It's Monday, What are You Reading? Seward: Lincoln's Indispensable Man

It's Monday, What are You Reading?

Seward: Lincoln's Indispensable Man by Walter Stahr


This is the forty-fifth entry for this meme suggested by Sheila@ One Persons Journey Through A World of Books. [Entries 22-25 in the series were posted at the Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories]

One of my Christmas book gifts… getting right at it!  ;-)


Book Description of Seward on Amazon:

From one of our most acclaimed new biographers– the first full life of the leader of Lincoln’s “team of rivals” to appear in more than forty years. William Henry Seward was one of the most important Americans of the nineteenth century. Progressive governor of New York and outspoken U.S. senator, he was the odds-on favorite to win the 1860 Republican nomination for president. As secretary of state and Lincoln’s closest adviser during the Civil War, Seward not only managed foreign affairs but had a substantial role in military, political, and personnel matters.
Some of Lincoln’s critics even saw Seward, erroneously, as the power behind the throne; this is why John Wilkes Booth and his colleagues attempted to kill Seward as well as Lincoln. Seward survived the assassin’s attack, continued as secretary of state, and emerged as a staunch supporter of President Andrew Johnson, Lincoln’s controversial successor. Through his purchase of Alaska (“Seward’s Folly”), and his groundwork for the purchase of the Canal Zone and other territory, Seward set America on course to become a world empire.
Seward was not only important, he was fascinating. Most nights this well-known raconteur with unruly hair and untidy clothes would gather diplomats, soldiers, politicians, or actors around his table to enjoy a cigar, a drink, and a good story. Drawing on hundreds of sources not available to or neglected by previous biographers, Walter Stahr sheds new light on this complex and central figure, as well as on pivotal events of the Civil War and its aftermath.




Happy Reading!

Dr. Bill  ;-)

Writing Plans for 2013

Writing Plans for 2013

1. I now describe 'what I do' in retirement as "Reading and Writing" - I read to write; I write for personal satisfaction. My writing takes many forms, it changes from time to time in order to maintain satisfaction levels.

2. During 2012 I added the commitment to be a monthly columnist for the digi-mag "The In-Depth Genealogist," as The Heritage Tourist. I will continue this in 2013 with one monthly column and one monthly blog post there.

3. I became an active 'lensmaster' on Squidoo.com during 2012 by creating/writing 126 new lenses (webpages) on a variety of topics, with Heritage Tourism and Family History leading the way. I will continue this activity in 2013 at a measured pace. My lenses about books I read have been popular; I will continue to write them. I also write reviews, have guest posts and interviews, and participate in Virtual Book Tours on my blogs, listed below.

4. It seems I need to have each of my five blogs to have the necessary outlets for what I want to write. Each has its own content and focus, and I've noticed the priority among them shifts a bit, month by month. That is fine as it seems to keep me from getting bored.
Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories
Dr. Bill on Retirement
Dr. Bill's Book Bazaar
The Homeplace Series Blog
The KINNICK Project

4. I will continue to write articles each month for Examiner.com on my three topic areas: Springfield Genealogy Examiner, Ozarks Cultural Heritage Examiner, and (added in 2012) Springfield Heritage Tourism Examiner; two or three articles in each topic, each month.

5. 2012 was a year of research (reading), writing and shifting priorities in my fiction priorities. My only publication was another short story in the OWL Anthology (second in two years). It was the next 'episode' in the 1833 background research for "The Homeplace Series." These two short stories are now being shared on the blog "serialized" over a few months. This will continue as I move toward the publication of a "background" book on the family history of the characters in my "Back to the Homeplace" and "The Homeplace Revisited" novels (working title: "American Centennial at the Homeplace"). This book is anchored by an Extended Short Story about  the Homeplace during the Civil War. In 2013 I also hope to publish my first Mystery: "Murder by the Homeplace" set immediately following the end of "Back to the Homeplace" with characters from that novel having secondary roles in the Mystery novel. Finally, looking the future, I will continue to develop content for "The Homeplace Series" as it moves to a transmedia platform, starting with the existing wiki which will continue to be developed in association with my daughter, Dr. Annette Lamb, and her eduscapes.com and Lamb Learning Group activities. We are also considering an affiliation with an app developer (in the future) to provide multiple transmedia entry points to "The Homeplace Series" content that will continue to be expanded and developed on multiple platforms. ["The Homeplace Forever" - the third in the original trilogy - set in 2006, continues in development, along with stories across all the years from 1833 to the present, and into the future.]

6. Work will continue, off and on, on the non-fiction family history on our Revolutionary War ancestor, Sergeant Major William KINNICK. He is my 5th great-grandfather as well as the 3rd great-grandfather of 1939 Heisman Trophy winner Nile KINNICK, for whom KINNICK Stadium at the University of Iowa is named. There is surely some promotion value there to exploit. I will also continue to research and write on issues related to a non-fiction family history book on my great-grandfather Michael Smith. I am still developing alternative approaches to making this project most effective. These two are unlikely to be finished 2013; but they are still active projects.

7. My actual genealogy work, other that writing for my blogs and elsewhere, largely revolves around projects that come up from time to time from 1) contacts from and with cousins, 2) cooperatively assisting my wife on her several projects, and 3) providing support to our youngest daughter, Arrion, on her family history projects - primarily related to her annual trips to Europe. Arrion visited our Smith family ancestral ground of Alsace (Colmer, France - my paternal line) and Black Forest area in 2012 and a possible visit to Denmark (my maternal grandmother was born in Denmark) in 2013.

Happy Reading! ;-)

Note: This will be posted to each of the five blogs linked above, this year, on January 1.

It's Monday, What are You Reading? American Lion: Andrew Jackson

It's Monday, What are You Reading? 

