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Oh What a Year (aka, Tesla Rules!)

David J. Kent, Science TravelerIt seems like January 2013 was a blink away, but somehow an entire year has passed and that blink away is now January 2014. But oh what a year it was. A year of transitions, a year of excitement, and even a year with some major anxieties. But it is a year I will always remember – the year of Tesla.

Tesla – The Wizard of 2013!

The obvious hallmark was the release of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity. Nine months after it had been accepted by the publisher the book finally hit the stores in July 2013. Prominently displayed on shelves at Barnes and Noble entrances, many stores quickly sold out and reordered. Even after the warehouse was empty the books continued to sell, limited only by people’s ability to locate them. By the end of the year we had sold out almost the entire (large) first printing. Even better, a second printing of double the initial run is due out July 2014.

[Off-] Broadway Bound!

The success of Tesla has had another benefit – all the great people I’ve met. Besides Nikola, Sherry, Sam and many others with the Tesla Science Foundation, there are the great folks at Tesla Ambassadors and other Facebook groups. I even got to meet Mr. William H. Terbo, the only living relative of Nikola Tesla. Mr. Terbo is the grand-nephew and actually met Tesla himself when he was ten years old. Another highlight of the year was being invited to speak to the cast of the off-Broadway play, TESLA, then attending opening night of the wildly successful show. Sanja Bestic as director and Sheri Graubert as writer worked so well as a team that they have another show coming out this spring – Jackie and Marilyn. I can’t wait.

Even the bad things worked out!

Of course, there were some downer parts of the year too. Most notably my father’s aneurysm surgery in February turned out to be more dramatic than expected. I’m happy to say that after having several aorta re-plumbed, a series of strokes and seizures, four days of coma, no movement on one side for a few more days, and months of rehab, Dad is doing very well. Meanwhile, the toxicity of my own work environment finally led to the decision to leave my long-standing scientific career and become a full-time writer. Notwithstanding the sudden lack of income, it was a great decision. It’s even been good for my health – after putting on weight in the spring I’ve dropped 10 pounds and live a much healthier lifestyle.

Science Traveler alert!

Along the way I managed to squeeze in a little bit of travel, including several trips to my home town for family events, four times to New York City for writing/Tesla events, a road trip to Tennessee, and even a quick weekend in Jamaica. Travel will get more emphasis in 2014, starting with a trip to NYC in January and to Argentina in February. Summer may bring me to the west coast and/or Moscow and/or Iceland and/or a country to be named later. I’ll be posting much more on travel (and aquariums) this coming year as Science Traveler starts catching up to its moniker.

150 Years of Abraham Lincoln!

Not to be forgotten is Abraham Lincoln. As a member of the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia I’ve had the privilege of joining monthly dinners with some of the most knowledgeable Lincolnophiles in the area. And since each dinner has a guest speaker, I’ve met Lincoln scholars such Douglas L. Wilson, Walter Stahr, and many others. [Eric Foner will receive the Lincoln Award from us in January 2014] One of my most cherished activities of this past year has been the monthly Lincoln Group book club. We’ve been reading the version of Herndon’s Lincoln edited by the aforementioned Doug Wilson and his colleague Rodney O. Davis. Having the combined expertise and insights of the dozen or so group members – all Lincoln scholars – is priceless.

My Presidency Ends!

With all this going on I somehow managed to perform my duties as President of the Chesapeake-Potomac Regional Chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. This was my second go-around as President (the first was in 2001), and I’ve loved every minute of my involvement. As I hand over the Presidency to this year’s VP, Brad Pratt, I’ll remain as a Contributing Editor to the CPRC newsletter and an active Past-President.

Reading is Fundamental!

And then there were the books. As has been my norm in recent years I’ve finished reading about 60 books this year. Because of research for my next book, at least a dozen were Abraham Lincoln-related. But there were also many on Nikola Tesla, some great memoirs, and the trade of writing/publishing. I even read a half dozen fiction books (a rarity for me). Better yet, I was able to read some great books by authors I know personally, most notably Thomas Waite, R.C. (Chuck) Larlham, and Sam Hawksworth. Check them out.

