Bargain E-Book: The Mule Soldiers by Blair Howard

On a balmy day in April 1863, Union Colonel Abel D. Streight, at the head of a brigade of Federal infantry, set out on a 220-mile ride to destroy the Western and Atlantic Railroad at Rome, Georgia. The most fascinating thing about the raid is that Streight’s brigade of four infantry regiments, almost 1,800 soldiers, was mounted on mules, a huge problem in itself; few of his men had ever ridden a horse, let alone a mule. But not only did Streight have almost 1,600 stubborn and wily animals to contend with, he soon found himself being relentlessly pursued by the inimitable Confederate cavalry commander, General Nathan Bedford Forrest.

The raid soon turned into a running battle between Streight’s raiders and Forrest's cavalry. For Streight, it was a long and tortuous journey across Northern Alabama. For Forrest, it was one defeat after another at the hands of the very “able” Abel Streight, even though he, Forrest, had the advantage of home territory and the sympathy and aid of the local populace.

There are some wildly hilarious moments involving the mules and their new masters; or is it the other way around? There's plenty of action and suspense, and an unforgettable cast of characters, real and fictional, animal and human; some you will come to love, some... not so much.

They say that truth is stranger than fiction. This amazing story proves the point, for the end of the story is… well, unbelievable.
The Mule Soldiers is the true story – fictionalized – of Colonel Abel Streight’s Raid into Northern Alabama that took place from 19 April to 3 May 1863. It is an enthralling and bittersweet story that will stay with you long after you have you have finished reading it.

Note: As of 3/23/2015 the book has been reworked and re-edited.

File Size: 1936 KB
Print Length: 296 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00R0AIA1O


Purchase for only $1.99

Book Review and Giveaway: I Am Abraham by Jerome Charyn

A fascinating, deeply personal portrait of our Nation's 16th president unfolds in I Am Abraham: A Novel of Lincoln and The Civil War by award-winning author Jerome Charyn.

This novel's prologue opens with a meeting between President Lincoln and his oldest son, Robert, after Lee's surrender at Appomattox, and swiftly moves to Lincoln's assassination. The book then travels back to 1831 and the years Lincoln spent in New Salem, taking on a slow, steady pace through the years as Lincoln becomes a lawyer, weds Mary Todd, and is elected President of the United States. More than half the book is dedicated to those years the country was at war.

I Am Abraham is not, however, a typical story about Lincoln. Using Lincoln's own letters and speeches, Charyn portrays a complex man who is besieged on all sides. Whether being hired out by his father, manipulated for political reasons, or trying to manage his child-wife, pressures often bring about the "blue unholies," like he first suffered after the death of Ann Rutledge. This is Lincoln brought to life like never before.

Though some of the language in the earlier chapters caused reservations (see here), in the end, I must admit this is the most riveting, intimate, and compassionate portrayal of Lincoln I've ever had the pleasure to read. The extensive research Charyn must have performed is evident in the rich descriptions and plentiful details that add so much to this story. Lincoln's visit with his son, Tad, to war-shattered Richmond only days before his assassination is so vividly portrayed, I could see it in my mind, almost smell the charred ruins of the city and the death that surrounded them.

Charyn is a masterful storyteller, bringing Lincoln's voice to a deeply personal story of the man who led this country during some of its darkest days. I highly recommend I Am Abraham. 

Prices/Formats: $12.99-$14.99 ebook, $26.95 hardcover
Pages: 464
Publisher: Liveright
Release: February 3, 2014

Kindle buy link ($12.99):
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DX5X80S?tag=tributebooks-20

Nook buy link ($14.99):
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-am-abraham-jerome-charyn/1115449611?ean=9780871404275

Amazon hardcover buy link ($26.95):
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0871404273?tag=tributebooks-20

Barnes and Noble hardcover buy link ($26.95):
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-am-abraham-jerome-charyn/1115449611?ean=9780871404275

Jerome Charyn is an award-winning American author. With nearly 50 published works, Charyn has earned a long-standing reputation as an inventive and prolific chronicler of real and imagined American life. Michael Chabon calls him "one of the most important writers in American literature." New York Newsday hailed Charyn as "a contemporary American Balzac,"and the Los Angeles Times described him as "absolutely unique among American writers." Since the 1964 release of Charyn's first novel, Once Upon a Droshky, he has published 30 novels, three memoirs, eight graphic novels, two books about film, short stories, plays and works of non-fiction. Two of his memoirs were named New York Times Book of the Year. Charyn has been a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction. He received the Rosenthal Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and has been named Commander of Arts and Letters by the French Minister of Culture. Charyn was Distinguished Professor of Film Studies at the American University of Paris until he left teaching in 2009. In addition to his writing and teaching, Charyn is a tournament table tennis player, once ranked in the top 10 percent of players in France. Noted novelist Don DeLillo called Charyn's book on table tennis, Sizzling Chops & Devilish Spins, "The Sun Also Rises of ping-pong." Charyn lives in Paris and New York City.

