#schistory

A few photos from my setup at the American Heritage Festival earlier this month at Lake City, SC.

Looking forward to this upcoming year's numerous events and expanding my display setup even more. These were from towards the end of the day as rain began threatening the event, but my table was regularly surrounded by people, including a few children who were really enthralled.

Definitely a fun event that I'll do again next year.

What's that on the horizon? 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸! 🏴‍☠️

"𝘈𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘎𝘰𝘭𝘥: 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯'𝘴 𝘙𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘦𝘢 𝘗𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 1692 - 𝘉𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘵. 𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘙𝘢𝘺𝘯𝘰𝘳 & 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘳'𝘴 𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵."

Ahoy everyone, I'm excited to unveil and present to you all my new upcoming title! As some of you know, I researched and wrote "𝘗𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘎𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴 & 𝘉𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘛𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘴𝘵" and "𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘴𝘵" simultaneously, but plans of sitting down and doing a deep-dive into this particular topic has long-been a plan of mine, and I've finally done it. While those works covered a wide variety of topics, characters and locations, delving into the origins of pirate folklore, "𝘈𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘎𝘰𝘭𝘥" is my contribution to Charleston history, and traditional pirate history in the form of a book dedicated to the pirate Captain George Raynor.

I will disclose the description from the back of the book:

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𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯'𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴, 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺'𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 17𝘵𝘩 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘺'𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺. 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 1692, 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘭 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭 𝘑𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘤𝘢 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘢𝘴𝘵, 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵, 𝘭𝘢𝘸-𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘙𝘢𝘺𝘯𝘰𝘳 - 𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘨𝘰 𝘰𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥. 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘩, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺'𝘴 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘸.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱-𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯'𝘴 𝘙𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘦𝘢 𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦, 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘺, 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘶𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩. "𝘈𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘎𝘰𝘭𝘥" 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘙𝘢𝘺𝘯𝘰𝘳, 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺. 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘺.

𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘎𝘰𝘭𝘥?

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𝘈𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘎𝘰𝘭𝘥 is a smaller page count than my previous works at around 130 pages, a familiar size to any familiar with books from History Press or Arcadia Publishing, but is a suitable size to explore this tale thoroughly. Raynor and his endeavors have always been but a footnote in other stories, such as those of Thomas Tew, Henry Every, and early Charleston history - as such I'm happy to finally present an entire in-depth work devoted to him.

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Pre-Orders go live next week, on March 5th, and another post will go up as a reminder.

Arabian Gold is 15, plus 5 shipping. All pre-orders will come with a free folded and weathered map of the Red Sea & Arabian Sea (as featured on the cover) on period-correct laid paper!

For those local to the Charleston-area of South Carolina - I will finally be having a local meet & greet and book signing event regarding the release of my pirate history book “Pirate Ghosts & Buried Treasures of the Southeast Coast” which is a historical assessment on pirate folklore from the state of Florida up to Virginia.

The Launch Party is being hosted by the wonderful Stone’s Throw Brewery in Goose Creek on December 10th from 5pm - 7:30pm. Come on by, get a chance to say hey, perhaps pick up a signed copy if you haven’t already, and enjoy the various drinks and meals the brewery has to offer!

For those local who may not be able to attend this more personal launch event in the evening hours, you can find me out front of the establishment earlier in the day as one of the vendors in their Holiday Bazaar event from 11am - 4pm.

Join us for a weekend of outdoor activities to celebrate Charlotte Forten's love of nature. Her journal is filled is examples of her descriptions of walks, boating, horseback rides and other ways she enjoyed being outside. We will celebrate her legacy and the joy that comes from being outside through camping, hiking, kayaking, foraging, and nature journaling on St. Helena Island.

Charlotte Forten journeyed to St. Helena Island, SC to teach at the new school for Black children during the Civil War as a part of the Port Royal Experiment. The Union Army occupied the Port Royal Sound that included the Beaufort District and the sea islands. Schools began across the area on plantations and in towns under the protection of the Union Army. Charlotte Forten came in October, 1862 to teach at the new Pen School on St. Helena Island.

