Books

The Collaboration Kit

Collaboration can be the easiest, most effective and least expensive way to quickly produce new programs, tours and events – but only if you work with the right partner.

The Collaboration Kit is a practical, how-to guide written specifically for people working in local history and tourism.

Topics include: the benefits of collaborating; how to find and approach potential partners; what to do if you’re approached; why to consider working with competitors; red flags; program examples and suggestions.

There are four real world case studies including a detailed analysis of a single doomed program that went off the rails twice with two different partners. There’s even a sample collaboration agreement you can adopt and adapt to your own situation.

Create Successful Walking Tours

Whether you work in an historic house, a regional museum, a Main Street organization, for the Visitors’ Bureau or run your own business, Create Successful Walking Tours will help you find appealing ideas for programs, show you how to design  tours properly and market them effectively to the right audiences.         

Topics include: how to choose the best theme and structure for your tour; what to do if you’re completely out of program ideas; how to find background material and the quirky details that will make your tour shine; how to construct an effective itinerary; how to staff your tour; how to handle reservations, ticketing, equipment, and customer questions; how much to charge for your tour; how to compensate guides; how to market and promote your tour without breaking the bank.

The material is presented in an easy-to-follow format that allows you to document your process as you go, which will make planning your next tour a piece of cake.

A Guide to Historic Marietta, Ohio

Welcome to Marietta, the elegant river city where Ohio’s history begins. Explore ancient earthworks, stroll shady brick streets lined with glorious Victorian mansions, wander through museums, browse for antiques in the beautifully preserved downtown, kickback in a wide variety of restaurants and taverns or take a relaxing cruise down the scenic Ohio River. Venture into nearby West Virginia and visit Fenton, America’s oldest art glass company; Blennerhassett Island where Aaron Burr hatched a plot against the US government; and Henderson Hall, the majestic great house of a former slave plantation – all within 15 miles of downtown Marietta. A Guide to Historic Marietta, Ohio will help you make the most of your time. It includes an overview of the area’s rich history, maps, dozens of vintage and modern photos and descriptions of the best sites and attractions the region has to offer – including those most visitors miss.

Haunted Marietta: History and Mystery in Ohio’s Oldest City

Haunted Marietta: History and Mystery in Ohio’s Oldest City explores the supernatural side of the state’s first settlement. Visit a crumbling 1835 mansion whose original owner still roams the halls, sit in the plush red seats of an abandoned theater and climb an ancient Indian burial mound. Encounter river pirates, fugitive slaves, an axe murderer, jealous lovers and inept morticians. Haunted Marietta delves into various types of otherworldly phenomena, examines the difference between ghost stories and reports of supernatural activity and discusses why certain people become spirits. From an 1815 goblin sighting to a bartender’s brush with the unexplained, local author Lynne Sturtevant covers it all. 

Hometown: Writing a Local History or Travel Guide

Many of us dream of becoming published authors. We imagine how it would feel to hold our own book or see it on the shelf at our favorite bookstore. The good news is you can achieve your dream by writing about your hometown. 

You can chronicle your area’s history. Write about a significant building or local celebrity. Zero in on an interesting neighborhood or time period. Publish a collection of ghost stories or share insider tips and recommendations in a travel book about your town or region.

Hometown is a complete guide to writing and publishing a local interest book.

Topics include: choosing the right subject, scope, and slant for your book; structuring  your project so that you actually finish the manuscript; an honest comparison of traditional and self-publishing options; step-by-step instructions for publishing on Amazon; specific ways to capitalize on local authors’ inherent marketing advantages; how to establish your online presence; how much you might realistically earn in your book’s first year and beyond.