September

. . . and where has the time gone?

This summer has been another of great transitions. . . . We do not change easily; we must be jerked from the ground sometime. I have learned to trust God when I do not have the answers. Our lives are spent learning to trust God.

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So many wonderful things are happening. Lone Chimney Films will debut The Road to Valhalla on November 2 in Newton. I was so proud to be one of the on-camera historians for this important piece of Kansas and American history. With appearances by Buck Taylor and Michael Martin Murphey, music by Jed Marum, all springing forth from the scholarship and vision of friend Ken Spurgeon, it will be a documentary that stands the test of time. Watch the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVavY4-DfNw

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This weekend marks the Kansas Book Festival and Michelle Martin will be here Thursday when she closes up shop at the Little House on the Prairie. We will present to a class at Washburn Rural High School on Friday, attend the reception at the Governor's Mansion on Friday night, and the Book Festival on Saturday at the Kansas Statehouse! Here is the lineup of distinguished authors: http://kansasbookfestival.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/program-2013.pdf

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A chance to pair once again with Wideawake Films and be a part of their exhibit and reenactment of the issuing of Order # 11. Visit Commerce Bank at 10th and Walnut in Kansas City. Their Box Gallery is outstanding. The exhibit is excellent and I was proud to speak, along with fellow historian the incredible orator, Ralph Monaco. Visit when you get a chance. I believe the exhibit is up through October. On September 14, there will be a reenactment of the execution of Order # 11, where families in western Missouri were put off their farms and exiled.

The extraordinarily gifted photographer Bob Szabo made this wet plate photo of my addressing the crowd in front of the Pacific House on Delaware Street in Kansas City. General Thomas Ewing, brother-in-law and foster brother of William T. Sherman, issued Order # 11 on August 25, 1863, in response to Quantrill's Raid on Lawrence.

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I have so many reviews to get to. Jenny Lasala sent me a wonderful book about her dad's military service, Comes a Soldier's Whisper. It's wonderful. Charlie Lesueur sent me his audio cds on western movie cowboys which are absolutely awesome! I have a couple of other books to get to as well. Maybe the fall will bring more time for reading and writing. Oh, and along the way this summer, I won an Arty Award for Literature. It was presented by my good friend, Diana Friend, of the Topeka Shawnee County Public Library. Sarah Fizell, head of Arts Connect, said:

We give a literary award because we believe that Topeka has a rich history of literary involvement that is deserving of recognition. Deb was given the award because of her promotion of the history of our state, her involvement in our community and, well, because she is so very awesome!!! 

Well, there is just a lot of awesomeness going around in our community. Speaking of which, here is a photo of me with my friend Michelle Levian that night. She is most remarkable!

Friends--New and Old

Charlie LeSueur was a guest on my radio show this morning. It was a hoot. His new book is called, Riding the Hollywood Trail: Tales of the Silver Screen Cowboys. A native Westerner, Charlie has transformed his passion for classic cowboy movies to a lucrative business and satisfying personal relationships. Whoa, Sally! Can it get any better than than? (You know, at first I thought Charlie looked like Alan Ladd, but upon further consideration, I believe he really looks like Nick Adams.)

We had a great conversation and I'm not going retell his stories here...visit charlielesueur.com and pick up the above mentioned or Charlie's first book, The Legends Live On: Interviews with the Cowboy Stars of the Silver Screen. I can't think of a more appropriate gift for the Western fan in your house. Charlie will be back on the show before Christmas.

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Reality Check

I enjoy almost all my guests, but some are particularly special. My friend Frank Schilagi (below, right) joined me on the air Tuesday and it was great to reconnect after all these years. When I was a reporter for The Mount Airy News, sometime before 1980, I read a full-page article on Frank in the Winston-Salem Journal & Sentinel. At the time, Frank was dean of the Babcock School of Management at Wake Forest University. I clipped the article and put it in a drawer, thinking, "I want to meet that man."

Well, lo and behold, a couple of years later I was working for the Winston-Salem paper when I was assigned to cover the Realtors meeting where Frank was the guest speaker. I introduced myself and we set up a time for an interview. We met at the Steak and Ale on Stratford Road (I think Frank owned it). We had lunch, I made notes, and then Frank cancelled his appointments for the afternoon so we could continue to talk. It was one of the nicest compliments I've ever had.

Every now and then, Frank and I would get together and he would share his infinite wisdom on life and business, which I never forgot. I also never used it. I stumbled and sputtered through life and now Frank has re-entered it and I hope to make the most of his wisdom and expertise. I surely treasure his friendship.

Friends, you too can partake of Frank's wisdom in his book, Reality Check for Leaders (left). It's worth buying just for the prologue, which reads like the opening scene of a Jean- Claude Van Damme movie. The book chronicles a year in the life of a hotel manager, a profession that has served Frank well. While targeting professionals in the hospitality industry, its principles apply in any situation--even the home front. Visit realitycheckforleaders.com and tell Frank that Deb sent you.

I have now begun the movement to get him to Topeka for a public appearance. Bill Moore, CEO of Westar, was very interested so I'm sending Frank's PR info to him and I'll keep you posted on the progress. Frank will be back on my radio show before Christmas as well, so stay tuned to kmaj1440.com from 8 to 10:40 a.m. each weekday morning. I'm the warm up for Paul Harvey and Rush Limbaugh.

And some parting words of wisdom: put Frank's principles to practice, in business and in life. He's one of the most successful men I've ever known, professionally and personally. He's a positive force.