Endorsements and Feedback for Weekly Column in The Joplin Globe
"Thank you for your inspiration and I always look forward to your column every week. Good luck on your book and God bless your efforts to help us retain the past memories of the 'greatest generation' and before.”
Endorsements and Feedback For Latest Book, Bushwhackers, Visions, Starcrossed Lovers
"Frankie Carlin Meyer, a gifted writer and journalist, has packaged some two centuries of Ozark history in order that succeeding generations of Ozarkers know the history and culture during this period. One of the hallmarks of a historian is to strive for accuracy in telling the story. To readers of Bushwhackers, Visions, Star-Crossed Lovers the author's penchant for accuracy will become obvious. This is a remarkable book!" -Senator Emory Melton
"This book is both inspirational and a wonderful history lesson. It was so good I read until 2 am finishing the book. I learned much about Ozark history as well as some wonderful heartwarming stories about my family! It truly is a collection of rich, detailed stories that allow the reader to really understand the story behind the people of the Ozarks. Excellent Job!" -Janelle from Indianapolis
“The book sure takes me back in times. I want to thank you very much for writing it. All the stories are real good.The book made me think of the big garden that my Mom had, hauling water, wash day, carrying water from the well in the hollow for chickens, walking to school, shoes once a year, and helping dad at the sawmill with slabs and saw dust piled high. It also reminded me of the music every Sun. We would go to church and go to visit family. I would play with cousins and get to know them. I still keep in touch with a lot of cousins after their folks has passed away. The mother of Fay Horton Carlin-who you mention in the book-was my dad's sister.” -Jean from Joplin, MO“I just finished your book. It is a delightful collection of stories about McDonald County and more! The many maps you included are a nice touch. They were very helpful. The next time I'm in the county I intend to drive along Carlin Ridge, Kings Holler, and Success School. Again, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Keep up the good work.” -J.D. From Springfield, MO
“Crying out loud. It's a good book.” -Jerry from Cassville, MO
“Am still reading your book. Am about half way through -- do not want to rush it, as I am enjoying it so much! Also, saw the article about the book in the McDonald county paper today. This is your moment!!! Will try to make the book signing at the old courthouse to say Hi. Will make a special trip to Pineville for the occasion.” -James of Powell, Mo.
“Oh, yes, we love your book. Bill has already finished it & said it's the best he has read in a long while about our area. I just love everything about it; the feel/look of the cover, the way you put it together, everything! You did a great job & much love & work went into it. I am almost finished with it. It is exciting to tell you that some of our kinfolk are in the stories. Bill Brier was married to our paternal great-grandmother, Ollie Johnson. Her Johnson family lived in Kings Valley and moved to RC in 1943. Ollie first married Dee Jay Utter, they divorced, then she later met & married Bill Brier in Kansas. And the Utters in the stories are our kin as well. I feel a closeness to the book due to that, also.”" -Karen of Joplin, MO
“Roger and I met you and your husband, and purchased your book at the Chili Cook-off in Cassville last Saturday. I thought there might be a tussle of who was going to read it first but I grabbed it and started! I have just finished reading it and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It was entertaining, educational, happy, sad and fun to read. I am inspired to start writing down some of my childhood memories. I have been tracing my genealogy for about 20 years and have been pondering a book but seem to be intimidated and overwhelmed by the prospect of where to begin and what I want the end result to 'look' like!
We moved to Cassville in Nov. 2007 but I visited this area often as a child. 5 generations of my Pogue (Dad) family lived in Stella and 4 generations of my Anderson (Mother) family lived in Rocky Comfort.” -Joyce of Cassville, MO“Just a quick note to tell you how much I am enjoying your book! I came home Sat afternoon and began right then to read it. So many of the things that you talk about reminds me so much of my childhood and teen years on the farm...Although I was a few years ahead of you..I got married in 1960 and moved to Springfield, so many things were so familiar! As are many of the people you mention! I knew the Linebargers, Dick and Teresa Horton..Jo Ann was so beautiful! Erma and Ray Harvey... The Brumleys, the Naramores, such special people! and such a special part of my early life! That was a time like no other! Even now it is difficult to remember..no bathroom...the Sears catalog....going to the well to get the water...before you could wash dishes or yourself or the clothes!...Coal oil lamps...the church dinners... the coming of electricity, and no phones at our house...so much a part of our lives..I am certain that so many people will relate to that. And it is great let our coming generations really know how it was! The pictures are wonderful! I so enjoy them!” -Betty of Wheaton, MO
“I have read the book and find it a powerful masterpiece with vivid descriptions of the people who settled in the Ozarks, who were no-nonsense, resourceful, and spectacularly compelling folks. Their love of family and relatives, friends and neighbors gave them the strength to survive tornadoes, droughts, floods, fires, and the Great Depression. These folks had a very strong sense of right and wrong. I am proud to have been born in a farmhouse in Southwest Missouri in the early 1930s.”- Nina
“Just finished reading your book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It brought back many memories---both from my own childhood and stories I had heard from relatives. I also learned some history that I didn't know. Glad you wrote it.” -Billie of Joplin, MO
“I am so happy that we had the opportunity to meet and visit briefly yesterday in Pineville. I really admire you... it is a great accomplishment to have collected these stories AND to have published! They are now preserved for future generations. Thank you very much.
As I said yesterday, I really like the phrase 'hen-skin cousins'. My husband and I have noticed, as you described, that groups of people migrated together, and they were 'sort-of related'. We have discussed this, and now that we have added your terminology to our vocabulary, we have the perfect phrase to describe this. Your family memories are often heart-warming and I love the stories about everyday life. Cooking, canning, when to plant, farming, etc. I can imagine your grandmother stuffing the cardboard in between the wall studs for added insulation. I suppose mine did the same.
I really enjoyed seeing the photo of Brother Coones and Maggie. I have fond memories of them and Zion's Rest Church west of Bentonville.
I also appreciate that you included the info on corn "likker". I see that you have a photo of a still.. My ancestors and kin made whiskey for generations, and this continued as recently as the 1950s. They made bootleg whiskey during prohibition in order to make a living. I have the old carved animal horn that my grandmother would blow as a warning when the federal revenuers were in the area." -Gayle of Fayetteville, AK“Wanted to drop a note to tell you how much I have enjoyed your book. Best money I've spent in a long time!!! I found a lot of stories reminded me of things my family told me when I was growing up. I still have my 95 year old mother and an 87 y/o and 90 y/o aunts and was able to discuss a lot of the "country living" memories with them. I always record these sessions and I have a cousin in Springfield who is getting a little book together of 'Myers Memories' (their maiden names)." -Julie of Duquesne, MO