Lincoln Raw

by DL Fowler

  To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell.

  I wave good-bye and take a seat on the train next to Nicolay. A lump rises in my throat. I pat his knee. “I will soon take an oath ‘to preserve and protect the Constitution,’ but already, the Union and its foundations are being rocked and its bonds ripped apart.”

  When I consider the great trouble that is before us, I am reminded of the Savior’s lament as he stood upon a hill and gazed upon his beloved city, Jerusalem.

  How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings.

  I gaze out the window, my eyes misting over as I watch my beloved countryside roll past. Memories, some joyful and others laced with pain, consume my thoughts.

  Acknowledgements

  I am most grateful for the invaluable contributions of many people who helped bring this story to life. Among them are two groups of dedicated authors—critique partners who hold my feet to the fire every week and challenge me to write my very best: Laurie Ezpeleta, Cheryl Feeney (Cheryl also did a yeoman’s job as my editor), Brett Gadbois, Richard Heller, Michael Smith, Jan Walker and Barbara Winther. Van Rozay is my go-to-guy when it comes to storytelling and wordsmithing. Annmarie Huppert was an invaluable resource on the subject of complex post-traumatic stress, and Stacy Garza deserves special thanks for her work organizing the book launch. Ed Aro and his team at Windemere Real Estate made an invaluable contribution to the launch effort as well.

  Others who have supported me with their encouragement, financial support and critiques: Gary & Joan Albert, my sister-in-law Joan Andresen, my nephew Aaron Andresen, Kent Berg, my aunt and uncle Dotty & Bob Botts, Diptiman & Susan Chakravarti, my niece Kate Chang, my cousin Carol DeFelice and her son Matt DeFelice, Michael & Candace Donovan, Robin Foster, my mother Barbara Fowler, my brother and sister-in-law Glen & Heather Fowler, my niece Holly Fowler, Stacey Garza, my sister Donna Goetz, Don Havens, Brian & Michelle Greenley, Bob Hibbard, Robert & Nancy Hutchins, Steve Lynn and the gang at Morso Wine Bar, Matt McKellar, my college roommate Terry McMullen, Shinho Park, Tahirih PerryCook, my sister and brother-in-law Ruth & Larry Rice, my sister and brother-in-law Sandy & Laurens Thurman, my sister and brother-in-law Becky & John Shaw, my nephew Owen Shaw, Dan Smith, John Stoddard, and the baristas and gang at Starbucks Gig Harbor North.

  For her inspiration and words of wisdom on the craft of writing, I give a special thanks to Kristen Lamb, founder of WANA International.

  And special thanks to my family, without whose support I would have thrown in the towel dozens of times: my wife and proofreader Judi Fowler, my son and daughter-in-law Jason & Heather Fowler, my daughter and son-in-law Noelle & Adrian Brambila, my grandchildren Elijah, Lukas and Angelina Brambila, and my grand-dogs Mookey, Edgar, Wally, Keeley, Prim and Chonchis.

  Additional Reading

  Barton, W. E. (1920). The Paternity of Abraham Lincoln: Was He the Son of Thomas Lincoln. New York: George H. Doran Company.

  Basler, R. ed. (1953). The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. New Brunswick, NJ: The Abraham Lincoln Association, Springfield, Ill; Rutgers University Press.

  Bower, A. P. (2009). The Last Stop: Lincoln and the "Mud Circuit". Taylorville, IL: Oak Tree Press.

  Burlingame, M. (2008). Abraham Lincoln: A Life. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

  Burlingame, M. (1997). The Inner World of Abraham Lincoln. Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press.

  Campanella, R. (2010). Lincoln in New Orleans: The 1828-1831 Flatboat Voyages and Their Place in History. Lafayette, LA: University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press.

  D. P. (1856). Official Proceedings of the Democratic Party National Convention. Cincinnati: Enquirer Company Steam Printing Establishment.

  Douglas, S. A. (1860). The Dividing Line Between Federal and Local Authority: Popular Sovereignty in the Territories. Harper's New Monthly Magazine , pp. 519-536.

  Epstein, D. M. (2008). The Lincolns: Portrait of a Marriage. New York: Ballantine Books.

  Gore, J. R. (1921). The Boyhood of Abraham Lincoln: From the Spoken Narratives of Austin Gollaher. Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Company.

  Greene, G. J. (1916). Lincoln the Comforter. Hancock, NJ: Herald Press.

  Guelzo, A.C. (2002). Grand Rapids, MI: Redeemer President. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

  Herndon, W., & Weik, J. W. (1889). Herndon's Lincoln: The True Story of a Great Life. Chicago, New York, San Francisco: Belford Clarke & Company.

  Hogan, J. (2011). Lincoln, Inc.: Selling the Sixteenth President in Contemporary America. Lanham, MD: Rowan & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.

