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

 

 

On The Home Stretch

Time for an update on the status on the book….

I have been carrying the rough draft of this book around in my head eight years now. Finally last  last winter,  I got the rest of  the rough draft down on a word document after an extended season of writers block.  In the spring of 2015, a friend lined up an editor to clean up the rough draft of grammar and punctuation mistakes which I now have in my possession.

This past week we met with a graphic’s designer to discuss the cover  layout which I was able to nail down just this afternoon.  I also asked  four people whose opinions I respect to peruse  this edited version  just to make sure the book  is readable.

I have a print on demand publishing company lined up, so all that’s left now (once I get this last bit of feedback from these four readers) is to put together a small Kickstarter campaign to help with initial set up costs the month of March.

I’m planning to post a link to the kick starter fund here, in case you’re interested. If you would decide to contribute,  I intend to give  autographed copies of the book as a thank you. (that minimum dollar amount is yet to be determined.)

DM

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

Two years after my walk

 

It is two years ago today that I completed my walk, retracing the footsteps of Lyman Dillon, and later, Hansen and Briggs.

I still want/need to get down on paper this book that is rolling around in my head.  I have a very rough draft completed, and have had two people (Steve and Grace) give me valuable feedback on how to proceed.  Seems I lack two things…time and creative energy.

When I personally sit down to write, if I’m not feeling it, then I can spend hours in front of a keyboard, pecking away, and later end up throwing it all away, so rather than me try to gut it out and do it, I’m waiting for the “Muse” to hit me again, because it will, it always does.

To this day, as I drive through Fairview I think of a funny account that happened in the bar there back in the mid-late 1800’s.  I would have to go digging through my notes, but am pretty sure I read it in one of the Jones County Historical journals….

This sort of thing/ remembering the old stories, is one of the rich byproducts of my reading preparing for that walk.  It has given me a  deep  appreciation of local history.

Not sure who (if anyone) ever reads this blog, but just in case, wanted to let you know, that I still fully intend to write that book, (I have 2 other titles published to my name so I”m not just making noise) and thank you for your patience.  Sincerely, DM

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

DVD with Highlights of my walk available now

 

      If you’re interested, I now have a DVD for sale  with highlights of my walk retracing Military Road from Iowa City to Dubuque.  The day I passed through Anamosa, I stopped by the local newspaper, Becky, had a set of questions for me, she had the video tape recorder running, after I completed the walk, I sent her a DVD with my pictorial high lights.    Becky took my oral interview, added the photos and some music  and here is the end result.  I think it runs about 22 or 23 minutes all total. 

      I would be glad to send you one if you’re interested for $17.00 which includes postage.  Just drop me a note in the comment thread and I will get back to you.