News Archives - Bruce E. Mowday

April 8, 2024

Emotional Brandywine book is now available

at Brandywine Museum of Art

and in Yorktown and the Lafayette Shoppe

Artist Karl J. Kuerner and author Bruce E. Mowday have 2 talks

 

            CHADDS FORD _ Emotional Brandywine, a book depicting the emotional side of the battle of Brandywine and the Brandywine valley, is now available at the Brandywine Museum of Art, at York Hall in Yorktown, Va., and nationwide through the Lafayette Shoppe, based in Williamsburg, Va.

“The book has been widely popular,” author Bruce E. Mowday said. “The first printing sold out within months last fall. The California publisher’s second printing is now available. Within the past week, we’ve had numerous requests for signed books.”

The Brandywine Museum of Art, Chadds Ford, now has signed copies. Renowned artist Karl J. Kuerner has a solo show at the museum to go along with the book. Kuerner selected the subjects for the book and Mowday wrote essays for the paintings.

Last week Lisa Ingegneri, owner of Williamsburg-based Lafayette Shoppe, added the book to her all-things Lafayette internet store. One of Kuerner’s paintings is Lafayette’s Sword. The shoppe can be found at www.lafayetteshoppe.com.

The Gallery at York Hall, Yorktown, reordered copies of Emotional Brandywine last week.

Also, Kuerner and Mowday are scheduled for two speaking engagements. They will give a talk on June 26 at the General Warren inne, Malvern. On July 15, the artist and author will give a presentation at the Sons of the American Revolution National Congress in Lancaster. Details are being finalized on both talks.

Emotional Brandywine, published by Regent Publishing, lists for $40.00. For information on obtaining signed copies, contact Mowday at mowday@mowday.com.

For more information on Kuerner, see his website at www.karljkuerner.com. For Mowday’s work, see his website at www.mowday.com.

April 2, 2024

PRELUDE to the kickoff of the Lafayette Bicentennial Celebration

 Thornbury Farm hosts second Lafayette Celebration

as part of 200^th anniversary of Lafayette’s being the nation’s guest and Chester County’s 250^th celebration

A family outing takes place on Saturday, July 20, 2024 

         THORNBURY _ A historic family celebration with Revolutionary War artifacts, honored guests and a preview of a movie on the battle of Brandywine, Lafayette and the preservation of sacred land will take place at Thornbury Farm on Saturday, July 20.

“Last year’s Lafayette Day was a huge success as almost 200 people attended our first Lafayette event at Thornbury Farm,” said host Randell Spackman, farm owner, history enthusiast and member of the Board of the Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission. “This year we have added additional events and activities for the whole family. This will be a day to be remembered!”

Thornbury Farm is located at 1256 Thornbury Road, West Chester. The event will take place from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. There is plenty of parking. Besides the historical aspects of the day, activities for children will take place, food trucks will provide refreshments and vendors will be on the property along with displays from non-profit organizations.

“This is perfect timing to kick-off the national Lafayette Bicentennial Celebration,” said Bruce Mowday, chair of the Lafayette Bicentennial Brandywine Committee. “The American Friends of Lafayette has devised a 13-month celebration to mark Lafayette’s return to the United States as our nation’s guest. The celebration begins on Friday, August 16, 2024, on the lower Manhattan shoreline where Lafayette will disembark to begin the bicentennial of the farewell tour. Two hundred years ago to the day, Lafayette landed at Castle Clinton. Following will be a parade in New York City where thousands of people are expected to participate. A flag raising at Evacuation Plaza will be the beginning point of the parade with the conclusion at City Hall where a famous portrait of Lafayette is housed.”

The celebration at Thornbury Farm will include information on the 13-month national celebration. Items pertaining to the celebration authorized by the American Friends of Lafayette will be available for purchase. Future events are being planned to commemorate Lafayette bicentennial visits to Chester on October 5, 2024, and to Chadds Ford and West Chester on July 26, 2025.

Lafayette was wounded during the battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777, near the Thornbury Farm. The spilling of his blood marked the beginning of Lafayette becoming a national hero. Taking part in the July 20 event will be Craig Caba, curator of the J. Howard Wert collection. Caba will display items from the Wert collection relating to Lafayette and Revolutionary War medicine. Caba will also give a talk.  For a second year, Mowday will lead a heritage walk from the farm to the field where Lafayette was wounded.

