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New Press Release 

Ghosts of Presidents Past - A Reckoning

Ghosts Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Ghosts of Presidents Past - A Reckoning

By James Mikel Wilson

 

TWENTY-THREE U.S. PRESIDENTS VISIT A DYSFUNCTIONAL INCUMBENT

 

Beginning with George Washington, they each share relevant

successes, express regrets, and depart with warnings

 

Houston, TX – October 16, 2020 – Ghosts of Presidents Past - A Reckoning by James Mikel Wilson offers a work of historical fiction and political satire in which a series of past presidents deliver haunting messages for Daniel Hands. The fictional President serves as a metaphor and inhabits a parallel universe in which he responds to similar, but not always identical, people and events as the real President.

 

In this parallel universe, nationalism, populism, isolationism, territorial aggression, intolerance, economic and social decay, trade barriers, walls, racism, anti-Semitism and hunger for power threaten once again to disrupt and destabilize nations abroad and at home. One after another, visiting ghosts confront POTUS and address these themes.

 

Harry Truman believed that ghosts of past presidents occupied the White House. So did Winston Churchill and Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. If one were to accept that the White House is inhabited by spirits, real or imagined, then no doubt some of them would be displeased about the disturbances President Hands creates. It seems imponderable that anyone in history could mess up his presidency as much as Daniel Hands. Or, perhaps one already has.

 

In Ghosts of Presidents Past - A Reckoning readers journey through time and space. Along the way, they may encounter some lesser known or forgotten facts about past presidents and come to realize these are not the best of times, nor the worst. Wilson captures many of the bizarre and controversial political events since 2015. The fictional outcome of Daniel Hands's reelection campaign builds to suspense and ends with surprises.

 

In a fresh and novel approach, Wilson takes his readers through iconic moments and events in presidential history. Here are a few:

 

·       A legal case that secured the Supreme Court as a co-equal branch of government

·       The only president buried in the National Cathedral

·       A pivotal debate over slavery in Peoria between friends

·       Prominent candidates who lost elections and rebounded

·       Rogues in government who met justice

·       Unseemly affairs

·       Pandemics 100 years apart badly handled

·       How the Temple of Virtue ended an attempt at monarchy

·       The first party ushered out the door after the 19th amendment

·       The power of the Fourth Estate to help win a war

·       How bi-partisanship shaped the nation

·       Great walls that came tumbling down

·       How ignoring science killed a president

·       Instances when trade wars and tariffs backfired

·       Contrasts in presidential character, courage and integrity

 

Wilson says, "The idea for writing this book came to me in a reflective moment when I asked myself how my parents, grandparents, in-laws and ancestors of various political persuasions might have reacted to a president like the current one."

 

James Mikel Wilson holds BA and MBA degrees. During a 43 year career at a multinational corporation, he traveled to 31 countries and 47 states. He has also resided overseas. Along the way, he took a keen interest in local governments, cultures, and international affairs. Wilson served with the 101st Airborne Division and is a Son of the American Revolution. He collects books written and signed by Presidents and First Ladies. Ghosts of Presidents Past - A Reckoning was modeled after Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. Both are statements of the times.

 

Wilson's previous work of historical fiction, Churchill and Roosevelt: The Big Sleepover at the White House won The 2018 Author Academy Award in Historical Fiction. A London playwright converted the work for the stage. The producers plan to premiere in England in 2021 and then in the United States. The author has written two other books. Paw Tracks Here and Abroad: A Dog's Tale and Mr. Froggy's Dilemma. He is a member of The Authors Guild.

 

 

Ghosts of Presidents Past - A Reckoning will be available via Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple Books, and other online retailers on or about October 16, 2020.

 

 

 

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Meet the Authors and Book Signing

The National Churchill Museum established by act of U.S. Congress in 1969. It is housed in this 17th Century restored Christopher Wren church that was turned to rubble during the bombings of London in WW2.

The National Churchill Museum, designated by act of U.S. Congress, will celebrate its 50th Anniversary May 3 -5, 2019 at the Westminster College Campus, Fulton, MO. President Truman invited Winston Churchill to deliver there on March 5, 1946, his "Sinews of Peace" message heard around the world. It went down in history as the famous "Iron Curtain Speeech."

 

The anniversary will be attended by people from all over the world, including relatives of Churchill, Truman, Eisenhower, and Nixon. Julia Holofcener, the widow of Lawrence Holofcener will also be present. In 1995, Lawrewnce created the magnificent "Allies" sculpture to celebrate 50 years of peace among former enemies, which is now on display at the Museum and pictured on the front cover of my book. 

