My Civil War Era novel, TO LIVE A PATRIOT, begins and ends in Paris, Illinois . And almost exactly a year ago–June 20th, 2024–my research trip for TO LIVE A PATRIOT began there as well. The trip to Paris was a highlight of my summer and came up in a conversation with a colleague last August. Over our lunch break during institute days full of icebreakers and meetings, he asked: “So, did you finally finish your book this summer?” “Still working on it, always revising. This sum