hoxeyville, MI, just west of Cadillac, for the Hoxeyville Homecoming Celebration. We'll be there all weekend, hanging out and sharing the legend with everyone around. Wexford County is a hotbed of Dogman lore and history, and we look forward to the stories folks will share with us. We've heard there's good food, good drink, and good times all around!<br /><br />And our last stop before school starts again will be in Mackinaw City on Labor Day. The annual Mackinac Bridge Walk will parade right past our tables, set up in the Mackinac Crossings at the Ducks Landing Gift Shop. We'll be there bright and early and stay through the afternoon.<br /><br />Now, what about the fall schedule? <br /><br />We will be posting our fall Haunted Halloween Tour dates on our website very soon, but we can share a few of the upcoming stops with you:<br /><br />September 13, Manistee, MI, Port City Craft Fair<br />September 20-21, Frankenmuth, MI, Zehnders Craft Fair<br />September 27-28, Warrens, WI, Cranberry Festival<br /><br />Also look for us at the Manistee Ghost ship, the Big Rapids Haunted Jail, and a special Halloween Night Extravaganza at Horizons Bookstore in Petoskey. <br /><br />Be sure to check out our website to see when we will be haunting a town near you!<br /><a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">http://www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br /><div align="center">MythMichigan News:</div><br /><em>The Longquist Adventures: Western Odyssey</em>, Frank's latest novel, is now starting to pick up. Designed for younger readers, this is a non-scary novel based on Greek Mythology. We've gotten some great feedback from readers who say it is very well done. Readers comment that it is a lot of fun to see the classical story set in a new setting - the American wild west! And they all enjoy Craig Tollenaar's artwork both on the cover (the T-Rex is excellent) and in the interior sketches. <br /><br />Be sure to check out this new novel on its own website:<br /><a href="http://www.longquist.com/">http://www.longquist.com</a><br /><br />we're still working on getting this new novel around to bookstores, so orders should be sent to our website for processing. Remember, all orders through our website will include autographed novels - you can't get them signed on Amazon.com, you know!<br /><br /><br />Once again, we thank all of you, our dedicated fans, for your continued support. The Dogman legend is growing and expanding all over the country and the world. Hopefully we'll get a chance to meet and share stories this fall!<br /><br />Frank<br /><em>Year of the Dogman</em><br /><em>The Haunting of Sigma</em>Frank Holes, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03659889835311210942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1327583407700072201.post-45807308812956619112008-07-30T20:05:00.000-07:002008-07-30T20:44:29.830-07:00Dogman Update 7/30/2008Hello there Dogman Fans!<br /><br />July has been a banner month for us here in Dogman Country. It all started with a BANG! in Mackinaw City for the July fourth fireworks. We had a great day and evening in the Mackinaw Crossings at True North Books and the Ducks Landing Gifts Store. And then, two days later in Traverse City, we set our all time one-day record for books sold. Special guest Steve Cook and his wife Pam joined us for a fabulous day beneath the Northern Michigan summer sun and the Blue Angels flying overhead. Thousands of folks showed up to the Cherry Fest Craft Show and it was just insane! Steve and I barely had time to sit down to lunch because of all the folks who stopped by to share stories and purchase the variety of Dogman items we had available.<br /><br />Said Steve Cook of the great day at Cherry Fest:<br /><br /><em>"It's been wonderful meeting hundreds of "Dogman" fans at several events this summer, including the Irons Flea Roast and Ox Market, Luther Logging Days, and most of all, The National Cherry Festival in Traverse City. While at first it seemed possibly counterproductive for us to sell the CD/DVD sets and Frank Holes' dogman books in the same tent at the same venue, the synergy of both authors being present to tell the whole story of this remarkable Legend created a one day sales record for BOTH of our products. I can't wait for our next shared event!" -- Steve Cook</em><br /><br />Since that time, we've been on the road meeting our fans all over the state and even into Wisconsin. Stops in Spread Eagle WI, Frankfort, Petoskey, and Cadillac have been great, and we've met so many folks with stories to share.