Our Blogs
Into the Smoke
Stories, history, and insights from the firelines, past and present. Written by those who lived it, for those who want to understand.
Who Reaches Us Out Other Than Our Readers and Fellow Fighters!
If something in Before We Were Heroes resonated with you, or if you have your own story from that era, Bill would love to hear it. The history of wildland firefighting is longer than any one person’s account, and he values the connections his writing creates.
What You Get
Bill’s work spans a unique slice of American environmental and social history. If you’re working on a project, thesis, documentary, or curriculum related to wildland fire, the American South, or Alaskan forestry, reach out to discuss how his experience might contribute.
Roger & Brenda
When you look back through the years you will undoubtedly remember people who entered and then drifted out of your life. Roger and Brenda Stark are a couple who we met at Hardy soon after we moved there. They attended the Ward Street church of Christ in Hardy, where we started attending.
Watermelons
A few of the people who worked with me in District 9 in the southwest corner of Arkansas were watermelon farmers. One of them was best friends with the local game warden and they had a friendly competition with their watermelons.
DUCKS, DUCKS, AND MORE DUCKS
I was in the last year of college when Seth, our oldest son, was born. Peggy was working at the time and the company required that any employee having a baby stop working six weeks before the expected birth date and could not return until six weeks after the birth. These twelve weeks off were all without pay, at this time there was no such thing as maternity pay.
Rattlesnake and Deer