Mary Armstrong of Space Cat Films will preview her movie on Brandywine, Lafayette and the necessity of preserving historic land.

“We are so lucky to have Craig and Mary participate in Lafayette Day,” Mowday said. “I’ve worked with both of them on exciting projects.”

Spackman and Mowday will both be featured in the Armstrong movie. Also, Spackman and Mowday are members of Chester County’s 250^th committee planning the celebration of the anniversary of our nation’s founding.

Representatives from Chester and Delaware counties have indicated they will attend and a proclamation is expected to be read.

Members of the Latta family will be on hand to read the invocation their ancestor read at a dinner in West Chester honoring Lafayette. Besides Jim and Alison Latta, Guillaume Haccard will read the message in French.

Signings by local authors and artists producing work on Lafayette will be included. Mowday, Shay Allen and Karl J. Kuerner are expected to take part.

For more information on the July 20 Lafayette event, contact Mowday at mowday@mowday.com. For information on the Lafayette Bicentennial, see www.lafayette 200.org.

January 30, 2024

A marketing workshop and a Main Line Writers address

are part of the February events for author Bruce E. Mowday

Book signings in West Gove, Coatesville and Ephrata are on his appearance list

 

WEST CHESTER _ Author Bruce E. Mowday will begin his monthly events with a talk on Small-Town Cops in the Crosshairs: The 1972 Sniper Slayings of Policemen William Davis and Richard Posey at the Avon Grove Library on February 1.

“The murders of the two policemen were such an unnecessary tragedy,” Mowday said. “The senseless killings signaled to the Chester County community that the area was not immune to the growing violence in the nation.”

Mowday’s talk will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Avon Grove Library, 117 Rosehill Avenue, West Grove. The event is free and open to the public. The book, published by Schiffer Publishing, is one of three true crime books Mowday authored on the infamous Johnston gang.

“I’m working on my next book for Schiffer Publishing,” Mowday said. “The book is on the escape of murderer Danilo Souza Cavalcante from Chester County Prison on August 31, 2023.”

On Saturday, February 3, Mowday will sign books at Looker Books, 228 East Lincoln Highway, Coatesville, from noon until 2:00 p.m. He will talk about his books and writing at 1:00 p.m.

Mowday will join Mechanicsburg author Mary Walsh for a book marketing workshop on Sunday, February 4 in Lancaster from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The event is being held at Reology Studio, 315 W. James Street, Lancaster, unit #105. The cost is $49 and some spaces are available. Contact Mowday at mowday@mowday.com for reservations.

“Mary and I have been marketing books for more than 25 years we have a combined 40 books published,” Mowday said. “We’ve been asked to put on such a seminar. This is a unique opportunity for new and established writers looking to increase book sales.”

On February 6 at 7:00 p.m., Mowday will be at Screwballs Sports Bar & Grille, 216 Beidler Road, King of Prussia, to talk to the Main Line Writers group.

Lafayette and the battle of Brandywine will be Mowday’s topic when he gives a presentation at the Ephrata Cloisters, 632 West Main Street, Ephrata, on February 8 at 10:45 a.m.

“In August, the bicentennial celebration of Lafayette being America’s guest begins,” Mowday said. “Lafayette deserved the 13 months of adulation he received in 1824 and 1825. The American Friends of Lafayette is scheduling many events to mark the American Hero’s return to America. I’ll be giving talks on my three books, Lafayette at Brandywine: The Making of an American Hero; Lafayette: America’s Young Hero and Guest and September 11, 1777: Washington’s Defeat at Brandywine Dooms Philadelphia.”

Mowday is chair of the Chester and Delaware counties Lafayette bicentennial committee. For more information on the celebration, see www.lafayette200.org. To schedule a presentation by Mowday, contact the author at mowday@mowday.com. Information on his books can be found at www.mowday.com.

Mowday is an award-winning author and newspaper reporter. He has authored more than 20 books on history, sports, business and true crime. Mowday has appeared on numerous television and radio shows, including Counter Culture, a PBS Emmy-winning show, the Discovery ID channel, ReelZ network, C-SPAN, the Pennsylvania Cable Network, Hollywood and Beyond, Our American Heritage, Whatcha Got, Journey into the Civil War, Chronicles of the American Civil War and local television and radio stations.

