(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) Chicken Thief Flew the Coop By Jim Potter Click to enlarge image One-cent postcard sent to Sheriff at Wellington, KS, postmarked April 1, 1908, from Winfield, KS. My WANTED postcard offers a reward of $25 for the arrest of John Hawkins. He escaped from the Cowley County, Kansas, jail in Winfield the night of March 31, 1908. Hawkins, who had many aliases, was one of three men who had been convicted of … [Read more...] about Broke Jail – John Hawkins – $25 Reward
Blog posts
REWARD for C. J. Rissley from Ellsworth County, Kansas
(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) Click to enlarge image Red Face, Blind or Squint-eyed in One Eye By Jim Potter My REWARD postcard sent from Ellsworth County, Kansas, to Hot Springs, Arkansas, in 1904, identifies the fugitive as Rissley, but he was known as Charles J. Rissler. He’d been living in Ellsworth, Kansas, for at least eight months during 1904 before skipping town on December 10. On that Saturday, he made several purchases totaling $120, … [Read more...] about REWARD for C. J. Rissley from Ellsworth County, Kansas
Broke Jail – James O’Brien – Pronounced Morphine Eater
(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) Broke Jail - James O'Brien - "Pronounced Morphine Eater" For a few reasons, this is one of my favorite REWARD or WANTED postcards from my collection: 1) the escape took place in (Great Bend) Kansas; 2) the wanted picture of James O’Brien is not printed on the postcard, but is an actual photograph pasted to the card; and 3) a portion of the description of the fugitive advises he’s “a very pronounced morphine … [Read more...] about Broke Jail – James O’Brien – Pronounced Morphine Eater
WANTED FOR MURDER – JOE FORNELL – $50 REWARD*
(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) WANTED FOR MURDER - JOE FORNELL - $50 REWARD By Jim Potter Today I’m examining a murder that occurred in Ringo, Crawford County, Kansas, the night of March 5, 1921. Unlike a lot of crimes, this one was solved quickly, but it took three months to locate and arrest the fugitive, Joe Fornell. I learned of this crime years ago when I purchased a REWARD or WANTED postcard to add to my collection. Here is … [Read more...] about WANTED FOR MURDER – JOE FORNELL – $50 REWARD*
$50 REWARD for the ARREST of JAMES F. YOUNG
(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) $50 REWARD for the ARREST of JAMES F. YOUNG By Jim Potter To enlarge the REWARD postcard, click on the following link REWARD PC James F. Young, Salina, KS (2) * Here’s another REWARD or WANTED postcard from my collection. This one’s from 1909 announcing that James F. Young, 23, is wanted by Saline County, KS, Sheriff L. P. Heck for burglary and grand larceny. The card details Young’s physical attributes and … [Read more...] about $50 REWARD for the ARREST of JAMES F. YOUNG
Book Reviews: If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.
(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) Book Reviews: If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. I’ll never be hired to write professional book reviews. I only review books I enjoy. My mantra is this: If I can’t say anything nice, I won’t say anything at all. Most published authors crave book reviews, not just for their ego, but because they believe that more book reviews will lead to more sales. Amazon.com is always advising authors to … [Read more...] about Book Reviews: If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.
Gratitude
(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) Gratitude Now that we’ve published K-9 Kudzu: Observations of a Working Dog Who Loves to Play and we've had our first book signing with steady sales, I want to thank everyone who has helped me. Some of you are mentioned on the acknowledgement page of K-9 Kudzu and others are promoted on my blog posts, but you’re all important. Thank you! I’ve often said that only a published author knows what it feels like to … [Read more...] about Gratitude
The Ballad of K-9 Kudzu
(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) The Ballad of K-9 Kudzu Art Hughes, a friend of mine, recommended I use videos to help promote my children's book, K-9 Kudzu: Observations of a Working Dog Who Loves to Play. He also suggested using OpenShot Video Editor to create the videos. So, I wrote a song titled The Ballad of K-9 Kudzu. Here it is: The Ballad of K-9 Kudzu Lyrics by Jim Potter Chorus: K-9, K-9 Kudzu, a working dog who loves to … [Read more...] about The Ballad of K-9 Kudzu
Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Printed and Published
(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) Printed and Published We picked up 250 copies of K-9 Kudzu: Observations of a Working Dog Who Loves to Play on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at POD Print in Wichita. The long wait was over. K-9 Kudzu is printed and published. For the special event, we wore our colorful, promotional, K-9 Kudzu T-shirts. Examining the boxes of books was a joy Alex and I will always remember, but we asked John Kush to take our photo to … [Read more...] about Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Printed and Published
Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Sales Technology
(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) Sales Technology 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. People change for a reason. Sometimes circumstances require it. Fifteen years ago, I purchased my first smart phone when I realized I was supervising younger people who used the technology to … [Read more...] about Publishing My Children’s Book in Six Months: Sales Technology
