Lewis and Clark Forums

Lewis and Clark Monolog: “A Day in the Life of Silas Goodrich”

2008-05-22T19:22:36-06:00

I appreciate your interest in my Lewis and Clark monolog “A Day in the Life of Silas Goodrich.” I have made the presentation to schools, libraries, campfire girls, scouts, retirement centers, churches, dinner meetings, business and civic groups. Reviews and the web address of a Preview Video are enclosed. (When I perform for children and young adults I do not make reference to moonshine.)

In 2004 I traveled, as a reenactor, with the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Expedition and played the role of Private Silas Goodrich, Expert Fisherman. During the journey on the Missouri River, I kept a dairy and use it to create an interactive, one-hour monolog, providing little known facts about this Great American Adventure.

Dressed in trail worn army life broadcloth trousers, linen shirt, a haversack typical of the times and surrounded by authentic props, I take the audience back with me to 1804. I relive a day where Silas must survive the dangers himself while he catches enough fish to feed the crew of forty five hungry men. 10 minute Preview Video with monolog ... http://www.vimeo.com/927403

Thank you for reviewing the information. If you would like to schedule an event please allow a two week lead time.

Sincerely,
Rolland

Rolland Love
Overland Park, Kansas 66202
913-831-1909
rtl at kc dot rr dot com
http://ozarkstories.com

Reviews
Lewis and Clark Monolog
“A Day in the Life of Silas Goodrich”

Rolland, I enjoyed your excellent Lewis and Clark presentation at Shawnee Library. I will be in touch with you later regarding the possibility of a program utilizing your Ozark stories as well. Lynn C. Wild, Senior Services Librarian - Johnson County Library Shawnee Mission, KS

Awesome Event! Your connection and command of the audience. Your pace, descriptions, humor, background information were wonderful. John Krzysztow, Toastmasters International

Your presentation as Silas Goodrich, fisherman of the expedition was the highlight of the program Tuesday night at Lewis and Clark Historic Park at Kaw Point. It was a thrill to hear something new, to me and I thought I had heard and studied pretty much everything about Lewis and Clark. Dan C.D. Sturdevant, Chair Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation

In addition to the Lewis and Clark monologue, Love conducts workshops to teach children how to write fiction and tell stories. He also does presentations about fly-tying, fishing and outdoors skills he used on the 2004 expedition. Those skills were honed while growing up in the Ozark Mountains where he helped his uncle run a fishing camp. Sally Huggins, Editor, Small Business Monthly

Re-enactor Makes Lewis and Clark Experience Real: By Jennifer Bhargava -The Kansas City Star
“Rolland tells you things you don’t learn elsewhere about Lewis and Clark,” said Paula Simons, activity director at Aberdeen Village Retirement Center, Olathe, Kansas. Simons hopes to bring Love back for a different kind of lesson: writing. She thinks the actor and author would help make her residents enthusiastic about writing their life stories.
“He (Love) has a wonderful sense of humor and a twinkle in his eye,” Simons said. “Listening to him go into such detail helps get you into the spirit as well. He is a very intelligent man who gets down to the level of every person and connects with them.”

Rolland, thank you for a wonderful program. Amy L. Spiker , Activity, SSD, Medicalodges Holton, Kansas.

What a great program. Thank you for sharing your experiences. Ah, history! What really did happen? Mason Ormsby, President - Shawnee Mission Rotary Club

Thank you for your Excellent presentation to our Lions Club. It was my pleasure to meet you in person. Out club members were full of praise for such an informative and entertaining performance. I could see that you held everyone’s interest with intensity. Art Meganck, Lion’s Club.

You did a great job presenting Lewis and Clark and thank you for coming to CLV. Denise Hahn, ADC Wellness Coordinator - Cedar Lake Village, Olathe, Kansas.

