Candace Simar - Pomme de Terre

POMME DE TERRE

by Candace Simar

1862 was a tumultuous year in Minnesota history. The youngest state in the Union, Minnesota was one of the first to send men to fight in the Civil War. With the men gone, women and children were left to fend for themselves. The Civil War drained soldiers formerly stationed in Minnesota military outposts leaving the state undermanned and unprotected. Budget woes related to war expenses caused payments promised to the Sioux by treaty to be very late. Indian Agents at the Lower Sioux Agency refused to hand out needed supplies until the gold arrived. The Sioux were starving.

The result was the Sioux Uprising of 1862, the largest Indian war in U.S. history. Because it happened between the bloody battles of Shiloh and Antietam, it was largely unknown. Its effects on Minnesota and the Sioux Nation still reverberate today. My historical novel, Abercrombie Trail, tells the story of Scandinavian immigrants caught up in culture clash and broken treaty. Although the government declared the uprising over in the fall of 1862, Pomme de Terre tells the story of settlers living in the western part of the state where raids continued through the following year.

REVIEW
"I read POMME DE TERRE with the greatest interest and enjoyment. It's a very vivid telling of this tragic American story. I've long been wanting something in fiction about the Great Sioux Uprising, and this book is the best I've seen." Larry McMurtry, Pulitzer Prize winning author of Lonesome Dove, Academy Award Co-Winner with Diana Ossana for the screenplay, Brokeback Mountain.

BIOGRAPHY
Candace Simar is a poet and writer from Pequot Lakes, Minnesota. As lifelong Minnesotan and the grandchild of Scandinavian immigrants, Candace enjoys a passion for Minnesota history and how things might have been.

Her first novel, ABERCROMBIE TRAIL-a Novel of the 1862 Uprising, was released in 2009. POMME DE TERRE continues the story began in ABERCROMBIE TRAIL.

WEBSITE
www.candacesimar.com

PUBLISHER
North Star Press

Patricia Bauer - B is for Battlecry-A Civil War Alphabet

B is for Battle Cry

A Civil War Alphabet

by Patricia Bauer

llustrated by David Geister

Sleeping Bear Press

ISBN 978-1585363568

B is for Battle Cry: A Civil War Alphabet is a beautifully illustrated book that takes readers on a journey into the Civil War, which was one of the bloodiest, most divisive events to take place in America's history. For four years our young country's sense of self and citizenry was shaken to the core as North and South battled each other.

Each letter has a read-aloud poem accessible to younger children. The author wrote each poem to fit into Stephen Foster’s popular 19th century song “Hard Times Come Again No More." This song, as well as a Civil War parody and each poem set to the music can be downloaded from the illustrator’s website: davidgeister.com. The text that accompanies each letter is written at a higher level, and older children and adults will enjoy learning more about the historic battles, renowned leaders, inventions, and inspiring events and documents of the Civil War.

BIOGRAPHY

I am what is often referred to as a “veteran” teacher, which means that I’ve been around for a very long time!! My passions include history, music, art and literature, and I try to share those with my students.

I grew up in a loving family on the shores of Lake Waubesa near Madison, Wisconsin. Minnesota has been my home for most of my adult life and where I raised my two daughters. 1994 was a pivotal year because I completed my Master’s Degree in Liberal Studies from Hamline University, helped open a new middle school and began working as a seasonal costumed interpreter at Historic Fort Snelling. This is where I became fascinated with Minnesota history, as well as living history, and met the love of my life, artist David Geister, whom I married in 2002 in Civil War costume at Fort Snelling. I enjoy portraying nineteenth century characters such as Mary (Mrs. Seth) Eastman, Clara (Mrs. George) Catlin, Mary (Mrs. William) LeDuc and Abigail (Mrs. Josiah) Snelling. I am also an adjunct instructor for Hamline University, where we teach a course on Minnesota history, and I have given many workshops on using picture books to teach American history.

Though I have written for many years, B is for Battle Cry: A Civil War Alphabet is my first published children’s book. To be able to work with my husband on this book was a dream come.

Patricia is a member of the Children’s Literature Network