I had a very big day today?
…And will be making a significant announcement in the near future. I’m not at liberty to divulge any ‘specific’ details until the formal acceptance takes place, but I can say that I have been asked to join the board of a museum that is on the verge of some very big things. I will also be acting as an exhibit advisor. In addition, plans are now coming along for the 'Houses of the Holy' Book Release Party including the acquisition of a museum venue, bluegrass entertainment, and sponsors. Also coming soon: Book reviews for the Free Lance-Star of “One Continuous Fight: The Retreat from Gettysburg and the Pursuit of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, July 4-14, 1863” and “Lincoln's Labels: America's Best Known Brands and the Civil War.” Stay tuned.

?Two Brothers? more than just another Civil War novel

A month or so ago I was contacted by an author named David H. Jones, who inquired if I would be interested in reading his novel "Two Brothers: One North, One South.” Although my own work keeps me buried in non-fictional books, I do enjoy historical-fiction works for my pleasure reading. Some of my favorite authors, including Richard Croker and Jessica James, use accurate historical references as the backdrop for their imaginative stories and I appreciate their attention to detail, as well as their creative spins on the subject matter. Despite my busy schedule, I hesitantly accepted David’s invitation as I was nearing the completion of some deadlines. Now that I have finished his book, I am very glad that I did.

The synopsis of “Two Brothers” that was provided by his publisher states: “Exceptionally researched and keenly accurate to actual events, along with the personages that forged them, David H. Jones's novel spans four years in the midst of America's costliest and most commemorated war. The journey is navigated by the poet, Walt Whitman, whose documented compassion for the wounded and dying soldiers of the war takes him to Armory Square Hospital in Washington, D.C., and finds him at the bedside of William Prentiss, a Rebel soldier, just after fighting has ended. As fate has it, William's brother, Clifton, a Union officer, is being treated in another ward of the same hospital, and Whitman becomes the sole link not just between the two, but with the rest of their family as well. The reader is taken seamlessly from Medfield Academy in Baltimore, where the Prentiss family makes its home, to the many battlefields where North and South collide, and even through the drawing rooms of wartime Richmond, where Hetty, Jenny, and Constance Cary are the reigning belles.”

After reading that Walt Whitman would be ‘navigating’ the plotline, I was captivated by the premise of the tale and pleasantly surprised to find that the author did indeed deliver on his publisher’s promise. Far too often, the marketing promotions for books leave the reviewer feeling a bit unfulfilled, but I must say that David Jones has not only presented a highly dramatic and original storyline, but also composed a piece that was meticulously researched for maximum believability. The characters in “Two Brothers” read very real, because they are. The book is closely based on the true story of the Prentiss brothers of Baltimore. Brother Clifton served in the Federal 6th Maryland Infantry Regiment and brother William served in the Confederate 1st and 2nd Maryland Battalions. Walt Whitman wrote about William in "Memoranda During The War".

A former U.S. Navy officer, the West Virginia-based author was able to combine his military training with his passion for Civil War history to produce the novel. The concept of "Brother vs. Brother" is certainly nothing new to the Civil War bookshelf as countless families were torn apart during our nation’s “Great Divide.” That said it is very refreshing to find examples when historians can find a new and exciting way to present these struggles on a personal level. David Jones has managed to do just that with the highly innovative "Two Brothers: One North, One South.” From its award-winning cover that garnered the 2008 Benjamin Franklin Award for design, to the extraordinary tale it contains of a poet and two brothers who found themselves on opposite sides of an American tragedy, “Two Brothers” is a wonderful read that will appeal to history buffs on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line.

Order the book on Amazon.com

Visit author David H. Jones’ blog

Why we do what we do...

It somehow seems fitting that I can post this piece today as it appears that most of us across the blogoshpere are living the dream this summer and doing exactly what we were meant to do… share our passion for Civil War history with others.

Rangers Mannie and Hoptak are back to work, walking the hallowed grounds at Antietam, and sharing the field’s history with park visitors. Eric Wittenberg is out on a bus tour doing the same with attendees of the Gettysburg Retreat Seminar. Richard Williams just helped a bright, home-schooled student with a research paper about Stonewall Jackson (BTW: she got an ‘A’). JD Petruzzi and Mike Nugent are up in Gettysburg doing talks about their new book on the retreat. Even ‘those’ whom we don’t always agree with have been attending some important seminars on the Civil War Sesquicentennial and how our beloved state intends to acknowledge it. The Society of Civil War Historians has also held meetings in recent weeks and many of our friends and associates including John Hennessy and Harry Smeltzer were in attendance. Andrew Duppstadt is always living the dream, working with various museum programs, and many others out there are just as busy preserving and presenting this subject that we hold so dear.

Therefore, it is with a great sense of pride that I share this wonderful video (below) that features an extraordinary young man named Richard Warren II, whose mother I have been consulting with over the last few weeks on the life and death of Richard Kirkland. I had mentioned in a previous post that this gifted nine-year old is participating in a ‘living timeline’ program in Salem, VA. His selection of character was “The Angel of Marye's Heights” and his performance is a brilliant testament to the Confederate humanitarian. This video that his mother sent me is of the dress rehearsal. I was so impressed that I promised to send young Richard a signed copy of ‘The Southern Cross,’ and to give his family a special tour of the Kirkland Monument on their next trip to Fredericksburg. I know that his family and I are both VERY proud and I bet that Richard Kirkland would be proud too.

This my friends, is exactly why we do what we do. Thank you Warren Family, (especially young Richard). Your portrayal of Sgt. Kirkland and his message of kindness is a blessing to us all.

 

 

Off to the presses... party time!

