Is Youth’s Book Making a Profit? He’s Still Checking

Author James Niebauer II is having trouble cashing his checks.

It’s understandable. Niebauer, a Palo Alto High School senior, is only 17.

“Instead of giving others checks, we’re finally getting some of our own,” said Niebauer, who was 16 when his “Port Townsend’s Victorian Homes” came off the press.

The book is finally starting to show a profit, he said.

Recently, a teller wouldn’t deposit his checks from the book sales without approval from every superior in the office.

It wasn’t the first time the youngster has run into problems because of his age.

‘You Seem So Young’

When he first started working on the book about homes in Port Townsend, a curator at the museum in the small town on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula wouldn’t let him look at files that were open to the public.

“She kept saying, ‘Why are you doing this? You seem so young,’ ” Niebauer said with a laugh.

The book is a glossy, 48-page paperback on Port Townsend’s collection of spectacular homes. Each page features color photographs of the interior of a stately Victorian and a brief description of the home’s history, cost and characteristics.

Niebauer got the idea for the book on a family trip to renovate their own Victorian in Port Townsend.

He said he heard many requests for a book on local Victorians while visiting bookstores in Port Townsend.

Cost Him $8,000

“I always wanted that kind of book,” the youth said. “Especially one that would tell me about the inside of these homes, some of which aren’t seen on the tours.”

The book, which sells for $9.95, is distributed at bookstores, inns and museums in Port Townsend and by B. Dalton in Seattle. Niebauer’s agents are working on getting more distribution.

Released last August, “Port Townsend’s Victorian Homes” cost about $8,000 of Niebauer’s parent’s money.

The book became a family project. Niebauer’s father and sister, Cara, 23, would hold spotlights while he took pictures.

Only one homeowner refused to let the interior of his house be photographed but has had a change of heart since the book was published. Now, Niebauer said, the owner will offer the Victorian for the second edition planned for next summer.

The toughest part of the job?

“Picking the color for the cover was the hardest thing of the whole process,” said Niebauer, who finally selected pale peach.