He was a guest on the Massachusetts Historical Society’s Revolution 250. He was twice featured in the Authors of the American Revolution Congress hosted by Nathan’s Papers. Bruce is a frequent speaker at various civic and historical groups. The Congress of Civil War Round Tables has named Bruce a “5-Star” speaker.  Mowday has hosted his own radio shows, has been editor of magazines and was chairman of the Chester County Historical Society and president of the Brandywine Battlefield Park Associates. He is a former board member of the Valley Forge Park Alliance and the Chester County Conference and Visitors Bureau. For more information on Mowday, his books and his schedule of events, see www.mowday.com.

A member of the American Friends of Lafayette, Bruce is the Chester County Coordinator for the Lafayette Bicentennial Celebration in 2024 and 2025. He is also a member of the county’s 250^th committee planning for a celebration of our nation’s founding.

Recent comment from a reader: “This man reigns from Chester County and always seemed to present a balanced view in his early career covering the Courts. I have watched him blossoming into a highly respected author and has not written a boring one yet. We now have another budding celebrity hailing from the region. If you are a book enthusiast, order his books. They are polished and interesting. I’m not usually a big history reader but I’ve enjoyed his work. They are interesting as well as informative His name is Bruce Mowday. I like Bruce because he is talented and a gentleman. I would not push his product if I did not believe it was good work.”

January 3, 2024

Experienced authors Mary Walsh and Bruce E. Mowday

conduct a Book Marketing Workshop in Lancaster

Event takes place Sunday, February 4 at 2:00 p.m. at Reology Studio

             LANCASTER _ Successful authors Mary Walsh of Mechanicsburg and Bruce E. Mowday of West Chester are offering a two-hour seminar on book marketing.

You Wrote a Book… Now What? 

With more than 25 years of combined experience, Walsh and Mowday will share their priceless knowledge of marketing books in the independent and traditional marketing worlds. Their marketing is non-traditional and successful! Two publishers asked Bruce to write books on marketing tips for authors.

The workshop takes place on Sunday, February 4 from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at Reology Studio, 315 W. James Street, #105, Lancaster. The cost is $49. To pre-register, go to bit.ly/BookMarketingWorkshop. Seating is limited.

Light refreshments will be served.

“We are limiting the audience because we want to have enough time to talk individually with each participant,” Mowday said. “While some marketing techniques are common sense and universal, finding out what works best for the individual author is usually the key to success.”

Some of the subjects to be covered:

• Are you ready to publish?
• How do I identify my best salesperson?
• What is the good, bad and ugly of personal appearances?
• How do I make the most of my marketing budget?
• What are the steps to building a following?
• What are successful marketing strategies?
• How do I identify my audience?
• Is self-publishing a money-making venture?
• What is involved in self-publishing?
• What are the realities of being an author?

A majority of Walsh’s books are fiction and the majority of Mowday’s books are non-fiction.  Their approaches are somewhat different. Mowday, who has published more than 25 books and in December had 13 books ranked in the top 2 percent of all books listed on Amazon, has a non-traditional outlook on marketing.

For more information on Mowday’s books, see www.mowday.com. For Walsh’s books, see www.marywalshwrites.com.

Parking at the event is free. Look for Reology’s main entrance off of Mulberry Street. If you plug Reology’s address into a GPS, it will take you to James Street, Reology’s back entrance. Enter their parking lot off of Mulberry Street. If coming from Harrisburg Pike, turn onto Mulberry Street at the light by The Lancaster Arts Hotel. Turn into Reology’s parking lot on the right after passing The Fridge. You will see signs for Mulberry Apartments, Gall Laminating, and Reology. They are all located in the same building. Park in any available space. Do not park in the few spaces labeled only for tenants.

 

December 31, 2023

Amazon’s December reporting lists

13 books by author Bruce E. Mowday

in top 2 percent of all books offered

Mowday is scheduling events for 2024. He did 92 in 2023  

        West Chester, PA. _ Amazon’s Author Central lists 13 books by Chester County author Bruce E. Mowday in the top 2 percent of books offered by Amazon during December. Jailing the Johnston Gang: Bringing Serial Murders to Justice was ranked in the top 0.02 percent on December 29.

