1. This war forever and permanently changed America. This conflict is a reference point, a turning point in our culture, in politics, and in our history.

2. Many of the issues of the war are still relevant and interesting to thinking people and to politics.

3. I have a specifically targeted and huge audience. Avid Civil War readers have several things in common. They tend to be literate, well-read, they enjoy learning new facts, they love hearing facts and stories they already know if they are told from an interesting and unique perspective, and most important of all for a writer—they buy tons of books.

4. I know I will personally grow from writing about the Civil War.

5. I believe that my reading audience will grow as a result of your research, insights, and prose. Writers do shape society.  Think of how Stephen King and other writers have influenced our ideas of horrors. Strong writers today are shaping the consciousness of the Civil War too.

6. This is an opportune time. Never, at least since the generation of actual combatants, have we had such rich and thorough resources.

Book Signings and News

Today, I’m on my way to the Shreveport, Louisiana Sam’s Club for a signing.  After I finish there, I have various contacts to meet with and queries to make.  After today’s signing, I’ll only have one more Sam’s Club left–in Monroe, next Saturday, Dec. 22.

Yesterday, I did three programs at schools in Ferriday, Louisiana for Condordia Parish. Two programs were at the Junior High, one at the elementary school. I had a grand time, and evidently the kids did too. Here is a little blurb I received regarding the day:

Mr. Pittman:
On behalf of the Ferriday Junior High School administration, staff, and students, I want to thank you for a great performance on December 13. It was a different kind of music for our students and it only enhanced their cultural being. They are still talking about what great skills you have in playing the guitar and the fact that grandma being run over by a reindeer [one of the songs I did was “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”] was so funny to them. The English teachers are making plans to get your books as we speak.

Again, thank you for taking the time to invest in the future of our children.

Dorothy Marsalis
Curriculum Coordinator

I had a two-hour break between schools, so I worked at the Library. While there, I read a book entitled Do This, Get Rich by Jim Britt, a popular motivational speaker and guru. I took extensive notes. I thought I’d include a list of a few of those points/tasks that especially relate to a writer’s business:

1. Make a road map of your life. Reflect on the last ten years of your life and what, related to your passion, has really been accomplished. (Egads! 10 years as a teacher I have!) I started this “road map” last spring, but it was sketchy. It’s coming together much better now.

2. Create a mission statement. Make the changes required to succeed. Nothing in your life will change unless you do. Know that the person you become determines what life hands you next. I’ve made some changes. (Quitting smoking was one.) I still have more changes to make.

3. Have a success role model. Write a money biography of your life. Imagine yourself prosperous (or at least in the state you want to be in). How would your life/days be different? Create or be a part of a team to help you succeed.

4. Spend time only on what matters. Realize that trying harder and working more won’t always fix things as you only have so much time and energy.

5. Realize that conventional methods don’t work. Make choices, take risks. If you do things because you have “no choice,” then you are likely trapped. Be a problem solver.

6. Get ready for a wild ride!

I’ve read many “positive thinking” (better than “stinking thinking”) books like this through the years. Writing, and especially the writing business, is a brutal vocation. As I reflected on the need of a writer to stay motivated and energized, I realized that the two most influential books for me personally were See You at the Top by Zig Ziggler and The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino. If you need some motivation, I’d advise you obtain and read those.

It’s raining and cooler this morning. I wanted to make a quick post as I’ll be leaving by 6:00 a.m. Today, I’ll present three programs for the schools in Vidalia. This will be more of a holiday presentation, rather than my usual Civil War program. I’ll do some children’s songs for the little ones, mixed in with Christmas carols.  For the older children, I’ll do some fun songs of the 19th century. Hopefully, I can get at least some of the kids to sing along. Here’s a list of some of the Christmas songs I like to do usually:

Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer

Silent Night

Jingle Bells

White Christmas

Away in a Manger

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Deck the Hall(s)

I’ll make a post later tonight and let you know how the program went.

While doing a signing in South Louisiana, a writing friend introduced me to a book by Elizabeth George entitled, Write Away: One Novelist’s Approach to Fiction and the Writing Life.  I spent some time last night and this morning reading in it. I think it is a good book for aspiring novel writers to read. The book truly does reveal her approach, and I think a novelist would find her techniques and practices quite helpful. She talks about how “he who possesses the best bum glue wins.”  That is so true. She talks about how to create one novel, she wrote from eight to twelve hours a day. I definitely need that kind of commitment.

