William Clark's signature (July 25th, 1806)
Yes, I realize it has been awhile since my last post. I was able to finish the novel on July 4th as I had anticipated. Right now (hopefully) my editor is fully enjoying the story as I get ready to complete my back cover copy, author bio, dedication page, and so much more! After the holiday weekend I started right in on outlining and writing my next story. The focus is on the seven deadly sins. I have started it once in first person and twice in third person - it is still a work in progress. It's based on a short story I wrote years ago and decided to turn it into a much longer piece. Of course, as reading will do to the writing mind, my current research of the American War for Independence has generated more thoughts on a future historical fiction. The more I read about what really happened in our country the more patriotic I become.
The picture above is at Pompey's Pillar - this is in Montana where Lewis and Clark spilt up to get a better picture of what was once uncharted land. Below is a picture of a bull boat - it was used to travel down the Yellowstone river:
I am thoroughly enjoying brushing up on my early American history. I get to teach 8th grade social studies this year - yes, as many of you who know me know, a real dream come true. In college I studied the Civil War at length, and although I have read dozens of books on the founders I really didn't know a whole bunch about the mid-1700s through Jefferson's presidency. I am reading a book titled, Minute Men, by John R. Galvin. It is one of only two books that really dig into the battle of Lexington and Concord. This history will amaze anyone who is even slightly interested in the first actual battle that sparked the war. And it is very readable. Since I am still the writing teacher for the 8th graders, I have mixed in some historical fiction with Johnny Tremain and The Fifth of March. Again, two books that are worth a turn. These are only suggestions as you wait to read my book, Lazarus Rising, in late October/early November.
In mid-July I injured my neck and shoulder. It took me out of writing on a regular basis. I guess I should be grateful that I had already sent in my manuscript to my editor, but it was difficult to have all these ideas swirling in my head only to learn that when I sat down to write the pain clouded my thinking. The doctors are slowly putting me back together and YEAH - I get to write after a two week hiatus.
As you can see we went out of town (Montana/Wyoming) this past weekend. We visited the Battle of Little Bighorn. It's hard to know how to feel once you hear what happened on that day. It truly is a thought provoking journey. No matter how someone sees the battle there really is no winner; just a sad moment in history where two cultures clashed. Both sides suffered from thinking they were superior to the other armed with nothing more than a preconceived notion of what "those people" are like. That being said the U.S. Army had no reason to be there. It ends up being a massacre of the 7th Calvary that only leads to the U.S. Government doubling their efforts to get a people to behave the way they want them to. Not one of our greatest moments. In the end the battle was simply Americans fighting Americans. Let us pray we never have to go through that again. The peaceful transition of one Administration to the next is one of our greatest assets. If we can continue that tradition perhaps we have a chance of making this liberty thing work. Perhaps.
On a lighter note - my brother-in-law was here once again. Yes, I had to beat him like a redheaded step-child in Tiger Woods golf. He told me he has only four more years to retirement. We will have a new president by then. That means he will have served in 12 different administrations dating back to his Boot Camp days during Eisenhower's term. For my birthday he gave me a coffee cup from his regiment that is so big when I used it I reinjured my neck! All kidding aside it was the perfect present. I love it when Gene is here. We always have a good laugh. Thanks for the memories, brother!
God Bless - don't forget to register if you haven't already for my website.
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