Montana Scribbler

If I were forced to choose a one-word description for Rockford: A History, impressive is an apt overview for this recently released regional history about the Palouse in southeast Washington State.

Compiled by Ardis Dashiell, who has lived in the Palouse for sixty-five years, took upon herself the daunting task of preserving its past.

The Rockford Historical Society funded publication of the 344-page hardback book. It includes interviews, her personal knowledge and previously published works.

Two thirds of the original print run of 300 copies sold out within days, demonstrating that Rockford: A History has an audience.

Ardis, the white-haired wife of a rancher always has a ready smile, She says of herself,

"I'm a quilter, genealogist, and now a historian I guess. Being a longtime resident of the area helped tremendously."

Her ability to piece together a masterpiece isn't limited to fabric. Stories and documentation in Rockford: A History clearly paint colorful pictures of homesteading and development in the area comprised of rolling plains cleft by deep basalt canyons and surrounded by low mountain ranges.

Like many regional histories, Ardis' well-done book is a labor of love. Uncounted hours of devotion transpired before this valuable record of bygone days made it to a printer and bookbinder.

"I learned more than I anticipated," she says of the research and tasks involved in writing a local history book. "It took me twenty years."

Profiles of the town's founding fathers (*) businesses, schools, churches and families create the saga of a growing community. Like scores of other early towns, hardy settlers battled and conquered the challenges of devastating fires and floods.

Photographs from numerous private collections, maps, land plats complete with names, add depth and meaning to the settlers part in American history.

Creation of the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation is among the many biographical sketches contained in the book. The photograph on page 127 is meaningful beyond words. It captured the mien of thirteen tribal members just after "they had been to Coey's Bank to receive the first major payment of one half million dollars which was paid to individual Indians..." Twelve of the recipients of the distribution of Federal money are named.

Almost inevitably, the photographs, which include images in local historical society files, do not identify the photographer. Also omitted are addresses for early-day schools, churches, and of far too many businesses that no longer exist. Nevertheless, the old images convey a priceless intimacy to Rockford: A History, and include a wealth of remarkable insights into the past.

Gaining a wider audience for the hefty volume will take time. But sooner or later some readers will tweet or post on Facebook or another social network about Dashielle's book. Then, like the windstorms that frequent the Palouse and waft its topsoil to distant regions, word of this impressive saga of the olden days will spread.

One caveat, however, is that the publication lacks a ISBN, which means this valuable book will be available in only a few libraries.

Sadly, the ongoing research, planning, and marketing it takes to sell a book in today's world is expensive and time-consuming, even when the book is worthwhile. But as publishers of regional histories attest: each new generation searches for its past, thus regional history keeps on selling and selling and selling.

This is Dashiell's third book. Her first, a tribute to her mother was limited to copies only for her immediate family. Her earlier major book is a large hardbound history of Mount Hope, Washington. Once a thriving nearby town of over 800 souls, time and circumstances have reduced it to a wee hamlet comprised of a few buildings.

Expect Rockford: A History, first edition to quickly become a collector's item. Ardis, who is co-vice president of Rockford Historical Society says,

"I imagine a second edition will be ordered before long."

Send $30 + $5 shipping and handling to Rockford Historical Society, P.O. Box 107 Rockford, WA 99030 to order what is certain to become a rare collector edition.
END

Rockford Historical Society, http://www.rockfordhistoricalsociety.org/.
(*) Founding fathers, http://tinyurl.com/23mmd2d.
Read the latest about this author and her award-winning husband, Tom, http://www.hereford.org/node/6953.

Recently, Ann Hite received what every writer wants to hear, a marvelous complement from her editor. It's a terrific example of the value of "plussing" a novel. Her editor wrote the following about the edits of Ann's current novel, Ghost On Black Mountain:

"Very impressive, but what's really impressive is the work you have done on Ghost On Black Mountain. I honestly have been savoring it. I'm three quarters of the way through and I have to say you nailed the Josie and Shelly sections. I'm so over the moon with the work you've done. I'll finish this week and we should chat ... honestly, I also don't want the last page to come so I've been reading the book in pieces as a present to myself after a long day. What a wonderful sign, right?!

"More to come, but I didn't want to keep you in suspense any longer. Your additions really made this story bigger and better. Excited to read more tonight when I finally get home!"

When Ann recovered from the thrill, she knew her editor had increased her awareness of how important it is that as you write, avoid the need to fill in missing details by not omit them in the first place.

Ghost On Black Mountain is scheduled for release the fall of 2011 by Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. While waiting for it, enjoy Ann's spellbinding stories on her web site, http://www.annhite.com./