Upcoming trip to Andersonville

I will be leaving soon for a book signing event at Andersonville National Historic Site in Georgia scheduled for 11 am to 3 pm Saturdary February 20, 2010.  The first Union prisoners of war from Belle Island in Richmond, including my ancestor Private Hiram Terman, probably walked through the gate (see gate replica in above photo) at Andersonville in late February 1864.  It should be quite an experience signing copies of Hiram's Honor at Andersonville 146 years after Hiram's arrival there.  

Kent Dorr Contacts Me

Kent Dorr of the McLaughlin Camp 12, SUVCW, Mansfield, Ohio contacted me and said he had visited Hiram Terman's grave site (see photo) in Rome, Ohio which led him to order and read Hiram's Honor.   His kind comments about the book "bringing these soldiers to life" is very gratifying.  It is the main reason I wrote Hiram's Honor.  Thanks Kent. 

Hiram's Honor at Civil War Center in Richmond

While retracing Private Terman's steps through the Civil War we visited Belle Island in the James River (see photo of river above) where Hiram was kept as a prisoner of war from July through February 1863-64.  Belle Island was a very special place for us and I am very pleased to report that the nearby American Civil War Center (see Lincoln statue photo above) in Richmond (http://www.tredegar.org/) will be selling Hiram's Honor.

Presentation at Tabor College

I presented a powerpoint talk to the Learning in Retirement group at Tabor College (see Tabor College photo to right). Several in the audience informed me about their ancestors in the Civil War. The group was very complimentary and many expressed their appreciation for writing a book of this sort that expresses what it might have been like to be in that catyclysmic conflict.

Following this, I gave a presentation to the Marion, Ks seniors and about ten out of 5o had Civil War ancestors and were very interested in the way Hiram's Honor portrayed the Civil War experience.

Reviews of Hiram's Honor at Amazon. com

Rev. Dennis Rinehart, a best friend of mine and an inspiration for the character of Isaiah in Hiram's Honor, has a very insightful review of Hiram's Honor on the Amazon site. Thanks Dennis.

Ken Wyatt, a retired journalist, wrote a nice review of Hiram's Honor and posted it on Amazon. Ken is from Jackson, Michigan, a town near to Spring Arbor University where I went to school and where we have many family members. Thanks Ken for this special and well crafted review.

You can see these reviews by searching Hiram's Honor and scrolling down to the reviews section.

I just learned of a comprehensive CD on the Civil War available at http://www.moorecivilwar.com/.

Review of Hiram's Honor

The Ohio Civil War Genealogy Journal has posted a review of Hiram's Honor at http://www.cincinnaticwrt.org/data/articles/Terman_Review_Hirams%20Honor.pdf. Authored by Dan Reigle, it is a very well written piece that touches very close to the heart of my book, so much that my spine tingles when I read it. Very much appreciated!

Home again from the Hiram's Honor book tour

The book signing of Hiram's Honor in Kenton, Ohio went great. Many folks from the area stopped by, bought books and DVD's, and we had many great conversations about the 82nd Ohio, ancestors, and the writing of Hiram's Honor. The appearance of the Ohio 4th Civil War re-enactors (photo, family on right) and Tim "Jacob Parrott" Striker (photo, 5th from left) added much to the atmosphere as did a surprise visit from Betty Resch and her family. Betty is the great-granddaughter of Delano Morey, who received the Medal of Honor during the Civil War for capturing two Confederates on the slopes of Bull Pasture Mountain during the Battle of McDowell in Virginia, Hiram's first battle.

Richard Fink, historian of the 82nd Ohio in Kenton, also found and showed me an officer's petition with the signature of Private Hiram Terman on it (see image to right). The petition was signed by my ancestor in Moorefield, Virginia before the Battle of McDowell. This signature reveals his educational level and matches well with how I portrayed Private Terman in

Hiram's Honor.

This was quite an experience and was a great "launching" of Hiram's Honor. Many thanks to Linda Iams and Richard Fink (far left in the photo), and others for a great time in Kenton! 

I am also happy to report that the Hardin County Historical Museum is now selling Hiram's Honor.