It’s About Canoeing, Not Corporal Punishment! LOL!

Exciting news today from one of my publishers, Falcon Guides. After 17 years, my second book, Paddling Alabama, will get a facelift. The book has performed really well for Falcon since its release in 2002, but it’s time to re-visit the paddles included in the book and add some new ones.

For those of you unfamiliar with it, the book features 50 canoe and kayak trips in the state of Alabama and, as is the case with all Falcon guides, it is loaded with information about the sport.

It was an interesting book to write. It was the first time I had co-authored a book. I recruited my office mate in my day-time job, Curt Burdick, to help with it. It was a very dry summer and as most of you know, many creeks and smaller rivers dry up or become too shallow to paddle here in the South. At times we thought we should have named the book, “Walking the Rivers of Alabama”.

As we pulled our own version of the Titanic – a 15 foot Coleman canoe – down the shallows, the guy up front would be walking along, the guy in back would stumble on rocks and pull the canoe backwards, then the guy up front would fall into the drink. By the time it was over, we hated each other (just kidding, but close). When it came time to take our author photo, we thought it should have been the two of us sitting in a canoe, facing different directions trying to paddle away from each other. The publisher said no.

There was plenty adventure during that writing. We ventured to Coosa County to do a run on one river and couldn’t find a good put in. A local resident spotted us and told us he would lead us to the spot.

We followed behind this guy’s jacked up Ford F250 (complete with a bed full of shotguns) deep into the woods. When we finally arrive at our destination, we were in the middle of absolute nowhere. Curt and I stepped from the car and to find this guy pulling a pistol on us!

He saw the look on our faces and said, “No, no!! This is to shoot snakes! I’m the local constable!”

It was a really great little book and one I don’t talk about nearly enough (for one thing, we both hated the stock 1970s looking cover the publisher used), so it will be good to bring it back to life and up to date.

My 2019 Holiday Giveaway Begins Today!

Good morning, everyone! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! As I mentioned in my last blog entry, each year as a way of saying thank you for all of your support with my books, podcasts, and articles, I like to giveaway a couple of holiday gifts and this year is no exception.

This year I have two giveaways. The first is for you hikers out there. I have been asked many times what my favorite family friendly hikes are in Alabama. The truth is - there are WAY too many to narrow it down! But I have in a new booklet titled, "My 10 Favorite Family Friendly Hikes in Alabama". This is a PDF file with all of the information you need including maps for 10 great hikes to take your kids on, and inside the booklet, there is information on how you can also download a free copy of the GPX files that you can load onto your GPS device for all of the hikes described in the booklet!

My second holiday giveaway is for you short story lovers. I have compiled my three favorite winter and Christmas short stories (all loosely based on faulty memories) into a new book, "The Christmas Collection". The book is available as a PDF file or eBook. PLUS, you can download audio versions of the stories as MP3 files that you can listen to whenever and wherever you want.

The MP3 cuts include a couple from my podcast, "Joe Cuhaj's Shorts", plus a couple that were read live on the radio during my broadcasting days at WMML radio in Mobile, Alabama, in 1985 and on WBCA in Bay Minette, Alabama, in 1991. With the radio cuts, you'll hear how the stories morphed over the years from simple story telling on the radio to written word to podcast.

To get your gifts, simply visit my 2019 Giveaway web page.

Thank you again for all of your support! Happy Holidays (all of them during this festive time of year)!

CLICK HERE TO VISIT JOE'S 2019 HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY PAGE!

Just a Reminder...

Don't forget, my annual Holiday Giveaway starts Monday, December 2nd! There will be a little something for both hikers and non-hikers. It's just my way of saying thank you for purchasing my books and following my work.

It's the Holiday Season

Greetings, all! 

As 2019 year wraps up, it’s getting busy here for me, as it always does. First of all, as in the past, I’ll be re-releasing some classic short story podcasts of mine for the Christmas holidays. And who knows, if the response is good, I may resurrect “Joe Cuhaj’s Shorts” – not from the dirty laundry but out of the dust bin of podcast history. BUT, I need to hear from you. The fun begins December 2nd. Be on the lookout on my Facebook page and website, joe-cuhaj.com.

Speaking of Christmas, I will be doing another giveaway for the holidays. I think you’ll like what I have cooked up. Details will be unveiled on Black Friday.