All in all, 2013 was a very good year. I’m looking forward to an even better 2014, where I’ll meet more great people, do more great travel, and write more great books (and yes, I’ll shortly have more info on my Tesla book due out in the spring).

See you all again soon…and Happy New Year!!

David J. Kent is the author of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity. You can order a signed copy directly from me, download the ebook at barnesandnoble.com, and find hard copies exclusively at Barnes and Noble bookstores.

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Did Abraham Lincoln have Dual Citizenship with the Republic of San Marino?

Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky in 1809. But in 1861, as the Civil War was threatening to split the country in two, Lincoln may have actually gained dual citizenship. Not only was he an American citizen, the Republic of San Marino granted him citizenship there as well.

For those who have never heard of San Marino, or thought it was merely a quaint Italian city, it actually is an independent country. An enclave nestled into Italy’s northeast, the tiny 24 square mile country claims to be the “oldest surviving sovereign state and constitutional republic in the world” (according to Wikipedia).

San Marino (from Wikipedia Commons)

Tiny as it is, San Marino apparently had a good marketing department when they decided to send a letter to the new President of the United States in 1861. Two recently discovered documents have now been provided to The Papers of Abraham Lincoln, a project “dedicated to identifying, imaging, transcribing, annotating, and publishing all documents written by or to Abraham Lincoln during his entire lifetime (1809-1865).” According to the project:

The first of the two letters was sent to Lincoln by San Marino’s Regent Captains, the nation’s joint heads of state. In English and Italian, they said that as a “mark of high consideration and sincere fraternity” for the United States, citizenship in the Republic of San Marino had been conferred on Lincoln. They also acknowledged America’s “political griefs” and prayed that God would “grant you a peaceful solution.”

Well, how about that. The Most Serene Republic of San Marino conferred citizenship upon Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln even replied, again, as noted by the Papers project:

In his response dated May 7, 1861, Lincoln thanked the Council of San Marino “for the honor of citizenship” and assured them that “although your dominion is small, your State is nevertheless one of the most honored in all history.” He explained that the Civil War “involves the question whether a Representative republic, extended and aggrandized so much as to be safe against foreign enemies, can save itself from the dangers of domestic faction.”

“I have faith in a good result,” Lincoln assured them.

All of this goes to show that, despite thousands of books in print, there are still things to learn about Abraham Lincoln. I’ve discovered this myself as I’ve reviewed hundreds of letters and documents from the Library of Congress in preparation for a forthcoming book. I’ve even found quite a few interesting “connections” between Lincoln and my other favorite topic – Nikola Tesla. I’ll have more on those connections in a future post.

David J. Kent is an avid science traveler and the author of Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America, in Barnes and Noble stores now. His previous books include Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity (2013) and Edison: The Inventor of the Modern World (2016) and two e-books: Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time and Abraham Lincoln and Nikola Tesla: Connected by Fate.

Check out my Goodreads author page. While you’re at it, “Like” my Facebook author page for more updates!

Update on Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity

Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and David J. KentA short update on Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity. In a word, woo hoo! (Hmm, that might be two words, but you get the picture.)

Because of the great support by all of you, sales of the book have been brisk. After an amazing first week in Barnes and Noble stores we were happy to see that the second week sold nearly double that amount. Add in online sales, ebooks, and the signed books people have ordered directly from me and everyone is feeling pretty good right now.

The book has done so well that the publisher is contemplating the idea of ordering a second printing. The fact that they are even thinking about another printing after only two weeks in the stores is a great sign. Especially since the first printing was a bigger order than most non-fiction books get these days.

Meanwhile, reviews are slowly being added to Goodreads and the Barnes and Noble website. If you’ve read the book, or plan to, please help others decide by writing a short review and giving it a (hopefully 5 star) rating. If you’re not the review-writer type, no problem, you can still rate it without a review. So far the reviews have been very positive.

Other things going on? Well, I’ll have the cover story in WIRE magazine coming out shortly, will have a prominent spot in the next issue of Tesla magazine, and Thursday there should be a profile article in my hometown newspaper. This weekend I will also be doing a book signing in an exclusive invitation-only event in northern Virginia. Busy days, these.

