Category: Sample Chapter

Indiana History Series, Sample Chapter

Sample Chapter – Indiana’s First Railroad

The Indiana Sesquicentennial Commission dedicated a marker on July 3 1966 in Shelbyville, Indiana, on the site of the first railroad built west of the Allegheny Mountains. Judge W. J. Peasley, one of the early settlers in Shelby County, during the early part of the year 1834, built a road one and one-half miles long just east of Shelbyville, consisting of wooden ties and rails, on which the cars were drawn by horse power. Continue reading Sample Chapter – Indiana’s First Railroad

Indiana History Series, Sample Chapter

Sample Chapter – September 15, 1849 – Charter Granted to Madison’s Fair Play Fire Company Number One

Platted in 1809, Madison had no fire company until 1821, when local citizens formed the United Volunteer Fire Company. City officials decided to create a paid fire company in 1826. This company lasted less than a year and the project was abandoned. Many of the former members of the original United Volunteer Fi Continue reading Sample Chapter – September 15, 1849 – Charter Granted to Madison’s Fair Play Fire Company Number One

Indiana History Series, Sample Chapter

Sample Chapter – Carnegie Libraries in Indiana

Construction on the Goshen Carnegie Library commenced after the approval of the grant of $15,000 was announced in January 1901. After interviewing five architectural firms, Goshen officials chose the firm of Patton, Fisher & Miller from Chicago. The firm designed a Beaux-Arts style building and used Bedford limestone to cover the 1 1/2 story building. It has a red tile roof. Goshen officials managed to convince the Carnegie Foundation to increase the grant to $25,000, which was the final cost of construction. Local citizens dedicated the building at the corner of Washington and Fifth Streets on January 15, 1903. The National Register of Historic Places listed the building on January 2, 1983. the Indiana Historic Commission has placed an historic marker at the building’s location. Continue reading Sample Chapter – Carnegie Libraries in Indiana

Home Guide Basics Series, Sample Chapter

Sample Chapter – Utility Service

Distribution Transformer
The electric utility company supplies power to the utility wires that are strung along the roadways at voltages that can range from 2300 to 35,000 volts. The companies use a device called a distribution transformer to cut this power down to 220 volts to supply the typical home or business. The distribution transformer can supply either one or several residences, depending upon local needs. The transformer will be called either pole mounted or pad mounted, depending upon their mounting method. Continue reading Sample Chapter – Utility Service

Gardener's Guide to Growing Your Vegetable Garden, Sample Chapter

Sample Chapter – Arugula

Harvested as a food crop at least since the Sixth Century, BC, arugula has a long history. Originating in the Mediterranean area, arugula had the reputation of being a sexual stimulant. This reputation was so strong that growing it in monasteries during the Middle Ages was forbidden. Many writers at the time recommended mixing it with lettuce to lessen the aphrodisiac effect. Arugula also found use as an anesthetic. Traditionally, people gathered arugula from the wild or home gardens to add to their salads. Continue reading Sample Chapter – Arugula

Gardener's Guide Serie, Sample Chapter

Sample Chapter – Garden Soil Types – A Quick Soil Primer

Garden Soil Types – A Quick Soil Primer
Soil is the top several inches of the earth’s crust. Soil is necessary for civilization to exist, as it supports the plant life that sustains forests, plains, agriculture and other habitats. Five basic factors influence the formation of soil, the bedrock, climate, local fauna and flora, topography and the passage of time. The gardener will find three layers of soils underlying their garden, the topsoil, and subsoil and parent material. The parent material is the minerals that originally formed the soil. The subsoil is the intermediate level between topsoil and the parent material and will have some qualities of both. The topsoil is the part that concerns most gardeners. Continue reading Sample Chapter – Garden Soil Types – A Quick Soil Primer

Fiction Short Story Collection Series, Sample Chapter

Sample Chapter – The Skull Garden

Her garden was beginning to grow, the tips of the skulls just emerging from the forest mold. The Skull Tender glided, soundless, over the dried leaves, waiting. The forest was quiet and she was impatient. The time of harvest was nearing. Her eyes and ears scanned the forest in the gathering evening gloom. There was no sound or movement to gladden her senses. There was still time. She would wait. Continue reading Sample Chapter – The Skull Garden

