Speaking Engagement

When you've written the first three in a series of books about your country's history, it's a feather in your cap to be invited to speak about . . . history! So, yep, I've got a new feather in my cap: I received a phone call today with a request to consider being a guest speaker. And, so, when I got the info about the event, I gave a resounding yes, I'd be honored to talk about the American Revolution and my books at the Grand Opening of the Catamount Room, the Manchester Vermont Tea Party's new information site. The event will be held on Saturday, January 29th, from 1 PM to 5 PM. My talk will be at 3 PM. It's an honor to be asked to speak about the values held by our founding fathers . . . values that have been instilled by my family and the many, many individuals in this country who understand that we became great because of our Constitution and our Judeo/Christian foundation. Honor. Morality. Faith. Giving. Charity. Love. Commitment. Responsibility. Opportunity. Prosperity. You get all that when you have a SMALL, SMALL, SMALL government--all that, and more. If you are reading this message, I hope you add this event to your calendar! Hmmmm. Revolution, it means "complete change," "big shift," "uprising," or, "movement in an orbit." Hmmmmm. The antonym is "retrogression," or "regression." I guess I'm definately in the midst of my own revolution!

January snow

It's the 8th of January. Snow is trickling down from the sky. There's a cozy fire going in our living room and I wonder what it must have been like for our founding fathers. I mean, when the fire dies in the night, our furnace kicks on. Not so for John Jay or George Washington. Did they huddle close to the fire? And I've got a canister full of cocoa mix. How often were they--or their children--able to sip a creamy HC in front of that cozy fire. Not to mention to poorer folk. But, of our founding fathers? I can picture any one of them in front of their fire with the Good Book . . . perhaps reading Philippians 4:8, which reads: "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things." Oh well. Back to my John Jay research.

Something New Every Day

Whew. It isn't easy, studying John Jay. But one thing that's great, I learn something new every time I look him up, or turn a page in one of these fat, informative books. Now, it's common knowledge (at least amongst those people who have admired John Jay for a lengthy time) that he was against slavery. Very much so. And, the first time I interviewed one of his descendants, I learned he was a founder of the New York Manumission Society. Say what? Manumission. This group, founded in 1785, promoted the abolition of slavery. But what I learned today? It was that John Jay actually promoted legislation to free the slaves. It failed in 1777 and in 1785, but it was SUCCESSFUL in 1795. Yes, here's a founding father who helped to emancipate all NY slaves in 1795. This nation has made a few mistakes along the way; but, for the most part we should be proud of our legacy . . . and our kids should be made aware of it. So, that's why I'm having a blast creating these Johnny Vic adventures.

New Beginnings

Wow. We're already into January. Where did the time go? My resolution is to use this new year, 2011, as wisely as possible. I'm learning what I can about founding father John Jay. After all, Johnny Vic will soon meet him! It's an amazing time to be writing this story, because we're in sort of a Revolution of sorts right now . . . what with the election results. Let's hope our newly elected officials have the Constitution in their hearts the way our founding fathers did. I just watched a faily new version of A Christmas Carol. Of course, there's a mean-spirited person who has no concept of Christmas and so, the spirits of Christmas past, Christmas present and Christmas future each pop in for a brief visit. I wish the spirit of America's past, present and future would pop into D.C. and remind our elected officials of the real spirit of America. Or, better yet, perhaps some of them will read my hero's next adventure! John Jay, the Constitution, Ben Franklin, spies, intrigue, adventure . . . they'll all be there. Hey, that might be the perfect title: Johnny Vic and the Spirit of America!