Hi everyone. I have been down with some health issues lately so I'm not publishing regularly but I just had to share this bit of news with you in case you can join us tomorrow night at the local library. This is Mark's second presentation and it ties in with the book #2 he's been working on about how to use different types of records to confirm the identities of individuals being researched. He's presented this one already in Corpus Christi and San Antonio and those went very well. It's always exciting for me to see how he helps other researchers find new avenues to explore in order to get beyond roadblocks they may have encountered.I'm feeling better and plan to be at this event so I hope you will be there, too! If you are, please be sure to introduce yourself if we haven't met. I love to meet new people who follow the blog. Well, I just love to meet new people anyway, even if they don't read the blog. :-)
:) It's Mark! Last Thursday Mark had his first official book signing and I made it in time to catch the last few minutes of his talk and then I worked the purchasing table. The books are moving pretty swiftly and the publisher even spoke with Mark about buying some back...interesting! I am so happy for Mark because he enjoys talking with folks about the book. Saturday we went to drop copies off at Hastings, a local book/music/movie store, and while he was waiting to do paperwork, I strolled around looking at the books. Next thing you know, a "fan" was chatting him up and he signed her book for her. Sweet. I loved it. 
I am so, so proud of Mark! Yesterday he gave his first book talk about his new book, which will be published next month. It's about the slave activities in our county and it's been almost one year in the works, though if you really think about how he got to this point, I'd say it was ten years in the making (when Mark first starting researching Smokey Joe Williams).A couple of work buddies and I showed up at the Seguin Library and at first there weren't many people there. But folks started trickling in and all in all, there were about 79 people I was told! That was so great! I really enjoyed watching Mark share the stories we learned during his research -- stories of families and individuals, slaves and slave masters and mistresses -- really fascinating. AND the best part was that people in attendance asked some really great questions that allowed us all to explore our past. It was pretty cool.I'm proud of you honey!! Can't wait to see the book in print.
Lately I have made more time to read and I have really enjoyed it. Sitting with a book is about the only time I am still and quiet and it's very relaxing and a great way to unwind. Mark gave me the new David Baldacci book, The Whole Truth, and I'm looking forward to it as soon as I finish the Sigma Force series that I started. The Sigma Force series (5 books) is written by James Rollins and if you enjoy action-packed adventure thrillers, then you should give him a try. The first novel I read, Map of Bones, was a roller coaster and when Mark asked me how I was enjoying it about 15 minutes into reading, I had already been to about 3 or 4 countries and lives were already in jeapordy. It made me want to keep reading. After this, I'll catch up on the Baldaccis I've been missing.One of the fun things about reading this series is that I have a new, albeit unofficial, discussion group with a friend at work. Thank you Tod for introducing me to James Rollins. And in return, I introduced Tod to the world of library cards. :) He's now a member with all the benefits of library patronage at the Seguin library. I always intend to snap some shots of the inside but I keep forgetting so I'll try again next time. Mark worked as Director of the Library for several years before moving on to another job with the City of Seguin and then he moved on to City of San Antonio. I was in Iowa Falls last week and of course we checked out the library. (Also checked out the library in Des Moines but didn't catch any in Reno, Fallon or Tahoe) I must say, for a city of five to six thousand people, they sure had an impressive little library. Though it was built in 2000, it still looked and felt new. And it made me want a new one for Seguin. Very much. What would it take to do this?
