Blog Archives — Alan Lampe

An Unexpected Freelancer

On Tuesday, March 3, I received an email from my then publisher, Oghma Creative Media. It was short and said the company was reorganizing and the board decided to terminate my contract. And just like that, I was no longer employed as a contracted writer.

Needless to say, this was not happy news to me. I have more stories to tell and enjoy spending time with my characters. They are really fun people. However, I’m no longer under a company’s deadline or rules, which is freeing in its own right. I already have 17,000 words in a companion novel to Bill’s Cajun House of Pleasure. When I finish the story, I’ll have to see who I can get to publish it.

I still my medieval fantasy story, and the others in that world, to find a home for. I want to stay in this world for several stories. The completed manuscript touches on a lot of fun historical events in this world and they need to be explored. The next story I write in this world will along the lines of the #MeToo movement if it took place in Renaissance Italy. How different the artwork from that time period could have been if the models refused to pose nude?

There’s lots for me to look forward to, instead of wallowing in the past. I’ll share my stories with you any way I can. Hope you’ll stick with me and check in on me from time to time if I’m away from here for an extended period of time. Got fantastic stories to tell and I’ll be busy typing them to share with you!

End of a Decade

Thirty-one days is all that’s left in this decade. Time sure does have a way of moving at lightning speed. And yet, it always moves at one second at a time. Too much has happened for me to give a proper review of the past ten years. World and personal events have shaped our lives, as they always will. But how often do we sit and pause, turn off the phone, TV, and Wi-Fi, and reflect on a short passage of time like the twenty-teens?

Some would raise a ruckus if the Wi-Fi was turned off. Modern technology has connected us in ways never before realized. Well, those of us with modern technology. There are millions, perhaps billions, in the world who don’t have modern technology, clean water, or safe living conditions. Countries still fight each other on battlefields, which all too often resemble city neighborhoods.

The rich fight like hell to retain their wealth and power. The poor fight like hell to stay alive. To be fair, I am aware of several American billionaires who do give generously to the needy. How many billionaires in other countries are doing the same? But the world shouldn’t rely on billionaires to save it from every disaster. Governments of the world need more cooperation with each other and less manipulation of each other.

A hundred years ago, the Great War ended and America was set for the Roaring 20s. What are you looking forward to in 2020? You have thirty-one days to make your plans.

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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what book is open on my Kindle. I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read a variety of authors and topics. I’m currently reading Death of a Young Lieutenant by BR Stateham.

First Governor of Louisiana

On this day in 1817, the first governor of Louisiana died. William Charles Cole Claiborne was a descendant of Colonel William Claiborne (1600-1667), an English pioneer who settled in the Colony of Virginia. The actual date of his birth is in question, but he was born in Sussex County, Virginia.

After serving as a young congressman from Tennessee, William was appointed governor and superintendent of Indian Affairs in the Mississippi Territory. He held the office from 1801 to 1803. In 1802 his led the charge for mass vaccinations of the Natchez from smallpox.

In 1803 William was moved to New Orleans and oversaw the transfer of Louisiana to the United States. The local French and Spanish residents saw it as a military occupation. From 1804 to 1812 he governed the Territory of Orleans. He was young, inexperienced and spoke no French, yet held the job for over a decade. The largest slave revolt in U.S. history happened during his watch. However, his role as the representative of the American government did little to suppress the event.

When Louisiana became a state in 1812, he defeated Jacques Villeré to become the first governor of the new state. He served a four-year term. During the War of 1812, he attempted to keep the Choctaw out of the war while creating militia companies. He asked Jean Lafitte for help defending New Orleans when the British attacked the Crescent City in 1814.

William C. C. Claiborne

He concluded his government service by becoming a Senator for Louisiana in 1817. His term was short as he died on November 23, 1817. He is interred at Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans after first being buried in St. Louis Cemetery Number 1. A controversy of having a Protestant buried in a Catholic cemetery forced his remains to be moved.

He is honored with three county names, one in Louisiana, one in Mississippi, and one in Tennessee. The longest street in New Orleans bears his name. Camp Claiborne, a military installation still in use, was named from him in 1939. The administrative center for the Louisiana state government is housed in the Claiborne Building in Baton Rouge.

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Remembering Armistice Day

One hundred and one years ago tomorrow morning at 5 a.m., in a railroad carriage at Compiegne, France, Germany signed the armistice to end The Great War. The fighting stopped six hours later, at the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. The formal state of war was declared over on June 28, 1919, with the Treaty of Versailles. The United States, however, did not ratify the treaty. Our involvement continued until July 2, 1921, when President Warren G. Harding signed the Knox-Porter Resolution. Over 17 and a half million people, soldiers and civilians, lost their lives in this conflict.

November 11 is a national holiday in many Allied nations. Some countries renamed it Remembrance Day, while America calls it Veterans Day. The United States salutes and honors all veterans, living and dead, on this day with parades and restaurants offering free meals to veterans. For comparison, Memorial Day, celebrated in May, is a national remembrance of those killed in action. This holiday predates World War I.

