Michael Kenneth Smith's Blog, page 5
February 25, 2017
February 25, 2017: #SaturdayScene
Today’s #SaturdayScene is excerpted from HOME AGAIN A Civil War Novel.
A Confederate sniper has taken down a member of Zach’s company—and Zach has plans for retribution.
The lieutenant looked at Zach, got a wry smile on his face and said, “You’ve sure got balls, kid. Your plan probably has less than a fifty-fifty chance of success, but we have to try to do something, and your idea seems to be the only one we’ve got.”
The two of them spent the rest of the afternoon working out details. One of...
February 13, 2017
A Civil War Valentine’s Day: Of Hearts and Vinegar
One of the most famous valentine image from the period. Sent February 14, 1863.
The first valentines were sent in the early 1400s and by the time the Civil War rolled around, Valentine’s Day was a well-established holiday with the sending of homemade cards, love tokens, and poetry commonplace. For those with access to stores and a little extra cash, cards made by the New England Valentine Company could be easily purchased. Made by Ester A. Howland and her all-female assembly line and featurin...
February 3, 2017
A Civil War Super Bowl: The Fixins
The first Super Bowl was played January 15, 1967 between the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs. Who would have guessed, 50 Super Bowls later, more than 190 million Americans would be planning to watch Super Bowl LI this Sunday when the New England Patriots play the Atlanta Falcons in Houston. (Sidebar: While the New England Patriots have the most Super Bowl appearances, it...
January 13, 2017
The Wall
From the bomb-shattered second floor window, Helga could see the gray sedan slowly creeping nearer, its slitted headlights piercing the rain and darkness as it weaved between the debris of fallen buildings. Trembling with fear, she turned to the old couple with her finger to her lips and motioned toward the icebox in the corner of the room. Glancing back toward the street, she saw the car stop in front of her building. The rear doors opened and two Gestapo agents stood staring at the front do...
January 11, 2017
The Civil War Monitor Reviews Scarred: A Civil War Novel of Redemption
The following review for SCARRED A Civil War Novel of Redemption appeared in The Civil War Monitor.
Scarred is Michael Kenneth Smith’s emotional, fast-paced sequel to his debut Civil War novel Home Again. At the end of his first book, one of the protagonists, Federal sharpshooter Zach Harkin, is sent home following the Battle of Gettysburg suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). With Zach’s Confederate counterpart (Luke Pettigrew) from the first book dead, Scarred follows Zach’s...
December 16, 2016
A Civil War Christmas
December 22, 1864
A thin layer of clouds glowed silver and the nearly full moon provided enough light to see the opposing earthworks to the west. Goma vigorously rubbed the scars on his wrists trying to increase circulation. The light wind was from the west and he could smell the last burning embers from dozens of fires. The cool Virginia soil tried to steal what little body heat he had left.
Goma looked back toward his own lines and hoped the replacement pickets would arrive soon. This was G...
December 11, 2016
Gift an Audible Audiobook in Six Simple Steps
What do you get the person who has “everything?” How do you show your appreciation this time of year to the people who make your life easier? How do you survive aroad trip to see far-away family with too many people in a too small car? The answer to these questions and more—audiobooks! And gifting them has never been easier . . .
Step One: Visit audible.com and sign-in to your account. (Still don’t have an account? What are you waiting for—your first audiobook is free!) Once you’ve signed in...
December 6, 2016
American Flyer Christmas
We were on our way to grandmother’s house for Christmas. I always liked going there because there was something under the tree with my name on it. Every time.
We stopped for gas. Dad got out and asked if anybody needed to go. My sister went. Dad washed the windshield. Just before he got back in, he asked again.
Snow was beginning to fall and the world looked like a fairy tale. Ten minutes later I told dad I had to go. He said that he had just asked me and I didn’t go, so why would I have to g...
December 1, 2016
How to Gift an eBook in Five Easy Steps
It’s December! (What???) Time to get the holiday decorations out of storage and to start thinking about where you put those boxes, ribbons, and bows. Of course, you could skip some of those be-ribboned boxes this year in favor of giving The World’s Easiest Gift. (No—not cash.) Books! Ebooks, specifically. They’re reasonably priced. Easily personalized. Ready when you are. And shipping is always free! Best of all?You can wrap this one up in five easy steps.
Step One: Search for the book you wi...
November 22, 2016
Thanksgiving, His Birdship, and Godey’s Lady’s Book
Louis Antoine Godey began publication of Godey’s Lady’s Book in 1830 in Philadelphia. The magazine was aimed at the ever-expanding audience of American women, and was intended to educate and entertain. Over time, the publication would morph into an important literary magazine featuring authors including Harriet Beecher Stowe, Edgar Allan Poe, and several other well-known 19th century writers. It soon became known as the “Queen of the Monthlies” and played an important role in shaping the cult...
