Emassee Robert Grierson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution  graciously invited me to speak at the October meeting at the Dothan Country Club.

I first met the ladies of the DAR at Farm Days at Dothan's Legacy Park both last week and last spring. I was  honored when they invited me to speak at their October meeting. This is an incredible organization of women dedicated to preserving and celebrating American history, as well as public service. 

I enjoyed talking to Cathy, Jessica, Denise and all the DAR ladies about their heritage and the great work DAR is doing in the community. For example, during the meeting, Cheri Bowman from Operation Christmas Child also spoke. Operation Christmas Child is a Christian-based organization which brings much needed Christmas gifts to children in need around the world. The ladies also spoke to me about their participation in Alabama's "Vote in Honor of a Veteran" program.  I'm thankful there are organizations like the DAR working to make our communities better places to live.  

Most of all, I enjoyed sharing these women's passion for history.  I could have spent all day asking each and every one of them about their family connection to the American Revolution.  I greatly appreciated their warm response for local history and Abandoned Wiregrass.

Thanks, ladies!  

If you are a member of a historical, genealogical or public service organization in the Wiregrass Area, and you're looking for a speaker, please contact me here. I'd love to share my experiences writing Abandoned Wiregrass with your organization. 
#abandonedwiregrass #wiregrass #dothan #daughtersoftheamericanrevolution #dar 

Here's a new image for your Monday morning, I took this along the old 3 Notch Trail in Pike County, Alabama. ​

I'd like to thank everyone who stopped by my booth at Landmark Park in Dothan last Saturday. Spring Farm day was a great event. I enjoyed meeting a lot of new people and talking about their experiences with local history and abandoned structures in the Wiregrass.  I was also overwhelmed with the positive reception "Abandoned Wiregrass" received at the event.    

I will be at the Rudd Art Center in Ozark this Saturday, 26 March from 10 to 2pm for a book signing, along with other local authors. Please stop by and get your signed copy of Abandoned Wiregrass, as well as checking out fantastic art from local artists. 

You can keep up with my book signings, festival booths, speaking engagements, and other happening on my events page. 

I've decided to spice up my photography. Instead of driving around in my pickup truck looking for abandoned and derelict structures, I'm driving around on my new motorcycle looking for abandoned and derelict structures.

Its not a midlife crisis. I've had plenty of those. I know that they feel like. This is completely different, I assure you.  Its really a promise kept to myself. I loved motorcycles in my youth, but years ago I quit riding when a family came along. I always promised myself I'd get another one when the time was right. Well, the time was right.  Now I know how Ralphie felt Christmas morning when he finally got his official Red Ryder carbine 200-shot air rifle...with a compass in the stock.

This machine has a compass, too. I  will endeavor not to shoot my eye out.  

For those interested, this bike a Harley-Davidson Sportster S.  If you happen to be a motorcycle-riding person and want to follow along with my journeys, occasionally the bike may sneak its way into a photo or into the story. I'm not planning on turning this blog into a motorcycle forum, but the topic may come up occasionally. However, riding around looking for things to photograph is SO MUCH MORE FUN on the back of one of these.  

So, when you see new photos of the lost and forgotten places along the South's biways and highways, you know that getting there was definitely half the fun. 

Thanks to "Train" and folks down at Harley-Davidson of Dothan for the great customer support. ​
#updates #engagement #booksignings #artshows #artfestivals #abandonedwiregrass #motorcycles #sportsterS #harleydavidson

I traveled to Troy, Alabama over the weekend to speak to the Pike County Historical Genealogical &  Preservation Society about Abandoned Wiregrass.  It was good to get back to my old college stomping grounds, though Troy has changed quite a bit since they days when I attended Troy State University. 

The Society held their meeting at the Pioneer Museum of Alabama just off Highway 231 on the north side of Troy.  I'd like to thank Dianne Smith and the rest of the members for the opportunity to speak. As I had hoped, they were a wealth of knowledge on several of the structures featured in my book and provided valuable insights on several locations. Several members provided tips regarding old and potentially historic buildings and ruins in the Pike County area. I'm excited about further exploring many of these  places.

I'm beginning to learn there is an amazing network of historical and genealogical societies scattered across Alabama, each dedicated to preserving the histories of the places the members call home.  If you are part of a historical preservation group in the Wiregrass, or just someone who knows of an interesting old ruin, please leave a comment or contact through me Facebook. 

This was also my first visit to the  Pioneer Museum of Alabama. This place is truly a Wiregrass treasure.  I strongly recommend a visit. 
​

If your organization or civic group is looking for a guest speaker I'd love to come speak about Abandoned Wiregrass.  Please contact me below of leave a comment on my Facebook. ​ 

#abandonedwiregrass #wiregrass #historical #history #TroyAlabama #Pikecountyalabama #speaking

I'm back from Amelia Island a few books lighter and with several lessons under my belt.  This was my first book signing event, and it went pretty smooth. I met a lot of fantastic authors and readers, and would definitely go again. However, there were a few bumps and are the lesson's learned in no particular order (some offered to me by fellow authors at the festival - thanks K'Anne!):

​1. Tape. You'll need both scotch and duct tape. For what? Everything. 

2. My banner worked great. I found mounting clips at Office Depot that worked good, but would have worked better with tape.  I would have added a banner behind and above me, too. Those call more attention to your booth. 

3. Change. I was scrambling the night before to get lots of ones. I think the lady at Publix thought I was getting ready to go to a strip bar. 

4. Fish bowl or cookie jar for business cards and giveaway. I used an unsightly piece of disposable Tupperware.

5. NEVER WALK OUT OF THE HOUSE WITHOUT MY COFFEE MUG. 

6. Attractive book ends and book display holders. (Duh! Its a book fest.) I even saw one author with a collapsable wire book rack. 

7. Ask ahead of time about wi-fi. 

8. If you are going to use your phone to take credit cards, have a portable phone charger. 

9. Bring. Your. Own. Chair.  It was at a middle school, and they must have given me the Timeout Chair. 

10. Bring candy to hand out. 

11. Bring small cooler with my own lunch, water and snacks.

12. Get one of those beach wagons to haul everything in and out. 

13. Pens. 

14. See-through plastic bags to put your book in.

15. Have your sales pitch ready to go in your mind and keep it simple. After a few deliveries I had mine down OK, but looking back I should have had it tighter. I got asked two basic questions: 1) What is the genre and 2) What is it about?  I tried to keep each to one sentence.

Well, that's about it. I'm going to try to make a few more book signings this year. I'll keep you posted here.  

Oh, yeah, weirdest question I got asked. "Do you know martial arts?" 

I will be at the Amelia Island Book Festival, Florida this Saturday, 20 Feb. Come on out and meet me, get a copy of one of my books, and find out about my company Underground Book Reviews. 

​Read More Here!