What would you do if a wildfire swept through your area without warning?In October 1908, a wildfire swept through northeast Michigan and consumed 900 homes and two million acres of farms and forest. Despite the valiant efforts of the farmers, lumbermen, and shopkeepers, only Lake Huron could quench the flames. With no fire watch towers, spotting aircraft, telephones, or organized firefighting and only limited telegraph, warnings were too few and too late.Devil in the North Woods accurately depicts the fire's genesis, growth, and aftermath. The story's real-life protagonist, 10-year-old Henry Hardies, survived the fire but family did not. Relying on Henry's personal recollections and author Walt Shiel's faithful recreation of time and place, the book vividly brings Henry's ordeal to life.Devil in the North Woods contrasts the terror of nature's destruction with a chronicle of family, love, sorrow, and recovery. The story leaves the reader buoyed by faith in the resilience of the human spirit and belief in love's ability to germinate amid the ashes of ruin.Includes a map and six historical photos.=========="This is first rate writing that at times will leave you wondering whether it is fact or fiction but in a manner that does not deceive or talk down to the reader. Highly Recommended." -Charles M. Noble, Amazon Vine reviewer"Walt Shiel takes his readers into a vivid turn-of-the century adventure through Devil in the North Woods. This is a historically accurate account of a 1908 fire that destroyed the town of Metz, Michigan. Tragically, many of the town's citizens perished whether they tried to fight the fire or escape. Through their trials, Shiel highlights how different life was in the early 1900s, with horse-drawn transportation and one-room schoolhouses the norm. His account of the fire provides a drama that is entertaining, but not for the squeamish. Therein lies the power of this book, Shiel's writing is so visceral it will cause the reader to blanch, but then turn the page for more." -Military Writers Society of America"The terror of the fire and the way it impacts these families and threads, cause you to lose yourselves in the words on the pages, which flip all too fast...This is a story that you feel in your gut, and the lessons to be learned are on every page. " -Clifford Feightner, author of Views from Sandhausen"This is more than the story of an out-of-control wildfire; it is the story of everyday heroes and the way they reclaim their lives after tragedy." -Danielle Feliciano, ReaderViews.com"I stayed up till 3AM three nights in a row, exhausted but unable to put this book down. And now that I've finished it, I'm sad that it's done, and I wish there was a movie based on this book, or this historical event" -Amazon customer review by M. Staller"Devil in the North Woods will forever live on in hearts and minds of all who read it." Amazon customer review by jimtown

Devil In The North Woods: A Novel Based On The 1908 Metz, Michigan, Wildfire

Literature & Fiction

Shiel, Walt

Contemporary

Slipdown Mountain Pubns

T-41 Mescalero earned an Honorable Mention in the Nonfiction History category of the Military Writers Society of America 2011 Book Awards.~~~~~~~~~~~~"Walt Shiel, Jan Forsgren and Mike Little have covered the story of the T-41 Mescalero, and other military 172s, in a wide-reaching and exciting way that paves new ground for the pilot, the aviation buff, and the historian. This volume contains personal stories, vivid descriptions, and more than a little humor -- but it also provides specifications and serials that have never previously been assembled in one place." --from the Foreword by Robert F. Dorr (author of Air Combat)In 2006, the ubiquitous Cessna Model 172 Skyhawk turned 50, with a seldom-heralded military record almost as long. Now, for the first time, the Skyhawk's military history is revealed in all its depth and breadth, covering its use by the armed forces of 54 countries. Cessna delivered 867 T-41 Mescaleros (the military version of the 172) in four distinct models to countries around the world -- plus another 158 off-the-shelf 172s, with many still serving into the 21st century. T-41 Mescalero captures this extensive history in print, complete with stories and photographs from around the world.The roster of countries whose armed force fly, or have flown, the 172 reads like a list of United Nations members -- from the US to Latin America's Venezuela, Africa's Angola to Asia's Vietnam, and Europe's Austria to the Middle East's United Arab Emirates. T-41s and military 172s have spanned the globe to provide outstanding and cost-effective service for almost five decades.More Cessna 172s have been produced than any other aircraft model in history. Doubtless more pilots have had their initial aviation indoctrination in the Cessna 172 than in any other aircraft. Wth new 172s still rolling off the assembly lines, its remarkable story will continue. With many armed forces still operating 172s and T-41s, its military story is far from closed.Filled with operational stories, little-known applications, and 194 photos (80% in full color), T-41 Mescalero explains how, why, and when this stalwart Cessna has fulfilled its varied military roles!

T-41 Mescalero: The Military Cessna 172.

