One of the most common questions I get when I am doing book shows is “How do you research your books?”
This is a valid question, as I am providing information in my books and readers want to know is where I get that information.
The answer is, I do 99% of my research online. There are literally millions of digitized documents out there provided by universities, libraries, museums and other institutions.
Google has digitized millions of public domain books. These include out of print early histories of counties, states and other types of books.
Some examples of books I am currently using for researching projects I am working on now include:
Naval Documents of the American Revolution
The Writings of George Washington
New Deal Resources in Indiana
by National Register of Historic Places
Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico
Various publications on freezing foods put out by state agricultural bureaus.
This is just a sampling of the kinds of documents and books I can find by creative searching of the Internet.
For my Indiana history series, I have a record of the Indiana Territorial Governor William Henry Harrison’s letters written while he was governor. A journal kept by a lady named Lydia Bacon, who was the wife of the quartermaster that served under Harrison at the Battle of Tippecanoe.
Three journals of men that served at the Battle of Fallen Timbers under General Anthony Wayne. One of these soldiers was William Clark, who would later take part in the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
I generally try to find at least four sources for an article before I write it, preferably more.
That’s it. That is how I spend a great deal of my time. Sifting through dusty, digitized documents, sorting out the information and attempting to produce interesting history for you to read.
You can visit my web page to read sample pages and support my work by purchasing a book. Download a catalog with sample chapters to read at your leisure.
You can purchase them at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple and many other book retailers.
You can also purchase direct from me on the web site. I will sign books upon request.
The Author’s Books Available At:
Mossy Feet Books - Author Paul R. Wonning 