College Schedule:

Mon. & Wed: ENG 102, at 2:00 p.m. & 3:30 p.m

ENG 101 5:00-6:15 p.m.

Tues. & Thurs:  Academic Seminar 12:30-1:45 p.m.

Tuesday Only: American Literature till 1865 (ULM) 5:00-7:45 p.m.

Two Important Future Speaking Engagements:

I’ve been booked to speak at the Louisiana Reading Association Conference, Tuesday, October 28, from 3:15-4:15 Shreveport, LA, and at the Arkansas Reading Association Conference, Thursday Nov. 21, 12:30-1:30 p.m.  My topic  for both presentations is: “Why Authors Should Fall to Their Knees and Worship Librarians.”

Reviving Interest in a Forgotten Novel:

Sometime ago at a reading workshop at West Monroe High School on a Saturday, I won a class set of 30 books from Glencoe as a door prize.  They have a very impressive list, but I decided instantly which book I wanted: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. I love teaching this novel.  Since I own the books, I decided to assign Frankenstein to one of my ENG 102 classes to be the topic of their research paper. So I checked a copy out to each student, had them sign a promise to pay me $15.00 if the book were lost, and we covered some of the highlights of the novel.

After you get them past the monster/Hollywood version (over a hundred movie versions) and the stereotypes, students learn that Frankenstein is a novel of ideas. The primary one is: What is the responsibility of the creator to his creation? That topic, always present even when unsaid, and the other themes of the novel create much thought. I think that after digesting good books like this, the reader never looks at life the same. Such books feed the mind, are cathartic to the heart, and enrich our cultural and historical understanding. Today, we read “The Golem,” which is the Jewish version of Frankenstein.  In my study and teaching of the Gothic novel of Shelley and the Jewish version, “The Golem,” I’ve learned much about myself, human nature generally, society, and the nature of the universe.

I am going to try to book some high school/college gifted programs focussed on Frankenstein and on World War I poets. I’ve got great workshops put together for both of these topics. I’m sure I’ll have more posts on this topic in the future.

On Oct. 3, at 6:30 p.m. I’ll be performing Irish music and reading Irish poetry at the local Rotary Club’s Irish Whiskey Tasting, which will be held at the West Monroe Convention Center. Help this fine organization out by attending.

ED MILLER LYRICS

Here are the lyrics of another song by Ed Miller, one of my favorite Scottish musicians I’ve mentioned on this blog before. The song is entitled, “My Old Martin Guitar.” As I begin to get more and better bookings for solo performances, this song means more and more to me. I actually own a Taylor and a Guild, though I did attempt to buy a Martin guitar once (It was sold the day before I got the money together, so I bought the old American-made Guild instead) I’ve transcribed the lyrics, so forgive me if I made a mistake.

My Old Martin Guitar

Some people they say I don’t work, boys
My life is all leisure and ease
Well, it’s true that I ramble around, boys
Drink whiskey and do as I please
For I’ve worked all over this country
Know most of the jobs that are gone
But I like best just singing these folk songs
And to play my old Martin guitar

While I have worked on a farm, boys
I’ve helped a forest anew
I’ve been a white collar worker, boys
In a factory I’ve worked with a will
Yes I’ve worked all over this country
I’ve even worked in a bar
But I like best just singing these folk songs
and to play my old Martin guitar

I don’t have much education, boys
So politics, they’re not for me
I just want a life for me family, boys
In a world where we’re equal and free
And I hope for a great day that’s coming
Without hatred, killing or war,
And I hope I might even be helping
As I play my old Martin guitar.

A Blurb and Listing in Scotland for The Scottish Alphabet a children’s picture book by Rickey E. PIttman:

A site called BooksfromScotland.com said this of my new Scottish Alphabet children’s book:

“The ABCs of Scotland are explored in rhyme, imagery, and history. Accompanied by illustrations that capture the beauty of Scotland, folk musician Rickey E. Pittman educates readers to the legendary Scottish way of life in clever rhymes that will entertain readers of all ages.”

