Sunday, August 23, 2009 --  We are pleased that orders are beginning to come in as a result of an ad placed in The Douglas Enterprise.  one order came from Jean Barnwell Bowlin, whose brother is Lonnie H. Pope who is mentioned in the book as one of our first clients when he was owners of a flavor and fragrance business in Marietta.

MAIL CALL --  A couple of very special message from two longtime friends are tremendously appreciated.

This one came from Robert Williams, Jr., Publisher of SouthFire Newspaper Group, with newspapers in Alma, Blackshea,r Folkston, Forsyth, and McRae.

WWhat a great read!!  Loved the part about the Patterson Post Office location's impact on the Stuckey-Tuten race and really appreciated your kind words about our great friend, Steve Nimmer.

"The whole book was absolutely fascinating!  What an interesting career (and life) you've been blessed to lead.  Your impact on our state and nation is significant and I'm one of those who doesn't lose faith in politics because of the people who contribute sincere efforts to promote the public interest.

"I think about you often and know you are missing your beloved Dee, I hope you are doing well, though, and know you have countless friends who respect and appeciate you.  Count me among them,"  Best regards, Robert

This message came today from a longtime friend, Ginger Taylor, who recently retired from her great work for the State of Georgia in the tourism area: 

"The book is perfect!  As I've read snippets, some things have kind of fallen in place for me about different people and it is like walking down memory lane.  Thank you for writing this book, sharing it with the public and with me!  It's so much of Georgia's history brought to life by you"  All the best, Ginger.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009 --  We had a great visit in Douglas (my hometown) today with a presentation about the book to the Douglas Lions Club, at the invitation of Dewey Hayes, Jr.   There was great food at the Douglas Country Club, worth driving three and a half hours for anytime.  I was pleased to see a few old friends in the audience, like R.L. OSteen, who bought a book and probably will get his picture in The Douglas Enterprise, as well as our longtime friend, Roy Jones, a retired radio personality, formerly with WDMG Radio, but I must admit there are a lot of new faces and especially young faces in the crowd. A couple of Douglas High classmates were there -- Frank "Red" Marshall and Neil Sims.  Also glad to see Rep. Chuck Sims who is a member of the Lions Club.  I am very appreciative of remarks made to the club by developer and civic leader Francis Lott, who complimented Man in the Middle.  He had stood in line at the Douglas Museum to purchase his copy of the book during a previous visit to Douglas.  First person we saw upon arrival was David Dukes, whose job it was to set up the sound system.  David was just a young kid when the Sports and Dukes families used to get together for frequent visits. 

Thursday, July 30, 2009,   Returning from a quick visit to the farm just south of Moultrie, a call came from former Governor Carl Sanders.  He complimented the book.  He said, "The only part I didn't like was where you said you voted for Jimmy Carter for Governor."  Gov. Sanders talked at length about the pages in the book about David Smith and his company International Horizons. We had remembered that Gov. Sanders had written a book and he talked about a book that his wife had written when he said, "It is a lot better than mine."

 Tuesday, July 28, 2009  Books were deliverd to the Capitol for each member of the Senate and House Agriculture Committee. It must have been that Rep. Kevin Levitas was in his office that day because he was first to respond with a favorable message.  The books were compliments of another of our longtime clients, The Monsanto Company, with the best wishes of Bo Warren, the regional governmental affairs director.

Friday, June 12, 2009  --  Fifty books were delivered to the State Capitol for members of the House and Senate Insurance Committees and Regulated Industries Committees.  A letter from Peachtree Settlement Funding president Tim Trankina cited a long friendship with the author and expressed appreciation for his work as headed of Peachtree's legislative team.  Books will soon be delivered to members of the Agriculture Committee from Bo Warren and Monsanto Co.

Friday, May 22, 2009 --  Former Rep. Joe T. Wood of Gainesville called to say he had placed a check in the mail for a book but wanted it before next Friday.  It will go into the mail first thing Tuesday morning.   Also received an email from Sonny Giddens of Eastman.  He wanted to order book and also jokingly asked if I had written a chapter about my favorite EX-Brother in Law.   I did let him know he was mentioned since he is the DAD of two of my nephews and GRANDDAD of the  twins pictured in a popular color picture on page 33.  Sonny's book will be sent on Tuesday and he gets the special "EX Brother-in-Law Rate." 

Thursday, May 21, 2009 --  With the help of Stephanie Kozol, we did some stuffing and mailing of information about the books to a number of friends who had previously expressed interest in getting a book.  Stephanie has also prepared a list of other marketing ideas we expect to implement .

Tuesday, May 19, 2009   --  During the day we sold nearly sixty books during the Writers and Artist event at Heritage Station Museum and during a luncheon meeting of the Foundation of South Georgia College.  Dewey Hayes, Jr. purchased a big stack of books for his family and friends since the book notes that I wrote the first news release for his Dad's successful campaign for Solicitor (District Attorney) in the fifties.  I was also honored to receive a check for a book from Joanne Lewis, the dynamic president of the Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce .

Monday, May 18, 2009   --It was great to be back in the Studios of WALB-TV in Albany to plug the book.  Ruthie Garner did a good job with the interview and gave the books great exposure.  There were several calls to the TV station after the interview looking for how to buy a book and these were referred to Ed Lightsey of Albany.  Ed is a good friend and is the editor of the book about the first fifty years of WALB-TV.  He is setting up some marketing opportunities for us in Albany.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009   --  We had been invited to have a table to promote the book at the reception of the Jefferson Jackson Day Dinner at the Hyatt.  However, we were not permitted to place promotional material on the tables and our display table was way over in the corner, so this sales night was almost a bust.  Several friends did say they wanted to buy books at a later time but didn't want to keep up with it during the dinner.  (We are going to order some plastic bags for future such events.)  I did get a chance to present a book to former Gov. Carl Sanders who was honored during the evening.