CLICK HERE TO
BUY Thunder from a Clear
Sky
August
2006
August
21 * Guest
Speaker- McGrady-Brockman House, Vincennes, IN
Announcement board on the street corner near the
McGrady-Brockman House
where I spoke on August 21, 2006.
After missing the Kentucky Genealogical
Society Annual Meeting on August 5, I was extremely anxious
to get back on track spreading the word about Adam Johnson
and Thunder from a
Clear Sky.
Luckily, Vincennes possesses a jewel at the
McGrady-Brockman House who is responsible for the fantastic
success of the program on August 21. The name of the jewel
is Brian Spangle. I met Brian years ago when I was just
starting my research on the original book that I wanted to
write before I bumped into Adam Johnson. He was a great
help to me then, opening up the archives to me and making
sure I had everything I needed. He's the type of person you
aren't going to forget after he helps you. I didn't forget.
When it came time for me to talk to a group in Vincennes
about my book, Brian's name came back to me. I knew, once
again, he would be helpful- and he was, big time. Brian
organized for me to come to the McGrady-Brockman House on
August 21 to coincide with a regular genealogical society
meeting. Brian also got the word out to the community, big
time.
The author signs the last few first edition copies of
Thunder from a
Clear Sky at Vincennes
I
got there early as I always do and talked to Brian for
awhile. The first group came in at 6 PM for a 6:30 PM talk-
this was a good sign. I started talking to people right
away and by the time 6:30 came around the room was
completely full, people were setting up chairs in the next
room, and more folks were still coming in. There must have
been between 35 and 40 people in the room. As some of you
know, I no longer speak from notes. I gave it up last year
after I wound up looking at them on the way home after
every event. I decided tonight to talk a little about the
project that got me started years ago and is the project
I'm working on now- the 80th Indiana. The 80th Indiana has
a serious Vincennes component and many of the people in
town today have ancestors that go back to the regiment.
Anyway, I can't remember much of what I said, but everyone
seemed to like it. I took several good questions and sold a
nice pile of books. All the profits from the books will be
donated to the Civil War monument restoration project in
Vincennes. Here's the best part. I'll be appearing again in
Vincennes on September 9. Most publishers say I'd be crazy
to appear twice in the same town within weeks, but I'm
really looking forward to their Civil War days on September
9. I asked everyone at the event to tell others about my
return on September 9. The profits from that appearance
will also be donated to the Civil War monument. The bottom
line was that this was a terrific event and I felt
energized by the knowlegeable crowd. I am grateful to Brian
and everyone in the town of Vincennes. I hope everyone
comes by to see me on September 9. I'm really looking
forward to it.