Here are a couple of other quotes that caught my eye in Chapter 16, “The Value of Bum Glue”:

“One cannot simultaneously teach English at the high school level and write novels, since teaching English well at teh high school level is generally a twelve-hour-a-day job.” (This may be an oversimplification or hasty generalization, but there is truth to this statement)

“The writing life is one of extreme isolation, and for the person who needs the continual stimulation of other people attempting this as a career is a choice fraught with anxiety, unmet needs, and frustration.  Writing well also requires forced introspection.”

Last night, after the SCV Christmas party, I also read two chapters in a fine novel another writing friend gave me. It is written by Olen Steinhauer and is entitled, The Bridge of Sighs.  The first two chapters have hooked me. I am impressed with this novel that critics place in the genre of literary crime. Steinhauer was raised in Texas and currently lives in Budapest. The award winning author is a recipient of the Fulbright Fellowship. You can see more of what he’s written at his Website here:  http://www.olensteinhauer.com/

Tomorrow, I’m in Vidalia, Louisiana, making presentations at the schools.  Today will be spent frantically preparing for that event. Saturday, I’ll be at the Sam’s Club in Shreveport. I’m feeling pressure. For a writer, it seems like there’s never enough time.

Book Signing News:

Last night, I played my guitar and sang for the SCV camp in El Dorado, Arkansas. They were an attentive and gracious audience, and as always when I’m around them, I learned much about the Civil War. These men are walking encyclopedias of historical facts!

Christmas During the Civil War

Christmas is upon us. While researching various topics related to books I’m working on, I came across a site with some great quotes that related to Christmas during the War Between the States in our part of the South. The site is called, “The Rites of Innocence: Christmas 1861 and is written by James. S. Robbins. The link to the site is here: http://article.nationalreview.com/?q= NDFjZjE1MjRlMjdm ZjAyN2FkNTR hMjc5M2E4MGQxMTQ=

According to Robbins, The Republican (newspaper) of Marshall, Texas, noted that people felt that “the hour of danger has passed; that there may be difficulties and sacrifices, but that their freedom is secure. And hence, when they survey this broad land, and contemplate its future opulence, have they not reason to rejoice, and look upon the past as a ‘happy Christmas?’”

Robbins says that in 1861, the people of the South were positive and optimistic, while those in the North were glum and discouraged. As an example of what fostered this attitude, he relates this story of a Confederate victory on that Christmas day: “In the Oklahoma Territory, Christmas found Confederate Colonel James M. McIntosh, last of his West Point class of 1849, leading elements of five Arkansas and Texas cavalry regiments towards a position occupied by a force of pro-Union Indians led by Creek Chief Opothleyahola. The Indians had dug in on a steep rocky hill covered with oak trees. The next day McIntosh advanced on the Indians . . . [and] threw out flanking forces . . . His next move, with enemy fire still raking his command, was related by trooper A.W. Sparks: “The impetuous McIntosh, who cannot brook a tardy skirmish salutation, orders the charge” . . . The Confederates pushed back the enemy before them, muscling their way upwards towards the summit, dispatching warriors as they went with shot, sword and bayonet. Opothleyahola’s men were routed, and fled towards Kansas into the teeth of an approaching blizzard, hunted by pro-southern Cherokee cavalry. For his victory, McIntosh was promoted to Brigadier General.

For the South, 1861 may have been the best Christmas of the War.

SOUTHERN QUOTE FOR THE WEEK:

“The South is a land that has known sorrows; 
it is a land that has broken the ashen crust and 
moistened it with tears; a land scarred and riven 
by the plowshare of war and billowed with the 
graves of her dead; but a land of legend, 
a land of song, a land of hallowed and heroic 
memories.
“To that land every drop of my blood, every 
fiber of my being, every pulsation of my heart, 
is consecrated forever. I was born of her womb; 
I was nurtured at her breast; and when my last 
hour shall come, I pray GOD that I may be 
pillowed upon her bosom and rocked to sleep 
within her tender and encircling arms.”
Edward Carmack United States House of Representatives (TN, 1858-1908)

A Confederate/Southern Renaissance

Without apology, I see myself as a Southern writer. I love the South and its history, culture, and values. However, we may be in need of a Southern Renaissance.

Europe’s Renaissance resulted from a mix of several catalysts: the discovery of great former works, desperation for change in the status quo, a shift in values and mindset, and new creative works of thought and art to express those values.

The South is in great need of its own Renaissance. Our art, values, and culture have been ravished by conquering modern Goths and political Vandals; our children are in their own Dark Ages, numbed and dumbed by television, movies, music, and a terribly flawed school system. Their peers and society offer them little and challenge them even less. We are creating more average scholars and less great ones. The next generation is a generation that we (Southerners) could lose entirely and forever.

