It is done.

[eldritchhobbit]

::deep breath::

I have just signed a book contract for a new volume entitled The Trail of Tears and Indian Removal for Greenwood Publishing Group. If you know much about me, you can imagine what this means to me. This will be my third book for Greenwood; more to the point, in writing it I will be able to revisit some of the themes from my doctoral dissertation, "From Aniyuwiya to Indian Territory: Concepts of Cherokee Civilization, 1500-1839."

Needless to say, I feel very humbled by the weight of this task.

The book is not due out until late 2006/early 2007, so that means I have time to complete my two other non-fiction writing projects -- the current article on U.S. Native American policy that I am co-authoring and my work for The J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment -- before I begin. But just knowing this is on my horizon... well, it holds great meaning for me.

Thank you so much for letting me share this.

Quote of the day:

"Cherokee blood, if not destroyed, will win its course in beings of fair complexions, who will read that their ancestors became civilized under the frowns of misfortune, and the causes of their enemies."
- John Ridge, February 27, 1826

Comments

[sithdragn.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! I appreciate it.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

Fantastic news! You should be very proud.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I'm more at the "humbled and awed" stage, but your kind words mean a lot. Thanks! :)

[beledibabe.livejournal.com]

Oh, darlin'!!!!! ::massive hugs:: This is wonderful news! I can't wait to buy a copy and hug it to my bosom! (Or thereabouts.)

::does hhjj dance::

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

::massive hugs back:: Your hhjj dance has made my day. Thank you so much, m'dear! :) I owe you one. :):)

[syredronning.livejournal.com]

That sounds great :)) Congratulations!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! I really appreciate it! :)

[onegoat.livejournal.com]

Congrats, congrats! That's wonderful news :)
I'm slightly in awe of you, my dear, your achievements are many!
You teach a Tolkien course? I'm so jealous, I have never heard of such a thing over this side of the pond -silly small island ;)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

You are so kind, onegoat! :) Thank you so much! I'm in a very fortunate position to get to mix "business and pleasure" in the way I do. For example, I'll be offering the Tolkien class again this Fall, and I'm already looking forward to it. I can't claim credit for the idea, though -- I know some professors who were teaching similar classes when I was still in diapers! Anyway, thanks again for your encouraging and friendly words. I appreciate them very much.

Hello

[faramirgirl.livejournal.com]

That is wonderful and a book that I would want to read. I have cherokee in me but really don't know much about them. Looking forward to the book when it comes out.

Re: Hello

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

(((FG))) Thank you so much! :)

[serpentcoils.livejournal.com]

eek!! congratulations!! i feel so proud of you. <:) my grandpa was a full-blooded cherokee, and fascinating to boot. i wish you luck with the book, but don't work too hard. ;)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow - very cool! Thanks so much for your kind words! ((((hugs)))) I appreciate it. And I'll definitely work on not working too hard! LOL!

[duncatra.livejournal.com]

Lt me add to the long list: Congrats!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you so much! I really appreciate it!

[alicambs.livejournal.com]

I'm impressed, and congratulations. I also enjoyed reading the inteview, so thanks for the link.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!!! I dislike sounding so self-involved, but I thought linking to the interview was much easier than spilling my Whole Life Story as preface to why this particular writing opportunity is important to me. You deserve some sort of medal for making your way through it! LOL! Thanks again for your kind words. Your encouragement is most appreciated.

[randomalia.livejournal.com]

You are really quite brilliant, you know. And you thank us for letting you share your wonderful news, but I feel compelled to thank you for involving us! It's interesting to hear and I'm pleased you have such an amazing opportunity. Yay! :) And it sounds (from the title, at least) like an important subject.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you so much! I am so grateful for your kind words. Thank you. I'm really looking forward to working on it. I want to cover the standard information, as difficult as it is -- death tolls, conditions, etc. -- but I also want to emphasize how both nations first involved, the U.S. and the Cherokee Nation, were irrevocably changed by the event in terms of their consititutions, systems, and political thought. The effects are still with us in many ways, the remnants of intellectual and individual damage. Sorry to babble on there -- as you can see, I'm starting to get really excited. Thanks again for your encouragement and kindness.

[estellye.livejournal.com]

This is wonderfully exciting news! How do you find time to be so professionally prolific and still manage to come out here and share with us? However you manage it, I am very glad that you do!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

You are so kind! Thank you so much for your sweet reply. Really, I get a lot of energy from talking in front of people and seeing their faces and taking their questions. But in the end, writing is my first love, so this kind of opportunity means a lot to me. I appreciate your kind words a great deal. Thanks! :)

[gondoriangirl.livejournal.com]

Amy! That's wonderful! I am so happy for you! We *must* have a Smial party!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much, ((((GG))))! Ooh, Smial party. I like the sound of that! :)

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

Belatedly, of course, because when do I ever have anything out on time...

congratulations, massively, my dear. That's such a wonderful project for you to work on, and you'll rise to the task as you always do.

(((hugs)))

with love from your barely-Cherokee 1/32 friend,

-K

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for your sweet words. I appreciate it! Hope you have a fantastic time on your hiatus! :) (((hugs)))