Stories from the Heart of America

My Story

I'm a born and bred Midwesterner, which means I consider it improper to toot my own horn, so let me just say this: I love telling stories, especially about the Missisisppi River and our often overlooked treasures in middle America. People tell me I'm pretty good at speaking about complex issues in an engaging and informal way. I enjoy a good joke.

I've been speaking and writing about life along the Mississippi River, past and present, since 2007. I also host the Mississippi Valley Traveler podcast, which gives me another forum for telling stories about the river and the Midwest.

My Mississippi Valley Traveler books guide the curious along the Great River Road, while my Frank Dodge mysteries are aimed at readers who enjoy their stories a little darker and more complicated. I also wrote a book about disasters and tragedies along the river, Mississippi River Mayhem, and my guide to the river's natural wonders (The Mighty Mississippi: A State-by-State Guide to the River's Natural Wonders) will be out in 2024. Like I said, I love a good story.

Why Sign Up?

I love telling stories about the Mississippi River and its role in our lives, past and present. You sometimes need speakers. I'm flexible enough that I can do a talk via Zoom (or whatever virtual platform you prefer), but nothing beats presenting in person. I'd love to come to your event or organization and talk with folks about the Great River and all it has meant to us. I don't send messages often, typically just a couple of times a year with updates about programs that I'm offering. That's it. Just complete the simple form below to sign up, and I'll send you a list of the programs that I'm currently offering. And you can easily unsubscribe whenever you'd like.

Let's Connect

[email protected]

PO Box 15146, St. Louis, MO 63110-5146

Phone: +1 636-362-4112

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