“I’m grateful for all of the readers of history and true crime interested in my books,” Mowday said. “The best part of my book journeys is meeting people interested in history and my writing. I thank them for a successful 2023.”

For the year, Mowday made 92 appearances, either giving talks, book signings, being interviewed or being featured on television shows. So far for 2024, Mowday has 21 events booked. To schedule a talk or signing, contact Mowday at mowday@mowday.com. All of Mowday’s books can be viewed at www.mowday.com.

“With the Lafayette’s celebration of his bicentennial tour as America’s guest beginning in August, I expect many more opportunities to talk about my two books on the American hero,” Mowday said. Mowday has written Lafayette at Brandywine: The Making of an American Hero and Lafayette: America’s Young Hero and Guest. Both books were completed with the aid of the American Friends of Lafayette. The later book was completed for students and young adults.

The Amazon listings give an indication of the overall sales of Mowday’s books. Amazon has more than 33 million books offered for sale.

For December, the date, Mowday’s book, ranking and publisher:

Dec. 29: Jailing the Johnston Gang, 98,132 (Barricade Publishing)

Dec. 17: Stealing Wyeth, 158,786 (Barricade Publishing)

Dec. 21: Lafayette at Brandywine, 197,313 (Barricade Publishing)

Dec. 8: Richie Ashburn, 236,113 (Barricade Books)

Dec. 17: Pickett’s Charge, 265,393 (Barricade Publishing)

Dec. 19: Coatesville, 267,501 (Arcadia)

Dec. 23: Small Town Cops, 281,007 (Schiffer Publishing)

Dec. 23: Life With Flavor, 309,045 (Barricade Publishing)

Dec. 20: Emotional Brandywine, 324,947 (Regent Publishing)

Dec. 7: Along the Brandywine River, 400,808 (Arcadia)

Dec. 28: September 11, 1777, 433,005 (White Mane Publishing)

Dec. 27: Unlikely Allies, 441,469 (Stackpole Books)

Dec. 11: Parkesburg, 467,272 (Arcadia)

 

 

 

 

November 28, 2023

Schiffer Publishing Ltd. contracts

with author Bruce E. Mowday

for book on Cavalcante prison escape 

     ATGLEN _ Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., an independent publisher with more than 5,000 titles, contracted with Chester County author Bruce E. Mowday to write a book on the escape of convicted murderer Danilo Souza Cavalcante from Chester County Prison in August 2023.

“My book will encompass more than just a prison escape of a murderer,” Mowday said. “The book will capture the terror felt by those living in the community around the prison. The capture of Cavalcante didn’t end the nightmare for many residents. Some are still traumatized.”

Schiffer wrote in the November 16 contract offer, “I am pleased to be sending the contracts for Escaped Murderers in the Neighborhood. We’re pleased to be working with you on this new project.”

For more information on Schiffer, see www.schifferbooks.com.

Mowday’s previous true-crime book is Small-Town Cops in the Crosshairs: The 1972 Sniper Slayings of Policemen William Davis and Richard Posey, published by Schiffer Publishing. Schiffer published two other Mowday books, J. Howard Wert’s Gettysburg and Six Walking Tours of West Chester.

“Schiffer is an exceptional publisher,” Mowday said. “I’m looking forward to another excellent experience with Schiffer.”

The book has many fascinating aspects, according to Mowday. Cavalcante viscously murdered Deborah Brandao by stabbing her 38 times in front of her children at her Schuylkill Township home. Cavalcante is also wanted in his native Brazil.

“Cavalcante is an international criminal,” Mowday said.

A number of local and federal law enforcement agencies took part in the search for Cavalcante and utilized advanced search techniques. “Cavalcante hid in some of the same country that murderer Norman Johnston roamed when he escaped from a state prison in 1999,” Mowday said. “My book will examine the similarities and the differences in the two escapes.”

The use of search dogs will be documented, including K-9 Yoda’s apprehension of Cavalcante.

An essential part of the book will be the condition of the county prison at the time of the escape. Cavalcante’s escape took place on the first day on the job for Acting Warden Howard Holland.  The facility was understaffed and was using outdated procedures, as one county official voiced at a public meeting,

Chester County officials held multiple public meetings after Cavalcante’s capture to answer public questions and outrage.

“Escaped Murderers in the Neighborhood is an exciting project,” Mowday said. “I’ve conducted interviews with principals and their experiences are fascinating.”