 

I am very honored to be included among four other authors invited to do a book signing during the event. The others are Andrew Roberts, "Churchill Walking With Destiny," Lord Alan Watson of Richmond, "Two Speeches to Save the World," Tina Santi Flagherty, "What Jackie Taught Us," and Edwina Sandys "Winston Churchill Passion for Painting." The latter is Churchill's granddaughter and a prominent artist in her own right.

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Ruminating Over A "New" New Year Diet Regimen

Her diet must be working or she bought a pair of jeans too large.

Ruminating Over A “New” New Year Diet Regimen

As the New Year arrived, a friend’s daughter lovingly sent her mother and mother-in-law a new twist on dieting. She forwarded this suggestion from Dr. Oz. Having seen almost every diet known to women, the mothers’ responses brings a chuckle. Some names and locations have  Read More 

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History Stands Beside You – Just Ask

A portrait showing different stages of General Albin Irzyk's life done by Fallen Warrior Memorila Gallery artist Ken Pridgeon. 

Over the years, I have one reoccurring regret. Of course, like any human being it isn’t the only one. Have you ever wished you had asked a family member, friend, or acquaintance about their past experiences…perhaps the ones that shaped them, or someone near to them, as human beings? As I enter  Read More 

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PROVIDENTIAL FOOTSTEPS

A patriotic 2018 Houston Marathon runner who honors those injured at the Boston Marathon.

PROVIDENTIAL FOOTSTEPS

January, 2018

An amazing and diverse international city with over 145 languages spoken, Houston just hosted the 2018 Chevron Marathon and Aramco Half Marathon. This year the races attracted 25,000 runners and about 250,000 spectators from around the world. In memory of their dedication and uncountable footsteps*, both in training and during the race, here are a  Read More 

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DUELING FRY PANS

Competing fry pans perfecting sunny side up.

DUELING FRY PANS

Analogous to Dueling Banjos, this story tells about dueling cast iron fry pans and those who gripped their sizzling hot handles.

My father Swisher Wilson, and Uncle Spud, as I affectionately called my dad’s best friend, initiated me as a teenager into a ritual of 6am breakfasts at least once  Read More 

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AGELESS GENIUS - A MAN UNRESTRAINED

My friend lawrence Holofcener, age 90 in his studio. In front is a small clay model of his famous life size sculpture of Winston Churchill and FDR completed in 1995 to celebrate 50 years of peace among former enemies.

Genius in any field is a rarity, often displayed in a brief “a-ha” moment and seldom as a continuum. Sustaining it to age 90, like Lawrence Holofcener, defies most human boundaries.

The topic of genius has been most recently highlighted with the news of National Geographic doing a ten-part television series on Albert Einstein and  Read More 

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UNCLE SAM CALLS 911. NORTHWEST TERRITORY NEEDS A ROAD. 1942

A very rare and limited edition of a small book published in 1943 commenorating and honoring those who built the Alaska Highway under the harshest of conditions and ahead of the deadline to defend N. America from invasion.

Can you do it? How Fast? Don’t worry about cost!

When President Franklin Roosevelt signed off on an executive order in early February 1942 to begin the construction of the 1600-mile supply road through the Northwest Territory from Fort St. Johns to Fairbanks, Alaska, approximately 11,000 soldiers and 4500 civilians packed their duffle bags and suitcases. Theirs is a story of amazing human interest, hardship, and tenacity.  Read More 

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FROM REVOLUTIONARY WAR SURGEON TO PIONEERING FARMER

Thomas Jackson, President of the TX SAR in Colonial military uniform. He's speaking about Lexington and Concord, the first shot on April 19, 1775, and the indelible moment we switched from Brtitish subjects to Americans. 

Since I became old enough to comprehend our nation’s heritage, my mother would proudly declare that her great-great grandfather John Baird was a surgeon from Pennsylvania who served in the Revolutionary War. Frequently through my teen years she would drop little suggestions that maybe the time had come for someone else to go  Read More 

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THE AMERICAN REFUGEE

Photo I took of on a boat looking back on Havana. The bars preventing jumping off the ferry symbolized a city held hostage.

THE AMERICAN REFUGEE

On November 13, 2008 twenty of us left Houston on a church mission trip to Havana Cuba. We planned six months in advance, navigating the substantial bureaucracy in the United States, Mexico, and Cuba to obtain the necessary permits.

Then, it was not a simple task for a US citizen to travel to  Read More 

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