While they last you can buy the book at your local Barnes and Noble store. Or order Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity on BarnesandNoble.com, and either as hardcover or Nook ebook. And if you want a signed copy you can order it directly from me.

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Nikola Tesla and me at Barnes and Noble

For anyone who may have missed it – Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity is now in Barnes and Noble bookstores. Sterling Publishing is a subsidiary of B&N so the book is initially available exclusively at Barnes and Noble bookstores, on BarnesandNoble.com (and BN.com), and better yet, directly from me on this Science Traveler website. [Any books bought directly will come signed by me.]

Today I stopped by the Barnes and Noble bookstore in downtown Washington DC. I met with several of the friendliest staff you can ever imagine – these people love books! They were very happy to show me that the stack of books is prominently stacked right inside the main door. I even had my photo taken.

Barnes and Noble DC 23July2013

While I was there I happily signed each and every book they had in stock, plus slipped in a free bookmark for good measure. The fantastic staff added a sticker to the cover highlighting that it was “Author Signed.” Very cool, if I do say so myself. I’ll be stopping by other area Barnes and Noble stores to sign their stock as well, so look for books with the extra stickers on the front.

So you have three ways to get a copy of the book:

1) Purchase it online at barnesandnoble.com. You can get it as a hardcover or a Nook e-book. Or both.

2) Head down to your local Barnes and Noble store. Or,

3) Buy it direct from me on this website. I’ll sign every book ordered directly from me, and add an inscription to anyone of your choosing if you send me an email. The books make great gifts.

Be sure to write a review on the BarnesandNoble.com and Goodreads websites when you finish reading. Here are other ways you can help Spread the Word.

I’m off to write an article for WIRE Magazine (more on that later). I’ll also be following up with some of the feedback I’ve received on the book.

Order Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity now!

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We Have a Launch – Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity Goes Live

Tesla: The Wizard of ElectricityTesla: The Wizard of Electricity is now officially published.

You can order it now exclusively on BarnesandNoble.com.

You can read a quick sneak peak and a much longer description of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity. In short, the book is designed to appeal to a wide range of the general public, not just academic researchers.

So here’s how you can help:

Spread the word! Use the social networking buttons at the bottom of this post and the two posts linked in the paragraph above. Talk about it with your friends, and your friends’ friends. Share it on Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, and wherever else you hang out. Tweet it, StumbleUpon it, Digg it, Tumble it, Reddit, and Pin it.

Buy the book! Okay, this is a given 🙂 You can order it online at barnesandnoble.com as a hardcover or an ebook for NOOK. It will also be available in Barnes and Noble stores in July. Where it will NOT be is on Amazon, at least for the moment. This initial roll out is exclusive to Barnes and Noble.

Write a review! Books live or die not only on whether they get bought, but whether people write reviews. Places to write reviews include:

Barnes and Noble

Goodreads

Facebook

Your own blog or website

Your friends blog or website

Your local or national newspaper

And anywhere else you can think of

Like my Facebook author page! ——- > David J. Kent This helps spread the word, plus you’ll get periodic updates on Tesla, Lincoln, and more. (If you haven’t already, click on my name next to the arrow)

Give the book as a gift! Christmas is coming. Yes, it is (remember, time flies). The book makes a great gift for that computer or science geek you never knew what to get. It also makes a great gift for invention buffs, graphic novel lovers, historical biography, and just plain interesting characters from history. Need more ideas? Read more here.

Ask for it at Barnes and Noble! Since the book is exclusive to Barnes and Noble, it should be prominently displayed near the store entrance. Be sure to drop by and ask for it if you don’t see it. If you do see it, “accidentally” turn the book face out so people can see the cover (not just the spine). 🙂

Pin it! The Barnes and Noble.com page for Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity has buttons to pin it to your Pinterest page. And Like it on Facebook. And Google+ it. All of that helps get the word out.

Ask for it at the library! Initially, they probably won’t have it. But if enough people ask for it they may order it the next time they are making buying decisions. The book is a perfect for libraries.

Give one to a science teacher! The book is also a great addition to science courses. It’s a quick read, gives a great history of an important scientist who is largely ignored in history books, and the pictures and graphics will spark the interest of even the least inspired student.