<br /><br />This weekend, the infamous blue pop-up tent will again arrive in Lexington MI to share the Dogman legend with Sanillac and St. Clair counties. We had a tremendous (yet rainy) couple of days in this vacation village, and we look forward to returning!<br /><br />And speaking of Dogman books, we are now proud to announce the release of the second novel, <em>The Haunting of Sigma</em>, which made its debut on July 4th. This prequel actually takes place 20 years ago in 1987, deep in the woods of Kalkaska County. In an intense and frightening week's span, the Dogman completely wipes out this tiny community. Sigma is a real village (you can find it on Michigan maps) you can actually visit, though it's nearly a ghost town now (because of the Dogman???). The few folks we've met from the Sigma area are just amazed that their little community is actually a part of the Dogman legend put down in a novel (even if the village does get devestated!)<br /><br />Get your copy of <em>The Haunting of Sigma</em> on our website. Simply click the link below:<br /><a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">http://www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br /><br />For more on the Dogman, including the latest sightings, be sure to check out Steve Cook's website at: <a href="http://www.michigan-dogman.com/">http://www.michigan-dogman.com</a><br /><div align="center"><br />Our Summer Spectacular Give Away Winner:</div><br />We are still awaiting the reponse from our July winner. However, we will be randomly selecting winners on August 1 (a Dogman t-shirt) from our email list. If you are here on the Dogman Blog as a visitor, please go to our website and sign up for our newsletter to enter. Be sure to tell all of your friends to sign up with us on our website too. Also, names collected at our events will be included, so if you see us out and about, be sure to sign up. And, don't think that just when the summer is over, we will stop the giveaways. This fall and winter we will be again randomly choosing fans from our email list to receive Dogman merchandise. <br /><br /><div align="center">MythMichigan News:</div><br />Frank's third book, <em>The Longquist Adventures: Western Odyssey</em>, is now available for order on Amazon.com and will soon be available in bookstores around the state. This novel is appropriate for upper elementary students through adults. <br /><br />Below is a sneak peek of the back cover of the book:<br /><br /><em>In a great blending of fantasy, adventure, and mythology, Frank Holes, Jr. has set the stage for a new young hero in modern literature with his new series, The Longquist Adventures. Written for elementary students as young as third grade, Western Odyssey, the first novel in the series, will be loved by those at the middle school and high school level, as well as anyone familiar with Greek mythology. <br /></em><br /><em>Based upon the epic Greek tale of Odysseus, yet set in the American Wild West, The Longquist Adventures: Western Odyssey chronicles the journey of a young boy and his guide through a perilous world of dangerous encounters and fantastic creatures. It is a world of gun fights at high noon, stampedes on the great plains, stagecoach robbery, and an ultimate showdown with a ruthless, powerful gangster aboard a turn-of-the-century paddlewheel in the San Francisco Bay. Can the time-traveling boy and the law-abiding Marshal restore order to the chaos of the American West gone truly wild?</em><br /><em></em><br />Learn more about the new novel on its website: <a href="http://www.longquist.com/">http://www.longquist.com</a><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">Upcoming News:</div><br />Our summer book signing tour continues. We'll be haunting a town near you:<br /><br />August 2-3, Lexington MI, Fine Arts Fair<br />August 8-10, St. Johns MI, Mint Festival Craft Fair<br />August 13, Eagle River WI, Paul Bunyan Festival Craft Fair<br />August 16-17, Sun Prairie WI, Sweet Corn Festival Craft Fair<br />August 22, Boyne City MI, Boyne Country Books<br />August 23-24, Mackinaw City MI, Fine Arts Fair<br />August 30-31, Hoxeyville MI, Hoxeyville Homecoming<br /><br />Septermber 1, Mackinaw City (TBA), Labor Day Bridge Walk<br /><br />Of course, we are beginning to set our fall and winter dates. We have tentative stops in Manistee, Leland, Big Rapids, Traverse City, Cadillac, Indian River, Charlevoix, Northville, Houghton Lake, and Warrens WI. We hope to team up with Steve Cook again this fall for several venues too, so be sure to check our website often for updates to our schedule.