Fiction Short Story Collection Series, Sample Chapter

Sample Chapter – The Collection

Rheumatism they used to call it. The new fangled name was arthritis. No matter what the name, the old man knew it was more than an inconvenience. His knees hurt and it stiffened his fingers.
He faced a campfire and felt the warmth of the flames penetrate his skin. He glanced at his van, filled with his collection. It had taken many years to accumulate. Now it was time to sell it. It was time to end this collection so he could start anew. Continue reading Sample Chapter – The Collection

Fiction Short Story Collection Series, Sample Chapter

Sample Chapter – Ad Campaign

Randy Bellows studied the proposal from his top project leader, Skip Jenson. He had, against his best intuition, okayed the project. After looking at the costs involved he was having second thoughts. This was totally new technology and he would not pretend to understand it. He shrugged. It was too late; the project was already ready to test. He closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead and thought of Sarah Billings. He longed to be walking the beach with her at Cancun. Maybe if this project were successful it would be time to hand the company over to someone younger. Skip and his assistant Barbara Dinker were the obvious choices. He would call Bob, his lawyer and oldest friend. He would have the papers drawn up and ready. All he could do now was hope for success. Continue reading Sample Chapter – Ad Campaign

Fiction Short Story Collection Series, Sample Chapter

Sample Chapter – Practical Joke

Jason Wells enjoyed the independence of having his own real estate brokerage. He could keep his own hours and set his own pace. Since he was always meeting new clients to list or show homes, he was a stickler for maintaining his appearance. This fickleness led to his frequent visits to the barbershop. While in the shop, he struck up a casual acquaintance with the two old farmers, Ben and Wally that frequented the shop. The men always perched on the Liar’s Bench spinning stories and poking fun at each other. Continue reading Sample Chapter – Practical Joke

Fiction Short Story Collection Series, Sample Chapter

Sample Chapter – Rich Woman’s Dog

Bernie Fuller was a dog. He enjoyed women. In fact, Bernie enjoyed a lot of women. Being a dog did create problems. Right now his problems were named Kate and Melanie. His amorous activities with Kate the previous night extended into the morning hours. He overslept. He awoke, looked at the clock and bolted from bed. He could tell from the look on her face that Kate wanted him to stay. He showered, dressed and roared off on his motorcycle, leaving Kate pouting in her bed. Continue reading Sample Chapter – Rich Woman’s Dog

Fiction Short Story Collection Series, Sample Chapter

Sample Chapter – Hauling Out the Trash

Ricky hurried to get the last of his tasks finished. He swore that old lady Barnald hid around a corner by the milk cooler, just waiting for him to clean the slicer. She always came to the counter after he finished it, and then sprang on him, wanting him to slice one of those messy, gooey canned hams. He then had to dissemble it and clean it again. As he finished cleaning it the second time, the last job for the night was waiting for him by the back door of the grocery store he worked in. Continue reading Sample Chapter – Hauling Out the Trash

Exploring Indiana Series, Sample Chapter

Visiting the Wilbur Wright Birthplace & Museum

Museum

The Wilbur Wright Birthplace and Museum affords visitors an excellent place to learn about one of Indiana’s most famous native sons, Wilbur Wright. The Wright family had extensive ties to the Hoosier state, having resided at various places in Indiana during Orville and Wilbur’s formative years. The home is the site of Wilbur Wright’s birth. It is where he spent his early childhood. Continue reading Visiting the Wilbur Wright Birthplace & Museum

Dark Fantasy Novel Series, Sample Chapter

Sample Chapter – Campout – Chapter 1

Johnny Berg pressed down on the brake pedal, bringing his bike to a rasping halt as the tire scratched a deep gash in the gravel. The smell of fresh mown summer hay from the field on one side of the road filled his nostrils. The June heat of summer had brought a fresh coating of perspiration to wet his shirt. Summer vacation was just starting and already the boys were searching for fresh adventures. Johnny was twelve and at an age that adventures came readily to mind. Continue reading Sample Chapter – Campout – Chapter 1