Mowday authored three other true crime books based on his time as a newspaper reporter for the Daily Local News of West Chester. Besides Small-Town Cops in the Crosshairs published by Schiffer. Mowday wrote Jailing the Johnston Gang: Bringing Serial Murderers to Justice and Stealing Wyeth for Barricade Books of New York.

Mowday’s other books number more than 20 and include history, sports and business titles. For all of Mowday’s books see www.mowday.com. He is an award-winning author and newspaper reporter.

November 27, 2023

Author Bruce E. Mowday gives presentation

before Military Officers Association of America

on Lafayette as part of busy month of December

Chadds Ford Historical Society, Barnes & Noble, Chester County Hospital Holiday Market and Longwood and Media Rotaries on Mowday’s schedule 

            WEST CHESTER _ Author Bruce E. Mowday will give a presentation on Lafayette at Brandywine: The Making of an American Hero, before the Military Officers Association of America.

“Lafayette did so much to win our freedom,” Mowday said. “The Military Officers Association of America is the perfect organization to give my talk. Lafayette joined with the officers of General George Washington’s staff to defeat England during the American Revolution.”

Mowday’s talk will take place on December 9 at the Desmond Hotel, 1 Liberty Boulevard, Malvern.

Mowday’s itinerary begins on Friday, December 1 at the Chadds Ford Historical Society, Creek Road, Chadds Ford. He’ll sign his books from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. during the “Critter Sale” associated with the Brandywine River Museum of Art.

A holiday market to benefit the Chester County Hospital takes place at the Hershey’s Mill Community Center, 25 Hershey’s Drive, West Chester, on December 5 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.             The public is invited and should enter the main gate off Greenhill Road. Mowday will sign his books.

Two Rotary presentations will be given. On December 7 at 12:15 p.m. Mowday will appear before the Media Rotary, at noon at Cedar Creek Catering & Events, 350 West State Street, Media, Mowday will be talking about his writing life. On December 14 at 7:00 a.m., Mowday will give a presentation on his true crimes books at the Longwood Rotary, Longwood Gardens.

On Christmas Eve, from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., Mowday will sign books at Barnes & Noble, 301 Main Street, Exton.

October 3, 2023

 

Yorktown, Virginia, is one of the October venues

for West Chester author Bruce E. Mowday

 

        WEST CHESTER _ Yorktown, Virginia, is one of the October venues for talks and book signings on Lafayette by West Chester author Bruce E. Mowday.

Mowday is signing on October 19 at the Gallery at York Hall during the anniversary marking the surrender of the British army at Yorktown. The signing takes place from 12:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.

“Lafayette is an American hero,” Mowday said. “The young Frenchman was wounded at Brandywine on September 11, 1777. In September 1781, Lafayette was battling British General Cornwallis in Virginia. The campaign led to the surrender of the British army at Yorktown on October 19, 1781.”

Mowday wrote four books on the battle of Brandywine and Lafayette. His work September 11, 1777: Washington’s Defeat at Brandywine Dooms Philadelphia was the first detailed look at the battle. His book Lafayette at Brandywine: The Making of American Hero details the importance of Brandywine and Lafayette and Lafayette’s contributions to American freedom. His third book is Lafayette: America’s Young Hero & Guest. The book is for students and young adults.

Mowday’s latest book Emotional Brandywine, a collection of essays to go with paintings by noted Chadds Ford artist Karl J. Kuerner, was released October 1 by Regent Publishing of California.

On Saturday, October 7 in Wilmington at 8:30 a.m. Mowday gives a presentation on Lafayette before the American Association of University Women. Downingtown artist Adrian Martinez painted the cover art for his Lafayette book. On October 10 at 1:45 p.m. Mowday joins Martinez for a presentation at the Church of the Saviour, Wayne.

Mowday will give an update on the upcoming Lafayette Bicentennial Celebration on October 16 Kendal at Longwood at 7:00 p.m. Mowday is chair of the Lafayette Bicentennial Brandywine Committee. Also, on October 26 Mowday will be signing books during the Brandywine Battlefield Task Force celebration at Thornbury Farms 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

On October 13, Mowday leads a Hershey’s Mill bus tour on early Pennsylvania history. Prelude to Freedom is the first of four such bus tours.

