Category Archives: Uncategorized

It’s odd to imagine, but one place where you won’t be able to buy a signed copy of my book about the Gateway Arch this weekend is the Gateway Arch. The government shutdown shut down the Arch, where I was set for a book signing on Sunday. But you do have three other opportunities byContinue reading “The Shutdown Won’t Shut Us Down!”

Am I crazy? I must be, because I’m doing three book signings this weekend. But that’s good for you and any other Christmas shopper who’s going crazy trying to find the perfect gift for that certain St. Louis history lover. Today, Saturday, I’ll sign from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at STL-Style/Stylehouse, 3159 Cherokee StreetContinue reading “Will I Ever Stop?”

Saturday’s dedication events for two honorary German street signs increased our conviction of the importance of pointing out how patriotic German Americans were the victims of a farcical patriotic orgy during World War I. Those words, “a farcical patriotic orgy,” aren’t mine. They’re from a fine book about the 1918 lynching of Robert Prager, PatrioticContinue reading “Two Down. Two to Go”

Saturday’s dedication events for two honorary German street signs increased our conviction of the importance of pointing out how patriotic German Americans were the victims of a farcical patriotic orgy during World War I. Those words, “a farcical patriotic orgy,” aren’t mine. They’re from a fine book about the 1918 lynching of Robert Prager, PatrioticContinue reading “Closer to Our Goal”

     I’m overjoyed to share this news release from the German American Heritage Society of St. Louis. It tells about the culmination of five years of hard and sometimes discouraging work. I hope to see you at the events on Oct. 27. During World War I, patriotic German Americans were made to choose betweenContinue reading “Honoring the Original Names”

Whenever I’m out signing books, doing a presentation, or speaking on the radio, I always enjoy talking to people about my writing. It’s been especially so with the first and second editions of The Making of an Icon: The Dreamers, The Schemers, and The Hard Hats Who Built the Gateway Arch. I’ve found that justContinue reading “Everybody Loves The Arch”

It’s been lonely since a fire last November destroyed all the books in the Reedy Press warehouse, including my own. Suddenly, I had nothing to sell and nothing to do. Without any books, I stayed at home, bored. Thankfully, though, the folks at Reedy Press didn’t like that idea. They helped me come up withContinue reading “Back in Business – Reedy Press and Me”

I’ve been to all kinds of places promoting the second edition of The Making of an Icon since it came out about a month ago. I’ve been on radio and television, have spoken at a Rotary meeting and a senior living apartments center and signed books at a gift shop. It’s all been fun, butContinue reading “Signing Books in a Favorite Place”

A writer’s life is never slow, but it really zooms after a book comes out. That’s what I’m going through with The Making of an Icon: The Dreamers, The Schemers, and The Hard Hats Who Built The Gateway Arch, 2nd Edition.  Between now and Sunday, I’m doing two interviews, two presentations and two signings. ItContinue reading “Too Busy”

As we celebrate the opening of the reconfigured Gateway Arch grounds, museum and visitor center, it’s a good time to think about some of the odd, weird and fun facts about our town’s treasure. Here’s a few of them, along with the pages where you’ll find out more in The Making of an Icon: TheContinue reading “Fun Facts About the Arch”