My family has an extensive history of serving. My grandfather was in The Great War. He worked the mule teams to unload the ships in France. All of my uncles served, one in World War II on gliders. My dad served in the Air Force between the Korean War and the Vietnam Conflict. My sister and I were in the Air Force. Numerous cousins and friends also served time in our military.

I can’t say “Thank you” enough to all my service family members, or those who serve. You do an amazing job in foreign lands and across the USA. It is because of you we are a free nation. Thank you so much for serving this country.

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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what book is open on my Kindle. I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read a variety of authors and topics. My review of The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything by James Martin, SJ, is on Goodreads, Amazon, and Book Bub. I’m currently reading The Self-Aware Life by Nancy S. Kay.

A Hodge Podge of a Post

Well, look who’s back to post on his blog again after five months. Yup, it’s me! I’m hard at work on my fourth manuscript. In the summer I was working on my third. That story got abandoned because my main character, Peggy from Bill’s Cajun House of Pleasure, didn’t have a story arc. There was no place for her story to go. She, and others, from Bill’s will appear in my current project, but as minor characters. The main character is someone new. I’m having fun writing her.

Can you believe we have under two months left in this decade? Pretty soon it’ll be the roaring twenties all over again. Without Prohibition and gangsters in their stock cars evading the police. As long as Black Tuesday isn’t repeated at the end of the next ten years, everything will be fine.

A highlighted historical event from today comes from 1493 when Christopher Columbus first sees the island of Dominica. It was a Sunday, dies dominica is Latin for “the Lord’s day.” I’m not sure what the natives called Dominica before he arrived, but this name stuck.

If you follow me on Goodreads, you’ll see I’ve been reading a lot of Matthew Kelly and spiritual help books of late. Reading them in a batch like this is beneficial as you get a good, uplifting message over and over again. After I finish my current read, there is one more spiritual self-help book on my to-read list. Then it’s back to fiction.

Well that’s a hodge-podge of a blog post, isn’t it? I’m all over the place. Hopefully, I will return to form soon and give you some great historical tidbits. Happy reading and welcome back!

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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what book is open on my Kindle. I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read a variety of authors and topics. Currently, I’m reading The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything by James Martin, SJ.

From Quote to Misquote

Back in 1897, the rumor mill was as active as today’s false news on social media. The rumor mill ran by the constant flow of water on the River Lies. The mill churned out a story at the end of May stating Samuel Clemens, also known as Mark Twain in the larger habitable areas of Louisiana, had died from an illness. Mr. Clemens was in London as part of his world tour to drum up finances to get himself out of debt.

Frank Marshall White of the New York Journal sent a cable to Mr. Clemens as an inquiry about his health. Mr. Clemens replied with a short letter and clarified the situation. At the end of his note, the great American author wrote: “The report of my death was an exaggeration.” Albert Bigelow Paine, Mr. Clemen’s biographer, embellished the quote to read “The report of my death has been grossly exaggerated.” Over the years, the quote changed to “The report of my death has been greatly exaggerated.”

You may have thought this quote about me, given my long absence from this blog. Fear not, valiant fan. I’m alive and sort of well. For the past few weeks, it has been painful to put pressure on my left leg. I’ve had an MRI and should know what the problem is later this week.

So raise a glass in cheer and celebrate today a great quote from a well-known popular author. I’m confident you’ve heard the quote before. Hopefully, you haven’t had to use to clear up rumors of your own premature demise.

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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what book is open on my Kindle. I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read a variety of authors and topics. Currently, I’m reading Sick Puppy by Carl Hiaasen.

Jacques Phillipe Villeré

If you need a historical reason to celebrate your shrimp boil today, I’m here to the rescue. On April 28, 1761, the second governor of Louisiana was born. Jacques Phillipe Villeré came into the world at La Providence, his grandfather’s plantation. This is somewhere in St. John the Baptist Parish. In 1763, Spanish governor Alejandro O’Rielly ordered the death of a colonial militia captain of in the German Coast, Joseph Antoine de Villeré. It is doubtful Jacques had any lasting memory of his father. Because of this, the French Crown paid for two years of his education when he joined the French Army. He returned to Louisiana in 1780 when his mother died.

During the Battle New Orleans, Major General Villeré served with distinction. He commanded the First Division of the Louisiana Militia. Stationed at Lake Borgne and Bayou Dupre, they fought the British forces as they approached the Crescent City by sea. Jacques son commanded the unit guarding the family plantation, Conseil. It was overrun by the British and held in their hands for over a month. General Andrew Jackson ordered a night attack on December 23, 1814, to reclaim the Villeré homestead.

Jacques was a member of the convention that drafted Louisiana’s first state constitution. He ran for governor in 1812 but lost the first ever state governor election to William C. C. Claiborne. Four years later, he succeeded William as the second governor of Louisiana. During his time in office, his administration provided bankruptcy protection for debtors, the designation of death-by-dueling as a capital offense, and reduction of the level of state debt.

Jacques Phillipe Villeré died on March 7, 1830, at his plantation. He is buried in St. Louis Cemetery No. 2 in New Orleans.

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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what book is open on my Kindle. I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read a variety of authors and topics. Currently, I’m reading Stormy Weather by Carl Hiaasen.

