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October
2005
October
1 *
Book
Signing- Tri-State Genealogical Society Annual Seminar and
Book Sale, Evansville, Indiana
Barb Manzi is one of the people
that makes the Tri-State Genealogical Society successful.
She invited me to be a part of their Annual Seminar and
Book Sale. I was eager to participate, but knew little to
nothing about the Society- how the meetings worked, or what
to expect. I resolved to simply dedicate the day to having
a good time. As it turned out, it was a good thing I went.
I didn't think I'd sell more than four or five books, but
again, I was wrong. Although I sold twenty-two books during
the seminar breaks that day, perhaps the most important
highlight was meeting the folks at the seminar. Among
others, I met Lawrence Skelton, a relative of Paul Marrs
who was a member of Johnson's regiment and led the assault
on West Franklin, Indiana, in November of 1862.
October 5 * A newspaper article on
Thunder From a Clear
Sky appears in The Picayune in
Texas.
October
7 * A newspaper article on Thunder From a Clear Sky
appears in The Marble Falls Highlander in
Texas.
October
7 *
Book
Signing- Marble Falls Public Library, Marble Falls,
Texas
This was the first appearance
of my Texas book signing tour sponsored by John Hallowell
of Texas Hill Country Magazine. John Hallowell is
a man of high aspirations, high energy, and a high opinion
of General Adam Rankin Johnson. Because Johnson spent the
last 50 years of his life in central Texas, John was keenly
interested in Thunder From
a Clear Sky. John was my ambassador for the
whirlwind two-day tour. The early morning book signing at
the library was essentially nil, maybe three or four books,
but it was sure fun to stretch out and take in Texas.
Besides, there was so much more to do on that day that no
time was wasted pining over the slow start.
October
7 *
Book
Signing- Falls on the Colorado Museum, Marble Falls, Texas
My first television interview
This little museum is a diamond
in the rough and the folks there were ready and waiting.
There was a nice little buzz and, although we were only
there for a short time, we sold around twenty books. There
was an enthusiastic surge of people and KXAN-TV came in and
shot a little piece on my appearance. With the dedication
of the people there, this museum is going places. Everyone
was welcoming and interested in Adam Johnson's Civil War
exploits. Before I left, the museum staff presented me with
a wonderful photo of Adam Johnson standing in front of the
dated founding monument for Marble Falls- 1887. Judging by
Johnson's age, I think the photo was taken later. Johnson
is standing in front of his huge brick cotton factory. In
his impeccable suit, bow tie, dark glasses, and cane (his
uniform)- he was a well recognized figure in 19th-century
central Texas.
October
7 *
Guest
Speaker- Herman Brown Free Library, Burnet, Texas
Making a point at the Brown Library in the Lone Star
state
On to meet Cookie Wallace and
the hospitable folks at the Herman Brown Library. I met
people for a few minutes before the speech, signed some
books- everyone has a story to tell about Adam Johnson. It
was interesting to note that no one knew him as "Stovepipe"
in Texas, there he was "The General." In Kentucky no one
knows him as "The General." It was a great group that
showed up at the library and I was impressed at the level
of knowledge and interest. Here, like everywhere, the local
hospitality and desire to learn more about General Johnson
was on display.
October
8 *
Book
Signing- Fort Croghan Day, Burnet, Texas
Speaking to
visitors at Fort Croghan
When John Hallowell and I were
planning my Texas trip, I suggested that I come down and be
a part of Fort Croghan Day- a day of historic remembrance
and period activities in celebration of the 1850's frontier
fort. It turned out to be a good call. It was a gorgeous
day for outdoor activities, and General Adam Johnson was a
good fit for the event. Dozens of people visited and
everyone was interested in Johnson's story. Art Dlugach
came by and conducted an on-site interview for KBEY radio
(check my audio file page to listen to the interview). The
action was non-stop and we sold about thirty books in the
two-and-a-half hours. I also learned quite a bit about
frontier forts- such as there were typically no man-made
enclosures around these "forts." Rather, the locale was
picked by army dragoons because it had a natural
combination of resources for living and protection by
rivers or hills. These forts were meant to secure new lands
for settlers until things became stable in the region, then
the fort was either absorbed or abandoned as the dragoons
moved another twenty miles westward.
The fort has an
illustrious history and many intriguing stories. Albert
Sydney Johnston was paymaster there before the Civil War.
It was fun to imagine a trail-bitten, twenty-year-old "Ad"
Johnson riding into Fort Croghan with his brothers. But the
fort was abandoned in 1853 and Adam Johnson showed up in
the region in '54. If he did come to what was left of the
"fort," he probably would have found everything except the
soldiers. It could have been the one and only time he ever
missed the action.