“Our resident’s really enjoyed the history and monolog, very educational, a unique type of “entertainment” much different from the typical event we normally have.” Katie Tacy, Engage Life Director - Hearthstone West, Topeka, KS

Thank you for an interesting program. I have heard only good comments. Elmer Hendrick, Program Chairman - Shawnee United Methodist Men

Rolland, thanks for making an Excellent Lewis and Clark presentation. Houston Alexander, Coordinator – Shepard’s Center of Shawnee

You are a Great storyteller and a Gifted writer. Judith Jones, Award Wining Author, Fairway, Kansas

BRINGING FRONTIER EXPEDITION TO LIFE
— BY SALLY HUGGINS

To step back in time and experience the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804, you need only listen to Silas Goodrich, expert fisherman from the expedition, talk about having to catch fish to feed the men who had found little to eat over the past three days. Goodrich comes to life through Rolland Love, a professional storyteller and re-enactment specialist.
After a youth growing up on a farm in south central Missouri and a professional career
that involved various entrepreneurial activities, Love became interested in historical reenactment
when he moved to Mission. He helped the Friends of Historic Kaw Point Park Inc., get ready for a stop of the
Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Expedition and ended up joining the trip.

JOURNAL IS BASIS
A journal he kept during the 2004 expedition forms the basis for Love’s hour-long presentations. Dressed in broadcloth trousers, linen shirt and a haversack typical of the early 1800s, Love steps into character to draw his audience back in time. His audiences include school groups, library patrons, senior groups and church
gatherings.
Love will travel just about anywhere to tell his stories. The cost of mileage is added to his fee.
He has woven his tales both for outdoor camps and indoor gatherings. In addition to the Lewis and Clark monologue, Love conducts workshops to teach children how to write fiction and tell stories, also senior citizens how to write their Life History. The writing classes are based on his experience as an award winning author, having published three novels—The Blue Hole, River’s Edge, Toe Tags and TNT—as well as award-wining short stories. Reviewers have compared Love’s style to that of Mark Twain. In his writing classes, he has the participants create their own parchment journals similar to those used during the Lewis and Clark expedition.

OUTDOOR SKILLS
And for something a little bit different, Love also does presentations about fly-tying, fishing and outdoor skills that he used on the 2004 expedition. Those skills were honed while growing up in the Ozark Mountains where he helped his uncle run a fishing camp. Love became a fishing guide at age 12 and used johnboats (wooden flatbottomed boats designed for fishing) that he and his uncle built by hand.
It was this love for the outdoors and taking people on special journeys that led him to share his experiences with others through his writing and storytelling.

Sally Huggins is the managing editor of Kansas City - Small Business Monthly magazine.
Ozark Stories • Rolland Love • (913) 831-1909 • rtl at kc dot rr dot com • http://www.ozarkstories.com

Sunday, November 9, in San Marcos, Texas - Lewis & Clark booksigning

2008-11-06T11:07:14-06:00

Sunday, November 9 - Texas Authors Day
Book signing from 2-5
San Marcos Public Library, 625 E. Hopkins, San Marcos, Texas

Frances Hunter will be signing To the Ends of the Earth: The Last Journey of Lewis & Clark as part of Texas Authors Day. The San Marcos Public Library will host more than 30 Texas authors and illustrators, who will sign copies of their books and chat with fans. A variety of genres will be represented, including local history, Texana, mystery, horror, memoirs, children’s literature, poetry, history and fiction.

Review from Roundup Magazine (Western Writers of America):

This first novel is a blending of fact and fiction that can be described as a historical whodunit, but it is so much more. It is the story of a desperately ill, desperately depressed man who has accomplished great things, and who seeks his own redemption at a terrible cost. It is also the story of friendship between Meriwether Lewis and William Clark; friendship betrayed between William Clark and his slave, York; and love between William Clark and his wife, Julia. It is the story of bravery, of honor betrayed and honor redeemed, and the undeniable truth that great men possess great flaws as well as great strengths.

Frances Hunter’s characterization of Lewis, Clark, York, Julia, and Wilkinson are superb, truly astonishing accomplishments for a first novelist, or any novelist for that matter. Her settings are lovingly described, and the skillful plotting that blends the facts that we know, the facts that we suspect, and the fiction that is the mark of a great imagination, is remarkable. To Liz and Mary Clare, sisters writing under the name of Frances Hunter, bravo and welcome to two bright new stars of Western fiction!

To the Ends of the Earth won the Violet Crown Award for Fiction and a silver medal for historical fiction in the Independent Publisher “IPPY” Book Awards.

