Not enough gets said about the good job many public libraries do in serving their communities with events programming. Alabama has quite a few that deserve recognition, many of which have hosted programs featuring NewSouth Books authors in the last few years. To name just a few who’ve partnered with us recently: the B.B. Comer Memorial Public Library in Sylacauga; the Ashland City Public Library; the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library; the Pell City Public Library; the Adelia McConnell Russell Library in Alex City; the Birmingham Public Library; the Selma-Dallas County Public Library; and the Mobile Public Library.

Our new favorite library is the Bradshaw Public Library in Valley, Alabama. Several NewSouth authors have enjoyed good audiences there as part of its “Lunch and Learn” series. On November 21, Peter Huggins spoke about his new young adult novel In the Company of Owls and talked about the process of creating a book. Adult Programs Coordinator John Tidwell said of Huggins’s presentation, “In the Company of Owls, a very exciting book for all family members, was excellent! We will probably ask you to schedule Peter for a return engagement.”

On December 4, former Alabama governor John Patterson and historian Warren Trest discussed Nobody But the People, a biography offering new insights and rich details into the life of this significant Southern politician. The crowd of almost a hundred people greatly enjoyed meeting Gov. Patterson and hearing his personal story. Mr. Tidwell observed, “The presentations by Governor Patterson and Warren Trest fascinated our Lunch and Learn group. So much so that they kept them answering questions twenty minutes after the program was scheduled to end! This was indeed a rarity! We were well-pleased.” This must be true, because a reprise program featuring Governor Patterson and Warren Trest is being planned for March or April of next year.

About his experiences, NewSouth author Warren Trest had this to say: “The Valley librarians were fantastic hosts — and top of the mark in every way.”  We couldn’t agree more.

The fruitful partnership between NewSouth and the Bradshaw Library will continue when Ted Dunagan speaks about his young adult novel A Yellow Watermelon on February 20, and when Rev. Robert Graetz discusses his memoir A White Preacher’s Message On Race and Reconciliation on February 27. These noontime programs will be highlights of the library’s Black History Month observation.

In the Company of Owls, Nobody But the People, A Yellow Watermelon, and A White Preacher’s Message on Race and Reconciliation are available directly from NewSouth Books, or your favorite local or online book retailer.

NewSouth author Warren Trest and former Alabama Governor John Patterson were featured on the Tapestry radio program on May 29, 2008. They spoke about Trest’s new biography of Patterson Nobody But the People: The Life and Times of Alabama’s Youngest Governor which one reviewer calls “a thoroughly readable and fair-minded account of John Patterson’s career, which was one of the most important in Alabama’s recent history.”

In the interview, Trest describes Patterson’s father, noting that “there was no more principled man than Albert Patterson.” Indeed, Trest focuses in the biography on Albert Patterson’s death as the turning point in both the political and personal life of the former governor.

Also in the interview, Patterson discusses the political and social climate in regards to public school segregation into which he stepped as a political candidate. Moreover, Patterson reflects on his own civil rights record — what he considers to be the greatest failure of his political tenure: “I believe that I was in a position to really do something to bring the black community into the political process to really do something to bring the black community into the political process and by registering people to vote. I believe that I could have done that and I regret very much that I didn’t do that.” Patterson goes on to assert, “If you get the power to vote in the hands of the people, everything else comes along.”

Listen to the full interview at the Tapestry website.

Nobody But the People: The Life and Times of Alabama’s Youngest Governor is available from NewSouth Books, Amazon.com, or your favorite local or online book retailer.

The Southern Political Report has posted an excerpt of Nobody But The People: The Life and Times of Alabama’s Youngest Governor, Warren Trest’s authorized biography of former Alabama Governor John Patterson. The excerpt recounts the murder of Patterson’s father, attorney Albert Patterson, an event that spurred John Patterson into politics and ultimately to the governorship.

Read the entire excerpt on the Southern Political Report website.

