Monday, April 11, 2011

SUSAN MACATEE DECLARES WAR! OH, IT WAS 150 YEARS AGO

Abraham Lincoln
November 1863
This is the official 150th anniversary of the launch of the Civil War, so I stuck Abraham Lincoln's photo here. When my younger brother Don was a boy, he loved anything about Abraham Lincoln--probably still does. Don used to call "Onward Christian Soldiers" the "Abraham Lincoln song" because it seemed always to accompany documentaries about Lincoln. That has nothing to do with today's guest, but I think it's cute. Humor me, please. This is my baby brother we're talking about.

Today's guest is Susan Macatee, a friend who has long been interested in writing, but didn't make it official until her youngest started kindergarten. Since then, Susan has been successful as a novelist. She also writes for the confession magazines, known among writers as "the Trues." You didn't think those were actually true, did you? If you did, I'm so sorry to burst your bubble.

Don't miss the part about prizes at the end.

Here's Susan's post:

           WAR IS DECLARED!

Beauregard
2011 is the 150 year anniversary of the start of the American Civil War. It all began at Fort Sumter, in Charleston, South Carolina harbor on April 11, 1861. A surrender of the fort was requested by Confederate Brigadier General Pierre G. T. Beauregard, but Federal commander, Major Robert Anderson, refused. The first shot of the American Civil War was fired from a Confederate artillery battery at 4:30 a.m. April 12, 1861. After artillery exchanges that continued through April 13th, the fort was evacuated on April 14th.   Following this, Lincoln issued a proclamation that called for 75,000 militia for ninety days’ service, to put down “combinations too powerful to be suppressed”. The American Civil War had officially begun!

Susan and her husband at a Civil
War reenactment in Nishaminy
State Park, Pennsylvania.
Don't they make a handsome couple?
This is an important anniversary that should spark a lot of interest in the war between the States. Events are planned all over the country, including battle reenactments, seminars, symposiums and lectures. New movies set during and after the war are being developed as well. Books and other Civil War paraphernalia should be in demand, also.

I currently have five books, four in print and e-book, one only available as an e-book, all available from The Wild Rose Press. The buy link for my books at The Wild Rose Press is: http://tinyurl.com/3egf4ex

My award winning novel, CONFEDERATE ROSE, is the story of an Irish immigrant heroine, who disguises herself as a man and fights in the Confederate army. She meets a charming Southerner, she later learns in a Federal spy.


ERIN'S REBEL is a time travel romance. The heroine travels from present day to land in Confederate army camp. She meets a Rebel officer who steals her heart away.

My other three Civil War romances are novellas. Two are included in anthologies: one in the 2011 EPIC finalist, NORTHERN ROSES AND SOUTHERN BELLES, the other in the historical Christmas anthology, AN AMERICAN ROSE CHRISTMAS.

The third is a stand alone novella, available as an e-book, my Civil War vampire story, SWEET REDEMPTION. To learn more about me and all of my books, visit my website, www.susanmacatee.com

I hope this will be an exciting year for everything Civil War, as well as the next four years that will follow the war years from 1861 to 1865.

For more on the start of the American Civil War, visit this site. www.civilwarhome.com/ovbegin.htm


2011 EPIC Finalist

Thanks to Susan for sharing with us. By the way, her books have won multiple awards and received rave reviews.

On Wednesday and on Friday, I'll relate  stories about a few of my ancestors who fought in the Civil War. Yep, we were on the wrong side, but you might be interested to learn why. Sure you will.

PRIZES, PRIZES, PRIZES!


Since all week we'll be talking about the Civil War, someone who leaves a comment on this blog during this week will win a download of NORTHERN ROSES AND SOUTHERN BELLES (or one of my other Caroline Clemmons books if the winner is not a Civil War fan) to celebrate the anniversary of the Civil War. Although, I have no idea why anyone would call it "civil war." Yes, yes, I understand the definition, but it still seems an oxymoron.

13 comments:

Susan Macatee said...

Sorry, Caroline! I spaced out with all this beautiful weather we're having and forgot I was on your blog today.

Thanks so much for having me, though.

Bobbye Terry said...

I love to hear anything about the Civil War. I'm from Virginia, considering my hometown to be Lynchburg (where my father's family hales from) and lived there for many years as well as in Richmond for another 15.

Good luck with your book. It looks yummy.

Bobbye

Bookie said...

This was VERY interesting and a timely blog for me today. Over the weekend, I just learned some great great uncles fought--as Confederates! Brought up a Jayhawer in Kansas, I always thought the only side was BLUE.

Now living in Carthage, Missouri where the twon notes itself as first Civil War Battle west of the Mississippi. There will be an reenactment here too in May.

I'd love to win a Civil War story!

Ruby said...

I'm in Charleston this week and I've heard cannons going off all day in preparation for tomorrow's firing on Fort Sumter. Lots of activities going on took my grandson to The Fort this morning

Susan Macatee said...

Thanks for stopping by Bobbye, Bookie and Ruby! I think these next few years will have a lot of new releases, plus old favorites coming back set during the Civil War.

And Bookie, my husband found out he had relations who fought on both sides in the same family. I think it occurred more often then people realize.

Denise Eagan said...

I always find myself both fascinated and appalled by the Civil war. That so many Americans died in so much blood and misery saddens me. On the other hand, if we hadn't had this "test", the U.S wouldn't be the country it is today, and the world would be such a different place. I have ancestors that fought on both sides--I wonder how many others do, and if they feel torn by it even 150 years later?

Jeanmarie Hamilton said...

Susan and Caroline,
Thanks for the blog about the Civil War and also mentioning the many stories about it.

I don't know all of my ancestors who may have been involved, but I do know that I had a great great grandfather in Iowa fighting for the North, and a Texas great great grandfather who sold his mules to the Northern Army. I may have had ancestors who fought on the Confederate side, but I don't know who they were and haven't found them yet. One of my great great uncles in Iowa died right after signing up. Another died after the war from illness contracted while in the conflict. How tragic that must have been for their parents. I also know of a couple of Connecticut great great uncles who fought. I have a tin type photo of one of the men who joined the cavalry, wearing his uniform. I don't know who he is but suspect he was one of the Hart family members. He looked a lot like your husband, Susan!

Maeve Greyson said...

Awesome post!!! I love Civil War stories. :-)

Debby Lee said...

Hi Susan, thanks for posting. I love all things to do with the Civil War. I too hope we see renewed interest in the next four years. Please enter me in the contest. Thanks a bunch.
Sincerely, Debby Lee

Karen Michelle Nutt said...

I love historical tales. Very interesting post about the Civil War.

I had a chance to visit Gettysburg.
We took the driving tour and listened to the CDs explaining the what happened. It was a surreal step back in time.

Margaret Tanner said...

Hi Susan,
Great blog. Yes, you and your hubby certainly are a handsome pair. I love reading about the Civil War, thanks to Gone With the Wind It is certainly a fascinating historical era.

Regards

Margaret

Ilona Fridl said...

Susan,
Love the pic of you and hubby in the reenactment garb. I worked at a living history museum for 15 years and were in hoops many times. I know the civil war history very well. Hope your book does great sales!

Susan Macatee said...

Thanks for commenting, everyone! I know for a fact that my husband had relatives who fought on both sides. Three brothers in the same family!

The reason was, after the older brothers signed up to fight for the Confederacy, the family moved to Maryland to try to keep the youngest son out of it, but he ended up joining the Union army.


I think this is why this war is so fascinating to us. It was all about our country and the families who were torn apart and divided against each other.