Boone Barnaby
Joe Cottonwood returns, this time treating us to a children’s book. It’s called Boone Barnaby:
If you liked Clear Heart, I think you’ll like this one too. It’s got great characters, it’s down-to-earth, it’s fun. And better yet, this one’s friendly to children. Boone Barnaby is about three boys testing the limits of life in their scrappy little town. It’s about collecting garbage, climbing trees, catching a criminal, and talking to dragonflies.
Boone Barnaby lives in a small town full of large characters: San Puerco, California. There’s Boone’s father, who loves Studebakers and doo-wop, and who has a habit of walking around the dark streets of town late at night carrying a can of gasoline. There’s Boone’s friend Danny, who has nothing—sometimes not even a home—but who wants everything, even if he has to steal for it. There’s Boone’s other friend Babcock, who finds trilobites and organizes a picket line and looks like a wet coconut. There’s Walt, the soccer coach, who drives a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. And there’s Boone himself, who has a few problems: His soccer team is thrown out of the league. The dogcatcher is after Boone’s dog. The town hoodlum is throwing rocks. Boone’s father is arrested for burning down houses. The adult world doesn’t seem fair, but with the help of his friends—Danny and Babcock—Boone tries to make things right and maybe learn just who he is and what he stands for.
Boone Barnaby is Part One of the San Puerco Trilogy, three award-winning novels that have been loved by adults and children alike, about the adventures of three boys in a town of cranks and dreamers—and adventurous children. “This warmly engaging story is resplendent with humor, irony, thoughtful introspection, and well-paced plotting.” —School Library Journal.
Joe Cottonwood lives in the scrappy little town of La Honda, California, which has its own share of cranks and dreamers—and adventurous children. He has written four award-winning novels for children including the best-selling Quake!, four novels for adults including Famous Potatoes and Clear Heart, a book of poetry, and numerous songs. He has worked as a plumber, electrician, and carpenter and currently makes his living as a building contractor. He recently discovered that he has been writing podcasts all his life, though he didn’t know it until podcasts were finally invented.
(One note before you listen: The novel was written in 1988 before every house had a computer, every person could get a cell phone, and every mom drove an SUV. It was written when every President was a white man. It wasn’t all that long ago.)
Joe’s launching with 8 episodes, so a custom feed is probably your best bet so you can control how often you get new episodes. Or nab the default feed if you want them all and new ones as fast as Joe can put them out.
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January 16th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
Welcome back, Joe – and Susan! I’ve been waiting for this story for a long time, and I know I’m not alone.
January 17th, 2009 at 9:53 am
Hi Gail. I found myself tempted to write more female roles just so I could use more of Susan’s wonderful voice.
January 17th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Susan?!?
Susan’s back?!
Ok, NOW you got my interest.
That Cottonwood fella is ok but SUSAN…
Sigh.
January 18th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Nathan! I wondered how to get in touch!
(Susan! You heard that, right? It was so good to hear your name in the credits.)
Now, about the story. I’m up to ep 2 and I really like the coach, he’s good to the kids. I like how he talks to them, he never says what I expect.
We have new readers, too. They are doing a good job.
January 22nd, 2009 at 4:26 pm
It will take a while for me to get some feedback on this podcast, especially from the age group for which it is (supposedly) intended. How do you publicize (for free, of course) to fourth, fifth, sixth graders? As an adult, I can’t go on Facebook and spam them – I think you can get arrested for that. I’m trying to reach their parents, but that’s a slow job and rather indirect. Would you, when you were 11, listen to something because your mother said you should?
Meanwhile, for you (mostly) adults out there who have heard both Clear Heart and Boone Barnaby, here’s my question: Should my next podcast project be an adult novel I wrote 35 years ago (title Famous Potatoes)? Or should I record the next book in the San Puerco cycle (title Danny Ain’t, which I may change to Danny Coyote – and yeah, it’s about Danny)?
Place your votes here. Adult or kids. Or should I maybe just shut up…
January 23rd, 2009 at 10:32 am
Joe, I do not care what you record next, I only want to encourage you to record.
1. Practically speaking, how hard is it to round up the cast for the Boone books? You’ve got a good one, keep their noses to the grindstone.
2. Lots of people listen to Podiobooks with family members, the stories will get around. It will take weeks rather than days, give it some time!
3. Does Famous Potatoes have a part for Susan in it?
An important consideration for some.
4. Boone is aimed at a young crowd, but you do not write down to them, so all of us enjoy the stories.
Looks like I’m voting for a continuation of the San Puerco cycle.
January 24th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Gail: Don’t worry, I’m addicted. I will record. Famous Potatoes has great parts for Susan that will really test her range – and I’m confident she would ace the test. Of the Boone books, one has a terrific female part, the other doesn’t. The problem is that I don’t know if I can get Susan back – she’s a very busy person (and an incredibly wonderful human being, by the way, which probably makes everybody want a piece of her time). Maybe chocolates would help. Or flowers. And small dogs. And fan mail.
February 4th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Kind of hard to explain why I like Joe’s stuff. I just really love them. They get you where you live.
February 7th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Thanks, Joe.
I just finished this one and … well …
Thanks.
House rules.
February 18th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Joe, what a charming “feel good” story. Thank you! I think it’s your narration (as well as Susan’s and the rest of the ensemble) made the story shine. If I were just reading, I don’t think the story would have been nearly as captivating. I especially loved Boone’s theory on what turns grown-ups grey! A lot of truth in that comment. I look forward to listening to whatever you choose to record next.
February 19th, 2009 at 9:33 am
What lovely comments. Thank you Barry, and Jane, and Nathan. I’m working on two follow-up books to Boone right now. One is about Danny; the other is about Babcock. I’m frustrated today because I have a cold and my voice sounds weird, so I can’t narrate until I have my voice back. But it gives me time to catch up on comments and other pleasures.
September 15th, 2009 at 9:53 am
This is a great story for kids *and* adults alike. I think there’s lessons here everyone needs to learn, like being kind to others. Not to mention the story’s just plain entertaining!
September 24th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Glad it entertained. I love this feedback.
October 30th, 2009 at 2:26 am
I’ve listened to both Clear Heart and Boone Barnaby and realy enjoyed them both. I’m just starting Babcock and it sounds good to. I realy like the diferent voices, it makes it like a play in stead of just a reading. I got my 11 year old to start listening to Boone Barnaby and he is realy enjoying it. Keep up the good work Joe. . . we love it!
October 30th, 2009 at 10:57 am
Thanks, Howard. Please keep me updated on what your child thinks of the podcasts. I value the feedback, good or bad.
February 2nd, 2010 at 11:11 am
Love your writing, narration and everything else. Joe please write more about those wonderful people in San Puerco. I enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed Babcock. I started listening to Clear Heart today. You are an excellent writer and I have become a big fan. Also I really loved the music. Do you have any links to this musician. Oh and since you mentioned Facebook, I think I will look for you there as well. Keep up the great work.
February 6th, 2010 at 10:32 am
The musician – Will Fourt – lives in San Francisco and performs with several bands around the Bay Area. I’ve put together a CD that includes his podcast songs plus several others (some will appear on future podcasts). It’s not studio quality, but it’s fresh and lively. I could get you one if you send me an email (joecot@coastside.net). His only website is out of date: it’s a MySpace page for his former band, which was called Five Dollar Suit He got tired of holding a band together with all the usual drama. He’s a great collaborative musician, very creative and original with absolutely no ego. I love working with him. We’re creating a bunch of new songs right now.