Saturday, November 1, in Austin, Texas - Lewis and Clark book signing

2008-10-17T14:52:03-06:00

Saturday, November 1 - Texas Book Festival
Book signing from 9-11
Writers’ League of Texas Booth
Book festival is held on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol

Frances Hunter will be signing To the Ends of the Earth: The Last Journey of Lewis & Clark as part of the Texas Book Festival. The Texas Book Festival is one of the premier literary festivals in the country, hosting more than 200 authors and drawing more than 45,000 annual attendees. The festival features panels, book signings, live music, cooking demonstrations, children’s activities, and readings.

Review from Roundup Magazine (Western Writers of America):

To the Ends of the Earth won the Violet Crown Award for Fiction and a silver medal for historical fiction in the Independent Publisher “IPPY” Book Awards.

Saturday, October 11 in Georgetown, Texas - Lewis & Clark book signing

2008-09-18T09:36:08-06:00

Saturday, October 11 - Hill Country Book Festival
Book signing from 9-4
Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St., Georgetown, Texas

Frances Hunter will be signing To the Ends of the Earth: The Last Journey of Lewis & Clark as part of the Hill Country Book Festival. The Hill Country Book Festival will feature celebrity authors, writing workshops, children’s activities, and more! The festival will feature guest authors and speakers, workshops, publishers, editors and children’s activities. Thirty-one area authors will be present to showcase and sell their books.
Review from Roundup Magazine (Western Writers of America):

Frances Hunter’s characterization of Lewis, Clark, York, Julia, and Wilkerson are superb, truly astonishing accomplishments for a first novelist, or any novelist for that matter. Her settings are lovingly described, and the skillful plotting that blends the facts that we know, the facts that we suspect, and the fiction that is the mark of a great imagination, is remarkable. To Liz and Mary Clare, sisters writing under the name of Frances Hunter, bravo and welcome to two bright new stars of Western fiction!

To the Ends of the Earth won the 2007 Violet Crown Award for Fiction and a silver medal for historical fiction in the 2007 Independent Publisher “IPPY” Book Awards.

Austin, Texas - Lewis & Clark Talk and Signing

2008-04-18T11:19:12-06:00

Book Signing & Talk
Saturday, April 26, 2008
3PM at BookPeople
603 N. Lamar, Austin, TX 78703
512-472-5050

High treason and highwaymen, murder and mayhem, politics and pigs in the streets. This ain’t Ken Burns’ Lewis & Clark! Please come join us at BookPeople, Austin’s great independent bookstore, for a lively discussion about nineteenth-century men behaving badly. We’ll talk about how our literary journey with America’s most famous explorers led us to uncover a nest of corruption at the highest level of the American military - and inspired us to write To the Ends of the Earth: The Last Journey of Lewis & Clark, winner of the 2007 Violet Crown Award for Fiction.

BookPeople is located at the corner of 6th & Lamar, right across the street from Waterloo Records and right next door to REI & Anthropologie.

We’d love to see any Texas Lewis & Clark fans there!

Thanks,

Liz & Mary Clare (Frances Hunter)

Kira Gale’s Talks and Tours

2008-03-28T13:30:55-06:00

I am currently available for talks and tours. I have many talks to offer; as those of you who have read my book, blogs or newsletter are aware. Generally I agree to talk on the subject suggested by the person who contacts me, or we work something out. I have a digital projector for Power Point presentations.

Before writing the Lewis and Clark Road Trips book, I gave tours in the Omaha-Council Bluffs area on early history.
I am now getting back to this. I strongly believe in the importance of linking history to place. As I drive around our area, I am often thinking of who was here and what was happening 200 years ago. It is just interesting to imagine!

What with the maps on the forums, all of us can link the story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition to where it happened.

Current Talks are:

“The Death of Meriwether Lewis: Murder or Suicide?”

“Sacagawea and her Children: the Story of their Lives”

“Lewis and Clark Day Trips in the Omaha-Council Bluffs Area”

“The Story of Early Council Bluffs: Famous Fur Traders, Explorers and Indians”

If an organization was to invite me to travel, I would enjoy getting some kind of area tour going also.
Please feel free to contact me at kira at lewisandclarktravel dot com My phone is (402) 451-2878.