You can find that link here:

I’m not giving up my adult writing, but I am now officially a children’s picture book author. (Likely, I’ll try my hand at young adult books also). I have two children’s picture books published with Pelican Publishing, and another as soon as they find an illustrator, which brings me to the point of my blog. If you know an artist, or if you are an artist, if you have done artwork for children’s books before, if you don’t mind the hard work and rewrites (in the artist case, re-draws) if you can do research to make your art factually actually accurate as well as beautiful, then you need to apply to Pelican Publishing.  If you’re lucky, you’ll do the artwork for a hard-working author who will move a lot of books. If you’re smart, you’ll try to sell many books yourself. (You split the royalties with the author, so it’s in your favor to hook up with an author who will burn up the roads and do signings at many stores. For example, I did over 110 signings, programs, readings, and presentations last year. My book didn’t do badly, but if my artist had matched my efforts, we could have had a national best seller. )

I have more children’s books that Pelican would like to publish beyond these three I have with them, but they need artists. The one they’re ready to sign a contract on is The Little Confederate’s ABC Book. Please apply to Pelican, or tell a friend who is a good artist to apply. Please do look at the artwork for Jim Limber Davis: A Black Orphan in the Confederate White House and my Scottish Alphabet Book for samples of the quality of artwork that is needed.  Here are Pelican’s Guidelines for Artists. If you’d like to team up with me, you need to be interested in and  to do VERY well at Civil War art. You can find the guidelines page yourself here:

Pelican Publishing Company, the largest book publisher in the South, is always interested in talented, hard-working illustrators. All materials that are submitted to us are kept on file and reviewed as new projects arise. We would be very happy to have you send some of your best work for our perusal. Below are our basic guidelines for submissions.

Please Note: Pelican does not accept illustrations submitted via e-mail or the Internet!

Appointments: Pelican prefers submission by mail only. If an appointment is necessary, contact will be made with the artist.

Via Mail: Please send all materials securely packed and insured if necessary. Any materials to be returned must be accompanied by return postage and return packing materials.

Artwork Markings: Be sure all materials have your complete name, address and phone number in case the materials are separated or some are to be returned.

Artwork Format: Try to keep the size of all materials under 8 1/2 x 11 unless they may be folded. Materials are stored in a standard letter file cabinet, so oversize material is returned. Published works are preferable, but color and B/W copies are acceptable. Please do not send faxed materials unless requested.

Suggested Subject Matter: Since the majority of our illustrated books are for (1) children, (2) young adults and (3) technical, work submitted should be in these categories. Our children’s books are generally full color with both whimsical and realistic, human and animal characters. Our young adult books require black/white line work in a mostly realistic style. Technical work would include maps, diagrams, charts etc.

A current resume showing work in the design area (especially books) is helpful.

Pelican address:
All items being sent UPS, USPS or Federal Express materials should be sent to:

PELICAN PUBLISHING COMPANY
1000 Burmaster St.
Gretna, LA 70053
Attn: Production Manager

I have been fortunate to have had two great artists to have illustrated my books so far. Both did meticulous research and the illustrations are beautiful. I realize that their artwork is one reason I can sell and promote the book so easily. You’ll have to pitch your work yourself as it is standard policy for the author to have little decision-making power in regards to the illustrator. I wish you luck. I hope we can work together someday.  You can query the editor of Pelican Publishing (only regarding ideas. Do NOT send artwork via email unless they request it) at this email: nkooij@pelicanpub.com  or you can query them by snail mail at the address listed above.

Why Write Children’s Books?

I write children’s books because they are great tools. I want to teach children, teachers, and parents the great stories of history that have been left out of the history books. In my school programs (email me and I’ll send you a brochure) I’ve seen the joy that good books can bring to children. I’ve seen parents crack up with laughter over a book they read to their children. I’ve seen gifted and talented high school students do great read-alouds with children’s books. Children’s books are here to stay. Parents will keep children’s books when they’ve sold all their others in garage sales.