Jerome Charyn's Web Site:
http://www.jeromecharyn.com/

Jerome Charyn's Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/jerome.charyn?fref=ts

I Am Abraham Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/IAmAbrahamNovel

Jerome Charyn's Twitter:
http://twitter.com/jeromecharyn

I Am Abraham Twitter:
http://twitter.com/NewLincolnNovel

Jerome Charyn's Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/53408.Jerome_Charyn

I Am Abraham Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17987663-i-am-abraham

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I received a copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

First Chapter Review: The Lincoln Conspiracy by Timothy L. O'Brien

I received an advanced reader copy of The Lincoln Conspiracy by Timothy L. O'Brien from another blogger after expressing interest in the book. This is a historical fiction thriller involving Lincoln's assassination.

BLURB: From award-winning journalist Timothy L. O'Brien comes a gripping historical thriller that poses a provocative question: What if the plot to assassinate President Lincoln was wider and more sinister than we ever imagined?

In late spring of 1865, as America mourns the death of its leader, Washington, D.C., police detective Temple McFadden makes a startling discovery. Strapped to the body of a dead man at the B&O Railroad station are two diaries, two documents that together reveal the true depth of the Lincoln conspiracy. Securing the diaries will put Temple's life in jeopardy--and will endanger the fragile peace of a nation still torn by war.

Temple's quest to bring the conspirators to justice takes him on a perilous journey through the gaslit streets of the Civil War-era capital, into bawdy houses and back alleys where ruthless enemies await him in every shadowed corner. Aided by an underground network of friends--and by his wife, Fiona, a nurse who possesses a formidable arsenal of medicinal potions--Temple must stay one step ahead of Lafayette Baker, head of the Union Army's spy service. Along the way, he'll run from or rely on Edwin Stanton, Lincoln's fearsome secretary of war; the legendary Scottish spymaster Allan Pinkerton; abolitionist Sojourner Truth; the photographer Alexander Gardner; and many others.

Bristling with twists and building to a climax that will leave readers gasping, The Lincoln Conspiracy offers a riveting new account of what truly motivated the assassination of one of America's most beloved presidents--and who participated in the plot to derail the train of liberty that Lincoln set in motion.

COVER: Looks great. The copy I have here is a standard ARC cover, so I haven't seen the real cover up close. The picture of a smoking gun with a large portion of Lincoln's head in the background and the capital behind him makes for a spectacular sight. The brown and golden colors are a nice contrast.

FIRST CHAPTER: It is a month after Lincoln's assassination. Washington D.C. police detective Temple McFadden is on his way to fetch Augustus and Pint from the train when a scuffle catches his eye. He races over there as fast as his crippled leg and cane will allow, but can't save the man's life. Searching the dead man's body, he discovers two diaries strapped to his chest--one in a woman's writing, the other in a man's. This must have been what the attackers were searching for. Now that Temple is in possession of these documents, his life is in danger. Brandishing his cane as a weapon, he narrowly escapes by stealing a horse.

KEEP READING: I'm a huge Civil War and Abraham Lincoln buff, so any novel or nonfiction book about these two topics catches my eye. The first chapter opens with the main character, who is walking to pick up two people from the train at the B+O railroad station. Things quickly turn dicey and the pace jumps from moderate to NASCAR race speed.

O'Brien paints some great pictures for his readers with the descriptions and details included. That, combined with the cliffhanger ending of the first chapter, encourage the reader to continue. I was a bit perplexed why Temple was so captivated by the rain and kept mentioning it. What's good about this chapter is that it focuses mostly on Temple. He mentions his wife, Fiona, a few times, but other than the man he's watching rush to the train and then get attacked, there aren't a lot of names dropped. This helps to avoid confusion and really connect the reader with the main character.

I look forward to reading more.

Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1St Edition edition (September 18, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345496779
ISBN-13: 978-0345496775

I received a copy of this book from another blogger. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I have not been compensated in any way.

First Chapter Review: The Abraham Man by R. Gregory Lande

I'm a lover of history, mostly American history. For years, I read nonfiction exclusively, usually about the Civil War. Now, I read more fiction, but my love of history remains. The Abraham Man by R. Gregory Lande, takes a look at what impact malingering had on the formation and development of medical testimony.

BLURB:  The mere mention of the insanity defense guarantees a lively debate. Opponents of the defense cite the loss of criminal culpability while proponents argue just as passionately that the insanity defense is the ultimate act of compassion. The protagonists would probably be quite surprised to learn that the same basic concerns consumed Americans in the nineteenth century. One factor – The Abraham Man – sowed the seeds of confusion and controversy that united the past with the present.

