Book Talk/Signing at the West Nebraska Family Research and History Center in Scottsbluff, Nebraska

On February 10th the West Nebraska Family Research & History Center in Scottbluff provided the venue for a book talk/signing. Floyd Smith, III created the Center after he became interested in genealogy and began to amass a collection of local and county histories, obituaries from old newspapers and a staff of helpful volunteers who assist pilgrims searching for lost relatives. Floyd did a fine job publicizing the signing, which helped boost the crowd on a bitterly cold afternoon. 

https://www.starherald.com/news/local_news/nebraska-author-captures-the-sand-hills-and-the-people-who/article_c1eae58c-4a43-5e70-9b17-5e920b69e1ff.html

Allen and Ruth Vance served as gracious hosts and helped us set up for the signing and the book talk. Except for a punk newspaper reporter, Kathy and I were the youngest in attendance. Three couples had been married for over 60 years, giving us a worthy, if  a bit lofty goal. We met Lucien Kicken, a shirtail relation of the Sandoz clan, who shared a story about Old Jules locating his family and scaring small children half to death in the process. 

Anyone interested in family history would find a treasure of useful resources at the Center, including access to all the data bases so handy for in depth research.

Book Signing at the Plains Trading Company in Valentine, Nebraska

On February 9th The Plains Trading Company Booksellers in Valentine hosted a book signing for North of the Platte. Duane and Darlene Gudgel, who own this iconic bookstore, heavily promoted the event with radio and print ads and provided attentive logistical support during the signing. We were able to renew friendships with some of the book subjects and visit with Sand Hill residents who had their own rich stories to share. The event took place during the annual Bull Bash weekend in Valentine, when pens of bulls occupy the center of Main Street. A crowd of hardy bull buyers shopped the offerings in spite of the frigid weather. 

A note on The Plains Trading Company Booksellers: 

The Plains Trading Company houses a lovingly selected collection any bibliophile with a taste for the American West would be proud to own. We grabbed a rare Nellie Snyder Yost volume and a brand new copy of Charles Barron McIntosh’s masterpiece The Nebraska Sand Hills: The Human Landscape, which has been out of print for several years. Since the last time we visited, Duane and Darlene have added excellent coffee and an impressive array of Nebraska wines to the amenities. If you ever find yourself within two thousand miles of Valentine, Nebraska, waste no time making a bee line for The Plains Trading Company. You’ll not regret a second spent in this sanctuary of Western literature. 

McCook Book Signing and News Account

I'd like to thank everyone who attended the book talk/book signing at the Museum of the High Plains in McCook on Saturday. We were able to visit with friends old and new. Along the way we collected a whole new set of Sand Hills stories. Special thanks to Connie Jo Discoe who performed all the set up and tear down and did such a terrific job with the publicity. Connie Jo even decorated the signing table with a large bowl of sand for the occasion!

https://www.mccookgazette.com/story/2582167.html

Book News:

I’ve not had dealings with ink-stained wretches for a hundred years and was a little nervous for the three interviews I had this past week. The link below is to a story by Rick Brown of the Kearney Daily Hub. By happy circumstance Rick, when he was a lad, delivered the Hub to Don and Marica Welch. Rick was immediately interested in Don’s role in shaping the book and his unique take on the Nebraska Sand Hills. An experienced reporter, Rick’s pertinent questions showed an understanding of the place and the people. 

https://www.kearneyhub.com/news/entertainment/bringing-the-sandhills-to-life/article_c07e4416-e8e8-11e8-aab1-3bf96091f6de.html