Just a quick note. I've finally started working on the sequel to The Late Sooner. I think this new title will be The Late Sooner's Daughter.

I've been working about a month on research and writing. Don't have a book cover yet. I'm about 33,000 words into it. Trying to write 1,000 words a day.

The Late Sooner Event

http://tinyurl.com/7e5qzeo

On Saturday, March 10, Kansas Author's Club, District #2 hosted an event "Writing the Skeletons in Your Closet" at Johnson County's Antioch Library.

I shared a power point presentation of the steps I took to write The Late Sooner based on my great-grandfather's one-line-a-day diary. I also furnished handouts of helpful books and websites for history writers.

Fourth Land Run

On September 16, 1893 about 100,000 people participated in the run for land in the Cherokee Outlet, making it the largest of all the land openings. The western half was drier and suitable only for grazing. It remained largely unclaimed until the 1900's.

First Oklahoma Land Run

April 22, 1889, an estimated 50,000 pioneers crowded along the borders of the Unassigned Lands to make the first land run in Oklahoma history. The race began at high noon. They came by train, horse, buggy, and bicycle to win 160 acres of their very own.

General Allotment

The General Allotment Act, passed by Congress in 1887, was the beginning of the end for tribal sovereignty and reservations in the Indian Territory. After the government reached agreements with a tribe, heads of families received 160 acres of land, while single individuals under 18 received 80 acres. Allottees were able to choose which land they wanted. After the allotment was completed, surplus lands were purchased from the tribes and made a part of the public domain, thus paving the way for the numerous land openings. As each parcel was opened, it was added to Oklahoma Territory, important steps in the state-making process.

First Land Run of the Unassigned Lands of the Oklahoma Territory

Did you know the land was not all taken in one day in the first opening of the Oklahoma Territory on April 22, 1889?