Author Ken Hull, who has worked as an artist for most of his adult life, said during his speech Tuesday nightthat he doesn't even really read books.

"I don't know how people have the time to read," he said.

Hull, of Boalsburg, was a guest speaker for the Nittany Valley Writer' Network (NVWN). He spoke at the Schlow Centre Region Library about his experiences with writing Going LOCAL! An Adventurer's Guide to Unique Eats, Cool Pubs & Cozy Cafés of Central Pennsylvania, which was published Dec. 2, 2007.

Throughout his speech, Hull discussed four points -- his inspiration, motivation, process and achievement.

"I barely squeaked out of high school," he said, discussing his self-described mediocre writing abilities.

When he sat down to begin writing the book, his first, Hull said, "it was like somebody kicked open a floodgate and creativity came flowing out."

He said the only material he could find to write on was a sketchpad.

Overwhelmed with excitement, he wrote for over an hour until he realized that the pizza he had put in the oven was long overdue to be removed.

"I call that my 'burning pizza' moment: when I realized that not even a pizza in the oven was more important," he said.

Throughout the speech, Hull provided some pointers from his experiences during the past year for hopeful writers about the discipline of working on a tight schedule.

He also talked about making the decision to self-pubish or to use a publishing house and deciding on the best editor.

Another tip he mentioned was the fact that in today's "electronic age," it is beneficial to have a Web site.

One of the significant aspects of the process he said that he kept in mind was the importance of marketing.

"I am the poster boy for the shameless promoter," he said.

True to his word, Hull had a small book-signing area set up in the corner of the room that displayed his book, where it appeared in the media and some of his commentaries.

He said the purpose of this was two-fold -- to demonstrate his marketing techniques and hopefully sell a few copies, which he did.

Hull said he wrote the book so that he didn't have to go and get a "real" job.

And, except for a brief month working as a wine seller in an environment that "wasn't a good fit" for him, he didn't.

"I did it," Hull said. "That's the achievement."

The event drew 27 people, including many who asked questions of Hull about his experience and the technicalities of writing a book.

"The book turned out well," said Jean Aron, a local writer from Boalsburg who gave Hull guidance over a year ago.

Walt Fillman, of State College, said he has been friends with Hull for 25 years, and that he's a "delightful fellow."

At this point, Hull said he has an idea for a sequel in the works that would survey all new restaurants and even some non-eatery establishments in the same area.