Thanks to all of you this experience of bringing Nikola Tesla to the world has been truly amazing. Let’s wake up a new generation of readers and budding scientists. Let’s celebrate Tesla!

The BarnesandNoble.com site has the book for order. I’ll be showing up at various Barnes and Noble stores in July to sign books. Keep coming back to my Tesla Events and Speaking Engagements page here on Science Traveler for updates.

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Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity – Now Available!

Click to pre-order now at barnesandnoble.comTesla: The Wizard of Electricity is officially published as of June 30, 2013. It is now available exclusively at BarnesandNoble.com now! I’ve already provided a quick sneak peak, and now it’s time to highlight more about the book.

To begin with, the book is designed to appeal to a wide range of the general public, not just academic researchers. So…

Like thrilling personality insights? The book is chock full of interesting stories on Tesla from his “100-bug-powered” windmills as a youth to his practical jokes on Mark Twain in his heyday to his dispute with Einstein as he entered his twilight years.

Into graphic novels? Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity includes many historical comics and photos to spotlight key events and figures in Tesla’s spectacular life. The book is an amazing visual experience.

An invention buff? The book captures the prolific inventive mind of Nikola Tesla and how many of his inventions were so far ahead of their time that we are still today relying on his patents for new discoveries.

Turned on by conflict and tension? Tesla’s life can be summed up by one of my chapter titles: “A Man Always at War.” Delve into the complex relationships he had with Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse, Guglielmo Marconi, J.P. Morgan, and others that were sometimes colleagues, and sometimes rivals.

Prefer serious historical biography? Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity traces the great man’s life from his childhood in the military frontier, through his schooling and employment in the grand capitals of Europe, to his tumultuous, yet most productive, years in New York City, Colorado Springs, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Niagara Falls.

In short, the book provides insights into a man who has been largely ignored by history despite his huge contributions to modern life. A man who over 100 years ago anticipated that one day we would all be carrying around hand-held devices capable of instant communication across vast distances. Who a century ago promoted and developed renewable energy sources to replace fossil fuels. A man who left us a legacy that is just now being rediscovered by scientists, the public, and perhaps most ironically, pop culture.

Join me in celebrating the life and legacy of Nikola Tesla. Spread the word.

Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity is available exclusively in Barnes and Noble stores and online at barnesandnoble.com (and BN.com).

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Nikola Tesla – Big as Life

An odd thing happened today. I heard a knock on the door, and who might I find there? You guessed it – Nikola Tesla.

Nikola Tesla

I told him he looked a bit pale, but his response was too faded to hear. In any case, Tesla has agreed to join me on the road as I visit my family and old friends in Massachusetts, then give a lecture in Philadelphia, and finally throw a full-fledged party for him (and me).

Pre-order the book online at Barnes and Noble.com. Do NOT go to Amazon because you won’t find it there (long story). At less than $10 the book is a bargain. Pre-order it now for delivery as soon as June 30th arrives.

Go here for a sneak preview: Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity.

I’ll have more information – and photos of the inside – shortly. The countdown has begun!

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Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity – Availability

Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and David J. KentA quick update on the upcoming launch of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity. Did I say upcoming. Actually…

It’s here!

The book is being published by Sterling Publishing (specifically, their Fall River Press imprint). Since Sterling is a subsidiary of Barnes and Noble, for the initial launch period the book will be available exclusively at Barnes and Noble stores and on the barnesandnoble.com website. You won’t find it listed on Amazon so go straight to the barnesandnoble.com (or BN.com) site.

The hard copy book is currently available for pre-order. Check it out, you can’t beat the price. Pre-order it now for delivery as soon as June 30th arrives.

Want an e-book? To speed up the process of adding the e-book to the site, look below the pre-order button for where it says “nook books.” Click on the line that asks “Want to read this on your NOOK? Request as NOOK Book from the publisher.” It will tell them to get the e-book online. [Or if it is already there by the time you click, just go ahead and order it]

In July the book will be in the actual Barnes and Noble brick-and-mortar stores. Look for it prominently displayed near the front door as you enter the store. I’ll provide more details when that happens, plus let you know where I’ll be secretly showing up to sign copies of the book (and give talks about Tesla to anyone interested).

