Need Gift Ideas for Book Lovers? Scroll down! #IndieBookmas is a Holiday Gift Guide for Readers Books make great gifts! Here’s a list of Indie Authors you can support by buying their books this holiday season! To help you, each author describes the type of reader who will like their books. What kind of readers are on your list? Need a gift for Aunt Sally, the genealogy buff? How about your little brother who loves scary movies? Scroll down the list to find the perfect books to give to the people on your Christmas list this year. (And if you’re…
Tag: history
Psst! There’s a video, too: And if you’d rather take this info in through a video, check out my YouTube channel below. Please like and comment while you’re there: 8 Strange Facts about The 4th of July How will you celebrate Independence Day this year? If you’re American, chances are you’ll join family and friends for a backyard barbecue and a firework display. But how much do you really know about this annual summer celebration? I do a lot of newspaper research for the books I write. Not only is it a great way to separate Urban Legends from actual…
Cemetery Tour: back by popular demand! How would you like to explore a historic cemetery in Granbury, Texas with author, Tui Snider, as your guide? Tui (that’s me!) will explain the meanings behind the architecture and symbols found in this fascinating burial ground. Last year’s cemetery tour was so much fun and so many people have asked about it, that I decided to do it again! The cemetery tour is fun to do after the speakers and booths close up for the night (8pm, Saturday, Sept 29th, 2018) during the fabulous Granbury Paranormal Expo. However:While the tour is family-friendly, it’s probably not suitable for children under the age of 12. It’s your call!…
Cast iron grave covering – not mere decoration The photo below shows a child’s grave with a cast iron covering. This type of cast iron grave covering was patented in 1873 by Joseph R. Abrams, and there’s a lot more to it than mere decoration! It was intended to be better than simply mounding dirt at a gravesite. Invented by J.R. Abrams in 1873 As J.R. Abrams explains in his patent: “By this construction the sinking of the loose earth in the grave has no effect upon the superposed and hardened artificial mound formed by the cement.” Click here to read…
Historic in a Texas Ghost Town: Thurber Cemetery The following is an adapted excerpt from Unexpected Texas, my quirky travel guide to offbeat and overlooked day trips near Dallas and Fort Worth. I also feature Thurber Cemetery in my book of historic cemetery tales called 6 Feet Under Texas. Part of what makes it such an interesting place to explore is the unique history of the area, so here’s a brief overview: More than a Smokestack These days, Thurber’s 128-foot brick smokestack is the only thing most people notice as they whiz through this ghost town on their way to Abilene.…
Book Trailer & YouTube Series Trailer Yee haw! I finally made a video for Messages from the Dead: Understanding Historic Cemetery Symbols. The video is actually a two-for-one deal. It’s a Book Trailer *and* a YouTube Series Preview all in one. About the book: If you are a genealogist, taphophile, history buff or paranormal researcher, you might enjoy my upcoming book, Messages from the Dead: Understanding Historic Cemetery Symbols. Basically, it’s a field guide explaining the meaning behind historic cemetery symbols. About the YouTube Series: Each episode of my YouTube series will focus on the meaning behind one historic cemetery symbol or interesting graveyard…