Book Description

On November 5, 2002—Election Day—most Georgians were surprised to learn that they had elected their first Republican governor in 130 years, becoming the last state of the old Confederacy to break the long-time Democratic lock on the governor’s office and both houses of the state legislature. Former state senator and businessman Sonny Perdue, from the Middle Georgia town of Bonaire, defeated the well-financed incumbent governor, Roy Barnes. In the same election, Democrat Tom Murphy, the longest-serving Speaker of any state House of Representatives in the country, was defeated in his reelection bid after forty-two years in the House, the last twenty-nine of them as Speaker.

By the end of the week, four state senators switched from Democrat to Republican, giving the Grand Old Party control of a single legislative chamber for the first time since the era of post-Civil War Reconstruction. Within two more years, Georgia elected a majority of Republicans to the state House of Representatives, and they, in turn, elected the first Republican Speaker since Reconstruction. Red State Rising: Triumph of the Republican Party in Georgia tells this fascinating story.

About the Author

TOMMY HILLS is an eighth-generation Georgian who has been actively involved in the business, civic, and governmental activities of the state for all of his life.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Emory University, a Masters of Arts in southern U.S. history from Georgia State University and a Juris Doctor degree from Emory Law School.  In 2007 the University of North Carolina School of Law Banking Institute published his Master’s thesis on “The Rise of Southern Banking.” Hills currently serves as Chief Financial Officer for the State of Georgia and previously enjoyed a 36-year career as a senior executive in commercial banking in Atlanta before entering government service.

Hills’ business and governmental experiences have provided him with unique insider access to a number of Georgia’s most influential business, governmental, political, civic and religious leaders over several decades that enabled him to undertake this study of significant political transition in Georgia over the past several years.  He has been recognized by Georgia Trend Magazine as one of Georgia’s 100 most influential Georgians for the five years from 2005 through 2009.

Tommy Hills resides in Atlanta with his wife. They have two daughters, five grandchildren and several pets.

Purt Nigh Gone: The Old Mountain Ways, the latest book by New York Times best-selling author, former U. S. senator and Georgia governor Zell Miller, is about a way of life that once was, but is no more. Time has taken its toll on much of the unique Appalachian mountain culture. Only a remnant now remains.

“Purt nigh gone”…or “pretty near gone”…is the region’s disappearing dialect, swallowed up by exposure to mass media popular culture. Nearly gone as well is the area’s traditional music, its food, its old-time religion, its humor, and even its moonshine.

While considering these fading treasures, this book also looks at the Appalachian mountains in their prehistoric times, when they rose higher than the Rockies, at the Cherokees and their removal, at the nation’s first gold rush, and at the timeless question of whose mountains these truly are.

Finally, Zell Miller leaves us with 101 good reasons for living in these mountains today. But after reading through these remembrances of a time “purt nigh gone,” you will hardly need them. These mountains will feel like home already.

About the Author

ZELL MILLER began his career in public service in 1959 with a term as mayor of Young Harris, Georgia. In 1960, he was elected to the Georgia Senate at the age of 28. In 1974, he won the first of four consecutive terms as Georgia’s lieutenant governor. Then in 1990, Miller ran for governor and won the first of two terms he would serve as the state’s top leader. From 2000 through 2004, he served as a United States Senator for the state of Georgia.

After a lifetime of politics, teaching, speaking, and writing, including two New York Times best sellers, Zell Miller and his wife Shirley retired to his home in Brasstown Valley in the mountains of North Georgia.  His books include The Mountains Within Me, A National Party No More, A Deficit of Decency, and The Miracle of Brasstown Valley.

Perfect for:

• Current Boy Scouts
• Former Scouts
• Cub Scout Leaders
• Boy Scout Leaders
• or Those simply Concerned for America.
  

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In On My Honor, Texas governor Rick Perry, through the legacy of the Boy Scouts of America, takes dead aim at the moral relativism of the secular humanist movement, indicting its corrosive impact on the culture.  Examining the left’s legal assaults on the Boy Scouts of America - which span more than 30 years - Perry offers prescient insight into the multi-faceted war, which pits the proponents of traditional American values against the radical leftist movement that seeks to tear down our social foundations.

On My Honor underscores the depth to which the culture warriors of the left will go to force their secular humanist minority view upon American society and revered American institutions.  It is a revealing look at a culture war that rages close to the surface of American life, and it is a must read for any American concerned that our society is slipping from the high moral ground of liberty to the valley of license.

Learn more at the On My Honor Website

About the Author

RICK PERRY, currently the governor of Texas, wrote On My Honor to shed a bright light on the culture battles the Boy Scouts face defending America’s values.  As an Eagle Scout and the proud father of an Eagle Scout, Perry has witnessed first hand the positive impact Scouting has had in the lives of countless Gov. Perry will sign book in Woodvillefamilies.  The onslaught by the secularists, lead by the ACLU, has been relentless and has long term negative ramifications for all Americans.  This is Governor Perry’s first book.  He resides in Austin with Anita, his wife of 25 years, and his daughter, Sydney.  His son, Griffin, lives and works in Dallas.  All net proceeds from this book go directly to the Boy Scouts of America.

The spirit of William Wilberforce, who worked to stop the transatlantic slave trade 200 years ago, is alive and active in all people whose faith complel their tireless efforts to transform their culture and build a better world.  Creating the Better Hour:  Lessons from William Wilberforce is not an ordinary study book.  It is a call to end ongoing human oppression and slavery.  The life of this great Christian parliamentarian and abolitionist is the starting point for a first-class group of contributors to show Wilberforce as a model for engaging modern culture.  Essays detail how people today can emulate his life, great persuasive techniques, and his Clapham Circle colleagues to bring about cultural change and end oppression.  Each chapter’s Extended Observation draws readers and study groups into transforming reflections and conversations--all designed to help people become a force for good and commit to a life on behalf of others.

Learn more at The Better Hour Website

About the Author

Chuck Stetson is a Managing Director of PEI Funds, a private equity firm based in New York.  He is a graduate of Yale University and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business.  He created the Doubleday Pocket Bible Guide and his book The British Abolitionists and Their Influence in America is due to be released in early 2008.  Mr. Stetson is also the Chairman of the Bible Literacy Project and co-author of the acclaimed public school textbook, The Bible and Its Influence.

A true story of the miraculous creation of a college in a remote mountain valley at the turn of the 19th century and the captivating characters who, with the grace of God, made it happen:

The Methodist circuit rider, still in his 20s, who came into the valley on a mule, bringing only a dream and the fierce faith of an Old Testament prophet.

The wise, resourceful, soft-spoken widow who breathed life into the infant school not once, but twice.

The wealthy Methodist layman whose generosity for Christian education was so great that his kin sued him because they felt left out.

The college president, a Shakespearean scholar, who was more at home on the farm with his britches rolled up and shirt tail flapping.

About the Author

After a lifetime of politics, teaching, speaking, and writing, including two New York Times Best Sellers, Zell Miller retired to his home in Brasstown Valley in the mountains of North Georgia, the setting of this, his seventh book.