American Lion: Andrew Jackson


American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House, by Jon Meacham


This is the forty-forth entry for this meme suggested by Sheila@ One Persons Journey Through A World of Books. [Entries 22-25 in the series were posted at  the Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories]


I had felt this book to big and thick to read, when it came out. My wife got it for me on my Kindle, and it is now my Kindle reading book. Going very well. As I've said before, some books are better on Kindle, some books better in print; for me, at least!  ;-)

I really liked the way Meacham treated Thomas Jefferson - the same seems to apply to Jackson! ;-)


Book Description of American Lion on Amazon:

Andrew Jackson, his intimate circle of friends, and his tumultuous times are at the heart of this remarkable book about the man who rose from nothing to create the modern presidency. Beloved and hated, venerated and reviled, Andrew Jackson was an orphan who fought his way to the pinnacle of power, bending the nation to his will in the cause of democracy. Jackson’s election in 1828 ushered in a new and lasting era in which the people, not distant elites, were the guiding force in American politics. Democracy made its stand in the Jackson years, and he gave voice to the hopes and the fears of a restless, changing nation facing challenging times at home and threats abroad. To tell the saga of Jackson’s presidency, acclaimed author Jon Meacham goes inside the Jackson White House. Drawing on newly discovered family letters and papers, he details the human drama–the family, the women, and the inner circle of advisers–that shaped Jackson’s private world through years of storm and victory.

One of our most significant yet dimly recalled presidents, Jackson was a battle-hardened warrior, the founder of the Democratic Party, and the architect of the presidency as we know it. His story is one of violence, sex, courage, and tragedy. With his powerful persona, his evident bravery, and his mystical connection to the people, Jackson moved the White House from the periphery of government to the center of national action, articulating a vision of change that challenged entrenched interests to heed the popular will–or face his formidable wrath. The greatest of the presidents who have followed Jackson in the White House–from Lincoln to Theodore Roosevelt to FDR to Truman–have found inspiration in his example, and virtue in his vision.

Jackson was the most contradictory of men. The architect of the removal of Indians from their native lands, he was warmly sentimental and risked everything to give more power to ordinary citizens. He was, in short, a lot like his country: alternately kind and vicious, brilliant and blind; and a man who fought a lifelong war to keep the republic safe–no matter what it took.

Jon Meacham in American Lion has delivered the definitive human portrait of a pivotal president who forever changed the American presidency–and America itself.




Happy Reading!

Dr. Bill  ;-)

Book Review: "One Moment In Time" by Glenn Snyder

Book Review: "One Moment In Time" by Glenn Snyder

This Book Review post is part of the Premier Virtual Author Book Tours on behalf of Mr. Snyder's book. Click on the Tour image, above, to visit the other stops on the rest of this Tour.


Description of One Moment In Time:

Publisher: Bear Moose Press, February 23, 2012

Category: Literary Fiction, Political, Suspense/Thriller

Tour Dates: November, 2012

Available in: Print, 270 pages

 On a stormy November evening, Jack Barrett had plans to treat his best friend Travis to a night of fine dining and jazz. As they neared their destination, a truck ran a red light, plowing through Jack's car, and changing his life forever. Jack found a new outlook on life, and took on adventures that made him one of the world's most admired people. With each step, Jack grew as a person and a leader; piecing together a family from different corners of the world, while risking himself and his family to save others. Jack's impact on the world was like no other, but in the end, when the lights and the cameras were gone, Jack was about to die, or was he? Prepare yourself for a surprising ending that questions the very nature between life and death, reality and dream.


 Dr. Bill says:

This book was an enjoyable read. The descriptions were well constructed and I wanted to keep reading to see where this story was really going. As an author, myself, I clearly understand the concept of "suspended disbelief" that an author expects of his reader in many situations. As I continued to read the story told by Jack later in his life, this concept kept coming to my mind. Each new episode was so smooth, Jack's actions were so incredibly positive, I had difficulty suspending my disbelief. Now, I'm a very positive guy, I tend to write only about positive activities and events. I have trouble building drama into my fiction sometimes because I tend to avoid conflict. Even with this background, I found the story of Jack so continuously positive to be hard to take… but I continued on, because I wanted to know how he got to the interview at age seventy five (I'm nearly there, myself).

Then, I came to the surprise ending of the story. I cannot give away the ending, except to say I was shocked. Personally, I felt it was totally inappropriate and unnecessary - but, I can see how others might find it exciting and even 'neat!' You'll need to read the book in order to form your own opinion.


Note: I did receive an advance pdf copy of the book from the author from which to write this review. My review was not affected by receiving the copy from the author.


Note from Glenn:

For copies of One Moment in Time:
Paperback:  $2 off when purchased through www.OneMomentInTimeNovel.com - coupon code WL5W3K6Y
E-book (any format):  25% off when purchased through Smashwords (www.smashwords.com/books/view/62532) - coupon code WQ79X

About Glenn Snyder:

Glenn Snyder grew up in Marin County, a few miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. After graduating from UCLA, Glenn worked as a finance professional. In 2001, Glenn earned his MBA from the University of San Francisco.  Shortly after his MBA, Glenn pursued two of his dreams, teaching and writing, while still working full time. For five years, Glenn taught Finance at San Francisco State University, while he also wrote the first draft of One Moment in Time. In May of 2011, Glenn published his first novel, One Moment in Time. Glenn is currently a Finance Director and is working on his second novel.

Visit www.OneMomentInTimeNovel.com to find out more.

One Moment In Time on Facebook Glenn Snyder on Twitter

Happy Reading,

Dr. Bill  ;-)

The Homeplace Series continues...

The Homeplace Series continues...

For those of you who have followed my fiction writing, The Homeplace Series, things have been fairly quiet for awhile. Here is an update of what has been going on as well as some hints at what is upcoming. Stop over and check it out. Love to get comments, as well! 

Happy Reading,

Dr. Bill  ;-)

It's Monday, What are You Reading? Roger Williams

It's Monday, What are You Reading? Roger Williams

Roger Williams and The Creation of The American Soul: 

Church, State, and the Birth of Liberty


This is the forty-third entry for this meme suggested by Sheila@ One Persons Journey Through A World of Books. [Entries 22-25 in the series were posted at  the Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories]

I am reading this book from the collection of my daughter, Annette, while visiting in Utah. It is really filling in some gaps in my knowledge of the early foundlings of some key American colonies.


Book Description of Roger Williams on Amazon:

For four hundred years, Americans have wrestled with and fought over two concepts that define the nature of the nation: the proper relation between church and state and between a free individual and the state. These debates began with the extraordinary thought and struggles of Roger Williams, who had an unparalleled understanding of the conflict between a government that justified itself by "reason of state"-i.e. national security-and its perceived "will of God" and the "ancient rights and liberties" of individuals.
This is a story of power, set against Puritan America and the English Civil War. Williams' interactions with King James, Francis Bacon, Oliver Cromwell, and his mentor Edward Coke set his course, but his fundamental ideas came to fruition in America, as Williams, though a Puritan, collided with John Winthrop's vision of his "City upon a Hill."
Acclaimed historian John M. Barry explores the development of these fundamental ideas through the story of the man who was the first to link religious freedom to individual liberty, and who created in America the first government and society on earth informed by those beliefs. The story is essential to the continuing debate over how we define the role of religion and political power in modern American life.





