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A new book, “Bluffton Anthology – a creek runs through it,” with dozens of short essays about Bluffton, collected by Fred Steiner, will be released in the next few weeks.

“This collection brings together more than a dozen engaging writers whose own Bluffton experiences deserve retelling,” said Steiner.

“For anyone who calls Bluffton home, these stories need no further introduction,” said Steiner, about the book. “For people needing to have Bluffton explained to them, this is a great starting point.”

Contributing essays are from current and previous residents including:
• Rick Emmert                     
• Dave Essinger                  
• Ron Geiser                        
• Jeff Gundy                                                             
• Brendon Matthews
• Ruth Bundy Naylor
• Joanne Niswander
• Rick Ramseyer
• Carolyn Urich Rich
• David Rempel Smucker

Essays also by the late Robert Kreider and Charles Hilty
In addition, the book includes an essay on Bluffton’s relationship with Riley Creek by the late Robert Kreider, several stories given to Steiner from his late, life-long friend, Charles Hilty, and an introduction by Bluffton science fiction author, Tobias Buckell.

Chapter on Bluffton in the 1950s by Rudi Steiner
The book includes a section on Bluffton in the 1950s written by Rudi Steiner, now of Homewood, Illinois. That section includes the account of a Bluffton legend: “Did Elvis stop in Bluffton between his Toledo and Troy performances on Saturday, Nov. 24, 1956?”

Several 15-minute interviews
Several 15-minute interviews in this collection, originally posted on Bluffton Icon, include:

• Ben Luginbuhl once beat Ben Roethlisberger in a game of horse
• Ron Edinger participated in the overthrow of Manuel Noriega 
• Richard Minck may have created jewelry for Marlon Brandon
• John Triplehorn sat on the OSU bench with some frozen rabbits in the 1950 OSU-Michigan snow bowl

In a chapter “Bluffton Askew” the book offers additional 15-minute interviews, columns written by Steiner and brief accounts of shorter Bluffton incidents told to him by over 25 persons.

Highlights range from brief interviews and incidents recalled from Megan Weisenbarger Gustitis, Roger Triplett, Jim Kinn, John Moser, Gordon E. Alderfer, Lauren Canaday, Dave Bracy, Diana Hilty Marshall, Jamil Bazzy, Amanda Rhonemus, Scott Hey, Tim Neufeld, Jessica Edmiston, Joe Goodman, Alee Gratz-Collier, Courtney Goode, Micah Sommer, Ben Kruse, James Pannabecker, Sam Diller, Jeremy Szabo and Jaye Bumbaugh.

Order a pre-sale copy
The book includes 190 pages and will be available in several Bluffton outlets and from Steiner. Copies may be ordered for $24.95 plus tax. Copies will be availble next week.  

Former Bluffton resident, Andre Swartley of WorkPlay Publishing, is the book’s publisher. WorkPlay published Steiner’s earlier books, “A Good Place to Miss – Bluffton Stories 1900-1975,” and “The Bluffton We Never Knew – Photographs from our first half century.” Both titles are available from Amazon.com.

Jill Steinmetz, Bluffton High School graduate, designed the book’s cover.

Attached below are two pre-sale order forms: 
• order form for pre-sale by Priority Mail
• order form for book pick-up from the author