Thank you to Bob Galuski and the Daily Eastern News, newspaper of Eastern Illinois University, for his article on my book Tales of Coles County and my book signings in Charleston and Mattoon this weekend. So far, my book signings have been a huge success. People were lined up when I arrived at Bidwell’s Chocolate Cafe yesterday evening, and the Lincoln Bookstore is already nearly sold out.
Author to sign book on local folklore
By Bob Galuski / News EditorMichael Kleen, an alumnus of Eastern, first published “Tales of Coles County, Illinois” in 2004.
He will be jump starting excitement for his 10th anniversary edition of “Tales of Coles County, Illinois” by signing his book at Bidwell’s Chocolate Café at 1610 Broadway Ave in Mattoon and Jackson Avenue Coffee at 708 Jackson Ave in Charleston.
Kleen will be at Bidwell’s Chocolate Café from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Friday, and he will then be at Jackson Avenue Coffee from 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
“Tales of Coles County, Illinois” details different supernatural occurrences throughout the county – all of which Kleen has researched, and what he calls the “unusual history” of Coles County.
Kleen said his book mixes in fact and historical fiction.
“The general plot is EIU students driving south to go camping when they get caught in a storm,” Kleen said. “They seek shelter in a cabin with this elderly couple who tell them stories about the area.”
Among those stories are the tales of the Pemberton Hall ghost on Eastern’s campus, the haunting of Ashmore Estates and the murder on the Airtight Bridge.
M.A. Kleen 