Happy Reading!

Dr. Bill  ;-)

It's Monday, What are You Reading? Makers

It's Monday, What are You Reading? Makers

Makers: The New Industrial Revolution by Chris Anderson


This is the forty-second entry for this meme suggested by Sheila@ One Persons Journey Through A World of Books. [Entries 22-25 in the series were posted at  the Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories]

I bought this book at Barnes & Noble in Austin on October 2!  ;-)
I am a fan of Chris Anderson based on his book, The Long Tail - it impressed me.




Book Description  of Makers on Amazon:

Wired magazine editor and bestselling author Chris Anderson takes you to the front lines of a new industrial revolution as today’s entrepreneurs, using open source design and 3-D printing, bring manufacturing to the desktop.  In an age of custom-fabricated, do-it-yourself product design and creation, the collective potential of a million garage tinkerers and enthusiasts is about to be unleashed, driving a resurgence of American manufacturing.  A generation of “Makers” using the Web’s innovation model will help drive the next big wave in the global economy, as the new technologies of digital design and rapid prototyping gives everyone the power to invent -- creating “the long tail of things”.

Makers is listed as book #625 as I extracted this on Oct 2 (the official release date):




Happy Reading!

Dr. Bill  ;-)

It's Monday, What are You Reading? One Moment in Time

It's Monday, What are You Reading?

One Moment in Time by Glenn Snyder


This is the forty-first entry for this meme suggested by Sheila@ One Persons Journey Through A World of Books. [Entries 22-25 in the series were posted at  the Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories]

I am reading a copy provided by the author in exchange for a review to be published on this blog on November 20, 2012, as one stop on the Author's Virtual Book Tour.

Book Description on Amazon:

On a stormy November evening, Jack Barrett had plans to treat his best friend Travis to a night of fine dining and jazz. As they neared their destination, a truck ran a red light, plowing through Jack's car, and changing his life forever. Jack found a new outlook on life, and took on adventures that made him one of the world's most admired people. With each step, Jack grew as a person and a leader; piecing together a family from different corners of the world, while risking himself and his family to save others. Jack's impact on the world was like no other, but in the end, when the lights and the cameras were gone, what was the most important moment in his time here?

Prepare yourself for a surprising ending that questions the very nature between life and death, reality and dream.





Happy Reading!

Dr. Bill  ;-)

It's Monday, What are You Reading? Art of Power

It's Monday, What are You Reading?

Art of Power by Jon Meacham


This is the fortieth entry for this meme suggested by Sheila@ One Persons Journey Through A World of Books. [Entries 22-25 in the series were posted at  the Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories]


I am reading an Advance Reader Copy from LibraryThing; Publication Date is November 13, 2012.

Book Description on Amazon:

In this magnificent biography, the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of American Lion and Franklin and Winston brings vividly to life an extraordinary man and his remarkable times. Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power gives us Jefferson the politician and president, a great and complex human being forever engaged in the wars of his era. Philosophers think; politicians maneuver. Jefferson’s genius was that he was both and could do both, often simultaneously. Such is the art of power.

Thomas Jefferson hated confrontation, and yet his understanding of power and of human nature enabled him to move men and to marshal ideas, to learn from his mistakes, and to prevail. Passionate about many things—women, his family, books, science, architecture, gardens, friends, Monticello, and Paris—Jefferson loved America most, and he strove over and over again, despite fierce opposition, to realize his vision: the creation, survival, and success of popular government in America. Jon Meacham lets us see Jefferson’s world as Jefferson himself saw it, and to appreciate how Jefferson found the means to endure and win in the face of rife partisan division, economic uncertainty, and external threat. Drawing on archives in the United States, England, and France, as well as unpublished Jefferson presidential papers, Meacham presents Jefferson as the most successful political leader of the early republic, and perhaps in all of American history.

The father of the ideal of individual liberty, of the Louisiana Purchase, of the Lewis and Clark expedition, and of the settling of the West, Jefferson recognized that the genius of humanity—and the genius of the new nation—lay in the possibility of progress, of discovering the undiscovered and seeking the unknown. From the writing of the Declaration of Independence to elegant dinners in Paris and in the President’s House; from political maneuverings in the boardinghouses and legislative halls of Philadelphia and New York to the infant capital on the Potomac; from his complicated life at Monticello, his breathtaking house and plantation in Virginia, to the creation of the University of Virginia, Jefferson was central to the age. Here too is the personal Jefferson, a man of appetite, sensuality, and passion.

The Jefferson story resonates today not least because he led his nation through ferocious partisanship and cultural warfare amid economic change and external threats, and also because he embodies an eternal drama, the struggle of the leadership of a nation to achieve greatness in a difficult and confounding world.





Happy Reading!

Dr. Bill  ;-)

It's Monday, What are You Reading? Judgment Call

It's Monday, What are You Reading? Judgment Call

Judgment Call by J.A. Jance

This is the thirty-nineth entry for this meme suggested by Sheila@ One Persons Journey Through A World of Books. [Entries 22-25 in the series were posted at  the Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories]


Book Description on Amazon:

New York Times bestselling author J. A. Jance brings back acclaimed sheriff Joanna Brady in an exciting and twisting mystery set against the beauty and isolation of the Arizona desert

Judgment Call
When Joanna Brady's daughter, Jenny, stumbles across the body of her high school principal, Debra Highsmith, in the desert, the Cochise County sheriff's personal and professional worlds collide, forcing her to tread the difficult middle ground between being an officer of the law and a mother. While investigating murders has always meant discovering unpleasant facts and disquieting truths, the experienced Joanna isn't prepared for the knowledge she's about to uncover. Though she's tried to protect her children from the dangers of the grown-up world, the search for justice leads straight to her own door and forces her to face the possibility that her beloved daughter may be less perfect than she seems—especially when a photo from the crime scene ends up on Facebook. A photo only one person close to the crime scene could have taken.
The gruesome picture is just the tip of the iceberg. Even a small, close-knit town like Bisbee has its secrets. Navigating her way through the unfamiliar world of social media, Joanna discovers shocking—and incriminating—information. The details build, from a hushed-up suspension, to a group of teenagers with a grudge against the late Ms. Highsmith, to a hateful video calling for the principal's death. The video evidence points to one particular privileged boy, who's already lawyered up thanks to his father, a well-to-do doctor determined to protect his son's reputation. Yet the deeper Joanna digs, the more complications she uncovers. It seems the quiet, upstanding principal had a hidden past, full of mysterious secrets she'd successfully kept buried for years.
As the seasoned sheriff juggles professional constraints and personal demands—budget cuts, new team members, an arrogant coroner, a confused teenager, a precocious toddler, and a high-maintenance mother—she finds herself walking a fine line between justice and family that has never been so blurred.





