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Author Rachelle Chase Returns with Second Book about Buxton
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An amazing integrated town was created in 1900 by a coal company and owned by a railroad, two industries known for being racist. But Buxton, Iowa was also known by many as a Black Utopia. In her second book, Creating the Black Utopia of Buxton, Iowa, author Rachelle Chase continues the story she began in her first book, Lost Buxton. She will continue her story of Buxton with a fascinating book talk on Monday, April 1 at 6:30 PM at Artisan Gallery 218 in West Des Moines.
In this community of five thousand residents, African Americans and Caucasians lived, worked and attended school together. It was a thriving, one-of-a-kind coal mining town created by the Consolidation Coal Company. African Americans were 55% of the population until approximately 1914. Surprisingly, there was no forced segregation or Jim Crow. If residents could not accept integration, Superintendent Ben Buxton made them move on.
The book shares stories of how this unique community provided opportunity for many of its residents. Dr. E. A. Carter was the first African American to get a medical degree from the University of Iowa in 1907. He returned to Buxton and was hired by the coal company, where he treated both black and white patients. Attorney George Woodson ran for file clerk in the Iowa Senate for the Republican Party, losing to a white man by one vote.
The author stumbled upon the story of Buxton eight years ago while visiting a friend. She began researching it and promised herself that she would write a book about it one day. When she moved to Iowa four years ago, she did. That first book made her want to know even more about the town and the corporations behind it, so she kept on doing research leading to this new book just released in January.
In addition to writing, Chase works as a senior business analyst for Fortune 500 companies, continues to research Buxton, and is a budding photographer, specializing in photos of bugs and food—though hopefully not in the same photo. For more information, visit www.LostBuxton.com and www.RachelleChase.com.
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2019
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April
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Meet the Author Tim Thompson
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Living Portals
In throwback Sci-Fi style, harkening to the adventure magazines of the
1950's, Living Portals is a science fiction short story collection that includes
eight stories of time and space bending adventure featuring Tom Tedesco of
earth. In settings from the desert to the sea, Tom (and others) learn how to
use, call, anticipate and benefit from a phenomenon they cannot yet explain.
Throughout his adventures, Tom encounters a cast of characters and species
that have plans for the portal system that don't include the best interests of
humanity. Tom may ultimately face a fight for control over the portals and
the survival of everyone he's ever cared for unless he can learn the key to
accessing the Portals and the secrets they contain.
About the author...
Tim Thompson is a Christian, husband, and father of two. He has served as a
cook, valet, waiter, car salesman, stockbroker, corporate attorney, associate
general counsel, and is currently the Assistant Dean of Online Legal Education
at The University of Tulsa College of Law.
Throughout his career, he has faced the question of whether to seek
adventure or take the safe course. He’s done what’s right for his family, and
doesn’t regret it, but now he’s feeding that thirst for adventure by writing
fiction. His stories explore the very extremes of human survival in science
fiction settings.
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2019
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July
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Meet the Author Connie Heckert
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Ride, Patriot Guard, Ride! A Photo Essay of
Patriotic Bikers and Their Good Deeds
Five men met in Mulvane, Kansas at the American Legion Paul Stewart Irwin
Post 136 on November 8, 2005. They started a new organization, the Patriot
Guard Riders, to show respect to fallen soldiers and support their loved ones
at funerals and visitations. Today, the grassroots organization has grown to
more than 350,000 registered members with a large number of additional
individuals and families who participate in flaglines, services and parades. The
original mission of honoring fallen soldiers has grown to recognizing first
responders, active duty military personnel and veterans. These Americans
come from all political parties, religions and work situations. They are patriots
making a difference for good in their communities and states all across
America.
About the author...
Connie Heckert celebrates published book 14 with Ride, Patriot Guard, Ride!
A Photo Essay of Patriotic Bikers and Their Good Deeds. Produced in
association with Pelican Publishing, this 48 page history documents the
history with text and photos of the Patriot Guard Riders organization over
nine years.