Some of the most celebrated civil and criminal trials in American history were argued under the shadow of the Abraham Man. The detailed stories of long forgotten legal cases bring the antics of the Abraham Man to life. Through the process, readers will follow the careers of notable Civil War era surgeons whose post-war professional development shaped the future of modern mental health care.

COVER: The picture on the front cover is a scene of Bethlehem Hospital from William Hogarth's A Rake's Progress. I wasn't familiar with the piece, but this hospital is mentioned in the book and it makes for a beautiful cover.

FIRST CHAPTER: The opening chapter introduces The Abraham Man to the reader. In England, it referred to those who would fake illness or injury to get compassion and charity from the public. By the time of the American Civil War, the term was affixed to suspected shirkers. It is during these years, we also see attorneys and physicians working together and taking sides in America's courts where "madness, malingering, malfeasance, and money shaped the future of forensic psychiatry."

KEEP READING: This is a fascinating topic, and Dr. Lande has a way of making it one I wish to continue reading about. Though very academic, I enjoyed how he brings the reader through from the time The Abraham Man appeared on the scene, to how public opinion changed toward the mentally ill, to the legal profession courting doctors for testimony, and how contested wills became such a big issue. The first chapter is short enough that I felt informed, but not overwhelmed. It is also detailed enough that though I know very little about this topic, I was never lost. I look forward to learning more.


Perfect Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Algora Publishing (September 30, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 087586936X
ISBN-13: 978-0875869360


R. Gregory Lande, DO is a physician and retired US Army Medical Corps Officer. Dr. Lande completed his medical education at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Lande was commissioned an officer in the US Army. During his career in the military, Dr. Lande was active in a wide variety of clinical, academic and administrative positions. Upon leaving the US Army as a full colonel, Dr. Lande was awarded the Legion of Merit recognizing his career contributions. The next phase of his career involved administrative positions in hospital management, research, and teaching at various civilian facilities. Dr. Lande is the author of numerous medical and historical works. He lectures widely on both subjects.

Visit Dr. Lande online at http://www.medicallegalhistory.com/

I received a free copy of this book from the author through Pump Up Your Book. The author paid me to promote this book through a virtual book tour. This fee did not include any type of review. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I have not been compensated in any way. 

Historical Books on My Wish List

From one of our most acclaimed new biographers– the first full life of the leader of Lincoln’s “team of rivals” to appear in more than forty years. William Henry Seward was one of the most important Americans of the nineteenth century. Progressive governor of New York and outspoken U.S. senator, he was the odds-on favorite to win the 1860 Republican nomination for president. As secretary of state and Lincoln’s closest adviser during the Civil War, Seward not only managed foreign affairs but had a substantial role in military, political, and personnel matters.

Some of Lincoln’s critics even saw Seward, erroneously, as the power behind the throne; this is why John Wilkes Booth and his colleagues attempted to kill Seward as well as Lincoln. Seward survived the assassin’s attack, continued as secretary of state, and emerged as a staunch supporter of President Andrew Johnson, Lincoln’s controversial successor. Through his purchase of Alaska (“Seward’s Folly”), and his groundwork for the purchase of the Canal Zone and other territory, Seward set America on course to become a world empire.

Seward was not only important, he was fascinating. Most nights this well-known raconteur with unruly hair and untidy clothes would gather diplomats, soldiers, politicians, or actors around his table to enjoy a cigar, a drink, and a good story. Drawing on hundreds of sources not available to or neglected by previous biographers, Walter Stahr sheds new light on this complex and central figure, as well as on pivotal events of the Civil War and its aftermath.


Hardcover: 720 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster; First Edition edition (September 18, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1439121168
ISBN-13: 978-1439121160

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain has been a central character in two feature films (Gettysburg and Gods & Generals), a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel (The Killer Angels), and an inspiration for Ken Burns's production of the highly acclaimed PBS series The Civil War. Chamberlain won national fame at the Battle of Gettysburg for his key role in fending off the Confederates at Little Round Top on day two of the battle.

This new volume brings to public light 300 never-before-seen letters from Chamberlain's personal correspondence, which comprises letters sent by or to Chamberlain from his college years in 1852 to his death in 1914. The first 100 letters shed light on Chamberlain's formative years and his courtship with Fannie Adams, which has been the source of much speculation by scholars. The final 200 letters reveal insights into Chamberlain the Union commander and the aftermath of the war.

Chamberlain's image can be found on everything from historical art to sculpture, from t-shirts to clocks, from bobble-head dolls to snow globes. Despite all this attention, there is still a lot about Chamberlain that most people do not know. His life is a remarkable story of perseverance, tragedy, and triumph. From an insecure young man with a considerable stuttering problem who grew up in a small town in eastern Maine, Joshua Chamberlain rose to become a major general, recipient of the Medal of Honor, Governor of Maine, and President of Bowdoin College. His writings are among the most oft-quoted of all Civil War memoirs, and he has become a legendary, even mythical historical figure.

