Books published by Bluewater Publications

There's a certain energy in the South...that feeling that you can't get anywhere else. Thepeople, the language, the land-they all lend themselves to rich, unforgettable stories.Laura Hunter is a master storyteller who captures not only the romance of life in theSouth, but also the pain and grittiness. The stories in this collection give glimpses into thelives of fascinating characters-stories of life, death, love, and loss, of dreams shattered andhopes rebuilt. Through it all, Hunter weaves a common thread that remains with thereader long after the book is closed. Containing award-winning stories, such as:¿ Moon Shadows Dancing - Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Award¿ A Widow's Mite - Patricia Boatner Award; Tennessee Mountain Writers¿ She (Carter's Woman) - H E Francis Award; University of Alabama, HuntsvilleCampus, Harriet Arnow Award for Short Stories - Appalachian Writers Association¿ Waiting for the Pink - Hackney Award; Birmingham Southern College

The second book, in the Dudley and Friends series; Nouns, Ms. Annabelle, the alpaca, teaches the class in a barn to Dudley and other young animals on the farm.

The Shadow knows some truths may be incriminating. Thanks to their friendship with Lady Maria, a new chapter in their lives has blossomed, taking them in a fresh direction from their career of crime. But while in the eyes of many they are quickly becoming heroes, they have not been absolved of their previous crimes.Compounding the issue, Daniel, ever the profiteer, is quick to point out being a hero does not pay as much as their previous vocation. Besides, it is only a matter of time until Lady Maria, Baron Dietrich, and the rest of their allies discover their dark secret, and then the cost will be high indeed. As circumstances force wedges into The Shadow, the ever-present question remains: How many good deeds must a man do to atone for a life of sin?

Today, many of the names of local residents can be clearly traced to some of these planters and slaves. Walker has listed planters and the number of their slaves from 1820 through the 1860 census records. He has provided agricultural information, land records, census records, pictures, family members, birth and death information, and stories to make history come alive. This is a great book for those seeking individual profiles and local family information. I am honored to recommend "Cotton Was King" Volume 3. "Cotton Was King" Volume 3 begins with a review of Chief Doublehead and other important Indians who owned these lands before the Turkey Town Treaty of 1816. The author, Rickey Butch Walker, raised in Lawrence County, has always had a love for his Indian heritage and the history of his home county. The book is a historical record of early cotton planters and slave owners who were the first settlers to move into the Indian Territory after the treaty was signed and covers what is now Lawrence and Colbert Counties. There is not another book that compares to the historical account of the earliest days of the area. As we travel through this time capsule of the past, many hidden stories of planters and their slaves are brought to light. It is a compelling read for all who love history and want to get to the truth of the historical roots of Lawrence County.

In, "Cotton Was King Franklin-Colbert Counties" Rickey Butch Walker gives a wonderful account of Chickasaw Chief George Colbert as a cotton planter and the role of the Chickasaw Colbert's prior to the first white planters who moved with their slaves to claim the fertile lands of the Tennessee River Valley. After the Indian claims to the land were abolished by the 1816 treaty. The United States government transferred land titles to white settlers through federal land sales beginning in 1817. From the nutritionally deprived soil of cotton farms in the east, slave-owning planters poured into early Franklin County, Alabama, most of which is now present-day Colbert County. Rickey Butch Walker gives profiles of many of these wealthy plantation owners prior to the Civil War. This is the first detailed narrative of some of the white families of Franklin- Colbert County who helped develop the cotton industry of northwest Alabama. Some of the affluent planters, their plantations, land holding, property locations, and numbers of black slaves are discussed in detail. These early planters were dependent on black slave labor to become very wealthy and control vast tracts of land. This is a valuable read for anyone interested in the local history of cotton barons who came to North Alabama from North Carolina and Virginia.

