Independent bookstores warn: Kindle readers are bad for us

I thought this was interesting only because of Amazon. I personally don't like e-book readers. Nothing could ever replace a book in my hand.

MILFORD – Bookstores don’t like it when folks try to ban books, but independent stores wouldn’t mind banning a particular e-book reader.
The Toadstool Bookshop in Milford is among many stores around the country cautioning customers that buying a Kindle reader from Amazon.com, as compared to other e-book readers or tablet computers, will hurt the store because the Kindle can only handle books bought through Amazon.

You can read the rest here.

Wish List and Giveaway

Well I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We sure did, eat way too much but that’s part of Thanksgiving. I have no idea why but our Thanksgiving went very smooth. We had set 4:00 for our meal, which is our normal time and I’m always rushing around to get everything done and ready to eat. Then it’s well after 4:00 before we set down to eat. Well this year, I have no idea why, everything went together and we sat down at 4:07. I didn’t do anything different. Made the pies, salad, got the table dressed and everything else I could do early done on Wednesday. So we set a record. Now we’ll see how Christmas dinner goes.

We got the tree up and the house decorated. We always start Friday after Thanksgiving and it takes several days to do it all. I grew up putting our Christmas tree up on Friday after Thanksgiving and people always told us we were crazy. Now-a-days people have theirs up after Halloween, which to me is just not right. You have to give thanks first. I won’t even let my son play Christmas music until the evening of Thanksgiving.

Anyway, everything is done and now it’s time to concentrate on presents. I swear it gets harder the older the kids get!

Now for business
I had to put the book Die Like Men on hold so I have to get back to it. I will be working on putting together a Christmas Wish list of books for you. There are so many good new Civil War books out there you should be able to find one for your Civil War buff or just for yourself.

I will also be hosting a giveaway this Holiday Season and no it’s not a book. It does deal with the Civil War. It’s an unusual item you don’t see a lot of. I know everyone will like it so watch for the details coming soon!

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing everyone a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!

Want to know where the real first Thanksgiving was? click here

What I'm Reading Now

I'm reading Tim Kent's new book "Die Like Men"

You can grab your own book and catch Tim at either one of these book signings:

December 2, 2011 at Jasper, Alabama at the Jasper public library 11:30-3:00 p.m.
December 3, 2011 at K's Cove Bookstore in Rogersville, Alabama 1:00-3:00 p.m.

I haven't gotten very far yet in the book but from what I have read it's very good.

Review coming when I'm finished.

The Lincoln Letter…Review

A new author Gretchen Elhassani has just published her very first book titled: “The Lincoln Letter.” It is in the historical/fiction category.

It is set in the present time but takes you back to the Civil War era of the Battle of Gettysburg. Michelle along with her son, Aidan and her father Bob are Civil War Union reenactors. Upon their arrival to the battle field Michelle purchases a very old diary. Within the diary (hidden) is a letter that was written by President Abraham Lincoln. Michelle and her father have no idea it is there.

Three men who are Confederate reenactors or are they; show up looking for the diary that they know Michelle just purchased. They know it will lead them to the letter but have no idea that the letter is sealed within the diary. Michelle, Aidan and Bob are taken on an adventure along with several of Bob’s reenactor friends where it is once again Confederate vs Union, life vs death.

The Lincoln Letter is a wonderful book and an easy read. I personally thought it started out fun and exciting then it dragged just a tad but you wouldn’t of known who Jim was if his childhood wasn’t included within the story. As the story goes on you won’t want to put the book down. Then towards the end it was so touching I had a tear. If you are a mother reading this book you will understand why. You will be drawn right into the story.

If you are a Civil War history buff or historian I highly recommend The Lincoln Letter. Gretchen Elhassani has done a wonderful job with her first book.

You can visit Gretchen Elhassani webiste here.

Arlington Cemetery

In Honor of Veterans Day

In honor of Veterans Day I would like to Thank all active duty and veterans of this great country. If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be here and able to do what I love.

I would specially like to honor my family. Here is a list of the ones I know were in the military and for the ones I will still discover in my further research.

First off my husband, Steven Robert Evans: USAF,(middle) my son Jake Ross Evans: USAF (right) and my brother: Christopher Allen Warren: USAF (left)

From My side of the family –

Thomas Jefferson Vennum: Union

Alexander Draper: Union 10th Iowa Infantry
Alexander’s brother, Abraham I. Draper: Union 71st Illinois Infantry

Norman Lewis Draper: WW11 534th Anti-Aircraft Artillery


Daniel Richard Lawry: Union 5th Missouri SM CA.

William McElyea: Revolutionary War 10th Regt. North Carolina Capt. Alexander Brevard
William’s brother, Patric was also in the Revolutionary War

Wallace Lavern McElyea: WW11

William Cloud Mills: Co. D 29th Tennessee Inf. Confederate
William’s brothers were also in the Civil War. Some Confederate and others Union

William Mills: Revolutionary War

Powel Hamilton Sharp: Black Hawk War Reg. 4 Brigade 3 Illinois

Burrell Warren: War 1812 2nd Reg. West Tennessee Volunteer Mounted Gunman


Burrell’s father William Warren was probably in the Revolutionary War since Williams brother Drury was but there’s so many William Warren’s in the Revolutionary War I have been unable to locate my William.

John T. Wheeler: Union Company H. 145 IL US Infantry
Leroy B. Wheeler: WW1
John A. Wheeler: WW11

On my husband’s side -

The family has said they fought on the Confederate side but I have hit a brick wall so haven’t found anyone yet.

Arnold Evans: WW1
Wesley Leroy Evans: WW11

Arthur Milton Goldberg: WW1
Robert Arthur Goldberg: WW11


Placide Fabien Richard – Confederate Louisiana Troups
18th Regiment, Louisiana Infantry

Pierre Richard
Opelousas Militia 1776 Muster Roll, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana

Mary Todd Lincoln Documents Sent To Lincoln Library

This would be very interesting to read the record.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CBS) – A bucket brigade of public officials has transferred Mary Todd Lincoln’s insanity hearing record from court vaults to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield.

Next will come a public re-examination of her hearing to see if she should have been committed to a psychiatric hospital in 1885.

You can read the rest of the article here.

Fort Monroe a national monument

Obama signs proclamation designating shuttered Fort Monroe in Virginia a national monument

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Tuesday took a shuttered Army fort in Virginia with an important role in the nation’s slavery history and made it a national monument.

Using his authority under a century-old law, Obama signed a proclamation designating Fort Monroe a national monument. That saves it from major development and preserves its history for generations.

You can read the entire article here.

Also, back in October 2007 my family visited Fort Monroe and I wrote this article about it. I just realized I never posted the pictures I look of the fort. I'll have to dig those out for you to see.