Historian and acclaimed author, Thomas Desjardin, puts Chamberlain's words in contemporary and historical context and uses this extraordinary collection of letters to reveal--for the first time--the full and remarkable life of Joshua Chamberlain. Readers will find this unique portrait of Chamberlain to be entertaining, moving, and inspiring.

Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Osprey Publishing (May 22, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1849085595
ISBN-13: 978-1849085595

From New York Times bestselling author H. W. Brands, a masterful biography of the Civil War general and two-term president who saved the Union twice, on the battlefield and in the White House, holding the country together at two critical turning points in our history.

Ulysses Grant rose from obscurity to discover he had a genius for battle, and he propelled the Union to victory in the Civil War. After Abraham Lincoln's assassination and the disastrous brief presidency of Andrew Johnson, America turned to Grant again to unite the country, this time as president. In Brands's sweeping, majestic full biography, Grant emerges as a heroic figure who was fearlessly on the side of right. He was a beloved commander in the field but willing to make the troop sacrifices necessary to win the war, even in the face of storms of criticism. He worked valiantly to protect the rights of freedmen in the South; Brands calls him the last presidential defender of black civil rights for nearly a century. He played it straight with the American Indians, allowing them to shape their own fate even as the realities of Manifest Destiny meant the end of their way of life. He was an enormously popular president whose memoirs were a huge bestseller; yet within decades of his death his reputation was in tatters, the victim of Southerners who resented his policies on Reconstruction. In this page-turning biography, Brands now reconsiders Grant's legacy and provides a compelling and intimate portrait of a man who saved the Union on the battlefield and consolidated that victory as a resolute and principled political leader.

Hardcover: 736 pages
Publisher: Doubleday; First Edition edition (October 2, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0385532415
ISBN-13: 978-0385532419

Book Review: Reconstructing Jackson by Holly Bush

A gripping, emotional historical romance awaits readers in Reconstructing Jackson by Holly Bush.

It is two years since the end of the Civil War. Americans on both sides struggle with reconstructing the Union.

Reed Jackson, a southern lawyer and former Confederate solider, returns home in a wheelchair. When his father deems him unfit to take over the family plantation, an angry and bitter Reed moves to Fenton, Missouri to start over.

Belle Richards is a dirt poor farm girl who has been nothing but mistreated by her father and older brother, Jed. At least her brother Frank treats her kindly.

Reed is immediately drawn to Belle, but rescuing her was not in his plans. Wheelchair bound, he can't protect her from the violence. Dark times plague them, challenging their young love at every turn. Can Belle help Reed turn away from his anger and bitterness? Is their love strong enough to survive the difficult days ahead?

Reconstructing Jackson is a superb novel. I read it in under eight hours; so compelled by the characters I continued reading despite chores beckoning to me. Bush captured the difficulties of the Reconstruction Era brilliantly: the anger some Southerners felt over the Emancipation Proclamation, the difficulties for African-Americans joining a society as free people when not everyone supported that freedom, and the dangers not only for African-Americans, but also those whites who sought to help them.

Into this dangerous period in America's history, we find two characters who have been pushed to their limits. Belle is tortured by her drunken father and abusive brother, but she is working toward improving her life. Reed's anger and bitterness threatens to eat him alive. Circumstances draw these two together and they attempt to make the best with what they are dealt. That's why it is so satisfying when the reader witnesses how they come to care for each other so.

Memorable characters, an intriguing plot, and an outstanding conclusion make Reconstructing Jackson a fascinating novel.


File Size: 321 KB
Print Length: 191 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: BookBaby; 1 edition (September 25, 2012)
ISBN-13: 9781624880445
ASIN: B009LMKGUW

Purchase from:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009LMKGUW/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theboocon-20&link_code

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reconstructing-jackson-holly-bush/1113387649

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/reconstructing-jackson/id567298548?mt=11

I received an electronic copy of this book from the author via Pump Up Your Book. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I have not been compensated in any way.

This is the 1st book I've read for the following challenge:

Guest Blogger: John Cline, Author of The Last Confederate Battle

Today's special guest is John Cline, author of The Last Confederate Battle. For those who might have missed it, I am a Civil War buff. I have an entire bookshelf in my home dedicated to nonfiction titles about the conflict and Abraham Lincoln. I also own and have read several novels set during this time period. It remains one of my favorite time periods in American history, despite it being such a dark time for our country.

Look for my review of The Last Confederate Battle on November 14th.

History records that the last battle of the Civil War was fought on the red clay soil of the Rio Grande River at Palmito Ranch, near Brownsville, Texas. That battle took place in mid-May 1865, more than a month following General Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, Virginia. There are factual accounts of skirmishes that took place long after Lee’s surrender. The historical attention to detail is highly accurate giving the reader a front row seat to life before, during and after the Civil War.

