Credit Where Credit Is Due

Although writing is a solitary endeavor, no writer can succeed without the help of others. That fact is admitted in every book's acknowledgments page, where the author gives credit to all those who helped him get the book from a mere idea to published reality.

I'm no different. I owe a lot of credit to a lot of people, and I've tried to acknowledge that fact in personal comments about those individuals and groups on the acknowledgements pages of each of my books. And my latest work, Legislating for the Confederacy: The Confederate Congress, is no exception.

But I have to give special credit to one person who has gone above and beyond in not only encouraging my writing but also getting speaking opportunities for me. He's also purchased copies of each of my books!) That person is Rob Astin.

I recently presented Rob with a complimentary copy of my latest book at one of those speaking engagements (see accompanying photo) as a token of my appreciation for his help in publicizing my books on the Confederacy and for nudging me to write on various lesser known topics. After I had spoken about my book Christ in Camp and Combat: Religious Work in the Confederate Armies to a group where Rob was present, he began to "talk it up" among his connections, and that led to my receiving speaking invitations from several similar groups all across the Upstate. But he also began subtly (and sometimes not so subtly) to encourage me to write about the Confederate Congress. The result was Legislating for the Confederacy.

Now Rob is nudging me again. This time it's about the Confederate governors. And the work has begun! Perhaps one day that, too, will become a book. And once again I'll have Rob Astin to thank.

Every writer needs a Rob Astin behind him or her, providing the nudge needed to motivate to action the writer within.