My new book, a concise history of Phoenix, comes out Nov. 9. Some initial signings are set for early December (see the "news" page of my author site) with more to come early next year.
I didn't intend to see two books published this year. High Country Nocturne, the eighth David Mapstone Mystery, would have done fine. But I was approached by an editor at the History Press who liked my Phoenix history columns on this site.
Initially, I thought it would entail a fairly easy compilation of that work. Instead, they wanted an almost entirely new book — and fast. So I set out to write the dissertation I never did.
I received a great deal of help in assembling the 60-plus photos that grace the book. That was still some of the most time consuming work. So was drilling down into primary sources. Then I had to make it my own, my concise interpretative history that can stand apart from fine work already done by Phil VanderMeer, Brad Luckingham and William Collins.
I always knew Phoenix's history was rich, but never how deep a lode is here. It could and should be mined for years.
Let me be the first to say that Phoenix has some fine historians and thinkers who could likely have done a much better job. Churning out some 3,000 words a day, mach 5 with my hair on fire, was no fun. But here it comes. Blame any factual errors on me.
A major accomplishment. Congratulations, Jon. I hope you savor this.
Posted by: Tom Zoellner | October 27, 2015 at 01:59 PM
Looking forward to this, and hope to have it signed.
Posted by: 100 Octane | October 27, 2015 at 02:10 PM
Great job, Jon...I look forward to reading it!
Posted by: Skip | October 27, 2015 at 02:20 PM
Hooray. Congratulations.
Posted by: cal Lash | October 27, 2015 at 02:21 PM
Phoenix needs a history that sings just enough to keep us humming along. I hope this is the one that does that. The details in the other histories often lack the framework of a narrative arc. Talton, I trust, knows that arc from the inside out.
Posted by: soleri | October 27, 2015 at 04:11 PM
I tried to write with a degree of distance and dispassion, as a professional historian. So it may not have the passion, and does not have my personal grief and loss, seen in Rogue. But I hope it's a decent read. And it goes some places other histories haven't.
Posted by: Rogue Columnist | October 27, 2015 at 05:20 PM
I'm intrigued and can't wait to read it. I wonder, has there been a history of Phoenix written from the Latino perspective? I think it would add to the richness of the place. Chronicling the experience of not only Latinos but Blacks, Asian, and Native Americans would make Phoenix everyone's. Will your book include some insight into the minority communities?
Posted by: phxSUNSfan | October 28, 2015 at 12:00 AM
phxSUNSfan: Mexicans of Phoenix, by Frank Barrios.
Posted by: Pat | October 28, 2015 at 03:34 AM
Sorry, that's Mexicans In Phoenix.
Posted by: Pat | October 28, 2015 at 03:37 AM
Congratulations. Can't wait to read it.
Posted by: Patricia | October 28, 2015 at 06:11 AM
Sounds great Jon. Can't wait.
Posted by: Ken Buxton | October 28, 2015 at 07:02 AM
I have already ordered mine on Amazon.
I expect it to be a must read for all the "Immigrants and out-of-towners" who regularly comment on this blog.
Thanks Jon
Posted by: Ramjet | October 28, 2015 at 07:18 AM
Yeah! I think most of the folks on my Christmas list are now covered!
Posted by: sj | October 28, 2015 at 07:32 AM
Look forward to reading it. I enjoyed "High Country Nocturne," particularly the shout-out to the country store at Punkin Center (first place I ever tasted beef jerky, coming back from a Boy Scout trip to Camp Reno).
Posted by: Chucko | October 28, 2015 at 10:06 AM
GREAT !!
I know several folks who will deserve a copy.
Posted by: BEARSENSE | October 28, 2015 at 10:17 AM
Phxsunfan, the Hispanics include many folks straight from Spain. My lady's friends Grandparents on both sides came from Northern Spain making there passage via Cuba and Mexico. My friend grew up at 14 st and Garfield in Phoenix. Her aunt owned a bar on Van Buren. And many of her relatives settled in Globe and Miami. Her relatives owned bars, grocery stores and wholesale produce outlets in both Phoenix and Globe. Some today are very wealthy diary farmers. Look for the Aja's, Blanco's and the Caballero's.
Posted by: Cal Lash | October 28, 2015 at 11:30 AM
Jon:
Congratulations; I'm sure finishing something like that is quite an accomplishment.
Good luck with the sales.
Posted by: INPHX | October 28, 2015 at 04:52 PM
Sales? What's your point?
Posted by: cal Lash | October 28, 2015 at 05:01 PM
I am excited to buy and read the book! Writing in that historian's voice and weaving in so many references can be challenging to be certain -- I still remember my senior thesis and how long that took me despite otherwise usually being a quick writer -- but I appreciate that you took your deep personal knowledge and then went to the primary sources to bring in further historical information beyond everything you already knew.
My hope for you is that the success of this book will lead to a compendium of Phoenix 101 columns someday which I think would make an excellent book to place on a side table or in a doctor's office waiting room, for example, that would be so much more edifying than the usual magazines. (I wish more businesses would do things like that rather than just subscribe to People and Sports Illustrated and other throwaways.)
Posted by: Mark in Scottsdale | November 02, 2015 at 09:14 AM