What is it exactly that we need? I think the classical definition of a Renaissance is helpful. We need a rebirth, a flowering of the arts and sciences. In many ways, we have a good start.
We need a Renaissance in music, writing, and the arts generally.
We need a Renaissance in history.
We need a Renaissance (perhaps revival would be a better word here) in our organizations that are devoted to Southerner heritage, history, and culture.

The South needs a political Renaissance. The number of Southerners with traditional Southern values represents a large percentage of the voting population. However this is only significant if we can attain unity of cause that will take us to the polls. While our Southern values resists the idea of pushing our ideas upon others, even the fiercely independent sovereign States of the Confederacy managed to unite, and that unity was a force that gained the attention of the whole world.

We can learn some lessons from our Confederate ancestors. If we don’t want to learn, perhaps we should read the dystopian novels (Brave New World, 1984, Fahrenheit 451, etc.) one more time to see how bad things can be when a nation’s citizens lose their sense of heritage, history, and individuality.

SIGNINGS & NEWS:

Friday evening, I met with other contacts, including Jimmy and Thomas, the owner and manager of the Mason-Dixon store in Jefferson, Texas. They were very interested in my books and we are planning a signing/program there in the near future. It was a very good day for personal sales as I sold every book I had with me.

Saturday morning I drove from Marshall, Texas to the Sam’s Club in Lafayette, Louisiana. This was a quick sell-out, and a very enjoyable signing. I was so busy that I forgot to take any photos! The events manager, Maggie, was very pleased at the success of the event. I arrived home late last night, slept late, and as usual on Sundays, was on the run as soon as my feet hit the floor, catching up on business, and preparing for the week. I have a SCV Christmas party to perform for tomorrow night in Eldorado. If I can catch up on chores and tasks, I may go early enough to visit some schools and libraries there. Tuesday night, I have another SCV party here in West Monroe. Thursday, I’ll be in Vidalia, Louisiana presenting a historical/Christmas program there. It should be a lot of fun. Saturday, I’m scheduled to be at the Sam’s Club in Shreveport.

CIVIL WAR FICTION:

Books about the Civil War continue to be churned out. I think the War Between the States must be one of the most popular topics to write about. Through the years, I’ve managed to build up a respectable library on the War. I’m working on a book for one of my publishers, Booklocker, on how to write about the Civil War. This book is on the list of my future projects, and as soon as I get a lot of rat killing done, I can see to it.

As an English teacher for both the high school and college levels, I’ve read and taught many books about the Civil War that are in the genre of fiction. Some of the literature is very good, some VERY bad—badly written, full of inaccuracies and stereotypes and misinformation. If you’re a teacher, or just one who is interested in reading good Civil War fiction, here’s a list of those books with a few comments.

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. An all time best seller and classic on the Civil War—and with good reason. I don’t think anyone has written anything comparable. It is a masterpiece. Unfortunately, few in the modern generation have read it. Few have even seen the movie, one of the greatest movies of all time.

Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier The movie was good, the book is better, but as they say, “Never judge a book by its movie.” This novel is rich in detail, honest about the Confederates who fought in the war, and more or less written from a Confederate-friendly point of view. His second epic novel on the Civil War didn’t have as much success, in spite of the big bucks he received for it.

Andersonville by McKinlay Kantor. When I first began reading this novel, I was expecting more of the usual Yankee-point-of-view misinformation and propaganda. I was delightfully surprised. An honest representation of both sides and an unsettling description of this Georgia prisoner of war camp.
Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt. Okay, I know this is a commonly taught book, on at least one AP list I’ve seen, and I know it presents the dynamics of a divided country (and families) well, but the ending spoiled it for me. The ending (with a deus ex machina feel to it) promotes the “Saint Lincoln” myth. I suppose Lincoln was capable of acts of kindness on occasion, but for every deserter he spared (as in this story) he executed or arrested many more, many of whom were innocent of everything but disagreeing with Lincoln. Aside: Lincoln also seemed to be quite fond of not only taking away the right of Habeus Corpus, but of arresting newspaper editors (I heard over 200) who criticized him. I know one of them was the grandson of Francis Scott Key! (How ironic is that!)

The Writings of Ambrose Bierce: Bierce is best known for his story, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” which is rightfully a standard inclusion in high school and college anthologies. Bierce actually wrote a collection of Civil War Stories and it is worth reading. Though he was a Yankee, he writes about the war with the venom of a Copperhead (Democrats in the North who opposed the war). Definitely worth reading. I recently taught his haunting story, “Chickamauga” in my college American Literature class.