  Holland, J. (1998). Holland's Life of Abraham Lincoln. Introduction by Allen C. Guelzo. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.

  Holzer, H. (2004). Lincoln at Cooper Union: The Speech That Made Abraham Lincoln President. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks.

  Holzer, H. (2008). Lincoln President-Elect: Abraham Lincoln and the Great Secession Winter 1860-1861. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks.

  Holzer, H. (2004). The Lincoln-Douglas Debates: The First Complete, Unexpurgated Text. New York: Fordham University Press.

  Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association, Various Articles. (n.d.).

  Kempf, E. J. (1965). Abraham Lincoln's Philosophy of Common Sense: An Analytical Biography of a Great Mind. New York: The New York Academy of Sciences.

  Ketcham, H. (1901). The Life of Abraham Lincoln.

  Lamon, W. H., & Teillard, E. D. (1895). Recollections of Abraham Lincoln, 1847-1865. Chicago: A.C. McClurg and Company.

  Lapsley, E. A. The Papers and Writings of Abraham Lincoln: Complete Constitutional Edition. Project Gutenberg.

  Myers, J. (n.d.). Abraham Lincoln and the Melissa Goings Case. http://www.villageofmetamora.com/?hiscourt .

  Nicolay, J. G., & Hay, J. (1890). Abraham Lincoln: A History. New York: The Century Company.

  Remsburg, J. E. (1893). Abraham Lincoln: Was He a Christian? New York: The Truth Seeker Company.

  Sandburg, C. (1954). Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years and The War Years. San Diego, New York: Harcourt, Inc.

  Sheahan, J. W. (1860). The Life of Stephen A. Douglas. New York: Harper & Brothers, Publishers.

  Shenk, J. W. (2005). Lincoln's Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His Greatness. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.

  Simon, P. (1971). Lincoln's Preparation for Greatness: The Illinois Legislative Years. Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press.

  Starr, J. J. (1922). Lincoln's Last Day. New York: Frederick A. Stokes Company.

  Steiner, F. (1870). Religious Views of Our Presidents. Index (Toledo, Ohio) .

  Tarbell, I. M. (1896). The Early Life of Abraham Lincoln. New York: S.S. McClure Limited.

  The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum; www.alplm.org/.

  The Lehrman Institute, and The Lincoln Institute; www.abrahamlincoln.org;.

  Walker, W. (1860). The War in Nicaragua. New York: S.H. Goetzel & Co.

  Weems, M. L. (1833). The Life of George Washington. Philadelphia: Joseph Allen.

  Wilson, D. L. (1998). Honor's Voice: The Transformation of Abraham Lincoln. New York: Aflred A. Knopf, Inc.

  www.mrlincolnandfriends.org/.

  About the Author

  DL Fowler gets inside people’s heads and writes about what he finds there.

  The author of bestselling Lincoln’s Diary – a novel of suspense, he spent his teenage years in Southern California in the shadow of Redlands’ Lincoln Shrine. He now makes his home in picturesque Gig Harbor, Washington and travels frequently to America’s heartland.

  Your Opinion Matters

  Other readers want to know about your experience reading Lincoln Raw—a biographical novel. A good way to give them your feedback is to post reviews on www.amazon.com and www.goodreads.com. Below are some questions to g
uide you in writing a meaningful review.

  What part of Lincoln Raw did you most enjoy?

  Do you believe biographical novels can be useful in studying history?

  List three things you learned about Lincoln’s life.

  Were you surprised that Lincoln was not an abolitionist?

  Were you surprised by Lincoln’s religious views?

  Would you recommend Lincoln Raw to other readers? Why?

  Readers Guide

  Following are some suggested points you might consider when discussing Lincoln Raw—a biographical novel.

  What factors contributed to Lincoln’s melancholy disposition?

  What childhood incidents indicate Lincoln was naturally more sensitive to injustice and abuse than his peers?

  What were Lincoln’s views on religion, and how did they evolve over his life?

  Compare and contrast Lincoln’s views on slavery with those of abolitionists of his day.

  How were the politics of Lincoln’s day similar to or different from today’s politics?

  Before Lincoln left Springfield to be inaugurated president he wrote a manifesto. What difference did he see between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution?

  Discuss ways in which Lincoln’s childhood and adolescent experiences influenced his relationships with women, and separately consider how early life experiences influenced his relationships with other men.

  Consult resources on Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder such as http://www.helpguide.org/mental/post_traumatic_stress_disorder_symptoms_treatment.htm and discuss whether Lincoln may have suffered from PTSD.

  Discuss the advantages/disadvantages of using historical fiction in learning about history.

  To arrange an in-person or video meeting with the author, go to http://dlfowler.com/contact-me .