I didn’t intend to be a children’s book author, but I’m glad I am.

First, the very good news: The Scottish Alphabet (my children’s picture book) is in the Pelican warehouse!  I’ll be delivering copies to those who preordered them soon. This also means that copies will be available for sale at the Jackson Celtic Fest in early September.  I haven’t quite finished my study guide and teacher packet for the book yet, but I’ll get to it.

Performances:

I will be performing guitar/vocals at the Daily Harvest Bakery and Deli 1105 Forsythe Ave
Monroe, LA 71201 (318) 812-2253, Saturday, August 23; Saturday, August 30. Both days I will perform from 9:00 a.m. till noon or one. The music will be a mixture of Americana, instrumentals, and Scots-Irish music. On Saturday, Sept. 13, I’ll be performing there again, but probably most of the day. Teresa and Gale, the owners/managers, are great ladies. They now have their own cookbook, entitled, Daily Harvest Bakery and Deli Cookbook. If you love to eat healthy but good-for-you food, you need these recipes. You can read all about the book (and order it) here:

I’ve heard there are folks who are professional sweepstakers, or who make a living entering contests (some requiring skills).  That must be fun, though I know it must be brutal work and require constant focus and a lot of organization.  There are contests for writers too–lots of them! Somewhere along the way, I started entering them, and I’m glad I did.  Winning the Ernest Hemingway Short Story Competition was really the jump start to my writing career. Since then, I’ve won or placed in a few others. I now enter every contest I can, though not as many as I should. Some of them are free, others you have to pay an entry fee for. I’m glad to pay the entry fee since the judges of the contests I enter are usually writers, publishers, or editors, (some of them very influential in the publishing world) and I know that my submission will actually be read instead of discarded or added to an overworked and underpaid editor’s huge slush pile.  There are writing contests for the genres of poetry, drama, fiction (short stories, collections of short fiction, and novels), essays and other nonfiction pieces, songwriting, recipes and a gadzillion others.  Winning contests looks good on one’s resume and the winning, published piece perhaps can catch the eyes of influential editors, agents, and publishers.

Contests for Writers:

For High School Students:  The mother of all writing contests are the Ayn Rand essay contests. BIG bucks. And the Ayn Rand institute will supply teachers with class sets of Rand’s novels in exchange for a commitment (and I would document it) to actually teach the novel.  (The novels are Anthem, The Fountainhead, and Atlas Shrugged.)  I’ve read these, and I liked them more than I thought I would. These are perfect novels that work well in dystopian studies.

Contests develop students’ writing skills. When I taught high school, I would make it mandatory for my high school students to enter such contests. Some of my high school gifted and honors students won money every year in one contest or another.

The link for the contest with the rules and prizes for the Rand contest  is here:

Other Writing Contests:

1) I enter the Booklocker  24-Hour Short Story Contest, held quarterly. The writing prompt is mailed to you at noon on a Saturday, and you must have it to them by noon on Sunday.  The entry fee is five dollars, and when you enter, guidelines are given. Prize money is good, the judges are excellent. Entering this contest will not only give you a bank of good stories (which I keep and enter in other contests) but will surely raise your computer skills as you wrestle with technological problems. Such timed contests are the ultimate stress-producers, but I believe it’s true that we writers sometimes produce more and better stuff under pressure. The start time is: Saturday, September 27, 2008 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) Central Time. Here is the site for the fall contest. If you decide to enter it, I’d read former winning entries. That will give you some idea of the tastes of the judges.  

