On The Trail Of Lyman Dillon Book available and for sale

Where does the time go?

It’s been 4 years already since my manuscript headed to the printer.

I just looked at my last blog post on this site and realized I’d never written a followup from the last post. The book On The Trail Of Lyman Dillon is available now for purchase, either on line, or from myself directly. If you’d like to buy an autographed copy, just leave me a comment here, and I will be in touch. Price of an autographed copy, (which would include shipping) is $25.00

The book is hard cover.

Here’s a link to it on Amazon if you’d prefer to go that route.

Regardless, Thank you! Sincerely, Douglas Monk

Local Monticello Iowa History Group (The Questers) at a plaque dedication marking Dillon’s Furrow.

The Clock Is Ticking

Just created a 30 day fundraiser to help fund the publication of my book On The Trail Of Lyman Dillon.

The way it works is this…I have 30 days to reach my goal.  If the goal is not met, then no funds are collected.

Here’s a link to the Kickstarter page:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1851253415/on-the-trail-of-lyman-dillon

 

 

Book Update

Quick update to anyone who might be interested.  I finally got the manuscript for the book back from my second editor this past week.

My plan is to submit it to a publisher after the first of the year (2016) and get it published.  I have not settled on a publisher yet, although there are several print on demand  book publishers these days, so if you have a suggestion, I would definitely be interested.

I am also seriously thinking of creating a Kickstarter  fund-raising page as we get down to the wire.  They recommend only running a fund-raising campaign for 30 days or less, or it doesn’t really work…so stay tuned.  DM

Plodding along

The past month has been a fruitful time for me in terms of  plodding along on assembling the rough draft of the book On The Trail Of Lyman Dillon

I am 90% finished with the rough draft of the whole book.  I have been trying to set aside a couple of hours each morning to the task of writing. At this point, most of my research done, it’s mostly a matter of organizing the flow and wording of what I want to share.

 

I got a call a week ago from the Stimmel family in Maquoketa Iowa.  Richard and his dad  Richard Gene Stimmel said they had some information they wanted to share with me about the Rohret family connection to the project, of which they are  related.  According to the testimony of George Parrott (son in law of Lyman Dillon)  George stated he remembered Lyman telling him John Adam Rohret and George W. Rohret helped plow the furrow.

From other reading I have done, as I understand it, one of the boys would have driven the supply wagon and the second, been on the front end guiding the lead team of oxen.

I was encouraged to see their passion to have the Rohret boy’s names included in the project and possibly even have the original route recognized as an Iowa Byways designation.

 

 

My writers block is offically gone

About midnight tonight,  the creative juices began to percolate to the surface again on my desire to write this book I’ve been talking about for 4 years.  Lesson learned.  Do not share my rough draft with anyone…period.     It took me over 3 years go shake off the well meaning “input” on how to write this book that I want to write.

We were at a dedication of a new DAR marker in Solon Iowa this past weekend for Lyman Dillon and the Old Military trail.  It was kind of blustery.   Sandy Hansen from Solon e-mailed me to let me know about the ceremony.  I”m  sure glad she did.

Dedication of the new  Dillon’s furrow marker in Solon Iowa 2012

During the actual ceremony November 25 2012 Solon Iowa DAR marker

posing  near the DAR marker before the ceremony 2012

This past weekend I shared with a few people my desire to get back in the saddle and write this book.  I got some great advise and encouragement.. about midnight tonight, thoughts started coming to mind regarding the book.  Not the same ones I had 4 years ago…new stuff…so, I stumbled out of bed, came down to the computer and just started to write.   1000 words later, I would have to  say the “writers block”  is gone.

Lyman Dillon/ Old Military Road Book update

Stonework from original bridge on Old Military road that crossed Kitty Creek near Langworthy.

Located on Elenore Jacobs property. 

I told someone again this week, my mind is filled with the stories I came across as I prepared for my walk retracing Lyman Dillon and Old Military road here in Eastern Iowa.  It will be 3 years this month that I took a week off and retraced that route…still no book in print.  Here’s one of my problems.  The book that is sloshing around in my mind is more than just a book about Lyman Dillon.  It is a book, highlighting several people who lived along Old Military Road from 1839- as late as the 1850’s.  I’ve written the intro, and first chapter to the book several times, keep getting mixed feedback on the structure/ flow of the book and my mind is in a grid lock.  who do I listen to?  etc. etc.

I have probably a dozen different character sketches I would like to include (including Dillon and his family), in addition, I came across a whole shoebox of original research by Gus Norlin that I would like to devote a separate chapter to..  Gus was the local president of the Jones County Historical society several years ago, had been working on his own research.  After he passed away, his daughter Pam loaned me all of the material, I copy/scanned all of it…personal letters between Gus and a great grand daughter of Dillon, very old newspaper articles others had shared with him, etc. etc.  See what I mean?  There is a wealth of information, just begging to see the light of day…

So here’s where you come in… give me your suggestions on how I might organize this material.  If this winter is slow, work wise I would love to get the book  organized and ready to be proof read.

Sept 3, 2011  Douglas Monk

Available for speaking engagements

Short post to let anyone who cares know where things are @ with my Lyman Dillon / Old Military Road research project…

#1  I am working on the rough draft of the book.  I have completed the first chapter and have a few people perusing it to see if I want to continue the format I am using

 

#2  If you’re looking for a guest speaker to present a program on this topic I have done so a few times..and for a fee, I would love to continue to do so.

Posted August 1 2009 DM

Grant Wood and Lyman Dillon Post # 28

     There is  11 ft by 41 foot  mural titled “Breaking the Prairie Sod designed by Grant Wood located at the Parks Library in Ames Iowa.   I happen to have a post card of that mural.  (see photo above)    Last  year my eye caught a small detail in the back of the mural…5 yoke of oxen breaking the praire sod….hummm, I thought to myself….I wonder…Grant Wood was born and raised in Eastern Iowa near Anamosa.   Grant Wood have probably been familiar with the account of Lyman Dillon plowing the 80 some mile furrow, and he (Dillon)  would have passed  through Anamosa on his way to  Dubuque.

 

Here is a close up of the detail I am referring to: 

      I still hope to travel to Ames to see this lifesize mural. 

    This coming Tuesday (December 16th 2008) I have been invited to speak at a local Questers group to talk about the walk.

     Yesterday (Friday December 12th 2008)  I got the most awesome DVD in the mail from Becky @  the Anamosa Local Access channel.  She created a 30 minute DVD of my adventure.  The day I passed through Anamosa I stopped by her office as she interviewed me.  This DVD is a compilation of that interview, photos I took from my walk and a TV interview I did the week after the walk.  I can’t say enough good things about Becky’s project…what an awesome keepsake for me!!!! Thank you Becky.