The Last Lynching in Northern Virginia

Have book, will travel

That distant date on my calendar finally arrived. My book was published yesterday. Now I have to hit the road and promote it. I’ll be in Fredericksburg, Warrenton, Richmond, Culpeper and Manassas in the coming weeks to sign books and/or talk about The Last Lynching in Northern Virginia. Please stop by if you’re in the
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Jim Hall

September 13, 2016

Archive, Getting Published, Life as a Writer, Lynching, Race Relations, Rattlesnake Mountain the Book, Writing the Book Rattlesnake Mountain

Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, Culpeper County Library, Fauquier County Public Library, Fourth Annual Local Author Extravaganza, Fredericksburg Independent Book Festival, Great Writers Right Here, Manassas Museum, Mary Washington Elderstudy, The Last Lynching in Northern Virginia
Reflections of a first-time author

When I signed a contract with History Press, I lost control of my book. I‘m exaggerating, of course. I had plenty to say about publication of the book. But I also had a partner, a majority partner, according to the contract, with plenty of experience and a set way of doing things. For example, the
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Jim Hall

September 6, 2016

Archive, Getting Published, Life as a Writer, Lynching, Race Relations, Rattlesnake Mountain the Book, Writing the Book Rattlesnake Mountain

first-time author, History Press, The 1910 Slocum Massacre, The Last Lynching in Northern Virginia, The Virginia Plan
Let’s pause now for a short intermission

I started this blog in January with the goal of describing what it was like to write this book and get it published. One question that I faced immediately was how often to post. I hoped to develop interest in the book before publication, but I didn’t want to turn off potential readers with too
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Jim Hall

May 3, 2016

Archive, Fauquier County, Va. History, Getting Published, Life as a Writer, Lynching, Race Relations, Rattlesnake Mountain the Book, Virginia History, Writing the Book Rattlesnake Mountain

Alex Green, Cash and Carry, Charleston, History Press, The Last Lynching in Northern Virginia
Launch date will be Sept. 12

The notice I received last week reminded me of the “save-the-date” card that I got for my colleague’s wedding. This time, however, it was an email from one of the sales managers at History Press. It said: “I am very pleased to inform you that we have scheduled the publication of The Last Lynching in Northern
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Jim Hall

April 26, 2016

Archive, Getting Published, Life as a Writer, Virginia History, Writing the Book Rattlesnake Mountain

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, book signing, History Press, The Last Lynching in Northern Virginia
‘He was wrong what he did’

I remember how excited I was when I first saw this video by Dylan Nicholls. Dylan created it in 2014 as part of a successful Kickstarter campaign to help fund a film about the Shedrick Thompson case. Dylan is a student at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., who works part time with Fauquier County
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Jim Hall

April 19, 2016

Archive, Getting Published, Life as a Writer, Lynching, Rattlesnake Mountain the Book, Virginia History, Writing the Book Rattlesnake Mountain

Dylan Nicholls, Fauquier County, Kickstarter, Lynching, Shawn Nicholls, Shedrick Thompson, The Last Lynching in Northern Virginia, Tom Davenport, Zach Nicholls
A new title, or learning to play well with the other children

Before History Press agreed to publish this story, they asked me to complete an 8-page application. One of the questions they asked was: are you capable of working with other people on a long-term project that requires a “high level of co-ordination.” In other words, do I play well with the other children? I answered
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Jim Hall

February 23, 2016

Archive, Fauquier County, Va. History, Getting Published, Life as a Writer, Lynching, Race Relations, Rattlesnake Mountain the Book, Uncategorized, Virginia History, Writing the Book Rattlesnake Mountain

History Press, Lynching, Rattlesnake Mountain, Strunk & White, The Last Lynching in Northern Virginia

Have book, will travel

Reflections of a first-time author

Let’s pause now for a short intermission

Launch date will be Sept. 12

‘He was wrong what he did’

A new title, or learning to play well with the other children