Delaware Before the Railroads: A Diamond Among the States shares the rich and fascinating history of the little state of Delaware. What made you write a book about this topic? Anything pulled from your life experiences?

Because of Delaware’s diminutive size, a lot of non-Delawareans either have a very limited view of the state or draw a blank altogether. Some think of us first for tax-free shopping. Others for our fabulous beaches. Still, others think of Delaware as the place where corporations incorporate. All of which are true. And all of which are only a sliver of the whole picture. I wanted to tell a fuller story about Delaware. I think of the First State as the mustard seed in the eponymous Biblical parable. Though in the geographic scheme of things we are tiny, from our wee 3 counties have sprung a host of influential people (a president, actors, musicians, scientists, etc), inventions (nylon, ATMs), and influences on Americana (log cabins as we know them originated here, not in the Land of Lincoln). From my own experience: I worked in NYC for a number of years and was always startled by how uninformed New Yorkers often were about Delaware heritage. It was at such odds with what I knew about the place. So this book is an attempt to give the reader an “Oh! I didn’t realize that!” moment about Delaware’s wonderful cultural contributions.

History texts sometimes will overwhelm readers with too many facts, or they are told in a sterile manner. You have managed to create an entertaining and educational book. What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?

I love that you see in my book both entertainment and educational value. It’s tricky to balance the two audiences. On the one hand, I research my topics deeply, aiming to use primary sources and come up with fresh historic interpretations of those topics. My book’s been accepted into the permanent collections of both the Delaware Public Archives and the Delaware Historical Society. So I’ve succeeded with that demanding group of historians. On the other hand, I don’t want to get bogged down in endless footnotes and citations. I want to offer up a page-turner. Many of my readers are vacationers from other places who come to the beaches in the summer. They want to be entertained on their vacation.

What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?

My 8th-grade geography teacher, Mr. Jarboe. He intuitively knew that history would be a grinding chore to middle school students if it wasn’t presented in a funny, energetic, surprising way. He was one of those storytellers whose eyes lit up the room as he unfolded his tales. Being in his presence was magical. If I can capture a fraction of his essence in my books, I’ll have honored his memory.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from your book?

That history is full of surprises!

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