2) New Millennium Writings Contest. This is also a quarterly contest, and a prestigious one. Entry fee is $17.00.  You can enter in any or all of the following categories, and with as many entries as you wish: Fiction, Short Fiction, Short-Short Fiction, Poetry, and Nonfiction. Winners get a very nice cash prize and publication. The contest’s website is here:

The magazine’s homepage is here:

I’ll likely post more information on other contests in the future. If you liked this contest information, send me an email at rickeyp@bayou.com

Somehow, someway, as a boy I developed a passion for reading books related to American Indians and the West. I literally read every book related to those topics in two branches of Dallas libraries. Some say that the books we read as children define us as adults. Perhaps that’s true.

My interest in Native Americans began early, maybe subconsciously. The first book that I ever owned, was given to me by the doctor who performed brain surgery on me. My parents said that they were reading the book with me in the lobby and when they tried to take it away from me, I cried and wailed and my heart was so broken that the doctor gave it to me. This was not a happy time for my parents. They doctor had told them I wouldn’t live more than six months after the surgery. Now, half a century later, that scenario gives me much to think about (the doctor is dead now). I’ve always thought I’ve been living on borrowed time. I know this is one dynamic that drives my friends and those close to me crazy. Especially since the sudden death of my brother last summer, I’ve been more reflective on the subject of mortality. My parents are getting along in years, wearing out from a life of hard work, suffering from the afflictions of age, and I’ve not asked them their perspective of my continued existence. It has been one of the great “unsaids” between family members. I can still see love in their eyes though.

That book the surgeon gave me was my first book. It’s title is Famous Indian Chiefs, written by John W. Moyer (with the Chicago Natural History Museum) and illustrated by James L. Vlasaty. Publisher was M.A,. Donohue & Co. Chicago/New York. The copyright is 1957. The book talks about eleven Indian (in today’s politically correct jargon, Native American) chiefs: Red Jacket, Black Hawk, Tecumseh, Yoholo-Micco, Osceola, Red Cloud, Dull Knife, Sitting Bull, Geronimo, Chief Joseph, and Quanah Parker. There is a full color painting and pen and ink drawing illustrations for each chief. As soon as I get a scanner, I’m going to post each of these paintings. The book, my FIRST book, is one that I will never part with. Not for any amount of money.

All of my years of reading about the Native American world deeply affected me in these ways:

1. I became physical, perhaps even health conscious. Many Indians were runners, so I ran. I jogged early in the mornings. Did you know that many of them could outrun a horse in distance, could run 50 miles in a day, and I read and followed the training imposed on them. I never did reach 50 miles in a day. Most I did was 12 miles. Indian warriors took pride in showing no pain. I tried to emulate them.

2. I became a warrior. I studied fighting. I learned archery, made and threw spears at cardboard buffaloes, made war clubs, and studied the great battles between whites and Indians.

3. I became a survivalist. I learned to identify plants for food and medicine. I learned to trap and hunt. I was a Boy Scout so this fit right in with my interests. (achieved Eagle, Order of the Arrow, God and Country Medal, Fifty-Miler Award, Mile Swim, and a Bronze Palm). I went on survival camping trips with only a knife. I made pemmican, learned how to dry meat, start a fire with flint and steel, and many other skills most people today don’t have a clue about.

4. I learned Indian crafts. I learned to do bead-work, both on a loom, and hand sewing in the Plains Indian style. (Grey Owl is a great source of crafts if you’re interested. Their site is here: I made Indian costumes for Boy Scout ceremonies. The way I dressed as a teenager reflected my interest and passion to study the American Indians. I wore fringed moccasins to high school every day of my junior year, had a fringed buckskin jacket, and wore a beaded headband most days.

5. I watched every movie and TV show on American Indians I could find: Some of my favorites about Indians or with Indian characters are: Billy Jack, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, Winterhawk, Dances with Wolves, Last of the Mohicans, Renegade, Apache (1954 – a bad movie, but more realistic than the modern Geronimo movie) The Searchers (John Wayne) and many other movies whose titles I have forgotten.

