We look forward to clam digging in late fall here on the beach. Anticipating fresh golden battered deep fried clams. Savory minced clam fritters and piping hot homemade clam chowder to chase away the rainy November chill. Here in the North Beach we have missed out on the last two digging dates. One because of the mid-October storm that kept most clam enthusiasts off of the beach. And the most recent cancellation due to unsafe clam toxin levels. We might be feeling a little empty inside, missing out on one of the bounties we’ve come to enjoy. The rains have been steady, the temperatures dropping and the sun setting earlier each night. This makes it the perfect time of year to grab a comfortable spot, a blanket, and get lost in a good book while the rain falls outside.

We have an amazing, diverse population of authors from right here in the Grays Harbor and North Beach. Maybe with so many months of rain in the Northwest, it’s the perfect setting for staying indoors and writing or reading.

Here’s a short list of local authors to read this winter.

“The Brotherhood of Olympus and the Deadliest Game” by Guy Simpson, Jr. tells the story of Drake Frasier, a 13-year-old boy growing up with his four brothers. On a cold, gray Friday the thirteenth, his favorite uncle is killed in a horrible car crash involving a logging truck. The story is based on true events and set in the late 1970s in Aberdeen.

Then there is Robert L. Slater, a Hoquiam native and author. A fascinating science fiction novel — “All Is Silence” — in which a young girl finds herself as one of the last survivors in a post-apocalyptic Washington.

Gene Woodwick’s “Island Girl” is a true story about a love affair with Washington’s San Juan Islands seen through the eyes of a young girl learning life’s lessons.

And if you want to learn about great places on the coast to explore, rain or shine, check out Greg Johnston and his new book, “Washington’s Pacific Coast; A Guide to Hiking, Camping, Fishing and other Adventures.”

Or maybe, grab a notepad or your laptop and write your own masterpiece. When you’re ready for a break to get out and about, here are some ideas: Stop by the Ocean Shores Public Library and get some books and movies to enjoy on the rainy afternoons. They also have coloring pages, a great way to relax and listen to the rain. Have you ever tried the video gaming at Playtime Family Fun? Make it a family time. You can play each other on multiple screens, in comfortable chairs far from the rain. Then share a treat at Peppermint Parlor. I personally experienced gaming for the first-time last week while working on our new radio show “Out and About” for KOSW 91.3 I played Minecraft and met a donkey, rode a donkey, and got kicked by a donkey. You’ll have to tune in on Nov. 7th at noon for the laughs.

Go experience something new, there’s never a shortage of rainy day activities, “On the Beach”.

Ideas and submissions to: onebusibee@outlook.com