Stephen Crane: Crane is the author of The Red Badge of Courage which has been a classic for a long time. This is a great novel. Though the main character is a Yankee soldier, it is NOT a anti-South book. Rather, it reflects the philosophy of Naturalism which Crane embraced. A beautiful and well-written novel. Crane also has a collection of short fiction about the War entitled, “The Little Regiment” and Other Stories. This is also a good read.

Last night, I went to see the Gospel According to Scrooge at the Family Church in West Monroe. I try to see it every year. A wonderful production. I generally don’t care for musicals, but I do like this one. There are so many good lines in this play. One I like was, “Let us love till we die and God bless us every one.” I think I’ll do a review of this musical in a future blog. It is certainly one of the finer theatrical productions to be produced in  Northeast Louisiana.

I rose at 4:00 a.m. this morning and was on the road by 5:30 to drive to Marshall, Texas. I presented my program at the Trinity Episcopal School from about 8:30-12:00 and had a grand time.  I was so impressed with the school’s librarian, Peggy Elliot, the administrative staff, and the teachers. The children were models of propriety, with excellent interest and behavior. All seemed to love the program, which I presented to differing grades in four  sessions.

Leaving Trinity School, I met with Marsha Edney, the librarian at Marshall High School. This school is a huge and nice facility.  After I left there, I met briefly with the public librarian. Though I’m REALLY tired, I have more appointments ahead of me, and I can’t afford to stop. I just stopped here at the public library long enough to check my email and make this post. The library here is spacious, quiet, and clean. I’m working in the children’s section.  A few people are on computers, a mother is working with her two children, and except for me, only one other patron is on a laptop.

Overall it’s already been a profitable trip, with several venues tentatively planned for the future.  It definitely looks like I’ll be spending a great deal of my future time in Texas.

Tonight, I’ll sepnd the night in Marshall, and tomorrow I’ll be at the Sam’s Club in Lafayette from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Hopefully I’ll have another sell-out, and then I’ll likely drive back to Monroe. I may be able to get off another post tomorrow morning, but if not, I’ll return to the blog either late Saturday night or early Sunday morning. Sometimes this fast-paced writer’s schedule of mine is so physically and mentally and emotionally draining that I have little energy for little else, but now I can’t see myself doing anything else. Several people I’ve talked to have said I’m living their dream, or that they’re living vicariously through me. Perhaps. I just know I’m having the time of my life.

Yesterday was a grueling day of editing. Today, I’ll be presenting a program at Cypress Point Elementary School in Monroe, Louisiana. I look forward to that. I’ve got a long list of things to do before I go there this morning.  Tomorrow, I’ll be at Trinity Episcopal School in Marshall, Texas! Then Saturday, at the Sam’s in Lafayette.
I’ve already expressed my admiration in an earlier post for Darrell Scott, one of the finest guitarists and songwriters I’ve ever listened to. One song he did, entitled “Shattered Cross,” particularly caught my attention. I could not find a printed version online, so I decided to transcribe the lyrics from the CD. Forgive me if my ear or pen made a mistake in the transcription. It’s a song I’d like to be able to perform in the future.

Shattered Cross

You don’t mess around with a man in black
You’ll say something wrong that you can’t take back,
You’ll go for a ride in his automobile
To a spot in the woods just over the hill
No, you don’t mess around with a man in black.

You don’t fool around with a woman in red
You will wake up alone in the cold barren bed
She’ll empty your pockets and rip out your heart
And leave you the ruins of a life torn apart.
No, You don’t fool around with a woman in red.

You never make deals with a man named Doc,
You’ll have a gun in your hand by 12 o’clock,
Beneath the sodium lights with your heart in your throat,
Your life won’t amount to a bottle of smoke,
No you never make deals with a man named Doc.

Don’t bring me your tales of temptation and loss,
The rags of your dreams your shattered cross,
I have heard your confession I know who you blame,
If you had it again, you’d just lose it again,
Can’t bank on redemption if you ain’t saved,
Don’t bring me your tales of temptation and loss,
Don’t bring me the pieces of your shattered cross.

I’m working feverishly on university business, writing business, and editing business today. I decided to stop long enough to post something and decided on a silly short story I wrote some time ago for a contest. Yes, I know. It shows what a madman I am.

“I Want My Mummy!”