Happy Reading!

Dr. Bill  ;-)

It's Monday, What are You Reading? Liberty's Exiles

It's Monday, What are You Reading? Liberty's Exiles

Liberty's Exiles: American Loyalists in the Revolutionary World by Maya Jasanoff (15 Feb 2011)


This is the thirty-eighth entry for this meme suggested by Sheila@ One Persons Journey Through A World of Books. [Entries 22-25 in the series were posted at  the Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories]


Book Description on Amazon:

On November 25, 1783, the last British troops pulled out of New York City, bringing the American Revolution to an end. Patriots celebrated their departure and the confirmation of U.S. independence. But for tens of thousands of American loyalists, the British evacuation spelled worry, not jubilation. What would happen to them in the new United States? Would they and their families be safe? Facing grave doubts about their futures, some sixty thousand loyalists—one in forty members of the American population—decided to leave their homes and become refugees elsewhere in the British Empire. They sailed for Britain, for Canada, for Jamaica, and for the Bahamas; some ventured as far as Sierra Leone and India. Wherever they went, the voyage out of America was a fresh beginning, and it carried them into a dynamic if uncertain new world.

A groundbreaking history of the revolutionary era, Liberty’s Exiles tells the story of this remarkable global diaspora. Through painstaking archival research and vivid storytelling, award-winning historian Maya Jasanoff re-creates the journeys of ordinary individuals whose lives were overturned by extraordinary events. She tells of refugees like Elizabeth Johnston, a young mother from Georgia, who spent nearly thirty years as a migrant, searching for a home in Britain, Jamaica, and Canada. And of David George, a black preacher born into slavery, who found freedom and faith in the British Empire, and eventually led his followers to seek a new Jerusalem in Sierra Leone. Mohawk leader Joseph Brant resettled his people under British protection in Ontario, while the adventurer William Augustus Bowles tried to shape a loyalist Creek state in Florida. For all these people and more, it was the British Empire—not the United States—that held the promise of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Yet as they dispersed across the empire, the loyalists also carried things from their former homes, revealing an enduring American influence on the wider British world.

Ambitious, original, and personality-filled, Liberty’s Exiles is at once an intimate narrative history and a provocative new analysis—a book that explores an unknown dimension of America’s founding to illuminate the meanings of liberty itself.





Happy Reading!

Dr. Bill  ;-)

Have you read "Back to the Homeplace"??

Have you read "Back to the Homeplace"??

Here is the third interview in Oak Springs - 25 years or so ago... right before the beginning of the novel, "Back to the Homeplace." As if we were there, looking in our Bevins family... ;-)


http://thehomeplaceseries.blogspot.com/2012/07/penny-nixons-my-hometown-bart-bevins.html


Happy Reading ;-)

It's Monday, What are You Reading? Founding Gardeners

It's Monday, What are You Reading? Founding Gardeners


Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nation, by Andrea Wulf


This is the thirty-seventh entry for this meme suggested by Sheila@ One Persons Journey Through A World of Books. [Entries 22-25 in the series were posted at  the Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories]


Book Description on Amazon:

From the author of the acclaimed The Brother Gardeners, a fascinating look at the founding fathers from the unique and intimate perspective of their lives as gardeners, plantsmen, and farmers.
For the founding fathers, gardening, agriculture, and botany were elemental passions, as deeply ingrained in their characters as their belief in liberty for the nation they were creating. Andrea Wulf reveals for the first time this aspect of the revolutionary generation. She describes how, even as British ships gathered off Staten Island, George Washington wrote his estate manager about the garden at Mount Vernon; how a tour of English gardens renewed Thomas Jefferson’s and John Adams’s faith in their fledgling nation; how a trip to the great botanist John Bartram’s garden helped the delegates of the Constitutional Congress break their deadlock; and why James Madison is the forgotten father of American environmentalism. These and other stories reveal a guiding but previously overlooked ideology of the American Revolution.
Founding Gardeners adds depth and nuance to our understanding of the American experiment and provides us with a portrait of the founding fathers as they’ve never before been seen.





Happy Reading!

Dr. Bill  ;-)

It's Monday, What are You Reading? The Social Conquest of Earth

It's Monday, What are You Reading?

The Social Conquest of Earth by Edward O. Wilson


This is the thirty-sixth entry for this meme suggested by Sheila@ One Persons Journey Through A World of Books. [Entries 22-25 in the series were posted at  the Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories]


Book Description on Amazon:

#13 on NPR's Bestseller List (24 Jun 2012)



From the most celebrated heir to Darwin comes a groundbreaking book on evolution, the summa work of Edward O. Wilson's legendary career.

Where did we come from? What are we? Where are we going? In a generational work of clarity and passion, one of our greatest living scientists directly addresses these three fundamental questions of religion, philosophy, and science while “overturning the famous theory that evolution naturally encourages creatures to put family first” (Discover magazine). Refashioning the story of human evolution in a work that is certain to generate headlines, Wilson draws on his remarkable knowledge of biology and social behavior to show that group selection, not kin selection, is the primary driving force of human evolution. He proves that history makes no sense without prehistory, and prehistory makes no sense without biology. Demonstrating that the sources of morality, religion, and the creative arts are fundamentally biological in nature, Wilson presents us with the clearest explanation ever produced as to the origin of the human condition and why it resulted in our domination of the Earth’s biosphere. 90 illustrations

Click on the photo to go to Amazon.com page for the book




Happy Reading!

Dr. Bill  ;-)

Amazon and book-publishing - An update from The Nation

Amazon and book-publishing - An update from The Nation

Just read this long, authoritative article:
http://www.thenation.com/article/168125/amazon-effect#

Posting here for anyone interested and for my own reference. Enjoy. Comments welcomed.

