I just wanted to pass on two pieces of good news. First: I've been retained to give Civil War lectures by the American Steamboat Company and the American Cruise line to their passengers cruising the Mississippi River. It should be great. If you have any advice about traveling on the Mississippi, I'd appreciate hearing it - I've never been.

The other bood news is that I've finished the novel '1860' and it is available at www.civilwarnovels.com In this story the reader will meet Michael Drieborg, his classmates and family members as they struggle to understand the many currents and issures involved in the election of 1860, secession and the war that followed. You can see more of this at www.civilwarnovels.com