After a lot of unexpected interest, an NPR interview, two articles in the LA Times, a mild amount of controversy, and several thousand reprints and reblogs, our shopsitter position is filled.
Andrew Whalen, a nice lad from Gahanna, Ohio (no jokes, thank you) is a member of the film industry workforce in NYC. From a pool of more than 100, whittled down to 3 finalists, we picked him. Poor kid.
Because when we posted this on Facebook:
After much discussion and a prayer, we have asked Andrew Whalen, an Ohio native working in NYC’s film industry, to shopsit while we’re out trying to make every English-reading person in America like Wendy’s book. Big Stone Gappers please make him welcome! (And please do not take him to High Knob for a snipe hunt. Thank you.)
This is what happened:
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Elissa Powers dagnabbit woman! You take the fun outta everything.14 hours ago · Like · 1 -
Susan Alford But it’s OK to take him to High Knob Lake for the submarine races?14 hours ago · Like · 4 -
Tom Swadley well whut, I wanna know, does he like that dagnabbit Keltic music?? -
Kathy Osborne Still May we take him Squatch hunting?
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Elissa Powers Yes, may we?14 hours ago · Like · 1
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Jack Beck Kathy Osborne Still – you leave that nice boy alone!13 hours ago · Like · 1
Jack Beck In fact that goes for all of you ;0)13 hours ago · Like -
Susan Alford He might be nice when he arrives but…13 hours ago · Like · 2
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Paula Welch Well then where may we take him for the snipe hunt any one know a good spot ?13 hours ago · Like · 2 -
Elissa Powers ^ Paula, you and I could work well together. 😀13 hours ago · Like · 1 -
Wendy Welch NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Elissa Powers What do you think she means by that?13 hours ago · Like
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Heather Scull Volk Squatchin’ it is.13 hours ago · Like
Paula Welch Why I honestly haven’t got the slightest idea .13 hours ago · Like · 1 -
Elissa Powers Snipe hunt, Keokee Lake13 hours ago · Like -
Wendy Welch No moonshine13 hours ago · Like -
Heather Scull Volk Can we blindfold him and set him out near Coeburn? Pleeeeease?13 hours ago · Like · 1
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Paula Welch Sounds fine …. Someone will have to phone the man to teach him the Snipe call. Moonshine is the best Bait!13 hours ago · Like · 1
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Heather Scull Volk OMGosh – he will be here for HALLOWEEN!13 hours ago · Like · 1 -
Elissa Powers eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!13 hours ago · Like · 1 -
Paula Welch Oh boy ….It’s been such a long time since I have visited my family … it does get awfully chilly up here around that time of year … -
Jack Beck Tom Swadley – I don’t know about you but I sense approaching banjos – – – –13 hours ago · Like · 1 -
Elissa Powers Time to hone up on my local dialect. *ahem* *memememememeeeee*13 hours ago · Like · 2 -
Paula Welch Ohhh we could combine the Squatchin’ and snipe …. you know first you drink the moonshine … snipes like the smell of it on your breath … once you catch the sipe you set it as bait for the Squatch ,,,-
Heather Scull Volk Is he on facebook? Dang them New Yorkers with better things to do… he needs to be on facebook.13 hours ago · Like · 1 -
Elissa Powers How long are we allowed to drive him around on all the old routes before we inform him we now have highways?13 hours ago · Unlike · 1
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Paula Welch John Deer or Allis Chambers ???? you know, to get around on and pull the hay wagons ?13 hours ago · Like -
Mike Still Can we tell him you need a gallon of striped paint then? -
Elissa Powers Mule.13 hours ago · Like -
Wendy Welch I dunno, Robert Gray; we may just have ruined this nice kid’s life…. -
Heather Scull Volk God love it and bless his heart.13 hours ago · Like · 2 -
Robert Gray I guess I have to take half that responsibility, Wendy. But I’m sure he’ll do just fine. It was great having a chance to meet you at SIBA and find some time to chat. I just got back to upstate New York a couple hours ago. It’s cold here! And where’s the beach? 🙂13 hours ago · Unlike · 1 -
Paula Welch He could do a film “a reflection on cultural myths and legends in pastoral Virginia.13 hours ago · Like · 1 -
Heather Scull Volk BTW, I hope he drinks.13 hours ago · Like · 1 -
Wendy Welch If he doesn’t now, he will before it’s over, Heather…. -
Mike Still Notice that not one of us suggested taking him on a canoe trip . . .13 hours ago · Like · 1 -
Paula Welch If I remember correctly Wendy, one of your blogs mentioned how Jack had extra bottles of a certain whiskey about … He could be given lessons on how to correctly imbibe the product.13 hours ago · Unlike ·Mike Still Better yet, tell him the shortbread had better be damned superb when you all get back.-
13 hours ago · Like · 1Elissa PowersWill you be scooping out the outhouse in advance of his arrival?13 hours ago · Like
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Paula Welch OOoo He could dig a new trench for it !13 hours ago · Unlike · 2 -
Paula Welch Elissa, perhaps you could show him aroundtown and introduce him to all th right people .-
Elissa Powers I do know people…. yes yes…
Because of the locals, I’m one of the most local.
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Rachael Miller This sounds like the perfect time for us to start our bookstore D&D game! -
Wendy Welch *tips jug over back of wrist, drinks heavily*13 hours ago · Like · 2 -
Paula Welch Such hospitality, the man will hardly know how to take it all in .13 hours ago · Like -
Wendy Welch Someone please explain to Andrew that Stacy M. Baker is not allowed to drop off any cats while we’re gone.13 hours ago · Like · 3 -
Elissa Powers We will install an anti-new-kitty force field around the house.Or I can install a couple of dachshunds.
13 hours ago · Like-
Paula Welch I recommend dachshunds.13 hours ago · Like · 1
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Paulina Ley Tell him who has the bail money… And who can get him out if town for the night if he needs it. -
Paulina Ley And don’t worry Wendy. I’ll protect him. It won’t be any trouble at all. I know their tricks, he will be fine.
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Jennifer P. Mullins We’ll be nice to him. We’ll cook dinner for him and take him to the movies. Maybe he’ll join our writing group. Maybe we can have a murder mystery while he’s here. New blood!! How exciting!!3 hours ago · Unlike · 2
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Wendy Welch: Books, Yarn, Cats, Opioids 
My words were taken out of context.
ROTFL! Tell it to the doxies!
I was cast in a negative light.
Never fear; your wit burns brightly enough to give you sunburn (but then, so do 40-watt light bulbs). Plus I already told Andrew that if I were storming Hell I’d want you guarding my back with your broadsword.
Duz at mean we kin watch Deliverance fer movie night?
Il Postino first, then if there’s time, Deliverance. Or, as the case may be, Le Deliveriate.
On a more serious note. Congrats Wendy You’re in Redbook Magazine. October issue page 23
WHOOHOO! Thanks! I can’t find a copy in town, so when Brenda’s done with hers, mayhap……?
Aye. Mayhap