October
8 *
Book
Signing- Johnson-Sewell Imports, Marble Falls, Texas
Johnson-Sewell Imports is a
newly opened automobile dealership, among others, that is
owned by Adam Johnson's Great Grandson, Ross Johnson. How
many people have had a signing for a Civil War book at a
car dealership? Not many I would guess, but it just goes to
show you that you can't rule out anything without
understanding the connections. Ross Johnson is a
well-known, successful businessman in the region, and
because he is a direct descendant of Adam Johnson's the
appearance at the dealership worked! We sold just short of
twenty books there in the two hours, but Ross and his staff
made me feel like a king. We talked, he had ordered food, a
gorgeous table was set up (with comfy chair). Like most
people in Texas, even Ross didn't know that much about the
Newburgh Raid and, of course, it was my joy to discuss it
at length. Ross and his staff know how to make someone feel
appreciated.
October
8 *
Book
Signing- "Rocky Rest" Homestead, Burnet, Texas
With Fannie Shepperd at Rocky Rest
Fannie Shepperd is the current
owner of the "Rocky Rest" homestead. Rocky Rest is the home
Adam Johnson built for his new wife before returning to
Kentucky to fight in the Civil War. Johnson wasn't the sort
of guy to leave anything half done, and the fact that the
house is still an active residence after almost 150 years
is tribute to that fact. Fannie generously toured John and
I through the house- it was a little scary to put your feet
exactly where Adam Johnson's dusty boots were all those
years ago. The house, built of massive field stones, will
still be there 150 years from now. It was evening, a few
people showed up, and I signed a few books. Carole Goble
told us more about Fort Croghan. Mostly it was time to wind
down and just revel in the atmosphere of Johnson's old
home. Thunder From a Clear
Sky had changed my life and these moments were
as good as any to acknowledge it.
October 23
* A newspaper article on Thunder From a Clear Sky
appears in the Henderson, Kentucky, Gleaner. The
front page headline reads, "'Stovepipe' expert to speak
this week."
October
24 *
WSON
Radio Interview, Henderson, Kentucky
I agreed to the early morning
Henderson radio interview as an effective way to promote my
appearance as the featured speaker at the Friends of the
Henderson County Library's annual meeting. The meeting is
open to the public to hear the speaker. My first time on
radio and I'm as nervous as a cat before we start. I glance
down and, for the first time, see the Henderson
Gleaner article on my appearance later this week. I
audibly gulp after reading the front page headline,
"'Stovepipe' expert." Don Wathen, head of the Friend's of
the Library, is going to interview with me. I had nothing
to worry about. It was like having a conversation with some
old friends about something you were all interested in. A
truly great time.
October
27 *
Guest
Speaker- Friends of the Henderson County Library Annual
Meeting, Henderson, Kentucky
By this time the word is out
and a large group begins to assemble before the annual
meeting. A little less than 100 people are at the meeting.
After about five minutes of administrative business, I'm
on. This is the speech where, afterwards, I finally said to
myself, "this is fun." Its been fun ever since. I just let
my passion for the subject show. I make fun of myself a few
times. I love talking about this subject and I never quite
seem to focus on the same aspect of the raid twice. Time
flew. After the talk, I signed almost forty books. The
feedback I got was that everyone loved the speech. I wish I
could remember what I said and bottle it, but I'm not built
that way. Next speech will be totally different.
October
29 *
Book
Signing- 2nd Annual Western Kentucky Book Expo, Sturgis,
Kentucky
SIgning books at Sturgis, Kentucky
My first book fair. Everything
is a wonder to me. The fair consisted of about 100 authors
and each author had a spot at a table where their books had
been stacked by Barnes & Noble- the fair sponsors. I
was tucked in a corner and sat next to Jerlene Rose and
William Matthews who were responsible for Kentucky's
Civil War 1861-1865. A great book. So good, I'm
worried that traffic flow brings potential Civil War book
buyers to their table first- where people buy their quota
before hitting my table.
All my worries
are for nothing, as usual. Kentucky's Civil War
and Thunder From a Clear
Sky coexist amicably. Although I'm sure
everyone within earshot is tired of my rap by the end of
the day, I sign about forty books and they do about the
same. Kentucky has a healthy appetite for Civil War books.
I also meet Linda Bruckheimer, wife of famous Hollywood
film director Jerry Bruckheimer (Crimson Tide,
Black Hawk Down, Top Gun, National
Treasure, Beverly Hills Cop, etc., etc.).
Linda buys a copy of Thunder, but I don't know
who she is until someone whispers it to me afterwards. I
hope Linda and Jerry like the book! It would make a great
movie...
October
30 *
Book
Signing- Rivertown Antiques, Newburgh, Indiana
With Daniel Moore at Rivertown
Antiques
My third book appearance in
four days. I'm a little tired. It's been a fruitful, but
long October. Daniel Moore, local NPR radio personality,
brings his mom, Nadine, down to get a book signed. Daniel
did two pieces on Thunder for NPR's Sonic
I.D.s. I'm grateful I ran into Dan. The Sunday evening
timeframe is a little off-beat except that its just before
the Newburgh Ghostwalks through town. Things go OK and I
sign about a dozen books in two hours. Bob Levi and I get
to chat a lot more than we did back in June. Bob's a great
guy and has been a huge supporter of mine. In retrospect, I
think the date and time weren't as good as I had hoped. The
mailing list I used wasn't that productive either and there
was no major media campaign beforehand. Next time I come
back to Rivertown will be different, although I don't know
when that will be.