Happy Reading!  ;-)

It's Monday, What are You Reading? First Friend by Kathleen Reid

It's Monday, What are You Reading? First Friend: Thomas Jefferson: The Original Social Networker (a young adult novel)
by Kathleen Reid


This is the thirty-fifth entry for this meme suggested by Sheila@ One Persons Journey Through A World of Books. [Entries 22-25 in the series were posted at  the Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories]

This book finally arrived - it was from the January LibraryThing Early Reviewer list.

Book Description on Amazon:

Thomas Jefferson developed the first social network 200 years before the founders of MySpace, Facebook and LinkedIn were born. He wrote more than 20,000 letters to thousands of friends during his lifetime. His network was the foundation of a lifelong commitment to learning that left a legacy we all benefit from today. First Friend brings Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States, author of the Declaration of Independence, author of the Statutes of Virginia for Religious Freedom and founder of the University of Virginia to just cite a few of his prodigious accomplishments to life for a new generation. Based on scholarly research but written to appeal to readers overwhelmed by minutiae, First Friend allows readers to see Thomas Jefferson through a familiar lens, and see Thomas Jefferson as a friend, a connection in their social network. His life, his accomplishments, his travail and triumph are experienced as he would blog, tweet and text them to his social network. First Friend is Vol. 1 of the Wakestone Legacy Series. The Wakestone Legacy Series is about approachable history. Stories of the people who shaped our nation and culture and upon whose shoulders we all stand. Written for young adults (of all ages) these books bring alive the men and women we know we are supposed to know. We are the beneficiaries of the experiences of those who came before, but their stories have too often been lost amongst the press of scholarship, buried under the need for the new and controversial. The Wakestone Legacy Series biographies bring their stories into a modern context and allow us to see them through a new, brighter lens.




Click on the photo to go to Amazon.com page for the book

Happy Reading!

Dr. Bill  ;-)

It's Monday, What are You Reading? The Forgotten Founding Father

It's Monday, What are You Reading? The Forgotten Founding Father


The Forgotten Founding Father: Noah Webster's Obsession and the Creation of an American Culture - by Joshua Kendall

This is the thirty-fifth entry for this meme suggested by Sheila@ One Persons Journey Through A World of Books. [Entries 22-25 in the series were posted at  the Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories]

Book Description on Amazon:

Noah Webster's name is now synonymous with the dictionary he created, but his story is not nearly so ubiquitous. Now acclaimed author of The Man Who Made Lists, Joshua Kendall sheds new light on Webster's life, and his far-reaching influence in establishing the American nation.
Webster hobnobbed with various Founding Fathers and was a young confidant of George Washington and Ben Franklin. He started New York's first daily newspaper, predating Alexander Hamilton's New York Post. His "blue-backed speller" for schoolchildren sold millions of copies and influenced early copyright law. But perhaps most important, Webster was an ardent supporter of a unified, definitively American culture, distinct from the British, at a time when the United States of America were anything but unified-and his dictionary of American English is a testament to that.





Click on the photo to go to Amazon.com page for the book

Happy Reading!

Dr. Bill  ;-)

It's Monday, What are You Reading? Washington's Crossing by David Hackett Fischer

It's Monday, What are You Reading? 
Washington's Crossing by David Hackett Fischer


This is the thirty-fourth entry for this meme suggested by Sheila@ One Persons Journey Through A World of Books. [Entries 22-25 in the series were posted at  the Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories]


My wife got this book for me on Kindle, special sale, not realizing it was Pulitzer Prize winner!

Book Description on Amazon - Series: Pivotal Moments in American History (Oxford) Feb 1, 2006

Six months after the Declaration of Independence, the American Revolution was all but lost. A powerful British force had routed the Americans at New York, occupied three colonies, and advanced within sight of Philadelphia.

Yet, as David Hackett Fischer recounts in this riveting history, George Washington--and many other Americans--refused to let the Revolution die. On Christmas night, as a howling nor'easter struck the Delaware Valley, he led his men across the river and attacked the exhausted Hessian garrison at Trenton, killing or capturing nearly a thousand men. A second battle of Trenton followed within days. The Americans held off a counterattack by Lord Cornwallis's best troops, then were almost trapped by the British force. Under cover of night, Washington's men stole behind the enemy and struck them again, defeating a brigade at Princeton. The British were badly shaken. In twelve weeks of winter fighting, their army suffered severe damage, their hold on New Jersey was broken, and their strategy was ruined.

Fischer's richly textured narrative reveals the crucial role of contingency in these events. We see how the campaign unfolded in a sequence of difficult choices by many actors, from generals to civilians, on both sides. While British and German forces remained rigid and hierarchical, Americans evolved an open and flexible system that was fundamental to their success. The startling success of Washington and his compatriots not only saved the faltering American Revolution, but helped to give it new meaning.




Click on the photo to go to Amazon.com page for the book

Happy Reading!

Dr. Bill  ;-)

It's Monday, What are You Reading? Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

It's Monday, What are You Reading? 
 Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins


This is the thirty-third entry for this meme suggested by Sheila@ One Persons Journey Through A World of Books. [Entries 22-25 in the series were posted at  the Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories]


This is the third book in The Hunger Games trilogy. She does an interesting job making you anxious for the next book…  ;-)

Book Description from Amazon:

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what's worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss's family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins's groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year.

Click on the photo to go to Amazon.com page for the book

Happy Reading!

Dr. Bill  ;-)

The Heritage Tourist at The In-Depth Genealogist

The Heritage Tourist at The In-Depth Genealogist

I am pleased to announce that I have joined the writing team at "The In-Depth Genealogist: A digi-mag for every genealogist" as a monthly columnist writing as "The Heritage Tourist."

I will be encouraging our readers to incorporate the social context of genealogical and family history travels into their planning, looking specifically at historical, cultural and nature elements and environments. If you travel more than 50 miles from home, you are a tourist. Are you a heritage tourist?

Please sign up to get the next edition of the digi-mag, coming out soon (click on the logo, above, or on the link directly). Be sure to look for The Heritage Tourist column as well as each of the stories written by other members of the team.

Happy Reading!  ;-)

It's Monday, What are You Reading? Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

  

It's Monday, What are You Reading? 

