Hoosier Hysterical



Despite all the book signing and promotion work, I’m close to finishing the first draft of my newest WIP, a humor book about Indiana history. (My space opera story is “cooling”, so I can run through the next draft with a more objective eye.) I figure there will be lots of Hoosier books published for the bicentennial, but maybe not a lot of humor books.

My book, which still doesn’t have a real working title, is divided up in two ways: by time periods and subjects. There will be sections on pre-state history, becoming a state, the Revolutionary War, and the Civil War, for example. Some subjects include weather, state symbols, famous Hoosiers, transportation, sports, crime, and so on.

It’ll be funny. I promise.

What do you think? What other subjects related to the Hoosier state and its history should be covered in the book? Preferably something I can make fun of, but what the heck—I’ve already covered the Klan and serial killers.

By the way, if you come to our appearances Saturday feel free to ask questions about our writing projects, past and present. I had a great conversation last Saturday about Albion history, with one of the town’s old timers.

6 comments:

  1. Since you mention sports and the Hoosiers, you're already covering what I'd have suggested- what makes people drive thousands of miles to watch a basketball game.

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    1. I'd drive thousands of miles to *avoid* watching a basketball game.

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  2. What's a Hoosier? Am I being a parochial Brit again?

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    1. Not at all, it's a question many here in 'Merica ask. A Hoosier is, in short, a resident of Indiana -- but where the word came from is another question, an no one's really sure. I have a whole section of the book dedicated to the nickname.

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  3. What about songs? Back Home in Indiana can't be the only one. Isn't there one about a river too?

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    1. Most people think "Back Home Again in Indiana" is the state song; but it's really "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" -- so you're absolutely right.

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