<br /><br />Mark your calendars with the dates above to pick up your own autographed first edition copy of <em>The Haunting of Sigma</em> and <em>The Longquist Adventures: Western Odyssey</em>. And share your stories with us. We love fans’ who share their mysterious encounters from all over Michigan and the Midwest.<br /><br />As always, a huge thank you to our fans for their generosity. Look for our more of Frank's novels this summer. Keep those eyes peeled for Dogman sightings! And be careful going out at night!<br /><br />FrankFrank Holes, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03659889835311210942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1327583407700072201.post-3269485376090100682008-06-12T20:38:00.000-07:002008-06-12T20:48:51.070-07:00Dogman Update 6/12/2008June 12, 2008:<br /><br />This month has started out quiet for us, but we anticipate things to be a-changin’ soon. Now that school is officially out, we can concentrate on the business of sharing the legend of the Dogman with everyone in Northern Michigan!<br /><br />Our next event is in Lexington, Michigan (north of Port Huron) on June 21-22. We will be in our ever-famous pop-up tent at the Lakeside Craft Fair on Saturday from 10am till 6pm, and on Sunday from 10am till 5pm. Though the tent did sustain some damage in Boyne City from the high winds, we have recovered nicely. There is no type of weather that can stop either the Dogman or us!<br /><br />And then, the mother of all weeks in the north-land, Cherry Festival, will be upon us. If all goes as planned, we will unveil the Dogman sequel, The Haunting of Sigma, that weekend. We will be in Mackinac City at the True North Bookstore and the Ducks Landing gift shop on July 4 (Friday). On July 5 (Saturday), we will be in Traverse City at Horizon’s Bookstore from 11am till 2pm. And then on July 6 (Sunday), we will once again pop up the ol’ tent at the Cherry Festival Craft Fair. And as a special, on July 6, we welcome an honored guest, Steve Cook, the father of the Dogman and the artist behind “The Legend” song that started it all. We will have novels and CDs to be signed by the artists. Come one, come all, we look forward to seeing everyone! Mark your calendars now to attend!<br /><br />For more on the Dogman, including the latest sightings, be sure to check out Steve Cook's website at: <a href="http://www.michigan-dogman.com/">http://www.michigan-dogman.com</a><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">Our Summer Spectacular Give Away Winner:</div><br />We are proud to announce that Nolan Ricketts from Holland, Michigan, was our June winner in our Summer Spectacular. He will be receiving an official Year of the Dogman baseball cap. Congratulations, Nolan!<br /><br />We will also be randomly selecting winners on July 1 (a Dogman poster) and August 1 (a Dogman t-shirt) from our email list. If you are here on the Dogman Blog as a visitor, please go to our website and sign up for our newsletter to enter. Be sure to tell all of your friends to sign up with us on our website too. Also, names collected at our events will be included, so if you see us out and about, be sure to sign up.<br /><br /><div align="center">MythMichigan News:</div><br />The Haunting of Sigma, the terrifying prequel to Year of the Dogman, has just passed the final corrections process and the last of the formatting will be complete soon. We seem to be on track to release it, as planned, on the July 4th weekend. <br /><br /><br />You’ve just got to check out artist Craig Tollenaar’s work on the cover. It is simply, awesome! The new official website for Sigma can be accessed by clicking the link below:<br /><a href="http://www.griswoldmountain.com/sigma.htm">http://www.griswoldmountain.com/sigma.htm</a><br /><br />On the site, you can see the cover, the text from the back cover, and a short book review. It promises to be an instant classic among cryptozoology fans. Quite honestly, my wife wouldn’t even read it. It is a much darker, more sinister novel than the first one. <br /><br />Basically, Sigma takes place in 1987, twenty years before the events of Year of the Dogman. Sigma is a tiny forest community (a real place!) in the backwoods of Kalkaska County. Based on the little-known song by the father of the Dogman, Steve Cook, this tiny village is terrorized by the creature that walks upright, though the final results aren’t as fortunate as the ending of Year of the Dogman. Readers familiar with the territory will undoubtedly recognize many real geographical locations and some of the historical details from 1987. <br /><br /><div align="center">Upcoming News:</div><div align="left"><br />The Longquist Adventures: Western Odyssey, is also