6. I hunted arrowheads ( and spear points, etc.) on my uncle’s farm in Comanche, TX. (Monzelle O’Brien) I just found out that he passed away. Here is his obituary:

O’BRIEN
Hugh Monselle O’Brien, 95 of Comanche, died Thursday, July 3, 2008 at Comanche County Medical Center.
He was born on Mar. 27, 1914 in Austin to Hugh Marion O’Brien and Emily Gertrude (Bryant) O’Brien.
He was married to Lucille Johnson on Feb. 18, 1947 in Fort Worth.
O’Brien was a World War II veteran, an accomplished writer and a member of First United Methodist Church in Comanche.
He is survived by his wife; daughters Nancy Isham of Comanche, Karen Coplen of Comanche, Christy Fitzsimmons of Garland, Susan Daniel of Odessa and Becky O’Brien of Early; thirteen grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, one great great granddaughter, numerous cousins and many friends.
Funeral services were Sunday, July 6 at First United Methodist Church followed by burial at Taylor’s Chapel Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

7. I have continued to read about Native Americans, have researched, written many sources for information, and continue to write. Like my writing about the Civil War, not all of what I record is positive, but I hope it tells the truth.

As school begins today, I think of how so many of my students do not have a guiding philosophy for their life. Even many, if not most, of this age’s adults lack ideals that give them focus and sharpen virtue.  I collect quotations. (Please send me your favorite ones). Though I’ll probably add to this list, here are some proverbs and quotations that have always been important to me, and ones I try to live by:

“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still likes you.”–Source unknown.

“Experience is not the best teacher, just the hardest teacher.”–Source unknown

“The world is a fine place and worth the fighting for and I hate very much to leave it.”–Ernest Hemingway

“We should not maliciously use truth to inflict injury upon others.”–(James Lee Burke says this is from St. Augustine.)

“Money answers all things.”–Ecclesiastes 10:19

“Do the hardest tasks first.”–Unknown

Thursday morning, I traveled to Bernice, Louisiana. According to the city’s website, the area is known as the “big woods” for its large stands of huge virgin pine, which Captain C.C. Henderson planned to take advantage of by means of his Arkansas Southern Railroad, the first railway in the parish. A railroad depot was built soon after, and today it has been restored and houses the Depot Museum with a collection of Bernice memorabilia.

Bernice extends the invitation to come and personally visit the Depot Museum and the Capt. Henderson Caboose Museum. Also, stop by the Town Hall to visit and have a cup of coffee. The Tourist Center is located directly beside the Town Hall.”

At the invitation of Violet, staff writer for the Bernice Banner, I spoke at the Bernice Business Club, a group of professionals who operate very much like a chamber of commerce. I spoke about writing, played my guitar and sang a few songs, and signed some books. They were a wonderful group of people and very interested in my writing about America’s Civil War. I also received a tentative invitation to perform at the annual Corney Creek festival in April and to speak to the Historical Society at a later time.  I was able to meet so many interesting people, including Mayor Hicks, and Mr. Miner Patton, former police chief and former mayor.

Before the luncheon, I stopped in at the Children’s museum (Bernice Depot Museum & Captain Henderson Kids’ Caboose) there. It is administered b y the Bernice Historical Society. The railroad depot was built about 1899 and served as a depot until 1984. There are many artifacts and memorabilia related to the railroad, to pioneers and original settlers, and to people of note who have lived in Bernice. Very interesting.

Here is a photo of Gladys Harkins, who runs the museum, followed by a flag of a WWII captured Japanese flag–the first I’ve ever seen. There is also a photo of the museum’s caboose that houses a wonderful collection of old children’s toys and the Corney Creek jail, that really used to be the city’s jail. I met a man in Bernice who had actually been arrested and who had spent the night there.

