A TRIP TO MISSISSIPPI
July 26, 2024. Just returned from a fantastic research trip to southern Mississippi for River Storm, the 8th novel in my historical fiction series, A Tale of Two Colors.
The story will follow the story of Lummy Tullos’s uncle Silas who fought at the Battle of New Orleans when he was just an 18 year old. River Storm will be released in May, 2025. So I’ve got to get to writin’!
Here are some pictures from the trip.
I enjoyed visiting Wood family ancestral land and especially Aaron Wood’s Spring. The best moonshine in Choctaw County, MS was made from its sweet waters.
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I visited the Sam Dale monument. Sam, the “Daniel Boone of Alabama,” will be a prominent character in River Storm.
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Lots of long, but enjoyable hours spent in the genealogical section of the Marion County library and the Marion County Historical Society. I walked away with several great ideas for scenes in River Storm.
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Jefferson Military College in Washington, MS. In River Storm, Silas will gather with other celebrants near here after the victory at the Battle of New Orleans. Can’t wait to get started!
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I visited some beautiful sites like Red Bluff, nicknamed, “the Grand Canyon of Mississippi.”
HEBER SPRINGS BOOK SIGNING
August 3, 2024. Come out and join us Saturday August 3rd from 10-2pm at Heber Springs! It’s the perfect pairing, an Old Soldier’s Reunion and Civil War Era Historical Fiction! I’ll have all 6 books for you to purchase and have signed from my historical fiction series, A Tale of Two Colors, including my latest, Storm of Terror.
Hope to see you there!
OUACHITA BOOK SIGNING
June 17, 2024. I had a fantastic new release book signing for the sixth book in my historical fiction series — Storm of Terror — at Ouachita Wellness and Sports Center. A huge thanks goes to my brother Larry and Tammy McCravens for hosting a wonderful time. Thanks to all who purchased books!
THE ARKANSAS WRITERS HALL OF FAME
June 1, 2024. Words cannot describe the gratefulness I have for being honored as the 2024 Arkansas Writers’ Hall of Fame inductee by my peers who are so talented.
No one receives such a prestigious award without the help of so many encouragers Creator put in my path along the way–teachers, friends, fellow writers and authors, parents and siblings, and most especially my beautiful wife, Lisa.
To all who had a hand in making this such a wonderfully humbling and gracious experience, I thank you all. Most especially, my Creator.
Storm of Terror has been released!
It’s available wherever books are sold. Here’s the Amazon link.
SPEAKING TO OKLAHOMA WRITERS
March 19, 2024. I had the pleasure of speaking about the nuances of writing historical fiction to the Oklahoma-based group Tulsa NightWriters.
ARKANSAS WRITERS’ HALL OF FAME
January 18, 2023 At least one writer is named to the Arkansas Writers’ Hall of Fame each year. To be eligible, an author must have a strong Arkansas connection and must have published at least three books, won a significant literary award, or demonstrated exceptional writing ability.
I am thrilled to announce to that this year’s choice is me! I will be inducted in June at the Arkansas Writers’ Conference.
BOOK SIGNING
December 5, 2023. I recently had the honor to be featured at the Choctaw Library Open House (Ackerman, MS) yesterday, where I signed books and discussed my work.
CHOCTAW COUNTY LIBRARY BOOK SIGNING
August 24, 2023. The Choctaw County Library System hosted an Author Talk on Thursday, August 24, 2023, in Ackerman, Mississippi.
I had the chance to speak about how my historical fiction series, A Tale of Two Colors, came about and the story of his 2G uncle and Choctaw County ancestor, Columbus “Lummy” Nathan Tullos, who lived through the troubled times surrounding the Civil War. I enjoyed fielding questions and signing books, especially my latest release, The Storm that Carries Me Home, that brings Lummy back to his hometown of Bankston, Mississippi during the Civil War at the time when Union soldiers burned the factories located there.
Having a book signing in the county that my ancestors pioneered and where the story of Lummy Tullos begins, was nothing short of exhilarating.