This morning I started to look at the promotion and coordination for the Houses of the Holy book release party. Here is the printed invitation that I am designing. The 'background' is actually the Standard's Mill marker down the street from my house. This event will most likely be taking place at a local museum or church in 8-10 weeks when the title officially hits the shelves. (I was just informed by The History Press that the final book has been sent to the printer with 900 copies ordered for it's first run.) Stay tuned for details. I'd love to discuss the title in person with you...

Limited Edition Print

One of the best things about being an author is the wonderful opportunities that you get to speak to different groups and organizations. I have been very blessed this year with numerous speaking engagements and book signings. One of my favorite dates, and one that has resulted in many new relationships, was the talk that I did last month to the Fredericksburg Civil War Roundtable at the University of Mary Washington. This group is highly respected and one of the oldest CWRTs in the country. Founded in 1952, they run a very classy program, and I intend to accept their invitation to become a member in the very near future. (They also have the best menu in town.)

David Silberman is a very knowledgeable and talented RT member who has taken some rather remarkable photographs over the years. David was generous enough to share some of his work with me and he is now making several of his pieces available as limited edition prints. The first to be released is a stunning image that captures two Civil War-related inductees into The Hall of Fame for Great Americans at Bronx Community College in New York. They are Union Major General Ulysses Simpson Grant and Confederate Lieutenant General Thomas ‘Stonewall’ Jackson. Both generals face one another in a very dramatic setting.

This Hall of Fame landmark was founded in 1900 to honor prominent Americans who have had a significant impact on this nation's history. Built in a sweeping semicircular Neo-Classical arc with wings at either end, it provides a panorama across the Harlem River and beyond to the Palisades. It is a unique and patriotic reminder that this country's phenomenal growth has been due to the vitality, ingenuity, and intellect of these individuals. While photographing Grant and Jackson, David was fortunate enough to have captured the beauty of the dawn. The result is a portrait with incredible lighting. The shadows of course add to the drama, but the sculpture's details and inscriptions are still clearly visible.

David explained to me that this image symbolizes the story of our country’s Civil War, when two great American’s of Hall of Fame status faced off in the name of their cause. It is a testament to the tragedy and triumph of the War Between the States. As a tribute, the photographer is making an 11 x 14 limited edition print available for purchase at only $150. I have recently added this print to my own office wall and highly recommend it for yours.

For more information on how you can order this one-of-a-kind photograph by David Silberman, please email ma@pinstripepress.net. (Serious inquires may request a full-size, low-resolution ‘sample’ photograph for a closer review.) I will be adding a permanent gallery with additional Silberman prints over on my website in the future.

(Photo Copyright 2008, David Silberman)

My God... They actually got something right!
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a 32-year old sweeping ban on handguns in the nation's capital violated the Second Amendment right to bear arms. The Second Amendment says, "A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." Congratulations DC. You finally have freedom!

That's a wrap!

Book #4 is in the can! It is near 1:30 AM in Fredericksburg, VA my friends and I just finished the last galley for 'Houses of the Holy.' After a year of work it is finally done! I just sent my final suggestions off to the publisher and the next time that I touch this title, it will be as a bound copy en route to the bookstore. What a feeling as this is my first 'secular' book and should open up some doors for my career. Honestly, after 3 major revisions and 4 edits, I think it's some of my best work to date. And thanks to the NPS, it’s the most balanced and broadly interpreted narrative that I've ever done. I can't wait to share it with you. Thanks be to the Lord, my father who proofed the entire book 3x's, and The History Press for some remarkable work. Now it's sleepy time...

CWPT Photo Contest

This morning I entered four of my amateur photos in the CWPT Digital Photo Contest. I had to create a Flickr™ account which I may use for other things in the future. I chose to simply enter two categories in the contest: 'Preservation Threats' and 'Civil War Battlefields'. My entries are here. Wish me luck.

PS: My video blogging test appears to have worked. Here are some 'quick and dirty' test shots that I did. They are all formatted for QuickTime.
I plan to shoot some lesser-known spots on the Fredericksburg Battlefield and share them with you in the near future.

My Stars and Bars 1: http://www.pinstripepress.net/100_3207.mov

My Stars and Bars 2: http://www.pinstripepress.net/100_3208.mov

My Stars and Stripes: http://www.pinstripepress.net/100_3209.mov

Me working at 1 am : http://www.pinstripepress.net/100_3211.mov

Just popped in between pages...

Greetings all, I hope that you had a beautiful weekend too. We had an absolutely blessed one for Jackson's baptism. He's now our 'littlest general' in the Lord's army. I also hung my First National Confederate flag (in my backyard above the pool) and a brand new 50-star American flag (on my front porch). Both are proudly swaying in the gentle Virginia breeze while paying tribute to those who fought and fell beneath them. I'll share some pics or video soon. That's all for now. Back to the proofs...

(PS. Last week I mentioned that I was giving up political talk-radio in favor of my battlefield driving-tour CDs. This morning I fired up the local Fredericksburg edition on my way to the office. There I was, cruising along, enjoying the beauty of the Virginia countryside, and listening to the introductory track... I couldn't help but smile and think to myself 'My God what a wonderful place to live!' Here's hoping that you get to be like Mannie and me someday and live near your favorite battlefield too. It makes the commute a lot more tolerable.)

Proofing the proofs
This morning I received the 128-page galley for 'Houses of the Holy.' I have until next Thursday for my proofer and I to identify any last minute issues. The book goes to the printer the following week. Needless to say with Jackson's baptism this weekend I will not be able to start reviewing these proofs until Monday. Therefore I will have zero time for blogging over the next week. Please excuse my absence. In anticipation I've posted a few updates w/ linked reading material below. Enjoy and I'll see you next Friday. It's hard for me to believe that this will be my 4th book published in 3 years. (Thank you Lord. I can accomplish nothing without you.)