Wow!! 2025 went by in a flash and it seemed I would never get to just sit down and write something again. (See the note near the end of this blog).

The entire second half of 2025 was a blur as we went to shows and presentations nearly two or three times a month. I found myself constantly packing, unpacking, presenting, and packing for a return trip home to just reconnect with my lovely wife Jolene and the family cat Heidi.

My wife was able to travel with me on several occasions and we had fun meeting and greeting many new friends and their photos are now available on earlier pages.

Many thanks have to go to the Gilmore Family and their great team for organizing and arranging for our shows. They were fantastic and I highly recommend them to anyone that is considering promoting their particular products.

Can’t forget my publisher and the team at CaryPress located in the Raleigh, NC area. Ana and Ayesha have been great at keeping me straight and focused on the books, website, and the fantastic and fast support when I needed it. Another company I would highly recommend for future authors searching for a winning publisher and support team. You won’t be disappointed.

Having getting through with this past holiday season, I thought I was going to be able to take a break and relax. Didn’t happen, as we began to get requests for shows that began in the first quarter of 2026. As of this time, we have had three additional regional shows that were very productive.

Not least of those was my most recent presentation at my own Cape Fear Civil War Round Table where I got to tell my favorite family story, “For Twenty Dollars in Gold, A Story of the Civil War”. Great group of historians and dedicated fans of the history of our nation and regarding one of its most important events. I want to thank the entire leadership of President Dr. Yelena Howell, Matt Howell our poetic Editor-in-Chief of the “The Runner”, our monthly publication, Bill Janye our past president and historian in residence, and Chris Langolis our soon to be newly elected president.  

I want to add that during this time, between events, I was working on a particular story that I have been trying to write for several years. It is dedicated to my wife of over 54 years of marriage. I promised I would not publish it unless you approved of it because it is very personal, even though it is fictional. She always reads my manuscripts before publication and grades them by the number of “boxes of tissue” she needs to get through the book.

This story is titled, “A Love Story, If Only You Were Here”. According to my spouse, four boxes of tissue will be required. If you have someone that special to you, I think you might like this story.  

I always write “fiction” because there is no attempt to attribute that everything is 100% real or accurate. However, for those individual that read my books, they know that the vast majority is accurate to a fault.

All of my  books are available on Amazon and you are free to hit the magic “button” on the web page to go straight to Amazon for your purchase. They are usually available in Hardback, Paperback, Kindle, and on Audio for the Civil War Story.

Until next time, don’t stop reading!!