Local author shares an unlikely story

CLEAR LAKE, Texas -- For years, Andy Upchurch has been entertaining locals and visitors with his band Andy and the Dreamsicles. Now, he’s entertaining those same locals and visitors, as well as garnering national attention with his first book, “The Oleanders of San Leon.” The book chronicles his true-life adventure of deciding to move off his sailboat and build a house. There’s one catch. He has no idea what he’s doing. Relying on advice from friends and friends of friends, he begins his task. Armed with a can-do, learn-it-as-you-go attitude, Andy’s story is at times hilarious and often inspiring.

The Oleanders of San Leon reads like having lunch at your favorite coastal café and hearing a good friend tell you a few stories. Peppered throughout the book are tales of riding his jet ski from Galveston to Lake Charles, LA, playing piano and organ for the great Chuck Berry, house-sitting in Bermuda, and other stories that come from living the life of a sailor and musician. His hard-earned wisdom, like don’t mow over poison ivy on a windy day, comes across with a joy that seems to match his personality.

Andy has been making the rounds, doing local book signings as well as local and out-of- state radio interviews. The Oleanders of San Leon is available at several area retail outlets, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and his website www.theoleandersofsanleon.com