The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA

Soon – within the week, he said – David Swindler’s feature article on Jailhouse Stories from Early Pacific County will appear in Aberdeen’s The Daily World.  If you get that newspaper, could you save me a copy?

Mr. Swindler contacted me a few days ago to say that they had received a ‘review copy’ of my new book from the publisher and “it looks like something that would interest our readers.”  Woot! Woot!  I am pleased beyond measure.

We communicated by email and by telephone.  In the course of our conversation, Mr. Swindler pointed out that we often have a romanticized view of pioneer days here in the West.  He liked the fact that this book gives a glimpse of “the dark side of our history” as he put it.

Jailhouse Stories fron Early Pacific County

I had never thought of the book in quite that way – only that the most marginalized members of our society are often closeted by their families and ignored by the rest of us.  But, I think Mr. Swindler is right.  Before we had instant replay of inner-city shootings and traffic-cam records of road rage accidents, we didn’t have an easily accessible record on society’s seamier side.

I don’t think that I set out to specifically remedy that oversight.  But, if I made a little progress toward a more balanced look at our County’s past, I’m glad.  And if my book helps to focus on parts of our society that still need our attention, I’m even more pleased!

Thanks, Mr. Swindler, for noticing!  I hope others do, as well.  And I hope someone notices your article and lets me know about it.  Woot! Woot! some more!