I’ll also have copies for sale through this website, assuming I have any left after the upcoming visit with my family and my participation in Tesla Days in Philadelphia. Look for a link on this site in early July.

More details soon. I promise.

(Okay, time to celebrate!)

dancesmile

 

 

 

More information on the release of Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity.

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Tesla: Wizard of Electricity – release date

Tesla: Wizard of ElectricityWe have a book release date! Tesla: Wizard of Electricity is officially scheduled to be published on June 30, 2013. That is when it will be available to the general public. A mere nine months after I submitted the manuscript. Of course, it isn’t really that easy. The process of publishing a book, while not quite like having a baby, apparently takes just as long.

I actually finished writing the book and submitted it to the publisher on September 10, 2012. A few weeks later I receive word from my editor that the manuscript was just what they were looking for. Then by the time I finish my “happy dance” I have a set of edits to review. To my amazement and relief most are minor and the few more substantive ones are easily addressed. That got us to November. By January the electronic manuscript files were sent to the overseas printer.

Then I wait.

Tap, tap, tap.

Okay, is it done yet? No? More tapping.

Spring forward to April 2nd – details from my editor at Sterling Publishing. Happy dance again. [Okay, for those who know me, I admit that I didn’t actually do a “happy dance” because, well, let’s just say it would not look so happy. Feel free to rid that rhetorical flourish from your mind’s eye.]

In any case, the printing of the book is going to take a while. It’s being printed overseas so that the cost savings can be put into all the color for the interior pages and the foil treatment being used for the cover. In short, this is going to be a nice looking book. If all goes well with the printing then the books should hit the warehouse by June 20th and be available in Barnes and Noble stores by June 30th.

Which is just in time because I plan to attend the Tesla Days events in Philadelphia on July 6-10 celebrating the 157th anniversary of Tesla’s birth. I’ll have a supply of books on-hand for purchase by anyone who will be in the area to witness displays of Tesla-inspired inventions, attempts to produce free energy, a “battle of the Tesla coils,” a Tesla art show, and music, movies, and literary wonders galore. I hope you’ll drop by.

More on Tesla: Wizard of Electricity.

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Media

NOTE: To schedule appearances, email to davidjkent DOT writer AT gmail DOT com

Upcoming appearances:

November 9, 2024 (3rd of 3 sessions): LGDC’s book study forum reads and discusses Lincoln: The Fire of Genius. Virtual. [More Info] [Read more here]

November 16-19, 2024: Attendance at Lincoln Forum, Gettysburg, PA. [More Details]

December 6, 2024: The Election of 1864: Was the Election Stolen? Presentation for the Tucson CWRT [More Details Soon]

February 11, 2025: LGDC Celebration of Lincoln’s Birthday in Washington, DC featuring Sidney Blumenthal [More Details Soon]

February 12, 2025: LGDC wreath laying ceremony, Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC [More Details Soon]

March 22, 2025: Abraham Lincoln Institute Symposium, Ford’s Theatre, Washington, DC [More Details Soon]

April 26, 2026: Presentation at Lincoln Mini-Forum at Hildene, Manchester, VT [Tentative]

Selected recent appearances:

October 29, 2024: The Election of 1864: Was the Election Stolen? Presentation and discussion for LGDC [Video Coming Soon Here]

Election of 1864, Stolen?

October 15, 2024: “Lincoln and the Election of 1864,” presentation and led discussion for Lincoln Group of DC [Watch Video Here]

The Election of 1864

September 7, 2024: Lincoln: The Fire of Genius presentation to the Henry Clay Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). [Watch the Video]

DAR 9-7-24

June 6, 2024: White House Historical Association History Happy Hour on Lincoln: The Fire of Genius [Watch the Video Here]

WHHA History Happy Hour

May 21, 2024: Hosted Nancy Bradeen Spannaus “Lincoln and Jefferson and Hamilton and Defeating Slavery,” Lincoln Group of DC, Zoom Only [Watch the Video]

May 15, 2024: “Lincoln’s Influence on Science & Technology in the Civil War” presentation, York (PA) Civil War Round Table [Watch the Video]

York CWRT Screenshot

April 16, 2024: Hosted Christopher Oakley for the Lincoln Group of DC monthly meeting. Virtual. [Video Here]

March 14, 2024: Moderator of White House Historical Association History Happy Hour Featuring Carl Adams [Watch the Video Here]

February 21, 2024: Co-hosted Harold Holzer for the joint LGDC/CWRTDC Lincoln Birthday Banquet, Fort Myer [C-SPAN Video Here]

February 12, 2024: Presentation of the Gettysburg Address at the Lincoln Memorial, Lincoln Birthday wreath laying.

