The Big Squeal featured at Assumptionfest

Abe ‘booked’ for Assumption Festival

Abraham Lincoln’s sense of fun will add to the merriment at the Assumption Festival, scheduled for June 26, 27 and 28,

In the 1840s, noisy pigs wallowing under the Christian County courthouse floor were so loud that an amused Lincoln asked the judge for a “writ of quietus” for them.

That witty request has caused ripples of smiles ever since. The episode anchors the newly released second edition of “The Big Squeal,” a true story of the county’s “pigstory” written in the voice of a real life pig named “Liberty.

“As told to author” Carol Alexander of Taylorville will join “Sixteen Tons” writer Kevin Corley of Springfield at a special literary affair set for 2 p.m. Saturday, June 27 during Assumption’s annual festival. They will welcome visitors in front of the Assumption Historical Building.

Mingling with book lovers, the authors will display, inscribe and sell their books rooted in area history.

In honor of the county’s 175^th birthday this year, each copy of “The Big Squeal” is adorned by a gold medallion inscribed, “Collector’s Edition … 1839-2014.” The edition comes in soft and hard covers. 

Set in the often over-looked heartland of America, “The Big Squeal” is the memoir of a formerly starving, orphan piglet that discovered the Abe vs. courthouse pigs story while trotting along part of the old Eighth Judicial Circuit, known as Lincoln’s muddy road to the presidency.

Mini-stories introduce readers of all ages to Mr. Lincoln and his vital role in American history and to the circuit itself. Acclaimed historian Doris Kearns Goodwin of “Lincoln” the movie fame praised the book as “A rare glimpse into Abraham Lincoln’s lighter side…”

Colorful original illustrations portray real people of all ages and diversity, pioneering and current courthouses and other landmarks. Among the featured caricatures is Christian County Board Chairman Paul Schmitz of Pana.

A folk art map created by Taylorville High School students Camille Beyers and Mathen Campbell opens the book. It also adorns coffee/chocolate/juice mugs and postcards, which commemorate the county’s 175^th anniversary.

Both “The Big Squeal” and “Sixteen Tons” are available on amazon.com. A saga of coal mining history and union wars, “Sixteen Tons” may be purchased at Dana’s Book Exchange on the Taylorville Square. “The Big Squeal” is sold at Cottage Rose Gift Shoppe and PS Printing on the square. 

The book is also available at OTP's website at www.ShopOTPbooks.com

 

"The Big Squeal" second edition is ready!

Hello! Miss Liberty has been quite busy getting the second edition of "The Big Squeal" ready for it's big debut! I have some art to share with you. I hope you love the pictures as much as we do. They are so colorful and adorable, if I do say so myself!

This is a new page from the second edition I like to call The Coronation Page. There are several familiar faces from my home town of Taylorville, IL on this page. Do you recognize anyone? Besides me, that is!

Below is a map of Taylorville, Miss Liberty style! Please forgive the paw prints! A big thank you goes out to the Taylorville High School Art students for making this wonderful map for us.

A mug that is available with Miss Liberty's vision of Taylorville. Can you see the only statue in the world of Abe Lincoln and a pig? Right down there in the center at the bottom of the mug.

One of my personal favorites from the book...dancing with the kitty.

Below is also a new page for the second edition. Our local Rene's Drug Store when "guess who" came to town? In the center, holding the flag, can you guess who it is? I also see other familiar faces. Thank you all for being a part of "The Big Squeal!"

And here I am with my namesake, Liberty, the bronze pig at Abe Lincoln's foot on that very special statue I mentioned up above. And yes, you read correctly, the Only Statue In the World of Abe Lincoln and a Pig!

I hope you enjoyed seeing a glimpse of "The Big Squeal's" second edition. Please come out and see us at our book launch party, details are below.

CAROL ALEXANDER and MISS LIBERTY will be debuting the second edition of “The Big Squeal” on May 3 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm at Dana's Book Exchange on the Square in Taylorville, IL. This second edition contains new pages...see Liberty's May and also the map of Lincoln's famous Mud Circuit. There will be free refreshments and is open to the public. 

"A rare glimpse into Abraham Lincoln's lighter side..." 

~ acclaimed historian Doris Kearns Goodwin