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins


This is the thirty-second entry for this meme suggested by Sheila@ One Persons Journey Through A World of Books. [Entries 22-25 in the series were posted at  the Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories]


This is the second book in The Hunger Games trilogy. After getting through The Hunger Games, I was really ready to go right on to Catching Fire. It is a bit different, but the writing is the same.

Book Description from Amazon:

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.
 

[Click on the photo to go to Amazon.com page for the book]



Happy Reading!

Dr. Bill  ;-)

Review of The Wisdom of John Muir compiled by Anne Rowthorn

Review of "The Wisdom of John Muir: 100 Selections from the Letters, Journals and Essays of the Great Naturalist"
compiled by Anne Rowthorn.

This is the Product Description from Amazon.com:

The Wisdom of John Muir marries the best aspects of a Muir anthology with the best aspects of a Muir biography. The fact that it is neither, and yet it is both, distinguishes this book from the many extant books on John Muir. Building on her lifelong passion for the work and philosophy of John Muir, author Anne Rowthorn has created this entirely new treatment for showcasing the great naturalist's philosophy and writings. By pairing carefully selected material from various stages of Muir's life, Rowthorn's book provides a view into the experiences, places, and people that inspired and informed Muir's words and beliefs. The reader feels able to join in with Muir's own discoveries and transformations over the arc of his life. Rowthorn is careful not to overstep her role: she stands back and lets Muir's words speak for themselves.

This is my review for LibraryThing; I had received a reviewer copy under their Early Reviewer program:

This book is a good example where the product description is very descriptive. This book will be loved by John Muir followers and largely ignored by everyone else. Anne Rowthorn has done a fine job of compiling the book exactly as described. I will reiterate that this book is as much a reference as a book to read cover-to-cover. I enjoyed her commentary on John Muir as much as the Muir quotes. The writing of the late nineteenth is on exhibit in his writings. If you love that style and the wilderness of the west, you will thoroughly enjoy reading from this book. For me, personally, a little bit goes a long, long ways. Also, the font is extremely small and the 'literary' choice of ink color and paper did not provide enough contrast for me. It made it had to stay with it, for me. This book is a fine contribution, as noted in the description. I will hold on to it as a reference, because I admire the work of Muir. I know I will check back in, from time to time. to read another passage.






Happy Reading!  ;-)

It's Monday, What are You Reading? The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

It's Monday, What are You Reading? 
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins


This is the thirty-first entry for this meme suggested by Sheila@ One Persons Journey Through A World of Books. [Entries 22-25 in the series were posted at  the Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories]


I downloaded the book on my Kindle a couple of months ago to read. I'm a Jennifer Lawrence fan from her Winter's Bone movie role. My three grown daughters have been The Hunger Games fans from the book since they came out. I thought I should give the first a try. I could not get past the first few pages, for some reason, just not interested.

My Middle Daughter, Allison, suggested I try the hardback, and she brought it over. I do not know what the difference was (I've read many books on the Kindle!), but I got right into in hardback and am about half way through, at this moment, anxious to read more. I'll likely read the next two, as well. Eventually, I'll see the movie.

Interesting experience.

Happy Reading!

Dr. Bill  ;-)

What to include in a Memoir?

What to include in a Memoir?

This is a very complex topic, but I just read a good piece that I want to record and store, here, as well as share with you, my readers.

I follow the RSS Feed of Biff and Nan Barnes at "Stories to Tell" Family History and Memoirs. They provide complete services to writers, but their blog is also so useful.

Today's post: "Selecting Life Stories for a Memoir: The Highlights" written by Biff really struck a chord with me, today.

The quote from Helen Keller I found especially useful: “In order, therefore, not to be tedious I shall try to present in a series of sketches only the episodes that seem to me to be most interesting and important.”

I've been doing this, a bit, over on my Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories blog... on occasional Thursdays and Sundays. Stop by, if you are interested.

Happy Reading, in the meantime.  ;-)

It's Monday, What are You Reading? The Siege of Washington by John Lockwood & Charles Lockwood

It's Monday, What are You Reading? 

The Siege of Washington: The Untold Story of the Twelve Days that Shook the Union

                                                by John Lockwood & Charles Lockwood


This is the thirty-first entry for this meme suggested by Sheila@ One Persons Journey Through A World of Books. [Entries 22-25 in the series were posted at  the Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories]

My wife saw this book and got it for me. My thanks to her, again!  ;-)


From Amazon.com:

Product Description
On April 14, 1861, following the surrender of Fort Sumter, Washington was "put into the condition of a siege," declared Abraham Lincoln. Located sixty miles south of the Mason-Dixon Line, the nation's capital was surrounded by the slave states of Maryland and Virginia. With no fortifications and only a handful of trained soldiers, Washington was an ideal target for the Confederacy. The South echoed with cries of "On to Washington!" and Jefferson Davis's wife sent out cards inviting her friends to a reception at the White House on May 1.

Lincoln issued an emergency proclamation on April 15, calling for 75,000 troops to suppress the rebellion and protect the capital. One question now transfixed the nation: Whose forces would reach Washington first: Northern defenders or Southern attackers?

For 12 days, the city's fate hung in the balance. Washington was entirely isolated from the North--without trains, telegraph, or mail. Sandbags were stacked around major landmarks, and the unfinished Capitol was transformed into a barracks, with volunteer troops camping out in the House and Senate chambers. Meanwhile, Maryland secessionists blocked the passage of Union reinforcements trying to reach Washington, and a rumored force of 20,000 Confederate soldiers lay in wait just across the Potomac River.

Drawing on firsthand accounts, The Siege of Washington tells this story from the perspective of leading officials, residents trapped inside the city, Confederates plotting to seize it, and Union troops racing to save it, capturing with brilliance and immediacy the precarious first days of the Civil War. 

Happy Reading!  ;-)

Writing Memoirs and Biographies

Writing Memoirs and Biographies

As mentioned yesterday, here, I began reading Lions of the West which actually consists of a series of biographies, beginning with Thomas Jefferson - all tied together by the story of the American westward expansion prior to the Civil War era.

Today I came upon an article: "Five Tips on How to Write Biographies," that tied into my reading too closely not to record my thoughts and the connections. I have read, perhaps, a dozen biographies on Thomas Jefferson, large and small, from various viewpoints. Yet, the first 20 pages or so in 'Lions of the West' on Jefferson were filled with detail, most of which I had not seen any but the most cursory mention of previously. What Morgan, the author had done followed two or three of the "Five Tips" to a tee! What a neat connection; and, it confirmed the validity of the "Five Tips."