David J. Kent giving Gettysburg Address at Lincoln Memorial 2-12-24

January 16, 2024: Hosting Andrew Lang for the Lincoln Group of DC monthly meeting. Virtual. [Watch Video]

December 5, 2023: Hosted and moderated the LGDC luncheon featuring Terry Alford

November 16-19, 2023: The Lincoln Forum conference, Gettysburg, PA

October 17, 2023: Moderated the LGDC program parsing the Gettysburg Address [Watch Video]

Quoted in article by Matt Rozsa in Salon magazine: https://www.salon.com/2023/06/04/abraham-lincoln-pig-torture-animal-cruelty-compassion/

April 15, 2023: Keynote presentation at the annual banquet of the Lincoln Society of Peekskill, Peekskill, NY [Details here]

March 25, 2023: Presentation at the ALI Symposium, Ford’s Theatre, Washington, DC. [Watch the Video]

Abraham Lincoln Institute

February 22, 2023: Attendance at A Walk to Respect, a conversation between Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, Kennedy Center, Washington, DC

February 12, 2023: Lincoln’s Birthday Wreath Laying, Lincoln Memorial

February 11, 2023: Keynote speaker, Lincoln’s Birthday Banquet, Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS), Alexandria, VA

MOLLUS

February 8, 2023: Joint LGDC/CWRTDC dinner lecture by Jon Meacham, Washington, DC [Recording Coming Soon]

February 3, 2023: Virtual talk on Lincoln: The Fire of Genius for students, faculty, staff, community of Lone Star College-Kingwood [Watch here]

Lone Star College Kingwood video 2-3-23

January 13, 2023: My Interview for a nationally syndicated radio program called Our American Stories premiers. [Listen to the Podcast] [Read a transcript]

Our American Stories

January 12, 2023: Interview with President Lincoln’s Cottage as part of their Scholar Sessions, Virtual [Watch the Video Here]

January 11, 2023: Looking for Lincoln Conversations, “How Lincoln Institutionalized Science and Technology in the Federal Government,” Virtual, 7 pm CT (8 pm ET) [[Watch the Video Here]

Looking for Lincoln Conversation

December 27, 2022: Premier of my Interview on the Pat Williams radio show, Orlando, FL [Listen to the Interview Here; Jump to 26:15 for the start of my segment] [Pat is the co-founder of the NBA’s Orlando Magic]

December 20, 2022: Interview for The Lincoln Log Podcast of the Abraham Lincoln Association [Watch Video Here!] [Listen to Podcast Here!]

November 19, 2022: My book launch lecture from Sept 13th premiered. [Watch the video on C-SPAN here]

November 17, 2022: Accepted the Wendy Allen Award for the Lincoln Group of DC at the Lincoln Forum [Read about it here]

Wendy Allen Award 2022

November 16-19, 2022: Presentation, Breakout session, Book signing, Lincoln Forum, Gettysburg, PA [See the schedule]

October 26, 2022: “The Art and Science of Abraham Lincoln,” Arts Club of Washington, Washington, DC

Arts Club of Washington

October 13, 2022: “Lincoln, Science, Technology, and the Civil War,” Civil War Round Table of DC, Fort Myer, Arlington, VA [Audio available soon here and Video Here]

CWRTDC logo

September 17, 2022: “Lincoln, Mathew Brady, and Photographic Technology,” Dedication event at Congressional Cemetery, Washington, DC

Congressional Cemetery

September 16, 2022: “Lincoln, Science, and Technology in the Civil War,” lecture at the Cosmos Club, Washington, DC

 