Besides his American Revolution books, Mowday wrote on Gettysburg, true crime, business and sports. For all of his books, see www.mowday.com. To schedule a talk or purchase signed copies of his books, contact Mowday at mowday@mowday.com.

Mowday’s non-American Revolution events in October include a talk on the Johnston Gang at Harrison House, Coatesville, on October 11 at 1:15 p.m. On October 13 at 4:00 p.m. Mowday is signing books at a special History and Mystery event at Kathy’s Corner Shop in North East, Maryland.

William Penn is the subject of Mowday’s presentation at the 300^th anniversary London Grove Township on October 21 at Goddard Park. He will sign books.

On October 25 at 7:00 a.m., Mowday gives a presentation on Pickett’s Charge: The Untold Story before the West Chester Sunrise Rotary at Arbour Square.

September 5, 2023

Lafayette and battle of Brandywine

dominate talks in September

by author Bruce E. Mowday 

        WEST CHESTER _ Lafayette and the battle of Brandywine dominate the talks by author Bruce E. Mowday during September.

“Lafayette is an American hero,” Mowday said. “The young Frenchman was wounded at Brandywine on September 11, 1777. In September 1781, Lafayette was battling British General Cornwallis in Virginia. The campaign led to the surrender of the British army at Yorktown on October 19, 1781.”

Mowday began the month in Annapolis on Sunday. Lafayette visited Annapolis four times including during his travels to Yorktown.

Mowday wrote three books on the battle of Brandywine and Lafayette. His work September 11, 1777: Washington’s Defeat at Brandywine Dooms Philadelphia was the first detailed look at the battle. His book Lafayette at Brandywine: The Making of American Hero details the importance of Brandywine and Lafayette and Lafayette’s contributions to the American freedom. His third book is Lafayette: America’s Young Hero & Guest. The book is for students and young adults.

Lafayette was a Mason and Mowday gives a talk on September 6 to the Mason’s High Twelve Club in Frasier.

On September 10, Mowday will speak at The Mill at Anselma, 1730 Conestoga Road, Chester Sprints, at 3:00 p.m. He will give an update on the upcoming Lafayette Bicentennial Celebration on September 11 at Kendal at Longwood at 7:00 p.m. Mowday is chair of the Lafayette Bicentennial Brandywine Committee.

Chester County Library, 450 Exton Square Parkway, Exton on September 13 at 6:00 p.m. hosts a talk on the battle of Brandywine and Lafayette. Reservations are suggested, see https://ccls.libcal.com/event/9877053. This is the third and final presentation this year by Mowday at the library. His first two presentations were on the Johnston gang and Gettysburg. Mowday wrote three books on each subject.

On September 14, Mowday will be leading a Hershey’s Mill bus tour on early Pennsylvania history. Prelude to Freedom is the first of four such bus tours. The tour is filled and a second tour will take place in October.

Two events by the American Friends of Lafayette and Artillery Brewery of West Chester and Drexel Hill will take place on September 16 to introduce a new beer named for Lafayette. The first one is at noon at 4221 Ferne Blvd., Drexel Hill at Artillery Brewery. The beer is featured by Artillery during the Union professional soccer match at Subaru Park, Chester, in the evening.

Chadds Ford Days take place on the Brandywine battlefield at Chadds Ford Historical Society. On September 17, Mowday will be signing books beginning at 10:00 a.m. and at 3:00 p.m. he’ll be giving a talk on Lafayette and an update of the Bicentennial tour.

Mowday will also be signing his books during Paoli Heritage Days, from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Paoli Battlefield, Malvern.

Besides his American Revolution books, Mowday has written on Gettysburg, true crime, business and sports. For all of his books, see www.mowday.com. To schedule a talk or purchase signed copies of his books, contact Mowday at mowday@mowday.com.

On September 7 at 7:00 p.m. Mowday will be talking about Pickett’s Charge: The Untold Story before the Brandywine Valley Civil War Round table. At the Tel Hai Retirement Community, Honey Brook, on September 18 at 2:15 p.m., Mowday will give a talk on the Johnston gang.

 

August 21, 2023

Emotional Brandywine released by California’s Regent Press

 Paintings by Karl J. Kuerner and essays by Bruce E. Mowday

bring to life the American Revolution battle of Brandywine

Book is companion to Emotional Gettysburg by Kuerner and Mowday

 

          CHADDS FORD _ On a warm, late summer day – September 11, 1777 – American troops under the command of General George Washington bravely fought the British army across the fields of Chadds Ford.

