Swamp Fox Bookstore - Steven R. Southard (Poseidon's Scribe)

This past Friday, I sold and signed books at the Swamp Fox Bookstore in Marion, Iowa. I owe a big thank-you to owner Terri LeBlanc for providing me the opportunity.

Poseidon’s Scribe and his sister at the Swamp Fox Bookstore

I mentioned before why she gave her store that curious name. It honors Revolutionary War hero General Francis Marion, for whom they named the town. He earned his nickname, the Swamp Fox, by teaching American soldiers a form of guerrilla warfare.

However, viewed from modern perspectives, the general appears less heroic, since he owned slaves and helped hunt down escaped slaves. The Swamp Fox Bookstore stocks not even one book about him, and Ms. LeBlanc hasn’t found anyone who can tell her why a town in Iowa would be named for him.

All that aside, I had a marvelous time at the bookstore. My brother and sister showed up and helped, though only my sister got in the picture with me.

Thanks to those who stopped by my table and bought books. Thanks, again, to Terri LeBlanc for hosting a book singing event for—

Poseidon’s Scribe

This Friday, August 21, I’ll be at the Swamp Fox Bookstore in Marion, Iowa from 2-5 pm. My book signing event earned a mention in the local newspaper.

Iowa

I live far from Iowa now, but grew up there, so I’m looking forward to stomping around in my old stomping grounds. It will be fun to see my family and also friends from my high school days.

Brigadier General Francis Marion (from Wikipedia)

The Swamp Fox

I puzzled over the name of this bookstore. You’ll find no swamps in Marion, Iowa, and I’m sure nobody’s seen a fox there in ages. Why choose that crazy name for a bookstore?

Then I got it. The “Swamp Fox”—18^th Century American brigadier general Francis Marion. That’s Marion, get it? The town’s named for him. They even hold a Swamp Fox Festival every year in September—too bad I’ll miss it.

Crazy name for a bookstore? Crazy like a swamp fox.