We got more good press
If you are a fan of Kansas history, or more specifically Peabody history, you'll want to wander in to the annual open house Saturday at Jackrabbit Hollow. The Chief Rabbit will be doing a bunch of good things — like giving out tasty refreshments and a peek at the newest fare for holiday "gifting."
But the big news is she also has lined up authors for book signings. These are pretty special events. How many authors do you think have been to Peabody? A ba-jumble since Jackrabbit Hollow opened 13 years ago. Probably not any before then. So just having bona fide authors in our downtown meeting and greeting the public is a pretty good deal, don't you think?
Lowell May, who co-authored "Prisoners of War in Kansas: 1943-1946" will be on hand to sign copies of his book and here is where Peabody history comes into play. Guess what little town that you love so well is referenced in a bunch of pages in that newly printed tome? Yup, this little town.
I had a quick glance at the book Monday when the Chief Rabbit opened her shipment. Recently the publisher has inundated me with press releases, but I don't always get to print that stuff because by rights they should buy an ad since they are selling a product. I make all of you do that, right? So they should also. But they didn't. So I didn't print their press releases either. Fair is fair. However, the Chief Rabbit DID line up ads for her open house and book signings so she gets a little freebie here on the editorial page.
Back to my point, which is — many of the people we all know are actually listed in the index! Have you ever been a reference in an index? Me either. But there they are: Gwen Gaines, Orlene Scrivner, Sadie Decker, Joan Berns, Betty Sebree, and others. The authors did a pretty good job of researching the POWs in Peabody, their camp, and their lives. I am anxious to read it.
You can't buy better press for your community than this.
The Chief Rabbit says she didn't order dozens of volumes because the advance data didn't indicate how much information there might be on Peabody. She didn't want to be stuck sending her family books about prisoners of war in Kansas for the next 10 Christmases. Can't say I blame her on that one. But she has SOME books and you can reserve a copy. There is no charge to have it autographed and meet one of the authors.
What a great event! Yeah, this is pretty much an unabashed advertisement for the bookstore that houses the newspaper office. So shoot me.
Just please wait until I finish reading my autographed copy of this book.
— SUSAN MARSHALL
