I have been out peddling my book around town. So far I have placed it at Made in Chico, ABC Books, Bidwell Supply Co., the Chico History Museum, and the Bidwell Mansion gift shop. Those places are all in Chico — I need to get out further afield. I like folks to be able to shop local.

It is also available on Amazon. Sales are doing nicely there. I hope some of those buyers will leave me a review. It always looks good to have some five-star reviews.

The day after I received shipment on my books, I was able to introduce it to 4th and 5th grade students in Wheatland, California. I spoke to them about the overland journey to California and the Gold Rush. They were a great audience. I always enjoy speaking to any group, but especially to elementary school students.

One thing I wanted them to understand about the Gold Rush is that the men (it was mostly men) who came seeking gold came from all over the world. Mexicans, Chileans, Peruvians, and Hawaiians. Men from Australia, China, and at least one from Japan. Men from every nation in Europe and every state in the Union. And among those from the United States were black Americans, both slave and free. That is an important part of our history that needs to be better known.

Pretty soon here I’ll be going on a two-week trip, so I won’t be blogging for a while. When I get back I’ll tell you some interesting things about Wheatland, a town located on the site of Johnson’s Rancho, famous in California history.