History

Walt Shiel

Jan Forsgren

Mike Little

Military

"A well-written and eclectic mix of short stories that are what short fiction ought to be: short." -Amazon customer review by Andy VL"His country might forget and her politicians might forgive, but Pete could not, no matter how much he might want to. World War II had changed him forever." -from "Remember" in Pilots and Normal People"Dolton hadn't seen Jennifer and her long legs in eight months. Not since he'd left her to search for a good night's sleep." -from "Perchance to Dream" in Pilots and Normal People                  Is it really possible to forget a prejudice ingrained during war?Does death really close the door to life?Can a grounded pilot find another way to return to the sky?Are physical laws the same throughout the universe?Is aviation mostly intellect or mostly emotion?Are criminals just as smart as the law-abiding?Can one man fight back against society's increasing crudeness?Do space explorers really need a spaceship?  These and many other intriguing questions are explored in Walt Shiel's eclectic short fiction collection, which includes the award-winning "Remember" about a WW II veteran still haunted by memories of violence. Pilots and Normal People presents 21 tales of mystery, science fiction and humanity (six involving pilots and aviation)."He'd been a captain then, a young man fighting a war that was screwed up, poorly led, and misunderstood by everyone from the White House to the grunts in the field. But it was the only war they had..." -from "Grounded" in Pilots and Normal People"My job was to serve the community, even when the community suffered from monthly schizophrenia." -from "Give Him a Hand" in Pilots and Normal People"Roland shook off the unpleasant memory and gave himself to the night, letting the enveloping darkness isolate and insulate him from the world below." from "Siren Song" in Pilots and Normal People

Pilots and Normal People: Short Stories from a Different Attitude

Backyard Bigfoot: The True Story of Stick Signs, Ufos, & the Sasquatch

** Paperback edition **Bigfoot...Fact or Fiction? Read this book before you decide!From recent footprints to ghostly figures painted on stone centuries ago, Backyard Bigfoot presents startling evidence that the hairy creatures who lurk in our world's backcountry represent more than a figment of our collective imagination. Bigfoot expert Lisa A. Shiel lays out the evidence -- physical and folkloric, ancient and modern -- to prove that Bigfoot and its kin all over the world stand closer to us than we ever imagined.If you're a newcomer to the subject, you'll learn valuable facts as the author guides you through the mine field of theories, counter-theories, and assumptions about Bigfoot. Knowledgeable researchers will find a treasure trove of little-known evidence and usually taboo concepts. In perfect detail, Shiel lays out her singular and astonishing revelations about Bigfoot, gleaned from years of research -- both in the field and in the historical archives. Joining her odyssey, you'll explore:Stick signs, purposeful symbols created with sticks and other material;Mane braiding, where intricate braids appear in horses' manes overnight;Predominant Bigfoot theories, and why they don't fit the facts;UFO-Bigfoot connection details typically dismissed by academic pedagogues; andDistorted human history and how it affects our perceptions of the Bigfoot enigma.From human evolution to lost civilizations, from UFOs to ancient artwork, Shiel weaves disparate threads into one incredible yet thoroughly believable theoretical tapestry - and leaves you breathless.*****"A skillfully written combination of field observations, academic perspectives, and discussions of other paranormal mysteries." -- Thom Powell, author of The Locals: A Contemporary Investigation of the Bigfoot/Sasquatch Phenomenon"A unique, and intensely personal perspective on the Bigfoot controversy." -- Nick Redfern, author of On the Trail of the Saucer Spies"You may agree or not with her conclusions but you will be thoroughly entertained by the discussions." -- Andrew Grgurich, The Mining Journal (Marquette,Mich.)"Absolutely one of the best types of investigative reporting I've seen as Shiel compiles so much information into this one little book that you will read over and over again." -- Beverly Pechin, Reader Views

Religion & Spirituality

Lisa A. Shiel

Occult & Paranormal

** Special library edition -- hardcover binding **Bigfoot...Fact or Fiction? Read this book before you decide!From recent footprints to ghostly figures painted on stone centuries ago, Backyard Bigfoot presents startling evidence that the hairy creatures who lurk in our world's backcountry represent more than a figment of our collective imagination. Bigfoot expert Lisa A. Shiel lays out the evidence -- physical and folkloric, ancient and modern -- to prove that Bigfoot and its kin all over the world stand closer to us than we ever imagined.If you're a newcomer to the subject, you'll learn valuable facts as the author guides you through the mine field of theories, counter-theories, and assumptions about Bigfoot. Knowledgeable researchers will find a treasure trove of little-known evidence and usually taboo concepts. In perfect detail, Shiel lays out her singular and astonishing revelations about Bigfoot, gleaned from years of research -- both in the field and in the historical archives. Joining her odyssey, you'll explore:Stick signs, purposeful symbols created with sticks and other material;Mane braiding, where intricate braids appear in horses' manes overnight;Predominant Bigfoot theories, and why they don't fit the facts;UFO-Bigfoot connection details typically dismissed by academic pedagogues; andDistorted human history and how it affects our perceptions of the Bigfoot enigma.From human evolution to lost civilizations, from UFOs to ancient artwork, Shiel weaves disparate threads into one incredible yet thoroughly believable theoretical tapestry - and leaves you breathless.*****"A skillfully written combination of field observations, academic perspectives, and discussions of other paranormal mysteries." -- Thom Powell, author of The Locals: A Contemporary Investigation of the Bigfoot/Sasquatch Phenomenon"A unique, and intensely personal perspective on the Bigfoot controversy." -- Nick Redfern, author of On the Trail of the Saucer Spies"You may agree or not with her conclusions but you will be thoroughly entertained by the discussions." -- Andrew Grgurich, The Mining Journal (Marquette,Mich.)"Absolutely one of the best types of investigative reporting I've seen as Shiel compiles so much information into this one little book that you will read over and over again." -- Beverly Pechin, Reader Views

Politics & Social Sciences

REDFERN, NICK

Shiel, Lisa A.

Archaeology

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