The Washington, D.C.-based Southern Political Report has examined government and political affairs news for thirty years in thirteen states, including Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana.

Nobody But The People: The Life and Times of Alabama’s Youngest Governor is available from NewSouth Books, Amazon, or your favorite online or local book retailer.

Historian Warren Trest‘s new authorized biography of former Alabama Governor John Patterson, Nobody But the People, has been receiving a great deal of press coverage recently, as newspapers have detailed numerous well-received appearances made by Trest and Governor Patterson in connection with the publication. The biography offers new insights and rich details into the life of a significant Southern politician whose career touched some of the key struggles of the twentieth century civil rights movement.

The Birmingham News called Patterson’s story “a gripping chapter in Alabama history” and featured an online special report through which readers could link to audio clips of Trest and Patterson’s presentation at the Alabama Archives and History in Montgomery. The opportunity to hear a former governor in his own words was a key reason for attendance by school children at a book signing in Ashland, AL, according to an article in The Anniston Star. Reporter Andy Johns quotes First Assembly Christian School Principal Bradley Strother as saying he “hoped the students would see Patterson as an example of someone from their area who went on to the state’s top political office.”

In Phenix City, AL, Patterson “signed books while swapping stories with book owners and admirers,” according to the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. At the Central Alabama Community College, president Dr. Steven Franks said, “We are pleased to host Gov. Patterson and that he chose us for such an honor,” according to The Outlook of Alexander City, AL. The Anniston Star features editor Laura Tutor reviewed Nobody But the People, noting that since the author worked closely with his subject, “insights, personal feelings at specific moments, are scattered throughout Trest’s story.” This insider perspective provided by the first authorized biography has resulted in attentive audiences at the numerous appearances by Trest and Gov. Patterson, as news reports show.

Nobody But the People is available from NewSouth Books, Amazon.com, or your favorite online and local booksellers.

Kenneth Mullinax of the Montgomery Advertiser recently interviewed John Patterson, whose authorized biography Nobody But the People: The Life and Times of Alabama’s Youngest Governor, by Warren Trest, is now available from NewSouth Books.

Nobody But The People is the first first authorized biography of former Alabama Governor John Patterson, and tells the story of his journey from Alabama’s youngest governor and WWII hero to respected judge who recanted his former segregationist ways. In the interview, Patterson gives details about his father’s murder and his friendship with George Wallace.

From the interview:

What happened to your father after he was elected?

On June 18, 1954, just 17 days after winning, he was working late at his law office on Fifth Avenue in Phenix City. At 9:10 p.m., he came to the alley where his car was parked and as soon as he sat down in it, he was gunned down. He was shot by Albert Fuller, chief deputy sheriff, while Arch Ferrell — Russell County’s district attorney–looked on in approval. Four shots from a .38 pistol rang out and the bullets hit my dad in his mouth, chest and arm. He was strong enough to get out of the car, but collapsed dead on the sidewalk.

Is this when you entered politics?

Yes, everyone wanted me to fill my father’s term of office as state attorney general and I did so with no opposition. We soon cleaned up the city by putting in the Alabama National Guard under Gen. Walter Hanna and hundreds of people went to prison and the organized gambling ended forever. I served as attorney general from 1955 to 1959 until I got a promotion from the people.

When did you first meet George Wallace?

I first met him in 1947 when he joined me and my father for dinner at the Elite Cafe here in Montgomery. We became instant friends and remained so for the rest of our lives, except for a few months in 1958.

What happened in 1958?

That’s the year I ran for governor and Wallace and 12 other people were in the same race. Those were emotional times and I was supported by some segments of the KKK, but all the candidates, including Wallace and myself, were open segregationist in some form.

Later, when asked about his regrets, Patterson responded, “My biggest regret is I didn’t bring black citizens into the political process when I was attorney general or governor.”

Click here to read to the entire article and interview.

Nobody But the People: The Life and Times of Alabama’s Youngest Governor is available from NewSouth Books, Amazon.com, or your favorite online and retail booksellers.