The Last Confederate Battle brings to light the perspectives from both sides, revealing the positive and negative natures of men. Conflict within our own country is remarkably described through the writings of John Cline; the main characters of this multifaceted story come to life as real historical experiences are interwoven into each page.

The Story, Inspiration and Research Behind The Last Confederate Battle by John Cline

First, let me thank The Book Connection for the opportunity to talk about my book, The Last Confederate Battle. I think readers will be surprised to learn that the book is not so much about war, as it is about people – individuals in a wartime setting. Also, I guess it should be revealed here that no one was more surprised that I wrote a novel in a Civil War setting than me. While I have always believed that the Revolutionary War may have been our nation’s brightest moment in history, I have similarly believed that the Civil War was our darkest years with Americans fighting (and killing) fellow Americans, and the country ripping itself apart in an epoch that didn’t have to happen.

Regarding the story behind the story, there are several: By 1861 the United States was entering the Industrial Revolution. Some forward-thinking Southern planters were realizing that they could make greater profits by getting away from slave labor and turning to machinery; they were severely shunned for their beliefs. The fictitious stories of U. S. Senator Hill and his Chief of Staff, Winston Harrison, highlight the effects of unelected power brokers called “staffers” within the network of Congressional offices. And the liaison of really big business and individual Members of Congress depict how corruptible the lure of money from the private sector can be, and how that corruption can effect Main Street and the average citizen. And lastly, the expansion of railroads across the country during the Reconstruction Period was sometimes laced with accounts of violence that have largely gone untold. The economy, following the Civil War, played a major role in westward expansionism. But it was the Panic of May 9, 1873 that was so devastating, especially in the West. It did, however, allow me to start thinking about a sequel, tentatively titled, Rebuilding American Dreams.

The inspiration for The Last Confederate Battle, came from a mental image of a Confederate soldier squatting beside a small campfire near midnight on what had been the lawn in front of a grand plantation house that had been put to the torch during the war. I gave it little regard at the time, but the image would not go away, so I did the most dangerous thing a writer can do. I began asking questions. Why was he there? Why was he alone? What had happened to the plantation that was only miles away from Madison, Georgia, one of only seven towns that had not been put to the torch during Sheridan’s March to the Sea? Those questions, and a lot of later research, resulted in the book being written.

What methods of research were used? First, I am a product of the South, having been born in Memphis, Tennessee, so I was regaled with many Southern stories. As a boy, I spent summers visiting the battlegrounds of the Revolutionary War, upon which many of the Civil War battles were fought. I didn’t care for History in school because classes were all about the rote memorization of names, dates, and places without stories. So as a child, I went to the battlegrounds in search of those stories. I was fortunate, again as a child, to meet survivors and relatives of survivors who had Civil War stories to tell. I guess those people and their stories remained in the deepest storerooms of my memory, lying dormant these many years. The computer and several city, county and university libraries became my greatest sources of information. As a matter of interest, the antebellum house on the cover of the book, a house that actually survived the Civil War, is located in Madison, Georgia where several stories in the book take place. A friend, with whom I served in the Navy, and with whom I remain in constant contact, detoured on a road trip to stop by Madison where he and his wife took several pictures and emailed them to me for use in the book.

John J. Cline
The Boise Author
http://www.theboiseauthor.com/

Following a twenty five year career in both the enlisted and officer corps’, John Cline retired from the U.S. Navy as a Limited Duty Officer (Mustang) in July 1993 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He was the director of the Idaho Bureau of Disaster Services until he retired in 2005.


He has a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Workforce Education and Curriculum Development from Southern Illinois University, and a Master of Art degree (M.A.) in National Security Studies; Homeland Security and Defense from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy (140th Session), and was nationally certified by the National Coordinating Council on Emergency Management and the International Association of Emergency Managers. He is an avid Amateur Radio Operator with the call sign W5USN. John and his wife Pat have three children and four grandchildren.

Interview with Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Author of Wench

Today we welcome Dolen Perkins-Valdez, author of Wench: A Novel, which we'll be reviewing in January or February. This book is Dolen’s debut novel published by HarperCollins. We’ll talk to Dolen about her writing, details of this novel, and what she’s working on for the future.

Welcome to The Book Connection, Dolen. We’re thrilled to have you with us. Can you please start off by telling our readers a bit about yourself?

Thanks so much for inviting me. I was born and raised in Memphis, TN. After graduating from Harvard, I returned to Memphis to pursue my MFA in Creative Writing. Later I received a Ph.D. in American Literature from George Washington University. Since then, I have mainly lived in Seattle and Washington, DC.

While Wench is your first novel, you’re not new to writing. Please share some of your accomplishments with us.

I have published a few short stories here and there--one titled "The Clipping" has received some acclaim. It was originally published in The Kenyon Review. It was reprinted in their volume Readings for Writers. In 2009, it was a finalist for the Robert Olen Butler Fiction Award and will appear in an anthology of the finalists to be published by Del Sol Press. I have also written academic essays pertaining to African American literature that have appeared in scholarly journals.

