Here are some afterthoughts following my book signing at the Louisville Genealogy Society Book Fair on Oct. 18, 2014.
This was the first book signing where three people told me they had bought my book elsewhere and already had read it or they were reading it now. Putting aside my salesmanship, always at the ready, we then relaxed into some discussion. The questioning became pretty serious.
Daniel Braxton, president of the Bullitt County (KY) Genealogical Society took this fine picture of me tending my lemonade stand at the book fair. His exhibit was directly to the right of mine. We discussed my doing a talk in Bullitt County in the upcoming year. I'm already looking forward to it.
A pretty young lady then approached me, asking if I knew Jim Sames. "Of course, I do," I replied. The late Jim Sames will appear in the preface to Jesse James Soul Liberty, Volume II. Jim is a James family relative. He and his family occupied the Black Horse Inn in Midway, Kentucky, where Jesse & Frank's mother was born. He lived in the historic ordinary for 40 years and restored it in 1995. The young lady then told me she was leaving to get her father. Soon after, the young lady reappeared with her father in tow. Her father had gone to school with Jim Sames, and their family farm backed up to the Sames property in Versailles. I told him Jim won't appear in my family history book series until Volume II. He purchased Volume I anyway.
The gentleman who installed this store of impressive historic maps came from Fort Wayne, Indiana. His display of maps, all available for purchase, was quite exceptional. What grabbed my interest in particular were his maps of Lithuania, My mother's family came from Lithuania. His maps actually showed Lithuania's historic connection to Prussia, which always confounded me when I was researching my Lithuanian heritage. It was a real eye opener to view those old maps.
His Indiana maps also displayed the progression over time of the dissection of the old Northwest Territory into the counties of Indiana. I informed him of my particular interest in the map showing Newton County, Indiana, founded by my second great grandfather Joseph McAlister James, aka Joseph McJames.
My day began at 5 am because I had a to drive from my home in Danville for two hours to Louisville. I realized on days like these I tend to rely on fast food to sustain me. I don't always get to eat healthy food as I sign books and tend to my lemonade stand. However, the Louisville Genealogical Society made my noontime a nourishing and refreshing surprise. The wholesome lunch they provided was terrific. Whoever catered the food is exceptional. At too many events, nourishment just doesn't work out so well. My day ended early at 7:30 pm when I fell into bed.
Tonight, I finally get to dig into my swag bag of freebies.