Read from the introduction of Corkscrewed: Adventures in the New French Wine Country by Robert V. Camuto: "It was a perfect day to lose faith in wine. By midmorning on June 21, 2005, the heat and humidity were conspiring to make it another in a series of stifling hot days in Bordeaux. I’d set out from Saint-Émilion in my tiny Citroën rental car—windows rolled down to make up for the lack of air conditioning—en route to Vinexpo, the world’s largest wine convention held once every two years in the sprawling convention site north of the city. As I inched along … Continue reading Off the Shelf: Corkscrewed: Adventures in the New French Wine Country by Robert V. Camuto

Here's an exclusive offer for readers of the University of Nebraska Press blog: for the rest of November, save 25% off any of these Science Fiction books when you order directly from the University of Nebraska Press Web site. Enter the code XSC8 in the discount code field of your shopping cart and click "apply". Offer expires November 30, 2008. Check the upper lefthand corner of our blog each month for a new special sale offer. Continue reading Save 25% off a selection of Science Fiction books!

I don’t know about you, but I just love the holiday season! It’s a time of getting together with all your favorite people, having amazing meals, and in a little over a month giving and receiving some very thoughtful presents. Now, I know I’m probably getting you all worked up when we still have weeks to go, but perhaps to tide you over I’ll share with you what we’ve got going on for this week. A little football, a little boxing, and surprisingly, a hint of chloroform! November 10, 1925: In the game against Army at Yankee Stadium, Notre Dame … Continue reading This Week in History: November 10-14, 2008

New this month from the University of Nebraska Press is The National Museum of the American Indian: Critical Conversations by Amy Lonetree and Amanda J. Cobb.  The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian opened up in Washington D.C. in 2004.  Made up of approximately 800,000 objects within three galleries, these pieces are closely related to native communities across the continent. This compilation of perspectives, including both native and non-native, span the boundaries of art history, anthropology, ethnic studies, and Native American studies.     Museums are just one of the many ways this country gives recognition and acknowledgement to … Continue reading Linking in Lincoln: November 13, 2008

New this month from the University of Nebraska Press is Bright Epoch: Women and Coeducation in the American West by Andrea G. Radke-Moss. With the passage of the Morrill Act in 1862, after the civil war, economic necessity partnered with the efforts of ‘progressive ideologies’ allowed for four public institutions to admit women. It was through the educational venue that these women challenged rigid nineteenth century gender limitations and ‘created broader definitions of female inclusion’. This week Tuesday Trivia is going to do some broadening of our own minds with a few facts on the history of women's rights. 1.    … Continue reading Tuesday Trivia: November 11, 2008

Read from Homer Hickam's foreword in Homesteading Space: The Skylab Story by David Hitt, Owen Garriott, and Joe Kerwin:

The book that follows is a riveting, insightful account of the Skylab missions flown by the United States in 1973 and 1974. It is also simply a great yarn. Skylab began as an underdog, was nearly knocked out several times, staggered back to its feet, and fought on against overwhelming odds until it became a champion. In a lot of ways, it was the Rocky of space, and just like the story in that great film, it is an inspiration for all who know it. The difference is the remarkable saga of Skylab is all true.

Continue reading “Off the Shelf: Homesteading Space: The Skylab Story by David Hitt, Owen Garriott, and Joe Kerwin”

“You will be rewarded for your efforts”by Kathi Jackson, authorThey Called Them Angels: American Military Nurses of World War II     I laughed at this fortune-cookie fortune even as I taped it onto the base of my computer where it taunted me as I wrote.   Up to that time, rewards for my writing had been scarce and it didn’t appear that anything would be coming in anytime soon.    Several years before, I had started a novel loosely based on an aunt who was a nurse in a veterans hospital. (Although much of her life had been sad, I suspected that … Continue reading Author Guest Blog- Kathi Jackson

Well readers, I know I always say “it’s been a big week”, but this truly has been a big week . America made history last night by electing the first African American President, Barack Obama. Now I don’t think anything I’m going to write today will top that, so let’s just lower our expectations a bit and begin what I’m sure will end up being a very interesting, albeit not groundbreaking, This Week in history. November 3, 1969: Richard Nixon addresses the nation asking that the “silent majority” to support him in the Vietnam War and his policies. There is … Continue reading This Week in History: November 3-7, 2008