Judge Ken Anderson Tells Us More About Dan Moody

We had a good group assembled to visit with Judge Anderson last week. Several spouses were there (I think of them as "spice") plus a friend or two. Anderson told us how he decided to write the book, Dan Moody: Crusader for Justice. It was when Judge Ken Anderson saw a portrait of Governor Dan Moody and thought to himself, "hmm, here is a man who went from District Attorney to Governor, and I am a D.A.;" that he became interested in Dan Moody's story. Scouring local libraries, Anderson learned that no biography had been written about Dan Moody, so he set out to fill that vacuum.

We readers always enjoy hearing authors tell how they write. Anderson said he read 7 years of newspapers on microfilm (dizziness notwithstanding) to get information about Moody. Without a biography, the daily news was the best place to learn about the career of the D.A./Governor. Then there were trial transcripts to read. Anderson compiled this dry material to create a very readable account of the history surrounding Moody. Anderson also created a book for children, called You Can't Do That, Dan Moody, which then became a play that is still performed at the Georgetown Courthouse. If you're interested, look for it next September.

We asked the author some questions and learned more about Moody and the strategic attorney work he performed to almost singlehandedly achieve the downfall of the KKK nationally plus clean up the corrupt Texas government. There may be some who feel that the Texas government can always use a little cleanup; but in the case of the Fergusons, a lot of cleanup was needed. Led by Patty, we requested that Judge Anderson consider writing a biography of the Ferguson's. Several of us found them fascinating!

It's always a special occasion when we have an author visit, and we thank Ken Anderson for his time with us.

If you love to read about Texas, note that there is a local book discussion group called "Books for Texans." Here's a link - click on Books for Texans Book Club They meet on the third Tuesday at 7:00 PM at the Georgetown Public Library. Several of us are members of that group. As the blogmaster, I guess I am allowed to say that from this New Yorker's point of view, our own RRNN Book Discussion Group reads just enough books about Texas to not be too many.

April Book Club book/author visit

By Pam. I vote to invite Ken Anderson and select his book for April because I think many would enjoy it. I read the book (and found it fascinating) and do think it lends itself to discussion ("I didn't know..., "I was surprised... "I recall....). As for date, Frank's email says he would be available on our regular day (4/20), 1 1/2 hours earlier than we normally meet, i.e. 11:30. That would be my first choice.

But I'm fine with any decision made about any of this. I got to ask him my questions when I saw him at the related film I went to last week, so if we don't select the book or have him visit, that's OK with me too.

Changing Schedule to Accommodate Author Visit

Ken Anderson, author of the Round Rock Reads selection, Crusader for Justice, is available to meet with our group on Monday April 27th at 1:00 PM. (He can't make our regular day.) Anyone who would like to comment about the idea of reading Crusader for Justice and discussing it on the fourth Monday instead of our regular third Monday, please do. We're almost surely going to make this schedule change just for April. I'll leave it open for your comments here on the blog and via my email for a few days before we commit.

Any comments on how you feel about discussing the Round Rock Reads book at our meeting? Pro? Con? Is an author visit worth changing our schedule? I know some of you have read this book - want to put your comments into print so the group can refer to them?

Again, to comment you can use the group email address & password. They should be among your saved email somewhere...or ask me!
Claudia

Went to see Storm Warning movie I blogged about

By Pam. This was a not-well-publicized Round Rock Reads event [even library employees at the movie admitted that], and the LAST RR Reads event on Crusade for Justice. There were only 10 people other than the author Ken Anderson and library staff. Ken, who had never heard of the movie, watched it with us. When he spoke after the movie he said "wow", then "no resemblance to Dan Moody's life".... I beg to differ. It was a dark movie, but KKK is a dark subject. Ronald Reagan was great. This was the only movie Doris Day ever died in - no funny business here. I asked Ken how he researched for the book. He said by looking at 365 days x 7 years of Austin American (morning and afternoon editions) on microfilm/fiche (I get those mixed up). I also asked about other books about Moody or Fergusons. He said no one has written any except there is a book on Ma Ferguson that is quite good. He laughed and said he isn't really welcomed in Bell County anymore!