Wheeler Pounds, an extraordinary man struggling against the steep incline to get up Fool's Hill in his younger days, is nearing the bottom of the hill on the other side after some 80 years of life. His time on earth as an impoverished country boy to the top of the hill in a successful professional career has had its ups and downs, but his experiences along the way has given him a unique perspective on the changes in the ways of living from his beginning until now. As Wheeler walked the road of life, he noted many differences from then in the 1930's and 40's to now in 2018, and he describes those things that he has experienced, observed, and taken from his memory bank in this revealing book of his life.Wheeler writes of a time when the old ways were simple but sometimes harsh, and he compares those earlier life experiences to the modern styles and conveniences of living in today's world. He knew that his big family was dirt poor as far as financial resources, but extremely blessed in healthy family relationships. Wheeler witnessed drastic lifestyle changes from primitive country living of a young boy without electricity, no indoor plumbing or bathroom facilities, and scarcely suitable clothing, to watch children of today wearing the latest fashions and using the most up-to-date iphones and electronic gadgets.During his climb and descent of Fool's Hill, Wheeler broke the chains of poverty and has traveled the entire United States and most of the world. His observations and writings give the reader of his book a glimpse of the past and a hope of better things to be expected in the future. Through his many experiences, Wheeler's book provides one a subtle but powerful approach to successfully negotiating Fool's Hill on the road of life.Butch Walker, Best Selling Author & Speaker

A story of the lives of three women, tightly woven together and surviving the harsh societal environment of an Appalachian mining town in the early to mid-1900s. Two religions contrast with each other-the Cherokee spirits of the native people and the Old Testament God of the white settlers-as each woman struggles to find her place. Love and hate, marriage and adultery, childbirth and abortion, all have their parts to play. Beloved Mother accurately portrays the evilness in humanity, in which the wicked corrupt the innocent to create a vicious cycle of abuse, until one person-with a heart of understanding and forgiveness-has the courage to end it.

According to historian and author Dr. Kenneth Johnson, "a comprehensive history" of Muscle Shoals in Northwest Alabama has never been written. Yet, in this carefully researched study of the region known as the Tennessee Valley, Dr. Johnson has certainly come closest to fulfilling this long awaited undertaking. Straightforward and unpretentious, Johnson not only reveals the historical significance of the Muscle Shoals area, but he is also a captivating storyteller. His Muscle Shoals History is a combination of textbook accuracy and campfire romance, a volume that will not only entertain local citizens, but will also appeal to history lovers everywhere. Dr. Johnson tells his story chronologically, beginning with the first occupants of Northwest Alabama - Native Americans and early white settlers - and the inevitable clashes between them. After laying this historical foundation, Johnson describes the establishment of major landmarks and cities in the area during the antebellum period. National issues, such as slavery, religion, and education, are explored. Along with most of the South, the Muscle Shoals area was directly affected by the Civil War and Johnson vividly portrays how the war influenced and altered conventional life temporarily as well as permanently in the Tennessee Valley. Johnson wraps up his historical narrative with the changes in growth during the post-Civil War years and how the Muscle Shoals area transformed economically, socially, and culturally. Perhaps Johnson's most engaging characteristic is the attention given to all aspects of "ordinary" life woven throughout his historical research. Although Johnson does not skimp on the larger issues that faced the American inhabitants of Northwest Alabama, he also features engrossing stories of local consequence: travel, sports, education, holidays, etc. These stories are charmingly told in various chapters, for example, "Advice for Rural Women in the 19th Century," and "The Lauderdale County Fair." History buffs will be delighted with the tales of the famous and infamous who left their footprints permanently embedded in the rich soil of the Tennessee Valley: David Crockett, Andrew Jackson, Jesse James, and Jesse Owens, to name a few. Johnson's Muscle Shoals History, therefore, offers a unique and impressive two-fold perspective: the historical importance of the Tennessee Valley area from a national point of view and the personal significance that same history has on its local citizens. Susan Powell Adjunct Instructor of History Columbia Community State College