Can you please tell us about Wench?

In 1851, a lawyer named Elias P. Drake purchased a plot of land near Xenia, Ohio with the intent to establish a summer vacation resort where the country's elite could relax and enjoy the mineral springs in the area. At the time, it was believed that natural water could cure illnesses and bring about good health. What made this resort unusual, however, was that it became a popular vacation destination for southern slaveholders and their enslaved mistresses. Ultimately, these flagrantly open relationships offended the northern abolitionists who also frequented the resort. After four years, the resort closed.

This part of the story has been confirmed by historians. I took this forgotten historical note and sketched in a fictional account of what it would have been like to be an enslaved woman traveling to this free state each summer. Why wouldn't the women try to escape? What kinds of emotional attachments did they have with these men? Initially, I believed that it was entirely possible that they actually loved the men. Ultimately, I discovered that it was much more complicated than that.

What inspired you to write this story of four enslaved women in the years prior to the American Civil War?

Once I discovered this resort--Tawawa House--I knew that I had to write about it. The historical footnote was too fascinating to pass up. I have always been the kind of author motivated by asking "why." My initial question was, "Why wouldn't they flee?" I knew that in order to answer this, I had to imagine myself into their hearts and minds. This story creates the kind of personal interior that historians can only surmise about actual historical persons who may have left behind little written record.

It appears this novel required a great deal of research since it is based upon an actual resort, and also because of the time period in which it is set. How did you tackle that research and when did you know you had enough information to begin writing?

Most of my research had to do with the period. I wanted to make certain that I got the dress right, for example. I spent a lot of time researching slave kitchens and southern plantation layouts. As a writer new to historical fiction, I quickly figured out that I had a lot to learn if I wanted to convince savvy readers. As for the actual resort, I did do a fair amount of research, but it had more to do with the details of the place. What would the men have hunted? What kinds of flowers grew there? I sketched the area where the resort existed so that I would know the proximity of the ravine to the springs, for example. By the way, I am very thankful to the librarians who helped me. I acknowledge them in my book. I love librarians.



Wench covers a very dark and difficult time in America’s history. Do you believe America has fully recovered from the atrocities that led to the Civil War?

I am a Southerner by birth, and so the obvious answer to that from my perspective would be no. In the South, its history is still very much present. It informs our daily lives, our culture, our speech, our manners. There is a part of me that does not want to use the word "recover." I am not sure what verb I would use. Have we fully acknowledged our pain? Have we reflected upon its darkest corners? I think there is still work to do. Even so, I love the South. I draw strength from my heritage, both the good and the bad.

Where can readers purchase Wench?

You can purchase online or at your local bookstore. It is available at Amazon.com and all the major retailers.

Do you have a website or blog where readers can find out more information on the book?

My official website is www.dolenperkinsvaldez.com. I also encourage you to view my tour page at www.booktour.com to see when I will make an appearance near your hometown.

Besides your virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion, what other methods of marketing are you using to promote Wench?

I have a Twitter account (@Dolen) and a Facebook fan page. I am also relying on good friends to help me get the word out by throwing book parties and forwarding my announcements to their email lists.

Do you have intentions of writing another book? Have you begun that project yet?

Yes, I am at the beginning stages of my second book now. Stay tuned.

Is there anything you would like to add?

If your book group chooses the book, I am happy to make an appearance via Skype, telephone, or even in person if I am able. Send me a note at wench@dolenperkinsvaldez.com. I will respond promptly.

Thank you for spending time with us today, Dolen. We wish you great success.

Thank you for having me. It's been a pleasure.


You can follow Dolen on her virtual book tour by checking in every weekday of January at http://virtualbooktours.wordpress.com/

Two Brothers - One North, One South by David H. Jones--Book Review

A unique and interesting look into a difficult time in America's history awaits readers in Two Brothers - One North, One South by David H. Jones.

During the American Civil War, poet Walt Whitman volunteered as a nurse in army hospitals. His concern for the poor boys torn apart by the War leads him to Armory Square Hospital in Washington D.C., where he finds young William Prentiss, a Rebel solider whose right leg has been amputated. He is not expected to survive and Whitman spends many hours at his bedside listening to William's stories. In another ward of the hospital, lay William's older brother, Clifton, a Union Brevet Colonel who had been shot through the lung not far from the position of his injured Rebel brother.

After William's death, Whitman and two other Prentiss brothers--John and Melville--join Clifton at his bedside where Whitman shares William's journey fighting for the Confederacy and Clifton speaks of his experiences as a Union soldier in the War Between the States.

