Special Event: Author Talks
Dates: April 20, 21, 22 and 27, 28, 29 Time: 3:00–5:00 p.m. Location: In Person at Thomas Hall 124, Marietta College or Available by Zoom Fee: $15 Books are available on Amazon.com and other sites. If you’d like an autographed copy, bring your book to class for the author to sign. Mon., April 20 – The Process of Researching and Writing Non-Fiction. By Bil Kerrigan. Johnny Appleseed and the American Orchard: A Cultural History, Johns Hopkins University Press. 2012. This book weaves together the stories of the Old World apple in America and the life/myth of John Chapman (with his roots in Washington County and travels in Ohio). Dr. Kerrigan, newly retired Arthur G. and Eloise Barnes Cole Distinguished Professor of American History, Muskingum College, is a historian of Appalachian Ohio. His writing has focused on local and regional subjects. He has delivered more than fifty public talks on Johnny Appleseed and the history of the apple in America at libraries, universities, and historical societies across the state. His latest book, West Virginia’s War (Ohio University Press, June 2025) examines the story of the one state created during the Civil War. Tues., April 21 – Writing Historical Biography: Tracing the Process of Researching, Reflecting, and Writing. By Diana Pabst Parsell, Eliza Scidmore: The Trailblazing Journalist Behind Washington’s Cherry Tree, Oxford University Press, 2023. Inspired by her love of Japanese culture, Eliza Scidmore nursed a vision of creating a cherry blossom park on the banks of the Potomac in her adopted hometown of Washington, D.C. The men in charge of the city’s public land balked—but she persisted. Finally, with the backing of First Lady Helen Taft, Scidmore saw her dream become a reality with the 1912 planting of 3,000 cherry trees donated by the Japanese. Ms. Parsell, a native of Marietta and a graduate of Marietta College, is a writer, editor and former journalist in the Washington, D.C., area. Her book Eliza Scidmore was featured by NBC’s “Today Show” and was a finalist for the 2024 Society of Midland Authors’ biography award. After starting her 40-year editorial career at National Geographic, Diana also worked for other publications and science organizations in Washington and Southeast Asia. As an outgrowth of her book research, she volunteers as a docent for public tours of the Library of Congress. Wed., April 22 – Collaborative Writing. The pleasures and challenges of working with other writers. By Editors: Vicki Wilson and Debbie Phillips. Gambling and Gender: Men and Women at Play, Peter Lang, NY, 2009 There are two distinct strands in the literature on gambling: one that focuses on how to play and win the various games of chance, and one that focuses on gambling compulsion and addiction. Gambling and Gender forges a new direction, studying gambling as more communication than compulsion, more recreation than deviance, more sociology than psychology. Vicki Wilson is an educational consultant who has served as Accreditation Mentor for the Ohio Department of Education, as Associate Dean of Academic Affairs in Education at Muskingum University, and as chair of the Education Department at Wilmington University. She is the founding co-editor of the Ohio Journal of Teacher Education and the ejournal for Student Teachers and New Teachers. She has co-authored the book Building on Student Diversity. Debbie Phillips, retired Associate Professor in Communication at Muskingum University, is the Gender and Media Studies Planner for Popular Culture Association. Her latest book, Metal Music, Masculinity and Mass Shootings, (2025) explores the complex world of heavy metal concerts and hypermasculinity. Mon., April 27 – Living the research: Non-Fiction and adapting to world changes. By Richard Arnold, Russian Nationalism and Ethnic Violence: Symbolic Violence, Lynching, Pogrom and Massacre (Europa Country Perspectives), Routledge Taylor and Friends, London, NY, 2016 Russian Nationalism brings hate crimes in Russia into the study of ethnic violence and examines the social undercurrents that have led to Putin’s embrace of nationalism. It adds to the growing body of English language scholarship on Russia’s nationalist turn in the post-Cold War era, and is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand not only why different forms of ethnic violence occur, but also the potential trajectory of Russian politics in the next 20 years. Richard Arnold, Associate Professor of Political Science at Muskingum University, is a member of the PONARS Eurasia network. His work has appeared in numerous journals and books, including Post-Soviet Affairs, Theoretical Criminology, Problems of Post Communism, Nationalities Papers, PS: Political Science and Politics, Ethnic and Racial Studies and the Oxford Handbook on the Radical Right. He was guest co-editor (with Andrew Foxall, Henry Jackson Institute [London]) on special editions of a journal on the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and the FIFA 2018 World Cup. Tues., April 28 – Walking Through Hometown History
By Jann K. Adams, Behind the Doors of Historic Marietta. Self Published 2011. German Marietta and Washington County, Arcadia Publishing 2016. When a tourist was asked why he made an annual pilgrimage to Marietta, he opened his arms, looked to the sky and responded, “Ah, I just like the way it makes me feel.” Marietta, known as the first American settlement in the Northwest Territory, has always had its share of tourists who seemed to be endeared to the lasting antiquity with the ambiance of the brick streets, Victorian Era buildings and homes, historical markers, and the waterfront. A walk around town often leaves more questions than answers as buildings and spaces hold historical mysteries to the modern observer. This class will be two-fold in the publishing of local history. First, we will examine the critical thinking skills and methods, and use of appropriate research sources that all writers of history are expected to follow. Second, examples from the author’s two books will be used to demonstrate the process. Jann K. Adams is a local historian, frequent instructor in ILR, Marietta tour guide, presenter, and has submitted articles to The Tallow Light and The Marietta Times. Both books are available locally at Campus Martius, The Castle, Wit & Whimzy, and the Washington County Historical Society. Wed., April 29 – Writing Fiction, Writing to Support a Foundation, and Self- Publishing By Beth Burlingame, From a Kill Pen to a Penthouse, Paperback – February 4, 2025 Forrest, the Barn Manager Trainee, is a mini horse that leads adult readers on a frolicking good time in his barn. The laughter outweighs the tears as he introduces his barn mates who are equine rescues like himself. You race through the pasture gate into their fun-loving world that knows when to be serious, helpful, shed tears, and show kindness, but mostly creates tons of laughter. This book champions A Place for Peanut, a non-profit equine rescue and sanctuary for healing horses and people. All proceeds from this book go to A Place for Peanut, a 501c3. Beth Burlingame was a journalist in the Navy. Over the years she has worked as a journalist/photographer, general writer and playwright. Her career included newspapers, radio, and employment at Ms. Magazine for seven years. Making a slight career change, she spent 20 years in senior management at a general hospital. Later, she began a videography company specializing in TV/radio commercials and industrial documentaries. She is a graduate of the US Naval Journalist School. She attended Southern Indiana University, Indiana State University, HB Studios, and West Liberty University. Currently she uses her talents to work with various animal organizations.
Price:
$15.00