The Beginning of St. John the Baptist Parish

Another Sunday, another parish celebration. The Territory Legislature established St. John the Baptist parish two hundred and twelve years ago today, easier known as March 31, 1807. It includes the third oldest settlement in Louisiana. Germans primarily settled in this area. The French controlled the land until 1763 when they lost the Seven Years’ War to Great Britain. They ceded Louisiana to Spain at that time. In North America History, the war is known as the French and Indian War.

In the mid-1760s, the French were expelled from Nova Scotia by the British. The French Arcadians settled in St. John the Baptist parish. Their first village is known as Wallace, Louisiana today. The transplanted Arcadians are the ancestors of today’s Cajun folk.

In 1869 a church was built on the east banks of the Mississippi River. The west bank already had St. John the Baptist. In 1897, a second church on the east bank was built, St. Peter. This church stood until 1965 when Hurricane Betsy hit Louisiana. The hurricane also ruffed up Bill’s Cajun House of Pleasure in the fictional town of Bayou Cove.

History doesn’t write itself, but what fun it is to learn about the great state of Louisiana. Learn more about St. John the Baptist parish here and here.

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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what book is open on my Kindle. I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read a variety of authors and topics. Currently, I’m reading The Circus Fire by Stewart O’Nan.

The Beginning of Calcasieu Parish

If you’re in southwestern Louisiana today, you have a reason to celebrate. On March 24, 1840, Calcasieu Parish existed for the first time. Officials named Comasaque Bluff the county seat. In later months, Comasaque Bluff changed to Marsh Bayou Bluff. Before the end of the year, on December 8, 1840, the town named changed again. This time to its present day name: Marion.

Calcasieu Parish was the largest parish in the state in 1840. As the years passed, officials divided it into five smaller parishes. Together, they make up the Imperial Calcasieu. Local planter and businessman Jacob Ryan donated land in Lake Charles to have the county seat moved there. This was 1852.

Calcasieu is an Atakapa word meaning crying eagle. This was the name of an Atakapa chief the French colonists applied to the river. When the Spanish controlled the area, they called the river the Rio Hondo River.
Jury men David Simmons, Alexander Hebert, Michel Pithon, Henry Moss, Rees Perkins, and Thomas M. Williams met on August 24, 1840, at the large, rough-hewed home of Arsense LeBleu near present day Chloe. At this first meeting of Calcasieu Parish, they elected the parish constable, treasurer, two assessors, a clerk, and the operator of the ferry at Buchanan’s crossing. They ruled in favor of Comasaque Bluff as the county seat over Lisbon. The assessors had two months and a salary of $90 to assess all parish property. At their second meeting, on September 14, 1840, the jury men authorized a survey of land in Marsh Bayou Bluff for a courthouse and jail.

History doesn’t write itself. What I find interesting is how often Comasaque Bluff changed name in a little over eight months. The map makers of the day must have been pulling their hair out. You can read more about the history of Calcasieu Parish here.

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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what book is open on my Kindle. I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read a variety of authors and topics. Currently, I’m reading Eclipse of the Triple Moons by Kenneth Brown.

True Detective in NWA

Tonight the HBO series True Detective wraps up its third season. It was filmed here in northwest Arkansas. I hope you have enjoyed the mystery. Devil’s Den State Park, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (the CCC) in the 1930s, is featured heavily in the first few episodes. The park offers camping and hiking in the Ozark Mountains. Come visit it when you can.

The interior of several local restaurants was used for some scenes. Hugo’s, just off the square in Fayetteville, the Inn at Carnall Hall, on the University of Arkansas campus, Herman’s in Fayetteville, Susan’s in Springdale, and the Waffle House in Rogers, across the street from the Center for Non-Profits, the old St. Mary’s Hospital building all opened their doors to HBO. Check them out when you can.

The interior of Herman’s was also used in Greater, a movie about Brandon Burlsworth, a walk-on at the University of Arkansas who became an all-American player. He died in a car wreck a few days after being drafted by the Indianapolis Colts. This was April 28, 1999.

The nuclear plant in Russellville made a brief appearance. In later episodes, the Hanna’s Candle Company factory in Fayetteville became home to Hoyt Foods from the show. The former Shiloh Steel building in Springdale became the Arkansas State Police headquarters. The VFW post in Lincoln was used as well. The schoolyard in the show is in Mountainburg.

Our Lady of the Ozarks Shrine is near the top of Mt Gayler. It’s south of Winslow on US 71 and right next door to Ozark Folkways. This small Catholic church was the focus of one episode of the show. The Christ of the Ozarks statue in the opening credits is on the grounds of the Great Passion Play in Eureka Springs. They perform Christ’s last days on weekends from May through October.

I’m sure I’m missing other local sites that were used during the filming of the show. I hope you get to explore some of these locations soon.

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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what book is open on my Kindle. I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read a variety of authors and topics. Currently, I’m reading Moon Hunt by Michael W. Gear and Kathleen O’Neal Gear. It is their third story of Cahokia.

Bill’s Cajun House of Pleasure is available on Amazon, as an eBook, and in physical formats. It is also available on the Barnes and Noble website.