There is a great deal to enjoy in Two Brothers. The author uses his extensive knowledge of the Civil War to create a realistic portrait of Maryland's importance--as it was so close to the Capital the Union could not let it become part of the Confederacy but there were many families with Southern ties and sympathies who supported secession. And this is where William and Clifton Prentiss find themselves within the pages of this book: William does not feel the Federal government should interfere with the Southern way of life, but Clifton believes the Union must be preserved at all cost.

Jones brings the reader from the present (1865) back and forth through different periods of the War to create a whole picture of how the loyalties were divided, how the battles were won and lost, and at what cost. The reader follows along as William and Clifton and their family and friends experience triumph and tragedy through one of the most tumultuous times in American history.

Other memorable persons include: Hetty and Jenny Cary, whose clandestine work in support of the Confederacy is both dangerous and admired; John Prentiss, William and Clifton's father who sides with the Union during the conflict and whose untimely death leaves behind much sadness; and Elijah Carter, one of the Prentisses' freed Negro servants who signs up with the 7th United States Colored Troops and becomes a leader of his regiment.

The main challenge I had with Two Brothers comes in the narration. There are stories that neither Whitman or Clifton would probably know first-hand, such as the death of Clifton's father, John--which was relayed in great detail. Since none of the Prentiss brothers was home at that time, how did anyone present at Clifton's bedside have that much detail to relay how the entire story unfolded? And since the conversations among Whitman and the Prentiss brothers are often interrupted by narratives that sometimes run multiple pages in length, the reader can often get confused over who is sharing which portion of the story. These interruptions also don't allow the reader to get to know William and Clifton as well as I would have liked. The reader gets knowledge of the War, its impact on Maryland, the battles that were fought, and the important people whose names now fill text books, but at the end of the story, I don't believe the reader will really know William and Clifton Prentiss very well.

Lastly, there is the matter of the characters often speaking of the events that unfolded in the four years of the War as if they were third party to the events instead of active participants, often relaying information that anyone who participated in the War or read newspapers of the time would already be aware of.

Overall, I found Two Brothers to be an enjoyable read. History buffs and military fiction fans will appreciate Jones's keen eye for detail, while historical fiction fans will be grateful for the authentic picture the author paints. Students of the Civil War will find much to like about Two Brothers - One North, One South. Jones has certainly done his research well.


Title: Two Brothers - One North, One South
Author: David H. Jones
Publisher: Staghorn Press
ISBN: 978-0-9796898-5-7
SRP: $24.95

Shades of Gray by Jessica James--Book Review

A powerful, engaging, and totally captivating novel of the War Between the States awaits you in Shades of Gray: A Novel of the Civil War in Virginia by Jessica James.

Andrew Sinclair is a Union spy and the dreaded foe of Confederate calvary officer Alexander Hunter. Both fighting a war based on honor and conviction--one fighting to keep the Union together, the other to preserve a way of life--they vow to fight to the death.

But there is something about Sinclair that Hunter does not know: he's a woman! And not only a woman, but a woman who is haunted by her past and motivated to fight without concern for her welfare to right past wrongs.

Neither could have imagined how their lives would become entwined. Neither could imagine giving up the fight. And neither could imagine life without the other!

Shades of Gray is without a doubt the finest historical fiction has to offer. Complex characters, an engaging plot, and historical accuracy, come together to make this novel a must read for any fan of historical and Civil War fiction.

It is a rare book that can pull the reader in so deeply that she is overcome with emotion. And yet, as I mentioned here yesterday, I could not contain myself as I read certain passages. A true page-turner, I digested over 400 pages in three days.

A reviewer can be alarmed when she receives a book the size of Shades of Gray (524 pages); what if it is like fingernails across a chalkboard that forces you to cover your ears until the painful screeching stops. This reader can attest that you will not find that in this novel. Every page moves the story forward, and so involved will you be with Andrea and Alex's story that you will be unable to break away from it. Not a page is wasted, not a word should be removed.

James has done her research and she has done it well. From the fashions, to the language, to the sense of honor and duty that fills its pages, Shades of Gray explores the War Between the States in a way that will touch you like no other work of fiction. If anyone seeks to know more about the reasons brother fought brother in a war that threatened the future of a nation, then she should read this book.

All this and more, makes me declare Shades of Gray by Jessica James, the best book I have read this year! Worth every penny, if you only read one book in 2009, make it this one.


Title: Shades of Gray: A Novel of the Civil War in Virginia
Author: Jessica James
Publisher: Patriot Press
ISBN: 978-0-9796000-0-5
Suggested Retail Price: $27.99 (US)

Historical Fiction Author Jessica James Brings the Civil War in Virginia Alive with Shades of Gray

I don't often speak of a book I'm reading before posting my review, but I must do so in this case because I have been so captured by this book that I must share it with you.

I contacted author Jessica James when I heard about her novel, Shades of Gray: A Novel of the Civil War in Virgina. My fascination with the War between the States, the many fiction and non-fiction titles I've read set around and about the Civil War, and the courses and research I have performed about this time in America's history, led me to believe I would enjoy James's novel.

