My name is Ken Lewis and I am an author living in Oregon, but originally from Washington state. In September 2005 my wife JaNell and I spent a few days in Long Beach celebrating our anniversary. I was still working on my novel “Little Blue Whales” then, and even though I’d been to your town several times over the years I had forgotten what a wonderful place it is.

I was so impressed with Long Beach, and the fact that Marsh’s Free Museum was still there, (and better than ever) I put them both in my novel. “Little Blue Whales” is one of the selected mystery novels appearing in “Put the Mystery Into Your Travel,” this month’s feature article in the latest edition of Spirit Magazine, published by Southwest Airlines. Here is an excerpt from the article:

“In fact, mysteries are one of the best ways to get a feel for a place before you go there. Never been to the Texas State Fair? Read “The Next Time You Die” by Harry Hunsicker to get an introduction to Big Tex. Looking for a unique café? Check out “Triple Cross” by Kit Ehrman to learn about the eclectic Wagner’s Pharmacy in Louisville, Kentucky. Like to collect odd trinkets? Read “Little Blue Whales” by Ken Lewis to discover a curio shop called Marsh’s Free Museum in Long Beach, Washington.”

To see the complete article and the book map featuring Long Beach (sorry, but they placed it a little higher up on the coast than it should be) and learn about other real mystery novel locations around the U.S. just click on the link below. Also, in Little Blue Whales, Long Beach and Marsh’s Free Museum appear on pages 242 and 243 … just in case you were curious.

http://www.spiritmag.com/2007_09/features/ft3.php

Ken Lewis

Rogue River, Ore.