Thursday night, I spoke at the Arlington, TX SCV camp meeting. I’ll have another post on that. Yesterday, (Friday, August 15) I spent with my father (now 81). It was his birthday. Today, I’ve a signing at the Sherman, TX Books-a-Million.  I’ll return to Louisiana tomorrow and gear up and prepare syllabi for my college classes. I’ve got one at ULM and three at Delta, Monday-Wednesday. More in my next post.

I have selected some quotations from Richard Williams’ fine book, Stonewall Jackson: The Black Man’s Friend, which I reviewed yesterday.  These quotations that may provide new insights into Jackson and pique interest in Williams’ book and the many topics it addresses.

“The North, no less than the South, was responsible and suffered for the evils of slavery” (p. 33)

“Both of Jackson’s great-grandparents had come to America ‘under a seven-year indenture’ ” (74)

“He [Jackson} was an avid reader. By 1861, his library consisted of 122 books . . .” (98)

From reading William’s book (in text and in his notes), you can also learn about:

1) Carter G.  Woodson, a son of a slave who is considered the father of black history and is credited for initiating Black HIstory Month.

2) Uncle Lewis, the first black chaplain for the (Confederate) Army; John Jasper, the first black war-hospital chaplain (for Chimborazo hospital in Richmond).

3) How Jackson’s church, colored Sunday school, and Jackson’s mentors positively affected the future of education and race relations in Virginia.

Here was a great quotation of Frederick Douglas that Williams included:

“Once you learn to read you will forever be free.”

A Review of Stonewall Jackson: The Black Man’s Friend by Richard G. Williams Jr.

In my research for my children’s picture book about the black Sunday school that Stonewall Jackson taught just before the War Between the States, the most helpful book I’ve found is Stonewall Jackson: The Black Man’s Friend by Richard G. Williams Jr. (Cumberland House Press). The book is thought provoking and reveals Williams’ extensive research–research that brings many surprising and ironic facts to light. The book is objectively written, well-documented, and is a book that not only humanizes Jackson, but also describes the complex relationship between black and white Americans before and during the Civil War. I had known Jackson was a spiritual man, but only after reading this book did I understand how deep his spirituality was. Williams, the author, reveals thorough understanding and knowledge of the scripture and religious history. By analyzing the time period and setting, Jackson’s family and life, the individuals who influenced Jackson, and the individuals he influenced, Williams opens the heart of Jackson and we not only see Jackson the soldier, but Jackson the Christian, the man who out of love for his fellow man risked fines, imprisonment, and ridicule because he wanted to share the gospel with people of color.

If you are a student of America’s Civil War, Williams’ book on Stonewall Jackson is a fine book to add to your collection. You can and should order his book here:

Here is a song, written by Jed Marum, one of America’s top Celtic and Civil War musicians, honoring Stonewall Jackson. If you enjoy or are interested in hearing great music of the Civil War, you need Jed’s CD, “Cross Over the River.” You can order it here:

CROSS OVER THE RIVER
© Jed Marum 2005

CHO: Let us cross over the river
And sit in the shade of the trees
Let us cross over the river
For the day is done
Let us take our ease

Gone are the racket and rattle
Gentle the glow of the sun
Distant the field of the battle
Contented my work here is done
CHO

My soldiers are tired and weary
They’re ragged but their spirits are strong
The years have been bitter and dreary
These hardships they’ve battled so long
CHO

Many’s the home that’s been grieved in
For their loved ones I’ve led into war
Fought and died for what they believed in
So many I’ve brought to this shore
CHO

Gone are the racket and rattle
Gentle the glow of the sun
Distant the field of the battle
Contented my work here is done

In Lexington, Virginia, the 5th Avenue Presbyterian Church was founded by Lylburn L. Downing. He knew of Jackson and his work with the colored Sunday school through the memory and testimony of his parents. He determined to honor Jackson. Here is a photo of the stained glass window he designed and commissioned in memory of Stonewall Jackson. At the bottom of the window are the famous last words of Jackson: “Let us cross over the river and rest in the shade of the tree.”