Artist Karl J. Kuerner created 22 paintings depicting the essence of the largest land battle of the American Revolution. Author Bruce E. Mowday captured the history of the historic engagement and the emotion fashioned by Kuerner’s paintings.

“The area covered by the battle, from the village of Kennett Square, across the fields of Chadds Ford and on to the town of Chester, is special today and in history,” Mowday said. “Karl creates special, thoughtful paintings. Karl’s paintings are impressive in Emotional Brandywine.”

Regent Press of Berkley, California, announced the book’s release is scheduled for October 1. The cost of the book is $40.00. To reserve signed copies by Kuerner and Mowday of first edition and first printing copies, contact Mowday at mowday@mowday.com. A $4.00 postage and mailing fee will be charged.

Kuerner and Mowday combined to create the highly successful Emotional Gettysburg on the Civil War engagement, also published by Regent Publishing. “Readers told us after reading Emotional Gettysburg, they never will view Gettysburg the same,” Kuerner said.

Kuerner was raised on land where skirmishes took place during the battle of Brandywine. His neighbors were the Wyeth family of artists. Kuerner’s artistic talent was recognized and nurtured at a very young age by Carolyn Wyeth – sister of Andrew Wyeth and a renowned artist in her own right.

​            Kuerner grew up surrounded by artists and the task of painting. From the age of seven he watched Andrew Wyeth paint some of his greatest works at the Kuerner Farm – Karl’s family homestead for three generations – and a major source of inspiration for more than 1,000 of Wyeth’s works of art – and eventually over 300 of Kuerner’s own works.

​            As Kuerner matured artistically, Andrew Wyeth took a keen interest in the young artist and took him under his wing – mentoring and teaching him for more than three decades. “Wyeth looked at Karl Kuerner and said, ‘It’s up to you to carry this on. And it won’t be easy’. . . . Wyeth added, ‘Karl understands what I’m about: pure, deep, emotion.  I have always emphasized to Karl that an artist must paint what he loves . . . and Karl has been painting that which he loves for nearly forty years now. His work is inspiring and deeply introspective . . . it exhibits a strong honest quality that comes from deep within and touches the ordinary in a profound way.”

​            Although Kuerner was initially influenced by the Wyeths, he is certainly not one of them – nor does he want to be. He is described by many as a fine painter of great merit – possessing his own intimate and straightforward style. He paints realistically using strong abstract shapes. He paints portraits of great variety. For more information on Kuerner and his paintings, see www.karljkuerner.com.

Mowday is an award-winning author and newspaper reporter. He has authored more than 20 books on history, sports, business and true crime. Mowday has appeared on numerous television and radio shows, including Counter Culture, a PBS Emmy-winning show, the Discovery ID channel, ReelZ network, C-SPAN, the Pennsylvania Cable Network, Hollywood and Beyond, Our American Heritage, Whatcha Got, Journey into the Civil War, Chronicles of the American Civil War and local television and radio stations.

He was a guest on the Massachusetts Historical Society’s Revolution 250. He was twice featured in the Authors of the American Revolution Congress hosted by Nathan’s Papers. Mowday is a frequent speaker at various civic and historical groups. The Congress of Civil War Round Tables has named Bruce a “5-Star” speaker. A member of the American Friends of Lafayette, Bruce is the Chester County Coordinator for the Lafayette Bicentennial Celebration in 2024 and 2025. He is also a member of the county’s 250^th committee planning for a celebration of our nation’s founding.

A reader commented, “This man reigns from Chester County and always seemed to present a balanced view in his early career covering the Courts. I have watched him blossoming into a highly respected author and has not written a boring one yet. We now have another budding celebrity hailing from the region. If you are a book enthusiast, order his books. They are polished and interesting. I’m not usually a big history reader but I’ve enjoyed his work. They are interesting as well as informative His name is Bruce Mowday. I like Bruce because he is talented and a gentleman. I would not push his product if I did not believe it was good work.”

For more information on Mowday and his books, see www.mowday.com. Signed copies, including Emotional Brandywine and Emotional Gettysburg can be ordered by emailing Mowday at mowday@mowday.com.