Jeannie answered the phone.
“Dallas Museum of Natural History.  Robert!” Jeannie said.  “It’s good to hear from you.  I can hardly wait!  Bert’s doing fine. Yes, I know you said he’d be difficult, but I’ve got him under control.  It’s hard to believe it’s been six months.  You too. Goodbye.”
Jeannie hung up the phone and meditated about her future.   Robert was the Director of the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C.   Next month she would leave Dallas and move to Washington to become the Assistant Director of the Museum of Natural History.  A very prestigious, lucrative position.
Bert, Robert’s nephew, was the reason she had landed the job.  Last year, Robert had called the museum on Bert’s behalf, asking if the museum could use a good solid worker.
Knowing Robert’s importance to the museum world, she agreed to hire him. The next day Bert appeared, and she put him to work.  A good bit above minimum wage too.  And after Jeannie explained Bert’s connection to the Smithsonian, the board didn’t buck her decision.
However, she had a very real problem.  Bert was pretty much an idiot.
There was also another problem.  Since hiring Bert, she and Robert had become romantically involved, seeing each other once a month.  It was nice, but not perfect: Robert had a great love for his nephew and when Robert flew Jeannie out, he insisted that Bert come also.
However, Jeannie also saw Kenneth occasionally.  Kenneth was an IBM executive, and when in town, they would get together for a little late-night romp late in the museum.  Making love surrounded by priceless artifacts of ancient history excited Jeannie.  Robert didn’t know about Kenneth, and Jeannie didn’t feel he needed to know—ever.  And, Kenneth’s work also took him into Washington.
Recently, the museum had acquired a mummified Indian baby, affectionately dubbed “Lime Drop.”  A priceless acquisition, obtained for a small investment.
Bert was quite taken with Lime Drop.  He stared at her for hours, and often photographed her.  Jeannie, ignoring museum rules banning photography, told Bert that he could use his camera when the museum was closed.  And in a moment of temporary insanity, she had given him a key to the museum.
Once, she caught Bert holding Lime Drop, nestling her to his breast and cooing as if he were a parent.  Jeannie made him return her to the display basket, and warned him to not molest her again.  But only yesterday as she returned from lunch, she found him wheeling Lime Drop in a small baby carriage in front of the museum.
“I love little Lime Drop, Miss Jeannie,” Bert said. “I ain’t never had no one I cared for so much. “  He reached down and tickled the leathery skin on the mummy’s chin. “Goochee, goochee, goo!”
Jeannie winced.  She led Bert inside quietly, internally rehearsing scenes of the terror such a sight would create for the community.   The backlash would be terrible.  She couldn’t fire Bert, or her new job would be in peril.  Yet, she also knew she couldn’t allow this behavior to go on.   She was confident Bert’s uncle would agree with her decision to protect Bert from his quirky obsession.
She found Bert studying a newly acquired piece of Egyptian papyrus.
“This is real purty, Miss Jeannie. What does it say?”
“It’s an Egyptian ritual telling how to raise the dead.”
“What’s a ritual?”
“You know, like a formula. It tells the steps of how to do something.”
“You mean, like a recipe?” he asked.
“Yes, Bert, like a recipe.”  She sighed.  “Bert, I’ve got bad news.  I’ll be taking Lime Drop with me to the Smithsonian, so I must pack and prepare her for the trip.”
“You mean, I won’t get to see her no more?”
“No, Bert. You better say goodbye now.”
Jeannie felt sorry for Bert, but she knew this was for the best.  Moreover, she would be in Washington next month and Bert would then be someone else’s problem.
The next day, Bert didn’t report to work.  Jeannie called him, but there was no answer.  How could she explain Bert’s absence to Robert? She and Bert were supposed to fly to Washington this weekend.
She paced restlessly through the museum, willing herself to think of a solution.  She paused in front of Lime Drop’s now empty display area.  A sealed envelope, addressed to her, was Scotch-taped to the glass.  She opened it and carefully read the two-page typed letter.  For a moment, she thought the museum might be a terrorist target.   The rambling, cryptic message had enough personal information about her that she knew she had to take it seriously.   It wasn’t until she read the last lines of the message that she understood. “Be at the corner of Third and Main at 10:30 with the recipe and the child or you will be sorry!  I’m sure Uncle Robert would be quite interested in hearing how you mistreated his only nephew.  He might be really interested in knowing about Kenneth.”
Lime Drop. Bert wanted Lime Drop!  She looked at her watch.  It was already 10 o’clock.   She was being blackmailed by an idiot!  And Bert knew about Kenneth!  What if he had taken photographs?
Jeannie decided to grant his demands.  She slipped the Egyptian resurrection ritual into a folder, retrieved Lime Drop from the storage room, and rushed to the rendezvous point.  Bert was there, his baby carriage ready.
She handed him the folder and the mummy. “There! I hope you’ll leave me alone and that I never see you again!”
Bert grinned idiotically. “Uncle Robert didn’t tell you? He’s hired me as the head janitor for the Washington Museum.  We’ll all be together, like one happy family.  You, Uncle Robert, Me, and Lime Drop!  And Uncle Robert says he’s got a bunch more mummies I can play with!”