A fun little book which contains no exercises but rather simply explains the concepts, strategies, and vocabulary of algebra. What are polynomials and why do I care? What's a quadratic equation and how do I solve it? How do you multiply polynomials? What is the slope of a line? What are functions? The language is clear and often amusing. The authors assume the reader has no knowledge of algebra, and also assume he or she has forgotten how to multiply fractions and other preliminary processes. Not a stand-alone text, but a book to read on a Saturday afternoon before taking your first algebra class, it touches nearly all the concepts of a first year course. It has been used and praised by eighth grade students as well as college students. A wonderful refresher before taking a college entrance exam or graduate admissions test.
After 89 Real Publishers rejected There Are No Electrons, I formed Clearwater Publishing Company to publish it myself. That was twenty years ago; the book has sold nearly 100,000 copies and continues to sell well. Thank you to everyone who has bought it.
Then I wrote two math books with Jim Loats, Ph.D.- Algebra Unplugged and Calculus for Cats. I also published my humorous novel, The Land of Debris and the Home of Alfredo. In answer to the hordes of people who ask me, hey, Kenn, how can I write better myself so I can live your cushy lifestyle, I published Joy Writing: Discover and Develop Your Creative Voice. Although, I must point out, I drive a 13 year old cargo van and camp in a 30 year old motor home. So "cushy" isn't the first word springing to most folks' minds about my lifestyle. But I do enjoy writing and that book describes my own philosophy about it.
While I was driving into the mountains, a voice whispered this sentence into my ear: "Some people say I ain't smart enough to have did what I done." The imaginary voice cracked me up. I spend so much time trying to write better, the idea of writing a book that was, at best, grammatically inconsistent seemed liberating and fun, only I had no idea for a story. When I got home, I tried to write in that voice and the result, a few months later, was "Jumper and the Bones." It's a sweet and sometimes funny little novel. I released it as a Kindle book and have gotten some really great feedback. But don't buy it if bad grammar irritates you. That's just how Jumper talks. I had not thought about the market, but it turns out that some kids enjoy the book at least as much as adults.
Over the last couple of years I started blogging, because everyone says authors "need" to blog. Once or twice a week I write about my tropical fish, or politics, or gardening. Sometimes I chat about writing or promoting books. My blog is called "The Wordguise Alembic;" predictably, I put together a collection of sixty or so blogs into a kindle book called "The Wordguise Alembic Volume One." Besides blogs and poems, it contains lengthy excerpts from each of my other published books, as well as chapters from two of my books in progress. It's an easy way to sample them all and choose which one you might like to read all the way through.
My little publishing venture has led me to meet many interesting folks, from famous guys like Dave Barry and Clive Cussler to folks as obscure as me. I've gotten neat letters from Ray Bradbury, Tom Robbins and a host of others, as well as from prisoners, folks in the White House, students and hopeful writers of all kinds. Writing introduced me to my tribe, and it's a cool bunch of people. I've had some fun surprises, as well. Famed inventor Dean Kaman was asked on the radio about his favorite books and he mentioned Calculus for Cats at some length. I discovered that Encyclopedia Britannica had recommended one of my math books. Once, at a bluegrass festival five hundred miles from home I saw someone in the audience reading Algebra Unplugged. I had to show them my driver's license to convince them I was one of the authors. At a lunch for local writers, I introduced myself to a guy whose eyes got wide as he shook my hand. "I've HEARD of you!" he said in astonishment. I do not, apparently, look like a guy someone might have heard of.
I also write songs and play guitar. I've performed on a few CD's and set my coffee cup down on even more. I was in the acoustic group "Cottonwood" for ten years or so; we released two CD's. Each included a few of my originals.
I like to garden, and when the harvest isn't so impressive, I let the plants go to seed, collect the seed, and try to convince my wife that's what I was going for all along. I harvest peaches from a half dozen trees I raised from seeds. I've recently gotten fascinated with growing mushrooms and have jars of mycelium lurking all around my office. I also make wine and soap and buttermilk, which is fun as long as you remember which one you're doing at any given time. I'm a defensive mechanic who will try to fix the problem that has stranded me at the side of the road for a long time before I call someone who knows what he's doing. Similarly, I will repair my own plumbing until my clothes are just too soaked, and will wire a light switch when asked to do so. I am rarely asked.
I've been married to my beautiful and very patient high school sweetheart for over 40 years now. We have three grown sons, a couple of cats, a bunch of guppies, and some banana slugs in a terrarium. I've been involved with a number of book-related non profits in Colorado, and served on the board of directors for a few. I'm nearly finished writing a book about ALS and Alzheimer's called "Revenge of the Pond Scum." I've written a half dozen unpublished novels and may release another one on Kindle just to see how that goes. But if you're listening, and your name is "Random House" I'd sure be willing to let you have a chance at them first.