I am still working at learning the subtle differences between memoirs and biographies. I am working on drafts of two "biographies" of two specific ancestors - though one may be more of a "family history" rather than a biography. See what I am trying to understand? I also believe I have one or more "memoirs" in me, about pieces of my past, to share. What are they, and how do they fit, and how do I best approach them. I will label this post both Memoir Notes and Biography to help keep track.

Comments are welcomed.  ;-)

It's Monday, What are You Reading? Lions of the West by Robert Morgan

It's Monday, What are You Reading? 

                         Lions of the West by Robert Morgan


This is the thirtith entry for this meme suggested by Sheila@ One Persons Journey Through A World of Books. [Entries 22-25 in the series were posted at  the Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories]

Here is the Product Description of the book as presented on Amazon.com:

From Thomas Jefferson’s birth in 1743 to the California Gold rush in 1849, America’s Manifest destiny comes to life in Robert Morgan’s skilled hands. Jefferson, a naturalist and visionary, dreamed that the United States would stretch across the continent from ocean to ocean. The account of how that dream became reality unfolds in the stories of Jefferson and nine other Americans whose adventurous spirits and lust for land pushed the westward boundaries: Andrew Jackson, John “Johnny Appleseed” Chapman, David Crockett, Sam Houston, James K. Polk, Winfield Scott, Kit Carson, Nicholas Trist, and John Quincy Adams. Their tenacity was matched only by that of their enemies—the Mexican army under Santa Anna at the Alamo, the Comanche and Apache Indians, and the forbidding geography itself.

Known also for his powerful fiction (Gap Creek, The Truest Pleasure, Brave Enemies), Morgan uses his skill at characterization to give life to the personalities of these ten Americans without whom the United States might well have ended at the Arkansas border. Their stories—and those of the nameless thousands who risked their lives to settle on the frontier, displacing thousands of Native Americans—form an extraordinary chapter in American history that led directly to the cataclysm of the Civil War.

With illustrations, portraits, maps, battle plans, appendixes, notes, and time lines, Lions of the West is a richly authoritative biography of America as compelling as a grand novel.




Happy Reading!

Dr. Bill  ;-)

Guest Post - Larry Peterson

Guest Post

Larry Peterson

I am pleased today to host a guest post by Larry Peterson, author of the book, "The Priest and the Peaches," from Tribute Books. This post is part of Tribute Books Blog Tour, running from January 2 through March 31, to promote the book.

Guest Post by Larry Peterson:

***

"The Priest and the Peaches" is a sad yet funny story about five kids, living in the Bronx, who, having already lost their mom to leukemia, unexpectedly lose their dad during the Christmas season of 1965. Suddenly confronted with having to plan a funeral, realizing that they have no money and discovering that the rent and utilities are all past due thrusts  them into a world they are unprepared to confront---"grown-up world".

Teddy Peach is 18 and the oldest. He is determined to keep all of them together as a family. His sister is 17 and his brothers are 14, 10 and six years old. Outside forces are already at work determined to get the three younger boys into a "properly supervised environment."

Enter Father Tim Sullivan, the local parish priest. A tough, street-wise man from the "Hell's Kitchen" section of Manhattan, Father Tim also has a kind and gentle way about him and possesses a  simple faith that allows him to see God's love  working even amidst chaos. He uses his faith to help guide the Peach kids on their quest to remain together as a family.

This book shows the value and importance of familial love and how powerful it can be, especially when faced with crisis. It also teaches lessons in taking responsibility, being unselfish, caring about others and "loving your neighbor." Finally, it portrays the manner in which so many priests have stayed true to their faith and vocations by being there for so many in times of need.

***

The book is also available for the Nook, at iBookstore, at Smashwords, and as a PDF.

Happy Reading!  ;-)

It's Monday, What are You Reading? V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton

V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton


This is the twenty-ninth entry for this meme suggested by Sheila@ One Persons Journey Through A World of Books. [Entries 22-25 in the series were posted at  the Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories]

A Christmas gift of my very favorite book series. I've read every one; and always look forward to the next. Kinsey is my favorite PI, ever. And there have been some great ones! ;-)


Here is the Product Description of the book as presented on Amazon.com:

A spiderweb of dangerous relationships lies at the heart of V is for Vengeance, Sue Grafton's daring new Kinsey Millhone novel.

A woman with a murky past who kills herself-or was it murder? A spoiled kid awash in gambling debt who thinks he can beat the system. A lovely woman whose life is about to splinter into a thousand fragments. A professional shoplifting ring working for the Mob, racking up millions from stolen goods. A wandering husband, rich and ruthless. A dirty cop so entrenched on the force he is immune to exposure. A sinister gangster, conscienceless and brutal. A lonely widower mourning the death of his lover, desperate for answers, which may be worse than the pain of his loss. A private detective, Kinsey Millhone, whose thirty-eighth-birthday gift is a punch in the face that leaves her with two black eyes and a busted nose.
And an elegant and powerful businessman whose dealings are definitely outside the law: the magus at the center of the web.
V: Victim. Violence. Vengeance.




Happy Reading!

Dr. Bill  ;-)

Book Review - Civil War: Springfield by Larry Wood

Book Review - Civil War: Springfield by Larry Wood

This is my second review of a book from The History Press. I received the book at no charge in exchange for a fair and honest review, from my point of view. Each book I review for The History Press will be a local history book. This one focuses on Springfield, Missouri.

Civil War: Springfield by Larry Wood is a part of The History Press Civil War Sesquicentennial Series. As noted on the back cover of the book, "With this series of concise books by Civil War scholars, The History Press honors the 150th anniversary of the War Between the States.

I can summarize the book no better than to cite the description in the back cover of the book:

"During the Civil War, Springfield was a frontier community of about 1,500 people, but it was the largest and most important place in southwest Missouri. The Northern and Southern armies vied throughout the early part of the war to occupy its strategic position. The Federal defeat at Wilson's Creek in August 1861 gave the Southern forces possession, but Zagonyi's charge two and a half months later returned Springfield to the Union. The Confederacy came back near Christmas of 1861 before being ousted agin in February 1862. Marmaduke's defeat at the Battle of Springfield in January 1863 ended the contest, placing the Union firmly in control, but Springfield continued to pulse with activity throughout the war. Historian Larry Wood chronicles this epic story."

