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Rhode Island

MANY OF YOU ARE NOT AWARE OF A BOOK SOON TO BE PUBLISHED CALLED "BACKYARD GIANTS"

THE BOOK IS WRITTEN BY THE WALL STREET JOURNALS OWN SUSAN WARREN. A PERSON MANY IN THE GIANT PUMPKIN WORLD HAVE HEARD FROM OVER THE LAST YEAR.

GETTING TO KNOW SUSN THESE PAST COUPLE YEARS I CAN HONESTLY SAY THE BOOK WHILE RELATING OF COURSE TO GIANT PUMPKINS AS THE TITLE "BACKYARD GIANTS " INDICATES, ITS MUCH ,MUCH MORE THAN JUST ANOTHER HOW TO BOOK.

IN FACT ITS MORE ABOUT JOURNEY AND DREAMS THAN IT IS ABOUT WHO, HOW AND WHY.

WE (THE WALLACE FAMILY) MET SUSAN DURING THAT SNGPG 2005 WEIGH OFF)
SHE HAD ORIGINALLY CONTACTED US ON BEHALF OF THE WALL STREET JOURNAL TO DO AN ARTICLE ABOUT OUR CLUBS GIANT PUMPKIN WEIGH OFF.

DURING THE COURSE OF THAT WEEKEND SHE WAS WITHESS TO THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF THIS GREAT HOBBY OF OURS. SHE MEET PUMPKIN GROWERS FROM ALL OVER SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND, AND WAS WITNESS TO PUMPKINS BEING HOISTED TO STARDOM, AS WELL AS THOSE THAT ENDED UP BEING LEFT BEHIND IN A PILE OF DISAPOINTMENT.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, THAT WEEKEND SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE HOBBY. TO THE POINT THAT SHE WANTED TO WRITE A STORY ABOUT HER EXPERIENCES AND OBSERVATIONS.

SUSAN WENT ON TO SPENT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME DURING 2006 RESEARCHING, INTERVIEWING AND VISITING GROWERS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.
SHE ATTENDED AS MANY SEMINARS AS POSSIBLE, INTERVIEWD MANY GROWERS EARLY ON BEFORE FOCUSING ON A HANDFULL TOWARD SEASONS END. SHE EVEN GREW HER OWN AG PLANTS IN TEXAS LAST YEAR.

THE ENDING TO SUSANS BOOK COULD NEVER HAVE BEEN SCRIPTED BETTER HAD IT BEEN A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE. RIGHT THERE ALONG WITH THE GOOD GUY THATS OVERCOME DEFEAT RIDING OFF INTO THE SUNSET

LOOK FOR SUSANS BOOK "BACKYARD GIANTS" TO HIT THE BOOK SHELVES THE FALL OF 2007.I WOULD INCOURAGE ANYONE THAT EVER HAD A DREAM TO READ A COPY.

THIS BOOK WILL BE APPEALING TO PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. JUST LIKE HER SUBJECT MATTER.

PAP

2/14/2007 6:51:28 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Way to go! Looking forward to it.

2/14/2007 9:02:44 AM

Santa Cruz, CA

Sounds like a "must read" for all of us! I'm looking forward to it too.

2/14/2007 9:19:50 AM

Michigan

Yeah, another grower in Texas!!!

~Jessica

2/14/2007 10:23:13 AM

Cologne Brescia Italy

Great! I have met Susan way e mail last year, I have sent her some
e mail about my life and how I grow pumpkins here in Italy.
hope I will have a copy of this book
Please, Pap keep me in touch when will be the moment
Thanks
Sergio

2/14/2007 12:40:03 PM

Port Elgin Ontario Canada

I believe that she attended the Niagara Convention last year....

2/14/2007 4:32:11 PM

Rhode Island

lisa

yes susan was there kast year. recorder, note pad and camera in hand. see sat off by herself during most of the festivities. just joining us for lunch etc.

ill give here credit, shes a great reporter. she keeps digging until she gets the whole story and beyond.

susan has written and interviewed people from all walks of life in covering stories and writing articles for the w.s.j.

dick

2/14/2007 9:24:43 PM

New Castle, Pa.

I had the pleasure of meeting Susan at last summers OVGPG's patch tour. Susan I wish you the best with the books publication! I'm looking forward to getting my copy of " Backyard Giants". Way to Go Susan!!!

Tim

2/14/2007 9:31:00 PM

Phoenix, AZ

She came by and visted my small patch April of last year. It was a great time. Most definitely great at asking a lot of questions.

She just found it amazing that I would take up growing pumpkins in the middle of the desert...sometimes I wonder the same thing.

2/14/2007 11:10:07 PM

[email protected]

Dick, when I spoke with her she was planning to try growing. Do you know if she did?

2/14/2007 11:20:20 PM

Rhode Island

Yes steve, she and her daughter grew a couple plants in 2006 starting around late feburary i believe .
Susan wanted to experience some of the highs and lows of the hobby for herself. She did thats for sure.
Not sure what she ended up with around a couple hundred pounds id guess.
Which by the way, is darn good for someone who is on the road as much as she.
I think shes at it again this year. SHES HOOKED
Dick

2/15/2007 5:58:29 AM

Belmont, NH

Yup, Hooked for sure.

Bruce

2/15/2007 6:44:44 AM

Boston, MA

I just checked online and the book is now up for pre-order on Amazon.com and other online bookstores. It is coming out on Sept 4.
(http://www.amazon.com/Backyard-Giants-Passionate-Heartbreaking-Glorious/dp/1596912782/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-9011863-0650865?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184720116&sr=8-1)
or just go to amazon.com and type in "backyard giants"
It would be neat if everyone who planned to get a copy (and I can't think of anyone here who wouldn't) would buy it on the same day. That would give it a high amazon ranking which will get more non-growers to hear about the book.

7/17/2007 9:04:07 PM