September 13, 2022: The Fire of Genius Book Launch Party with the Lincoln Group of DC, Maggiano’s Restaurant, Washington, DC [SEE ON C-SPAN2 AT 9:30 AM, NOV. 19TH, THEN ON VIDEO THEREAFTER]

Fire of Genius Maggiano's

September 3, 2022: The Fire of Genius lecture for the Rock Creek Civil War Round Table, Washington, DC (Online)

September 1, 2022: Release Day Interview by Daniel Weinberg of the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop on A House Divided broadcast! [Check out the video]

August 19, 2022: Interview with Andy Lucien of the Civil War Center Podcast [Listen to the Podcast here]

May 22, 2022: Lincoln Memorial Centennial on the Memorial steps. [David J. Kent, Organizer and Master of Ceremonies] [Watch the Video on C-SPAN]

David J Kent Lincoln Memorial centennial

 

April 13, 2022: “The Role of President Abraham Lincoln in the DC Emancipation Act of 1862,” Presentation, DC Emancipation Day Program

DC Emancipation Day

March 8, 2022: “Lincoln and the Fight for Peace” with John Avlon [David J. Kent, Moderator]

February 8, 2022: Burlingame and Guelzo highlight the Joint LGDC/CWRTDC meeting [Moderation] [Watch this extraordinary event here]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 12, 2022: Lincoln’s Birthday Wreath Laying at the Lincoln Memorial

Lincoln Memorial wreaths

February 12, 2022: American Film Institute showing of the Lincoln Cycle, Part 1 [Details here]

February 21, 2022: American Film Institute showing of the Lincoln Cycle, Part 2 [Details here]

David Kent at AFI Lincoln Cycle 2-21-22_Rod Ross photo

January 27, 2022: “Lincoln’s Legacy” by John O’Brien [Introduction] [Watch on YouTube here]

January 20, 2022: “Lincoln as Commander-in-Chief” by David J. Kent [Watch on YouTube here] [See replay here] Access Passcode: nf=#NV1k

January 18, 2022: “Archer Alexander: The Monument’s Unknown Hero” by Dorris Keeven-Franke [Introduction] [See the replay here] Access Passcode: D&3+wx8e

January 13, 2022: “Lincoln as Politician” by David J. Kent [Watch on YouTube here] [See the replay here] Access Passcode: Uw%z44bF

January 6, 2022: “Lincoln’s Youth” by Ed Steers [Introduction] [Watch on YouTube here] [See the replay here] Access Passcode: vf$11H.n

December 7, 2021: Lincoln Group: “The Great Debate” [Watch on YouTube here]

November 14-19, 2021: Lincoln Forum in Gettysburg, PA [In-Person]

October 22, 2021: Abraham Lincoln Institute Board Meeting [Zoom]

ALI Board call 10-22-21

October 19, 2021: “Lincoln as Commander-in-Chief” presentation for Encore Learning (Session 3 of a 4-session course) [Zoom]

Lincoln as Commander-in-Chief

October 12, 2021: “Lincoln as Politician” presentation for Encore Learning (Session 2 of a 4-session course) [Zoom]

October 1, 2021: Chasing Abraham Lincoln in Harpers Ferry, WV

Harpers Ferry

September 25, 2021: Lincoln Group of DC annual tour and picnic.

Lincoln Group Tour 2021

May 18, 2021: Became President of the Lincoln Group of DC

April 13, 2021: Panel member on “The Case for Honoring Lincoln” for the Illinois State Society. [Zoom] Watch the recorded event here.

ILSS Panel

 

January 15, 2021: Chaired a panel on “Teaching Lincoln.” Other panelists were from the Library of Congress, Lincoln Cottage, and Ford’s Theatre. Cosmos Club Civil War Round Table, Washington, D.C. [Zoom]

Teaching Lincoln Cosmos Club 1-15-21

September 18, 2020: Invited to “Dialogue on Civil War Statues” with journalist Barry Wood, Moderated by Rod Ross. Cosmos Club, Washington DC. [Zoom]

Cosmos Club Statues Dialogue 9-18-20

September 5, 2020: Invited speaker at Rock Creek Civil War Round Table. “Abraham Lincoln’s Long Road to Emancipation.” [MS Team]

