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Our young fans, particularly of the Samurai Detective Novels, have done some amazing videos (see this, this, and this for some examples — and of course the Lego stop motion version!) as they do virtual book reports and trailers for the book. Please upload your version to our Guest Book — we love to see these!!
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Are You Prepared for the Storm of Lovemaking
Releasing from Simon and Schuster 6-Feb-2024, Are You Prepared for the Storm of Lovemaking?
Yesterday (August 28, 1831) is the birthday of Lucy Webb Hayes, wife of Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th president of the United States. Lucy was the first First Lady to have a college degree, though she was not an advocate of votes for women. She was, however, opposed to the use of alcohol, and was referred to as "Lemonade Lucy," even though it was her husband who banned alcoholic drinks in the White House. She was quite progressive and forward thinking — the first First Lady to install a telephone and running water in the White House, to visit the West Coast, and she sponsored the daughter of her Black cook to get a college education.![]()
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Image source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_Webb_Hayes#/media/File:Lhayes.jpeg
We are so thrilled to announce that we’ll be speaking at the inaugural Jackson Hole Book Festival on Saturday, October 26. We’ll be in conversation with best-selling author Derek Leebaert in the afternoon. If you’re in the area, please come see us (and a host of other talented writers) speak! More details at their website ![]()
jacksonholebookfestival.org/
How’s your relationship with your mother- or father-in-law?![]()
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On August 27, 1848, Ulysses S. Grant and Julia Dent were married. The Mexican War, in which Grant served, was recently concluded, giving Grant the opportunity to wed. Julia’s father opposed the marriage because he thought the military would not provide an opportunity for Grant to support a family. So Mr. Dent gave Grant an enslaved man, William Jones, to help him start a farm. Grant was opposed to slavery, so he gave the man his freedom in 1859. This was particularly offensive to Julia’s father, because Grant could at least have sold the enslaved man for a large amount of money and bought land. As we know, Grant did make the army a career and eventually, the presidency. He and his wife also had three sons and a daughter–all on a military salary! ![]()
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To know more about William Jones, see the National Parks Service website: www.nps.gov/people/william-jones.htm![]()
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Image of Ulysses S. Grant from the Library of Congress website.
Benjamin Harrison was born this day (August 20) in 1833, He was the grandson of President William Henry Harrison, who had amassed a large tract of land in what is now Ohio. Benjamin graduated from Miami University of Ohio and moved to Indianapolis to practice law. When the Civil War began, he helped organize a brigade to fight for the Union, and eventually was promoted to general. After the war, he ran for governor of Indiana and won, Later he ran for the presidency against President Grover Cleveland and even though his opponent won the popular vote, Harrison carried enough states to win the electoral vote, He became the last Civil War general to be elected president. In the next election, Cleveland won.![]()
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C.M. Bell, photographer. Benjamin Harrison. , ca. 1916. [Between 1873 and 1934] Photograph. www.loc.gov/item/2016711953/.
Bill Clinton was born on August 19, 1946 in Hope, Arkansas. He obtained a law degree from Yale and taught law for two years before entering politics. He won a term as governor of Arkansas but lost a bid for re-election. Undiscouraged, he ran and won a second term. He also married Hilary Rodham, whom he had met at Yale. She would play an important role in his political career, which soon resulted in two terms as president of the United States. Afterward, the Clintons would establish a charitable foundation.![]()
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Image: Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right, outdoors. , 1993. Photograph. www.loc.gov/item/97515293/.