Heckert holds a MFA in Writing for Children and Teens from Hamline
University and a MA from the University of Iowa. She served as SCBWI-
Iowa’s Regional Advisor for 16 years. Connie has been published
in Cricket, The Writing Groups Book, The Writer and has by-lined more than
200 newspaper articles and magazines stories, many with her photos. Her
body of work includes Dribbles (Clarion) and Roots and Recipes: Six
Generations of Heartland Cookery (Pelican Pub.) and seven adult corporate,
pictorial histories.
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2019
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July
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Happy Hour Book Club
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Join us for our Happy Hour Book Club, at RUBAIYAT. We discuss contemporary literary fiction. Decorah Public Library has multiple copies of discussion books for checkout. For January we will be discussing "The Tattooist of Auschwitz" by Heather Morris.
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2019
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January
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KPL Monthly Book Club
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The Knoxville Book Club meets on the second Monday of every month to discuss one title. In January, we will discuss the All Iowa Reads title "This Blessed Earth" by Ted Genoways. The topic is relevant to all Iowans, who are closely associated with farming and agriculture. Everyone is welcome.
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2019
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January
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You're invited to a book launch party!
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I’m VERY excited to be introducing my latest book, Be the Light that You Are, and hope you'll join me for a presentation and reading, book signing, food, fun and announcements about special upcoming events.
I couldn’t be happier to hold this event at Beaverdale Books. Since I grew up in that neighborhood, it always feels like coming home. (I just wish the store had existed when I was a kid!)
Be the Light that You Are is the perfect follow-up to The Only Little Prayer You Need and Let Your Spirit Guides Speak. I think of it as a handbook, based on ten principles that will keep us focused on kindness and decency no matter how overwhelming the world may seem. It feels like the right time for this book—it's something we can all use every day.
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2019
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April
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Book Signing & Book Talk with Rachelle Chase
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Some have called Buxton a Black Utopia. In the town of five thousand residents, established in 1900, African Americans and Caucasians lived, worked and attended school together. It was a thriving, one-of-a-kind coal mining town created by the Consolidation Coal Company. This inclusive approach provided opportunity for its residents. Dr. E.A. Carter was the first African American to get a medical degree from the University of Iowa in 1907. He returned to Buxton and was hired by the coal company, where he treated both black and white patients. Attorney George Woodson ran for file clerk in the Iowa Senate for the Republican Party in 1898, losing to a white man by one vote. Author Rachelle Chase details the amazing events that created this unique community and what made it disappear.
Rachelle will hold a Book Talk at noon. Join her to ask questions and learn more about this interesting community.
Rachelle will hold a Book Talk at noon. Join her to ask questions and learn more about this interesting community.
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2019
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May
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All Iowa Reads Community Book Discussion
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Join us around the fireplace as we discuss the 2019 All Iowa Reads selection This Blessed Earth: A Year in the Life of an American Family Farm by Ted Genoways. This was also chosen as the One Book One Nebraska book.
The family farm lies at the heart of our national identity, and yet its future is in peril. Rick Hammond grew up on a farm, and for forty years he has raised cattle and crops on his wife’s fifth-generation homestead in Nebraska, in hopes of passing it on to their four children. But as the handoff nears, their family farm—and their entire way of life—are under siege on many fronts, from shifting trade policies, to encroaching pipelines, to climate change. Following the Hammonds from harvest to harvest, Ted Genoways explores the rapidly changing world of small, traditional farming operations. He creates a vivid, nuanced portrait of a radical new landscape and one family’s fight to preserve their legacy and the life they love.
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2019
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August
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Yellow Suit Club
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A Book Club with a Twist
Unwrap a New World Every Month
6:30-8:00 p.m.
First Tuesdays at Plot Twist Bookstore
Chad Michael Cox, leader
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2017
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January
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Novel Conversations
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Novel Conversations is a book group that alternates between classic novels and more recent works of fiction and nonfiction. Participants are welcome to come to all the meetings or just those that sound interesting. Multiple copies of each book are available for checkout in the library and are, whenever possible, made available in large print, audiobook, and ebook editions.
Novel Conversations meets the third Thursday of each month from 7:00-8:00 pm in the Board Room. Refreshments are served!
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2017
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January