Batt publishes birding book, Domeier writes sequel

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

Everybody who reads the Star Eagle knows Al Batt and Mark Domeier can write.

Batt has written for nationally syndicated comics for many years, and his column has graced the pages of this newspaper since before it was the Star Eagle. Domeier, whose Page 2 column has become a must read for most people, has published a novel.

Now, Batt has published a book and Domeier has written a sequel to his first.

A news release on Batt’s book, “A Life Gone to the Birds,” reads as follows:

“Squirrels attacking motorcyclists. Alien abductions. Koi-feeding cardinals. Binocular lust. Welcome to the life of Al Batt.”

Batt, of rural Hartland, is a writer, speaker, storyteller, and humorist. Audiences around the globe have fallen in love with Al’s nature stories through his newspaper columns, radio shows, and magazine articles. “A Life Gone to the Birds,” brings together the best of those stories in a delightful collection.

Featuring original illustrations from artist Kevin Pope, the book takes readers back to Al’s fledgling years on a dairy farm in Minnesota and follows his many misadventures with skunks, “ghost owls,” honey-and-sugar sandwiches, and, of course, birds. As Al grows older, the stories only get more interesting. Each anecdote is served in Al’s signature folksy style, lightly seasoned with wit and wisdom.

Read stories from a guy of whom the president of the United States once said, “Who?” You will learn why Al has never been asked to bring the potato salad to the Association of Normal People’s Picnic. Some people claim that Al is a storyteller from Minnesota, but he is just a guy who loves birds. 

A Life Gone to the Birds is available from www.albatt.net or by contacting Al at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 507-845-2836.

Said Batt, “I have some expertise. I can tell a blue jay from an oak tree. It’s not that easy to be an author. I started this book when I was 8 years old. You’d think it would have been a thicker book. I would like to say something to that girl in my second grade class who sneered at my six-page book (double-spaced) about the cowboy who rode a horse named Cow and brought evildoers to justice by giving them disapproving looks. To her I say, ‘Neener, neener, neener.’”

What people are saying about Al:

• “Al is one of the most kind, genuine, and motivating human beings due to his deep love of people and birds. This guy knows how to spin a yarn and twist a word for my reading pleasure. A mash-up of Norman Rockwell and Bill Cosby. One normally doesn’t think about comedic timing in writing, but Al Batt’s got it.” — Robert Mortenson of “Birding is Fun”

• “Al comes at you from left field, makes you laugh, makes you think, and does it with fewer words than an advertising jingle!” — Bo Beolens, aka “Fatbirder”

• “Al Batt (aka Al B of Hartland), is our first and only Official Ornithologist, for two excellent reasons: He really knows his birds, and he writes about them in a most entertaining way. You will quickly discover that reading his bird stories is a simple pleasure of the highest order.” — “Bulletin Board,” St. Paul Pioneer Press

For Domeier, an English teacher at NRHEG and a resident of Ellendale, “Heroics 201,” is a sequel to his first novel, “Heroics 101.”

The blurb on the back of Heroics 201 reads:

“Captain Camo and Wingnut are back for their second year of college and another go at crime fighting! This time they face an inept crime family and a threat from someone close to the somewhat-seasoned super heroes. Plus, is there a new hero waiting in the wings to join the duo? Action abounds as the heroes continue to learn on the job while defending Chicago!”

Domeier wrote the rough draft in November 2011, during National Novel Writing Month.

“Between my wife and I, we've probably re-read it 5-6 times, revising each time,” he said.

Domeier wanted to follow up on the characters he so enjoyed writing in his first book.

“Wingnut and Captain Camo were fun to write and really led me on a path I didn't expect,” said Domeier. “Neither of these books has ended the way I thought they would when I first started writing them. That's the fun thing about writing: just letting the winds take you where they want. If you try to plot out every little twist and turn and stay rigid in your writing, you can miss out on fun ideas that pop out of a scene.”

For instance, without giving too much away, there's a major turning point in the career of one of the heroes toward the end of this book. Domeier had no intention of that until he wrote that chapter.

“I sat there and realized that this change made complete sense,” said Domeier, who gives a lot of credit to his wife.

“Michelle helped me so much in writing this,” he said. “She not only understands my love of writing and tolerates me sitting in front of the computer a great deal, but she also fed me ideas along the way which helped form this book.”

Domeier heard a lot of suggestions from former students who read his first book and from others who read it, and he listened. He also got advice from Doug Wilhelm, the author of “The Revealers” and “True Shoes” books students read at NRHEG.

“Doug was a great voice to listen to since he's struggled through the publishing game, both self-publishing and through a regular publisher,” stated Domeier. “His advice to really look at every word I write and scrutinize it helped me refine my writing style in this book.”

Domeier considers both books to be fun reads. He realizes super heroes aren't for everyone, but tried to make these as realistic as possible. There are no Norse gods or flying Avengers, and some elements are based in scientific fact. NRHEG science teacher Amanda Inouye helped with some smoke bomb ideas for the book, and Domeier took into account real repercussions from fighting criminals.

“Neither book is going to win any prizes, but I think they're easy to follow and will leave readers satisfied at the end,” he said.

NRHEG 10th grader Kristen McKay created the cover.

“I saw the amazing talent she had in 8th grade when she created a comic book for my class and immediately thought of her when I was coming up with a cover idea,” said Domeier. “She did a tremendous job, better than anything I could have dreamed up!”

Either of Domeier’s books is available on Amazon or directly through him. He’s even got a discount if you buy both books now, $15 for both rather than the $8 each they normally are.

“I'm not in this to make lots of money; that's not realistic, so they're priced to help me break even!” said Domeier. “I've got the germ of an idea to write one more with these characters, but we'll see!”

In the meantime, you can still read Batt and Domeier’s writing on the pages of the Star Eagle.