A new documentary film about the Reno Brothers Gang has been produced by Anthony Susnick!
Check out his blog for availability and a video trailer:
http://renobrothers.blogspot.com
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Indiana Resident Surprised at Lost or Fogotten History
I recently received this email from another Indiana resident:
"Dave,
I enjoyed your book very much! I was not aware of such activities in the great state of Indiana.
If you put out any other books, let me know.
Lowell - Indianapolis"
This reader felt the same way I did after I began researching the Reno Brothers Gang story many months ago. I lived in Indiana for over 40 years and had never read any books or been taught about this infamous chapter in history. Moreover, once I discovered a few of the books written on the topic, none had ventured into the social dynamics and key players which lead to the mass murders in Indiana.
Most Vigilante movements are later suppressed due to shame and fear of presecution, as many who participated in them are still living to this day. This is not the case for the Reno Gang murderers, but grandchildren and great grandchildren of the Jackson County or Southern Indiana Vigilante Society are still living in and around Seymour, Indiana.
I've spoken to other authors and researchers about the reluctance of many southern Indiana residents to talk openly about the Reno saga beyond the train robberies. They, like me, believe that most do not want to relive the crimes of the past. My personal belief is that ignoring the past can lead to similar mistakes in the future.
Could American people ever become Vigilantes again? Anarchy in the Heartland was written to explore this distinct possibility, for the ingredients which made them possible in 1868 are still with us today; poverty, crime, political corruption, lack of law enforcement and well-protected wealth amongst a limited few.
"Dave,
I enjoyed your book very much! I was not aware of such activities in the great state of Indiana.
If you put out any other books, let me know.
Lowell - Indianapolis"
This reader felt the same way I did after I began researching the Reno Brothers Gang story many months ago. I lived in Indiana for over 40 years and had never read any books or been taught about this infamous chapter in history. Moreover, once I discovered a few of the books written on the topic, none had ventured into the social dynamics and key players which lead to the mass murders in Indiana.
Most Vigilante movements are later suppressed due to shame and fear of presecution, as many who participated in them are still living to this day. This is not the case for the Reno Gang murderers, but grandchildren and great grandchildren of the Jackson County or Southern Indiana Vigilante Society are still living in and around Seymour, Indiana.
I've spoken to other authors and researchers about the reluctance of many southern Indiana residents to talk openly about the Reno saga beyond the train robberies. They, like me, believe that most do not want to relive the crimes of the past. My personal belief is that ignoring the past can lead to similar mistakes in the future.
Could American people ever become Vigilantes again? Anarchy in the Heartland was written to explore this distinct possibility, for the ingredients which made them possible in 1868 are still with us today; poverty, crime, political corruption, lack of law enforcement and well-protected wealth amongst a limited few.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Anarchy in the Heartland - #1 Regional Best Seller
From the Fireside Book Shop in Chagrin Falls, Ohio the week of December 14th:
BEST SELLERS
CF/Regional
1 . Anarchy In The Heartland
A. David Distler $17.95
2 . Haunting Valley: A Collection Of Strange Supernatural Spectral Stories
Bill Devol $15.95
3 . Gamma Girls Of Chagrin Falls #1: Lillie & Rose
Janet Kuivila $10.00
4 . Gamma Girls Of Chagrin Falls #2: Lillie, Rose & Irisa
Janet Kuivila $12.95
5 . Big Chuck! My Favorite Stories From 47 Years On Cleveland Tv
Chuck Schodowski $19.95
6 . Max's Wild Goose Chase
Sandra J. Philipson $17.95
7 . Cleveland's Towering Treasure: A Landmark Turns 75
James A. Toman $18.50
8 . Cleveland Original: 50 Years Behind The Lens
Burt Graeff $18.95
9 . Calling Hours: A Cleveland Mystery
Glenn Wyville $12.95
10 . Chagrin Falls: An Ohio Village History
Laura J. Gorretta $45.00
BEST SELLERS
CF/Regional
1 . Anarchy In The Heartland
A. David Distler $17.95
2 . Haunting Valley: A Collection Of Strange Supernatural Spectral Stories
Bill Devol $15.95
3 . Gamma Girls Of Chagrin Falls #1: Lillie & Rose
Janet Kuivila $10.00
4 . Gamma Girls Of Chagrin Falls #2: Lillie, Rose & Irisa
Janet Kuivila $12.95
5 . Big Chuck! My Favorite Stories From 47 Years On Cleveland Tv
Chuck Schodowski $19.95
6 . Max's Wild Goose Chase
Sandra J. Philipson $17.95
7 . Cleveland's Towering Treasure: A Landmark Turns 75
James A. Toman $18.50
8 . Cleveland Original: 50 Years Behind The Lens
Burt Graeff $18.95
9 . Calling Hours: A Cleveland Mystery
Glenn Wyville $12.95
10 . Chagrin Falls: An Ohio Village History
Laura J. Gorretta $45.00
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Anarchy in the Heartland - Audio Preview
Listen to the preface of the new book Anarchy in the Heartland as told by the author, A. David Distler. Left click here to open the mp3 audio file or right click to save it to your computer for listening at a later time.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Google Book Search adds Anarchy in the Heartland
Google's new Book Search not only has a preview of many of the pages and photographs from Anarchy in the Heartland, it shows a map of all locations mentioned in the book! To visit this new listing, click here.
Book Signing December 5th a Success
Dozens of people gathered at the Fireside Book Shop in beautiful downtown Chagrin Falls, Ohio for the first book signing of Anarchy in the Heartland. The author would like to thank the Fireside Book Shop management and many friends and neighbors for making it such a success. All books were sold from the store, but the author was able to provide two additional copies for the store to sell afterwards. If you cannot visit this beautiful small town bookstore, Anarchy in the Heartland is available online from Amazon.com.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
"Anarchy in the Heartland" Stirs Controversy
The Reno Gang saga remains a provocative story that still evokes anger after the tragic events unfolded in 1868. The author received this email from a local Seymour, Indiana resident just after they had read the new book "Anarchy in the Heartland":
"... By whose standards can no one “justify the lynching” of the Reno brothers and the gang members? ... I hope you will reconsider some of your conclusions about Seymour's early residents after further research. Perfect? Never. Desperate at times? Of course. Rascally at times? No doubt. But real people ... who dealt with the real problems of their day when their government let them down ... without ever changing human nature." - (name withheld) Seymour, Indiana
The book pulls no punches when examining the actions of the "leading citizens" of Seymour, Indiana around the Civil War era. Today, this resident of Seymour, Indiana apparently believes that their city founders and leading citizens did what they had to do and lays the blame elsewhere for the mass murders committed in 1868.
Anarchy in the Heartland is available here.
"... By whose standards can no one “justify the lynching” of the Reno brothers and the gang members? ... I hope you will reconsider some of your conclusions about Seymour's early residents after further research. Perfect? Never. Desperate at times? Of course. Rascally at times? No doubt. But real people ... who dealt with the real problems of their day when their government let them down ... without ever changing human nature." - (name withheld) Seymour, Indiana
The book pulls no punches when examining the actions of the "leading citizens" of Seymour, Indiana around the Civil War era. Today, this resident of Seymour, Indiana apparently believes that their city founders and leading citizens did what they had to do and lays the blame elsewhere for the mass murders committed in 1868.
Anarchy in the Heartland is available here.
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