coming along nicely. It has taken more time than I had originally anticipated, but it will be definitely worth it. From the digital proof I’ve seen on chapter 1, the book will rank up there with books like The Spiderwick Chronicles. The illustrations, by artist Craig Tollenaar, are just first-rate. You can see some of his handiwork on the official website by clicking the link below:<br /><a href="http://www.longquist.com/">http://www.longquist.com</a></div><br />We have a few updates to the Dogman stories section of our website. We encourage our fans to submit stories, both real and fictional, and we’ll definitely post them. Also, teachers out there – as you plan for the following year, you can pick up classroom sets of our novels at great discount prices. Get a quote on our website. <br /><a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">http://www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br /><br />Mark your calendars with the dates above to pick up your own autographed first edition copy of The Haunting of Sigma. And share your stories with us. We love fans’ who share their mysterious encounters from all over Michigan and the Midwest. <br /><br />As always, a huge thank you to our fans for their generosity. Look for our upcoming books this summer. Keep those eyes peeled for Dogman sightings! And be careful going out at night!<br /><br />FrankFrank Holes, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03659889835311210942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1327583407700072201.post-2626942215775018892008-05-14T15:16:00.000-07:002008-05-14T15:18:56.221-07:00Dogman Update 5/14/2008May 14, 2008: <br /><br />Mushrooms, mushrooms, and more mushrooms! <br /><br />Seems like we're up to our eyeballs in mushrooms! We even found a big handful out back of the hacienda. They sure were good fried up in a pan of butter and spread on a big porterhouse!<br /><br />Last weekend at the Mesick Mushroom Festival was fabulous! Not only did we set an all-time record for sales in a one-day event, but we were able to meet so many great fans of the Dogman. We were impressed with the party such a little town could put together. The food and the company were both excellent! Since the debut of Year of the Dogman, we've sold nearly 1200 copies, and we've re-ordered another set so we can start the summer out right! We hope to reach 5000 copies by the end of the summer!<br /><br />Be sure to check out the Dogman website at: <a href="http://www.dogman07.com/">http://www.dogman07.com</a><br /><br />This weekend we will be at the National Mushroom Festival in Boyne City, MI. The craft fair is in the Veterans Park downtown, right on the waterfront. It promises to be a great weekend!<br /><br /><div align="center">MythMichigan News:<br /></div><br />Our next novel, The Longquist Adventures: Western Odyssey, has moved to the design phase with our publisher, Booksurge. You can see the cover of the novel on the novel's website: <a href="http://www.longquist.com/">http://www.longquist.com</a><br /><br /><div align="center">Upcoming News:<br /></div><br />The long-awaited sequel to Year of the Dogman is nearing completion. The manuscript is almost finished, and our editor is working on a chapter-by-chapter proofing so we can get the new novel out this summer. In fact, we are now setting a release date of July 4, 2008. On July 5, we will be attending a book signing at Horizon's Bookstore in Traverse City. And the big event of the summer will be our attendance at the National Cherry Festival craft fair on July 6. We have the honor of joining Steve Cook, the artist who performed "The Legend", the original song of the Dogman that we all enjoy on the radio. Steve will be selling his new Legend Edition CD set, and we will together be signing books and music sets. <br /><br />For more on the Dogman, including the latest sightings, be sure to check out Steve Cook's website at: <a href="http://www.michigan-dogman.com/">http://www.michigan-dogman.com</a><br /><br />Mark your calendars now to attend! As the summer gets closer, we will be revealing more details about the new novel. Of course, if you want a sneak peek of The Haunting of Sigma, stop by one of our spring appearances and pick up an advanced marketing copy, complete with a few 'snippets' of several chapters. This new novel promises to be much darker and more intense than the first!<br /><br />As always, we thank all of our great fans for their support! Keep those eyes peeled for Dogman sightings!<br /><br />FrankFrank Holes, Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03659889835311210942noreply@blogger.com0