Wilcox Historical Society Meeting January 12, 2013

Kathie Bennett, my publicist, called today with the fantastic news that Swimming with Serpents has been selected as the March bonus book for the Pulpwood Queens Book Club which numbers over 500 clubs throughout the country. What an honor! Thanks to Kathy Patrick, the founder of the Pulpwood Queens (http://www.pulpwoodqueen.com/)! 

Wakefield

The Wilcox County Historical Society invited me to speak on Swimming with Serpents and my sister, Dr. Sylvia Burson Rushing, hosted the event at Wakefield, the home she now owns that was once our grandparents' home. As you can see we had an overflow crowd spilling out into the halls and into the adjoining rooms.

Wilcox Historical Society

Dr. Sylvia Burson Rushing and Sharman Burson Ramsey

 I think everyone enjoyed themselves at the event. I know I did! I discovered quite a few folks who are related to the Creek Indians who were inside Fort Mims at the time of the battle as well as the Red Sticks. The battle at Fort Mims is the pivotal event of my novel. Swimming with Serpents is based on the lives of those people who actually lived during that turbulent time and is told from the Native American perspective of the Creek War.

 This has been a busy month. On the 8th of January I had the privilege of addressing the Bay Point Women's Club at 30 Degree Blue on Panama City Beach. I really enjoyed the group of fifty to seventy women who meet monthly for lunch at different venues. Many shared how much they enjoyed learning more about southern history that is often overlooked and discovering how many historical sites there are to visit.

Next weekend we go to the Florida Chatauqua Assembly in DeFuniak Springs where Rosalind Carter will be the keynote speaker. I will be speaking on Saturday at 1:00 in the Library and hope to see old friends and make new ones there. (http://www.florida-chautauqua-center.org/)