The new book, Hidden History of Mobile, is on track for its January 20^th release (FYI for all of my bookstore, museum, and history friends, be expecting a call from the publisher soon. I’m available for presentations, signings, and bar mitzvahs..just kidding on that last one. :). I’ve just been invited to tape an episode of the Arcadia Publishing / History Press podcast, “Author Conversations” in late December. I’m scheduled to do the taping December 18^th. I’ll post details when it debuts.

I’ve also been talking with an old familiar face to the Mobile, Alabama, community - Eric Clemmons. You Mobilians will remember Eric from his days doing sports on local news. He’s doing a new documentary on the history of baseball in Mobile and asked if I could sit down for an interview for the film. “Ready for my close up, C.B.”  I’d tell them to get my good side, but that’s a stretch. I have a face for radio. Guess that’s why that was my career of choice. LOL!

And while all this is going on, research continues on “Hiking Waterfalls of Alabama” and my new podcast, “Bama Bound”. The preview episode of the podcast will be released in December with the show debuting early next year. I think I’ve lined up some interesting topics and guests so stand by.

And So it Begins

FINALLY, after a rough year of health issues, I’m getting to hit the road tomorrow begin writing “Hiking Waterfalls of Alabama”! I can’t wait! I’ll be starting easy, just to get back into the swing of things – you know, things like, oh, reacquainting myself with the GPS, my routine for taking notes and photos, remembering how to walk without tripping on roots (just kidding). You know, minor things like that. I’m going to start with some easy hikes to get back into hiking form. I’ll be heading up to Birmingham to hit several falls – getting reacquainted with Moss Rock, Peavine, Falling Rock, and Boulder Canyon. That should get me started then the real research begins in the north of the state – the Sipsey, northwest and northeast Alabama, Talladega National Forest, etc.

Several people have asked if the book will be strictly about the Sipsey Wilderness and Bankhead Forest, after all, they are called the “Land of a Thousand Waterfalls”. No, it’s not only about the Sipsey although it will include plenty of hikes from there.

I have found over 150 waterfalls to investigate across the state. I’ll cull out the ones on private property, manmade spillways, falls next to highways, etc., to make it a true guide to hiking waterfalls in the state. The only drawback is, as always, the publisher limits the number of treks. I’m buttering them up to expand the number. Wish me luck.

See y’all in B’Ham this weekend!

And That's a Wrap

FINALLY! The final proof (what publishers used to call “galleys”) for Hidden History of Mobile arrived in my inbox yesterday. I parused it one last time and it looks great! The editors at History Press really made me look good. Next step – off to be printed then off to your favorite bookstore! You can pre-order now online through Amazon.Com or Barnes and Noble.

I really can’t wait to line up presentations and signings for this one. The book covers some history that has long been forgotten about the Port City - Mobile - and also adds some lesser known history to more well-known stories and characters from Mobile’s past. 

I really need to thank all of the journalists as well as the staff of the Mobile Museum and Mobile Public Library Local History and Genealogy for all of their help. I couldn’t have done it without them.

This book is only a VERY small look at the hidden history of Mobile and its 300+ year old history. There are many other stories out there. If you want to delve deeper into the subject after reading the book, may I suggest you take one of the Secret History tours. Full disclosure, I haven’t been able to go on the tour yet myself (I've been busy with the book), but from very reliable sources and close friends, it’s a must-do tour that walks the streets of Mobile and takes you through some more incredible history. Be sure to check it out. And who knows, I might be on that tour with you.

And a Follow Up

Just got back from my trip back home to New Jersey and had a great time. Had a chance to visit Ellis Island while I was there and almost 97-years to the day that my grandparents arrived in the U.S. on that island, the family name was added to the Wall of Honor along with 700,000 other immigrants. It was an emotional day, to say the least.

Also had a great visit with the old “gang”, you know, the friends you have heard so much about in my short stories and podcast. No one told me I got the stories wrong, so that’s a plus. :)

But the bigger news is a follow up to my last post. I finally had a chance to read through the edits for the new book, Hidden History of Mobile, made what (surprisingly) few corrections had to be made, and sent it back to the editor at History Press. Those folks have this down to a science. Like I said, I sent the edits back on Friday and Monday morning – POOF! They had the book already formatted for printing! Just needs one more read through and off to the printer it goes and to a book store near you in a few weeks.

Can't wait for the big release. I'll keep you posted.