Podcast Episodes

We rejoiced and celebrated, understanding that our book was no longer a private document. It was published, meaning it was available to the public for purchase, and we soon started distributing copies in person and packaging them to send via mail to customers.

When it comes to technology, I might as well be Amish. I’ve never used an ATM machine, owned a debit card, or scanned a QR code. Like the Amish, I’m not against technology, I’m just slow to adapt to it.

Finally! We’ve approved Proof #2 of K-9 Kudzu: Observations of a Working Dog Who Loves to Play. Now, the children’s book is in line for printing at POD Print. We’re hoping to have copies in hand within two weeks.

Bookends, an independent bookstore owned by Gwen and Wes Bartlett, has invited me to do a book signing the evening of July 20th from 6-8 p.m. This is during Hutchinson’s Third Thursday celebration that has a July theme of “Arts and Eats.”

When "K-9 Kudzu: Observations of a Working Dog Who Loves to Play" is published, I’m going to do an experiment with direct sales. I’m not going to share my print files with Amazon.com or Ingram Spark. Instead, I’m going to do my own thing.

Today’s the day to reveal the cover of K-9 Kudzu: Observations of a Working Dog Who Loves to Play.

We’re getting closer to a published book. It’s an exciting and anxious time with restless nights, but we can see light at the end of the tunnel and I’m positive it’s not another train.

It would be fun to have the dogs—not the humans—speak about their experiences at the training classes. I can imagine the dogs discussing the difficulty of scent work or judging their treats on a scale from one to ten.

When I write a book, I’m an eternal optimist. I think my new publication will be discovered by the world and will lead to sales through the roof. As a fictional author with an active imagination, can you blame me?

I call myself a cave dweller. My computer cave room is where I, alone, write blogs and books. But, at some point, I do collaborate. While writing my books, I read my new chapters to Alex—my wife—and she regularly encourages me and improves my work. Currently, I’m collaborating with Gina Laiso, Integrita Productions, as she creates colorful illustrations for my first children’s book.

My old-fashioned, tactile routine of assembling mockups, without a hint of illustrations, never prepared me for the exciting visual world of colorful art and design required to build a children’s book.

While publishing a book, it’s normal for authors to have time to begin writing their next one.

Last week I learned of an Amish Mennonite cemetery ten miles from our front door. I asked myself: “How could I not know about this?”

Now that my children’s book is in the hands of illustrator Gina Laiso, Integrita Productions, I’m refocusing for a few days by doing some historical research in preparation for my sequel to Deputy Jennings Meets the Amish. Please join me on an Amish horse-and-buggy ride.

As with any major project, the original plan and the finished work can vastly differ. Things evolve. I planned a primer picture book titled B is for Badge: The ABCs of Law Enforcement. Instead, I’m eagerly awaiting the publishing of an illustrated, upper grade-school book, K-9 Kudzu: Observations of a Working Dog Who Loves to Play.

As an indie author, I take financial risks on purpose. But I’m always trying to avoid scams.

I remember in my youth, hitchhiking from Illinois to Central America. The unknown didn’t scare me. It was an adventure. I only knew a little Spanish (Por favor, dónde es la baño?), but I dived into a foreign culture.

When a friend invited me to be a speaker at an upcoming AMBUCS (American Business Clubs) meeting, he suggested I talk about my law enforcement career. I preferred to talk about my writing. We agreed that I’d discuss my transition ...

Hello Gina. It's time for me to admit to you that I need a change of schedule on publishing Kudzus' Guide to Law Enforcement. I apologize to you for asking you to fit my book ...

Last week I was calmly promoting and selling my Amish novella, Deputy Jennings Meets the Amish. I was marketing and editing my book-in-progress, K-9 Kudzu’s Guide to Law Enforcement. All was fine, normal, until I had a restless night.

My weekly blog is like a journal. I’m sharing in real time what I’m working on with the expectation that it will be of benefit to authors who are anticipating publishing. Some authors aren’t sure what to do prior to their final draft.

Here’s a quick review about this series of weekly blog posts on publishing my color-illustrated children’s book in six months. It’s a progress report. From my first post in January 2023, I’ve shared my goal: publish K-9 Kudzu’s Guide to Law Enforcement ...

There’s editing while writing a personal draft copy of your book, and there’s editing after you’ve shared your early literary work with others.

This is my update, a progress report, the nuts and bolts of the draft copy of my children’s book. Another blog may cover the importance of an author taking time between edits, giving the manuscript time to breath, and the writer an opportunity for rest ...

Your book is copyrighted, your title is not. Did you know that upon writing your book, it’s copyrighted, but its title is never protected? Other authors can use it again and again. I enjoy brainstorming titles for my books.

We live in the country. We have a pond—sometimes with water—but my life as an author isn’t even close to Henry David Thoreau’s at Walden Pond. I’m not on a writer’s retreat with minimal interruptions; I’m on the internet and have a phone.

Preparing to publish my book requires a lot of multi-tasking and networking. It’s a process and I can’t do it alone. I’ll bet you’ve heard the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.” In publishing—whether traditional or indie—it takes a network to birth a book.