What I could not have known, was that this book would draw me in so fully that I want to spend every waking moment reading it. I will not share the details of the scene that prompted me to write this post, but as you can imagine, during a war where loyalties were decided that split apart families and friends, there is a tremendous amount of tragedy involved.

As I sat in the tub last night reading, as I always do, the pages became blurry and I was brought to tears over this particular scene. A tragedy of great proportions that has long-reaching effects, literally left me bawling, as if the incident occured to someone I knew.

While I do not know what direction James took Shades of Gray, or how it will end, I certainly hope that her writing remains powerful and touches me deeply.

A Civil General by David Stinebeck & Scannell Gill--Book Review

A Civil General by David Stinebeck and Scannell Gill brings General George Henry Thomas to life for lovers of Civil War history.

Colonel William Swain is the narrator of this moving story of Thomas's wartime contributions as he served on the side of the Union, a decision that cost him dearly and found him disowned by his family in Virginia. From the Battle of Chickamauga to the Battle of Nashville, "Slow Trot Thomas" leads his men to decisive victories over Confederate troops, not often receiving the recognition he deserves. Forgoing self-promotion, Thomas is loved by his men, the Army of the Cumberland, and as his body travels by ferry and train from San Francisco to Troy, New York for burial, the love of the people leads the way with bowed heads, flowered arches along the train tracks, and swinging lanterns...for "George Henry Thomas had been their light in the dark."

Fans of military history and wartime strategy will certainly enjoy A Civil General. The research Stinebeck and Gill performed for this novel is obvious in the depiction of various battles. Anyone vaguely familiar with Civil War history will recognize many of the names filling these pages: Grant, Lee, Sherman, Sheridan, Rosencrans, Hallach, and Hooker, to name a few. The authors have put forth a great deal of effort to showcase the many contributions that Thomas made to the Union victory.

The challenge I had with this novel is that it is missing some basic elements of fiction. The narrator in essence tells the entire story to the reader, even at times addressing the reader, so that she is distanced from the happenings in the book and unable to be drawn in and experience them for herself. The tenses move back and forth between past and present, sometimes even in the same paragraph, so that it is difficult to stay focused on the fact that Swain is telling this story years later.

This reader felt it came much closer to narrative non-fiction than an actual novel, but the fictional characters and encounters definitely place it in the field of fiction. There is a speech given by Thomas to his men on Page 114 that was so moving I felt a lump form in my throat. This is how I wanted to experience the entire book, but the narrator kept me at bay and I was only able to fully exist within its pages for brief moments.

Even with this challenge, as a lover of Civil War history, I enjoyed this book to its powerful end. The illustrations added a great deal of depth to this piece of work and the cover art is stunning.

There is much to be gained by reading A Civil General by David Stinebeck and Scannell Gill.


Title: A Civil General
Authors: David Stinebeck and Scannell Gill
Publisher: Sunstone Press
ISBN: 978-0-86534-663-5
U.S. Price: $20.95

J.L. Miles and Cold Rock River

Cold Rock River is the parallel journey of two women born a century apart. In 1963 rural Georgia with the Vietnam War cranking up, seventeen-year-old and pregnant Adie Jenkins discovers the diary of seventeen-year-old and pregnant Tempe Jordan—a slave girl—circa 1863, with the Civil War winding down.

This book began as Adie’s journey. It wasn’t until I went to the library to do some research—and stumbled upon the slave narratives—that Tempe’s portion came to life. The complete collection includes over two thousand first-person accounts. They are housed at The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Commissioned by President Roosevelt, they are as fascinating as they are poignant.

After seven months of carefully sifting through the vast material, Adie and Tempe’s parallel journey emerged. Henceforth, I came to think of Cold Rock River as Fried Green Tomatoes meets Cold Mountain.

Placing the story in the midst of the Vietnam War was central to the story because of Buck’s (Adie’s husband and the father of her baby), maturation during that war. Having discovered the slave narratives, it seemed natural to place Tempe’s journey during the Civil War.

It’s been said that life is like a patch-work quilt. It’s not over until the last stitch is put in place. Here are selected pieces of fabric that blanket Adie and Tempe’s lives, two young women who learned to treasure their joy in spite of their sorrow. May you discover what they did, that the joy of our journey is not in the destination; it’s in each and every moment at hand.

—Jackie Lee Miles, author of
Cold Rock River
Roseflower Creek
Divorcing Dwayne

Dear Dwayne (April 1st, 2009)


The COLD ROCK RIVER VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR '08 will officially begin on October 1 and end on October 30. You can visit J.L.'s blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com in October to find out more about her latest book!

As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available. The winner will be announced on our main blog at www.pumpupyourbookpromotion.wordpress.com on October 30!