Wood presents an extremely well researched and easy to read, detailed account of the activities in and around the Springfield community from several years before the war, throughout the war years, and summarized commemorative activities following the war. The book is well researched using local and regional archives and well written in an easy-to-read narrative. Included are many maps, photos and illustrations to provide a 'real-life' texture to reading experience.

I found the early discussion of the pre-war years where "Border Ruffians" and free-soil advocates created "Bleeding Kansas" especially useful and even-handed. Probably my strongest feeling throughout the entire book was the true historian even-handedness applied. This was a period of high tensions between well-meaning and strong partisans on each side. Wood notes how many in southwest Missouri wanted to be neutral because of this strong dual pull from the competing sides. He skillfully describes the feelings of these competing interests and provides meaningful insights into how many of these individuals managed to get through the war years and continue to serve both Springfield and Missouri in future years, regardless of their particular partisan positions during the war years. I strongly recommend this book to readers with an interest in the Springfield community during the Civil War period 150 years ago.

You may also enjoy reading a related article I wrote, based on this book, at: "Civil War: Springfield tells of Christmas 1861 - 150 Years Ago."





Happy Reading!

Dr. Bill  ;-)

It's Monday, What are You Reading? Back to Work by Bill Clinton

It's Monday, What are You Reading?

Bill Clinton - Back to Work: Why We Need Smart Government for a Strong Economy


This is the twenty-eighth entry for this meme suggested by Sheila@ One Persons Journey Through A World of Books. [Entries 22-25 in the series were posted at  the Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories]


Back cover quote from book:

"I wrote this book because I love my country and I'm concerned about out future. As I often said when I first ran for president in 1992, America at its core is an idea - the idea that no matter who you are or where you're from, if you work hard and play by the rules, you'll have the freedom and opportunity to pursue your own dreams and leave your kids a country where they can chase theirs… Work is about more than making a living… It's fundamental to human dignity, to our sense of self-worth as useful, independent, free people… We've got to get America back in the future business."

Here is the Product Description of the book as presented on Amazon.com:

President Bill Clinton gives us his views on the challenges facing the United States today and why government matters—presenting his ideas on restoring economic growth, job creation, financial responsibility, resolving the mortgage crisis, and pursuing a strategy to get us "back in the future business.” He explains how we got into the current economic crisis, and offers specific recommendations on how we can put people back to work, increase bank lending and corporate investment, double our exports, restore our manufacturing base, and create new businesses. He supports President Obama’s emphasis on green technology, saying that changing the way we produce and consume energy is the strategy most likely to spark a fast-growing economy while enhancing our national security.

Clinton also stresses that we need a strong private sector and a smart government working together to restore prosperity and progress, demonstrating that whenever we’ve given in to the temptation to blame government for all our problems, we’ve lost our ability to produce sustained economic growth and shared prosperity.

Clinton writes, “There is simply no evidence that we can succeed in the twenty-first century with an antigovernment strategy,” based on “a philosophy grounded in ‘you’re on your own’ rather than ‘we’re all in this together.’ ” He believes that conflict between government and the private sector has proved to be good politics but has produced bad policies, giving us a weak economy with not enough jobs, growing income inequality and poverty, and a decline in our competitive position. In the real world, cooperation works much better than conflict, and “Americans need victories in real life.”





Happy Reading!

Dr. Bill  ;-)

How well do you keep your New Year Resolutions?

How well do you keep your New Year Resolutions?

My friend, Dan Curtis, Professional Personal Historian, and great blogger has some excellent advise for making keeping your resolutions better.  Perhaps it is not too late to adopt his technique.

Do you have "3 words for 2012?" How will you make them work for you?  ;-)

Leave a comment and share with us how you think this approach might work, for you!  ;-)

Happy New Year 2012!

Reading and Writing Plans for 2012

I just finished The Year in Review - 2011, and promised to write this for January 2, so I guess I'll give it a try, while I'm in the mood. I hope it is not all redundant between the two pieces. I'll try to keep it simple.

1. I put 'reading and writing' in the title this year because, to me, I must continue to read in order to be able to write… at least the way I want to. I'm getting more books as Christmas gifts, both print and Kindle, so that will keep me going; plus, online reading never ends.

2. I will continue to write, currently five, articles each week for Examiner.com on my two topic areas: Springfield Genealogy Examiner and Ozarks Cultural Heritage Examiner.

3. It seems I need to have each of my five blogs to have the necessary outlets for what I want to write. Each has its own content and focus, and I've noticed the priority among them shifts a bit, month by month. That is fine, must keep from getting bored.
Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories
Dr. Bill on Retirement
Dr. Bill's Book Bazaar
The Homeplace Series Blog
The KINNICK Project

4. One addition this year, as a daily priority is transcribing my mother's 1937 diary entries onto The KINNICK Project blog - 75 Years Ago. Eileen KINNICK had just turned 18 years old in December 1936, is three months into her relationship with Pete Smith, and is a devoted 'Coon Rapids' girl - giving us some insight into this small Iowa town, as well. They will get married in the Spring of 1938; I'll come along on 1 Jul 1939. So, it should make some interesting reading. The transcriptions begin on 4 Jan 2012; my weekly commentaries on Tuesday will continue on the Ancestor Stories blog starting on 10 Jan 2012.

5. During the year I hope to finish the research and writing of the non-fiction family history on our Revolutionary War ancestor, Sergeant Major William KINNICK. He is my 5th great-grandfather as well as the 3rd great-grandfather of 1939 Heisman Trophy winner Nile KINNICK, for whom KINNICK Stadium at the University of Iowa is named. There is surely some promotion value there to exploit. Wish me well!  ;-)

6. I will continue to research and write on issues related to a non-fiction family history book on my great-grandfather Michael Smith. I am still developing alternative approaches to making this project most effective.

7. Finally, I will continue to pursue "The Homeplace" series fiction work. A lot of additional ground work was done during the last half of 2011, and I do not yet know just where that will take us. Come along for the journey, and see where we are at the end of another year!  ;-)

8. From Arrion: For 2012, assist your youngest daughter Arrion with her research on the Smith family in Europe (Colmar, France area.) Also, interested in the Stauffer line on Mom's side - Ibershiem, Germany area. This is for my October 2012 European Road Trip. That is, if you have the time! P.S. We will find time.  ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Note: This is posted to both the Ancestor Stores blog and the Book Bazaar blog.