It’s a new year, and I’m excited to be on a path to my first children’s book. I expect it to be printed in June 2023. Before I share about the present activities, let me tell you about the past. The idea for writing this children’s book began fifteen years ago.

September 1, 2022 Sheriff Campbell, I’m sending you two photo files. Both are of Charles Collins who was the first sheriff of Reno County, KS. One is a scan from the original photo. The second is a restored image due to some photo damage.

Author Bill Bush, prolific writer, interviewed me in August for his website. He posted it on September 1, 2022. The post was so well-received, I asked Bill if I could add it to my website. He agreed.

A friend, let’s call him Michael, contacted me with some questions he had about publishing his soon-to-be book. His book designer suggested he contact me. I was surprised to hear from him.

Published authors will tell you that writing their book was the beginning, not the end of the journey. That’s certainly true for me. I still have a lot to learn about book marketing. I was so naive in 2007 when I published my first book.

End of Part 3: While we were located on Oppenheim, I was part of a little  incident which I will relate to you. Part 4: It so happened that we had a new medical officer join our company on that day. His name was Captain Tom Dann from St. Petersburg, Florida.

We went across France south of Paris. We went through Fountainebleau, Rheims, and Verdun. Paris was saved from bombing by the Air Corps more than any other city that I know of. Paris was given special treatment by the Americans.

The Division had been activated on October 24, 1939, at Fort McClennan, Alabama. It consisted of the 2nd, 10th, and 11th Infantry Regiments, four Field Artillery battalions, 7th Combat Engineer Battalion, 5th Medical Battalion, 5th Signal Battalion ...

By Harold L. Potter (1998); Presented to the Sojourners group, near Hot Springs, Arkansas.  Editing and audio recording by Jim Potter.

My military experience started on August 25, 1938, when I joined the Medical Detachment of the 130th Field Artillery Regiment ...

Chapter 1: Deputy Jennings Meets Rosanna Yoder

“How can this be happening to me?” thought Rosanna. Earlier, Adam, her husband, had remarked, “We sure had a gully washer overnight!” “How are my flowers?” she had asked, concerned about filling business orders ...

Congratulations, Shoshanna, on the recent release of your children’s book, Tobias’ Travels. You’re a first-class storyteller. We’ve never met face-to-face, but I’m the current president of District 6 of the Kansas Authors Club. Congratulations for being a published author.

Book review of Cheryl Unruh's book. Gravedigger’s Daughter: Vignettes from a Small Kansas Town is Cheryl Unruh’s latest masterpiece, a memoir written in prose poetry that transported me to my childhood. I can smell the Folger's coffee that gave Mom an extra spark.

Book Review of 31 Days (Nights): Memoir of Living Black in America by Reginald D. Jarrell Can you tell a book by its cover? This is a question that author Reginald D. Jarrell addresses in his just published book, 31 Days (Nights): Memoir of Living Black in America (Blue Cedar Press, 2022).

My friend told me he was going to end the call and watch the news. “Ukraine is being invaded,” he said. I care, I hurt, but I can’t hurt enough to help another. Out of my control, unable to cope with the deep, personal suffering.

Book review for Soul by Soul: Life Inside the Antebellum Slave Market by Walter Johnson I’ve just completed reading the best book ever about understanding slavery. Soul by Soul: Life Inside the Antebellum Slave Market (1999) isn’t a new book, but it’s a classic.

Can a person love history? Am I exaggerating when I say I do? I especially enjoy learning about history and seeing how events connect with one another.

Charles C. Collins, also known as “Charlie,” (1845-1906) was of Irish ancestry, his grandfather having immigrated from Ireland to Louisiana before the War of 1812. I haven’t had much luck finding “Grandfather,” especially since ship passenger lists ...

I’ve been researching and researching, and I still have unanswered questions. I’d like to learn more about Charles C. Collins and his ancestors before I write his story, but I can’t wait forever. I’ve been down so many research rabbit holes that I’ve become comfortable living underground.

One day a newly elected sheriff, a bachelor, asked the retiring sheriff if he could give him any advice on running the jail. The veteran sheriff replied, "Yes, get married as soon as possible."

"Pardon me if my brain’s not as sharp as it used to be. I’m nearly 93 years old. Due to my age, I occasionally get names and dates mixed up. It could happen to anyone. However, for the time period 1927-1930, my glory years, my recall is as sharp as a tack...

It’s late Thursday afternoon, October 11, 1951, at the Reno County Jail on the fifth floor of the courthouse. Vera Gambee Frazey, 45, jail matron and cook, hears the metallic sound of heavy jail keys, followed by the forceful clang of a door being shut, and the keys locking the gate.

It’s Monday afternoon, August 1, 1949, at The Fox theater in Hutchinson, Kansas. Mrs. Sheriff, Ruth Graves Dixon, 54; and her sister, Charline Graves Allison, 60; are talking prior to the start of the picture show, The Barkleys of Broadway, staring Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire.

It’s noon, Thursday, July 5, 1945, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Harry Smith, 58, owner of Smith’s Flower Shop, 2606 North Monroe, is wearing a freshly cut red rose in his suitcoat buttonhole.