Thanks to Nebraska Life Magazine for a fantastic review in their January 2011 issue!
"Full of unexpected twists...vivid detail and lively dialogue. One inspired novel."
See the recipe for Willa's Runzas at the bottom of the Home Page. Thanks, Fairfax Book Club, for your gracious hospitality on March 14. : )
August 14, 2010. Thanks, Nebraska State Historical Society for a terrific review of Barrelhouse Boys in your Summer 2010 magazine!
See Joel's TV interviews at http://www.1011now.com/home/headlines/100276914.html
Thanks, Joe Duggan and Sheryl Schmeckpeper for terrific articles in the Lincoln Journal Star and Norfolk News!
http://journalstar.com/news/local/article_5ab20594-a3e8-11df-8280-001cc4c03286.html
On August 9 at 10:00 am, Joel dedicated a Nebraska State Historical Marker at the Rock Island Wreck Site in Wilderness Park, Lincoln, Nebraska. The state marker was approved based on research he performed in writing Barrelhouse Boys. Joel and his parents unveiled the marker (below).
See http://barrelhouseboys.wordpress.com/ for more details, including a map and directions to the site.
Thank you Fairbury! On Monday August 9, there was a book signing from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Rock Island Depot in Fairbury, NE. Many thanks to the Jefferson County Historical Society and the Fairbury Public Library Foundation for sponsoring this event. The Rock Island Depot is located at 2nd and I Streets (910 Second St.).
Omaha World-Herald Februrary 28, 2010:
"A fascinating event in Nebraska history...refreshingly readable...great historical facts and a likable hero...with mystery, romance, bigotry and riots. And it all swirls around an 1894 Lincoln train wreck that killed 11 people and apparently was the result of sabotage."
See the whole review at: http://www.omaha.com/article/20100228/LIVING/702289955
Thank you, Joe Duggan, for the excellent article!
“Epilogue: A forgotten mystery of death and destruction”
Lincoln Journal-Star February 22, 2010
"The magnitude of the murder, the heroics of the crews, the ongoing mystery of who was really behind the wreck all converge to make this an interesting piece of Nebraska history.’ “
See the whole article here:
http://journalstar.com/special-section/epilogue/article_2e0de0cc-1fc6-11df-9c5b-001cc4c002e0.html
Book Signing! Nebraska, March 6-13, 2010.
Sat March 6 – Omaha, NE
1:00 – 3:00 The Bookworm, 8702 Pacific
Street, Omaha, NE.
7:00 – 9:00 Borders Books, 13105 Birch Drive,
Omaha, NE.
Tues March 9 – Norfolk, NE
7:00 – 9:00 Hastings Books and Video, 919 S.
20th St., Norfolk NE 68701.
Wed March 10 – Fremont, NE
7:00 – 9:00 Hastings Books and Video, 1041
E 23rd St., Fremont, NE 68025.
Thurs March 11 – North Platte and Sidney, NE
10:00 – 12:00 A to Z Books, 507 North Jeffers,
North Platte NE 69101.
Avenue, Sidney NE 69162
Fri March 12 – Kearney and Grand Island, NE
3:00 – 5:00 Hastings Books and Video, 9 West
39th, Kearney, NE.68848.
7:00 – 9:00 Hastings Books and Video, 2250 N
Webb Road, # H4, Grand Island,
NE 68803.
Sat March 13 – Lincoln, NE
10:00 – 12:00 A Novel Idea, 118 North 14th Street,
Lincoln, NE 68508-3801.
1:00 – 3:00 Nebraska Bookstore, 1300 Q St,
Lincoln NE 68508
4:00 – 6:00 From Nebraska Gift Shop, 803 Q
St, Lincoln, NE 68508
7:00 –9:00 Indigo Bridge Books, 701 P Street,
Lincoln, NE 68508.
Sidney Sun-Times: "”…a long forgotten train wreck… turn-of-the-century Nebraska legends…villainous, gunslinging characters…” January 2, 2010
Lincoln Journal Star: "Rookie author Joel Williamsen creates an intriguing work of historical fiction. "The Barrelhouse Boys" is a mystery about a fatal Lincoln train wreck that might be connected to slaughterhouse riots in Omaha and railroad riots in Chicago. ... His interest in and extensive research of the history of his home state is evident in his first novel."
See the entire Dec 19 review here: http://journalstar.com/entertainment/article_89e2e0c4-eb36-11de-8edd-001cc4c03286.html
Fremont Daily Tribune: "... Those who buy the book can see Williamsen’s puzzle-solving and fact-ferreting skills. ... a puzzle -- an 1890s train wreck that remains a mystery ..." http://www.dailynebraskan.com/a-e/joel-williamsen-shares-process-of-writing-barrelhouse-boys-1.2097162
Read the entire December 9 article here: http://www.fremonttribune.com/articles/2009/12/09/news/local/doc4b1fc466d4879998983048.txt
The Scribner Rustler published an article on the book on December 1.
The author held a booksigning on Black Friday (November 27) at the Nebraska Bookstore, 1300 Q Street, Lincoln Nebraska. Veterans received a 40% discount off the cover price during the booksigning. Thank you for your service to our country!
The Fairbury Journal/News published an article on "Barrelhouse Boys" on November 25.
The Daily Nebraskan (student newspaper for the University of Nebraska) published an interview with the author on Tuesday, 24 November. Read the entire interview here:
