Pencils Down

 

Well, well, well. Book # 19 is now finished. "The Pig War and Pelican Girls: 21 Extraordinary Tales of American History" is at the publisher, Prometheus Books, and the editing process begins shortly for a Spring 2025 release. That makes 13 outdoor recreation guides published by Falcon Books and 6 non-fiction history titles in the "Cuhaj Book of the Year Club." :)

Once again I dive into forgotten and little remembered tales from American history - the story of the most wanted allied spy in World War II, Virginia Hall-"The Limping Lady"; how the government killed hundreds during prohibition by poisoning industrial alcohol to stop people from drinking it; how a mole skin helped the widow of a Civil War soldier win her husband's pension, an artifact now preserved in the National Archives; movie's first kiss controversy; and that's only for starters plus there is an additional 21 stories that expand on a subject. It was so much fun running down the rabbit holes of history to dig these gems out. More info coming soon.

The "capricious and cantankerous" allied spy, the "Limping Lady," Virginia Hall, Germany's most wanted spy during World War II.

Americans were drinking industrial alcohol to sooth their want for drink during Prohibition so the government added chemicals to prevent it being drinkable but caused hundreds of deaths instead.

A mole skin uncovered in the National Archives leads us to a fascinating story of what widows of Civil War soldiers had to go through to start receiving their deceased husband's pension.

Thomas Edison's 18 minute film, "The Kiss", was deemed pornographic by many including the Vatican.