Rock Creek CWRT

June 26, 2020: “What Would Lincoln Do.” Interview and 1.5-hour conversation with filmmaker Annabel Park on The Talk on Main St. [Watch it here]

June 4, 2020: “Lincoln and Viruses: The Past and Present Collide.” Invited speaker at the Library Company of Philadelphia, June 4, 2020. [Watch it here]

April 5, 2020: Featured hour interview on The Railsplitter: The Abraham Lincoln Podcast, Episode #122. Interview of me on my blog post “That Time Lincoln Got a Virus and Almost Died,” published on my website 3/25/20. Interview took place on April 3, 2020 with all three hosts. Went live on the podcast website on 4/5/20. [Podcasts archived at https://therailsplitter.podbean.com/]

 

[Note the photos and info below are being retired. See above for current appearance schedule. Watch for updates and new photos. Media information also on the way.]

Check out these photos sent to me by fans (if you send me yours, I’ll post it here too!). There are also photos of historic meetings:

HRH Prince Alexander of Serbia

Meeting HRH Prince Alexander of Serbia

HRH Princess Katherine of Serbia

And HRH Princess Katherine of Serbia

Dr. Branimir Jovanovic, Tesla Museum, Belgrade

Plus, Dr. Branimir Jovanovic, Tesla Museum, Belgrade

Tesla and Sagan

Posted by Bridget R. Gaudette on “March for Science” Facebook page, 2/9/17

Two books in one - from Josh Amaya 10-10-16 FB

Two books in one – from Josh Amaya 10-10-16 FB

Melissa Nolledo, Photographer Extraordinaire

Melissa Nolledo, Photographer Extraordinaire

Nikola Lonchar, President, Tesla Science Foundation

Nikola Lonchar, President, Tesla Science Foundation

Ljubo Vujovic, President, Tesla Memorial Society of New York

Ljubo Vujovic, President, Tesla Memorial Society of New York

Dr. Pablo Vigliano, Universidad Nacional del Comahue-Bariloche

Dr. Pablo Vigliano, Universidad Nacional del Comahue-Bariloche

Kids like it too…

Kyle Driebeek donating a book to his school library

Kyle Driebeek donating a book to his school library

Some day I'll be as tall as Tesla

Some day I’ll be as tall as Tesla

Being interviewed…

...by Tesla Magazine...

…by Tesla Magazine…

...and Tesla TV

…and Tesla TV

More testimonials and cool stuff!

“Beautiful book, great storytelling.” – Lisa Gensheimer, Goodreads (5 stars)

Kent in a Bottle

Exton, PA

David J. Kent - Tesla Days 2013

New Yorker Hotel, NYC

 

 

“I got my book, not what I expected, can’t believe the graphics and print, read most every book there is on Tesla, you gave it Life!!”

– Jim Nelson, Facebook, 7/18/13

 

 

 

“Clear, accessible writing and beautiful photographs and ephemera make this book a fun and easy read.”

– Alyb, Goodreads

 

I have never read such a beautiful book! Loved it!”

– Cindi Taylor Nelson, Facebook

 

“There are several biographies about Nicola Tesla however this one by David Kent is more informative, easy to understand, fun! and just a damn good book. I read the entire book in a 24 hour period, I could not put it down and that does not happen very often. If you want to understand why you enjoy all the comforts of electricity than get a copy of this book you will not be disappointed. Kent is just one of those people who knows how to tell a story.”  – Alexander Stevens, Facebook

In addition, Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity has received high praise from:

– Nikola Lonchar (President, Tesla Science Foundation)
– Jane Alcorn (President, Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe)
– William Terbo (Grand-nephew and closest living relative of Nikola Tesla)
– Nenad Stankovic (Publisher of Tesla Magazine)
and many more!

“Ipswich author tells an electrifying story”Ipswich Chronicle newspaper feature

Betsy Grim Book Club

Presentation at Betsy Grim Book Club

Meeting the cast of the off-Broadway play, TESLA (written by Sheri Graubert; directed by Sanja Bestic; starring James Lee Taylor, Jack Dimich, and a wonderful cast)

TESLA cast

David Kent-James Lee Taylor-Ru Sun

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signing books 1-11-14

Signing books at the Tesla Memorial Conference