Forten was more than just a teacher; she was a poet and a keen observer of her environment. Her writings reveal a strong connection to the plant and animal life around her. For instance, during a walk to Brick Baptist Church, she lovingly described, “Was there ever a lovelier road than that through which part of my way to school lies?” Her vivid words evoke a scene filled with towering pines and graceful live oaks adorned with moss, creating a peaceful setting for her daily route.

As we celebrate Charlotte Forten’s legacy, we are thrilled to announce our annual program that honors her love of nature. This year, we are hosting an event titled “Charlotte Forten Weekend: Women Embracing Outdoor Spaces.” This weekend promises to be an enriching experience, allowing participants to connect with nature just as Forten did over 160 years ago.

Embracing the Outdoors

The “Charlotte Forten Weekend” aims to motivate women to explore the beauty of the outdoors. Whether you are a seasoned camper or trying it for the first time, this event offers experiences for everyone. Participants will have the chance to learn essential skills like camping, hiking, and kayaking. 

Picture this: setting up your tent under a starlit sky, surrounded by the sounds of chirping crickets and rustling leaves, just like Forten might have experienced. The event will feature guided hikes through the lush landscapes that Forten cherished, helping attendees fully immerse themselves in the stunning beauty of the Lowcountry, where over 50% of the ecosystem is made up of wetlands and diverse wildlife.

Nature Journaling: A Connection to the Environment

A crucial aspect of the weekend will be nature journaling, which perfectly aligns with Forten’s love of capturing her observations. This practice involves spending time outdoors, being mindful of the details in your environment, and documenting your experiences through writing, sketching, and sometimes painting. 

Research shows that nature journaling can enhance one’s observation skills by up to 30%. Participants will engage in guided journaling sessions where they can reflect on their surroundings and capture the essence of the Lowcountry in their own unique ways, much like Forten did as she documented the changing seasons and the vibrancy of her environment.

Flexible Participation Options

We understand that each person has different preferences and schedules, which is why we offer various ways to participate in the “Charlotte Forten Weekend.” You can register for the entire weekend or choose to attend specific days based on your availability. 

For those who prefer a camping experience, we have designated areas that provide a chance to fully immerse yourself in nature. If you would rather enjoy the comforts of home, you can stay in a local hotel and join daily activities. 

Meals will be provided for those who want to dine with the group, fostering a spirit of community and camaraderie among participants. If you prefer to explore local dining options, feel free to enjoy meals on your own. The meals each night will feature local favorites with locally grown produce along with a featured presentation and campfire activities to celebrate our time together. Friday evening we will welcome Chef BJDennis to prepare a special meal featuring some outside cooking over fire.  

A Celebration of Legacy

Charlotte Forten’s journey as an educator and her love for nature continues to inspire us. By hosting the “Charlotte Forten Weekend: Women Embracing Outdoor Spaces,” we wish to honor her legacy and encourage women to connect with the environment in meaningful ways. 

This event is not only about camping and journaling; it's about building a community of women who appreciate the beauty of nature and recognize the importance of preserving it. Just as Forten found comfort and inspiration in her surroundings, we aim to create an atmosphere where participants can do the same.

Join Us in Celebration

As we gear up for this exciting weekend, we invite you to join us in honoring Charlotte Forten’s remarkable life and her everlasting love for nature. Whether you want to sharpen your outdoor skills, connect with like-minded women, or simply enjoy the picturesque beauty of the Lowcountry, this event promises to be a memorable experience. 

Let's come together to celebrate a woman who paved the way for future generations and to reconnect with the natural world that inspired her. We look forward to welcoming you at the “Charlotte Forten Weekend: Women Embracing Outdoor Spaces.”