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Darren Shell

Darren Shell

About

 

Darren Shell started writing in the spring of 2005. His first effort was a simple story about Dale Hollow Lake for his daughter, who was then ten years old. “It was crude and simple, but heart-felt and tender,” Shell says. “It was a ghost tale about the making of Dale Hollow Lake and how they had to dig up old graveyards during the construction.”

 

Several people ended up reading this first effort, and many more began asking for copies. Because this first story was so well received, Shell wrote a prequel to accompany it. The reception for this writing was as popular as the first. Building on that success, Shell wrote six additional short stories that all fit into the first. These were eventually combined into a comb-bound book he printed himself and then sold. This book was also published in perfect-bound form, but is now out of print. “To this day, I still get requests for that book,” Shell says. “I’ve sold more than 500 copies, and occasionally I still find the need to print one from my computer for a friend or family member.”

 

After this success, Shell broadened his scope by writing a series of historical stories for local newspapers. This collection was then published in book form titled Stories From Dale Hollow, and sold close to one thousand copies. These stories prompted Shell to start his company, Gravedigger Tours. Each season, he gives guided “ghost” tours of the park in the center of Dale Hollow. “It’s a historical tour,” Shell says, “and my character, one of the lake’s old gravediggers from 1942 when the lake was made, tells all the tales. It’s a crowd favorite and has earned me the nickname ‘Gravedigger.’” In the fall, a full-fledged set of tours are set up and tourists and friends come from miles around to hear the Gravedigger’s storytelling.

 

This is also a great time for Shell to sell copies of his books. Shell’s latest work, The Big Ones—The World Record Smallmouth Bass of Dale Hollow Lake, deals with a different type of lake history. The book tells of the controversy surrounding the number-one world record smallmouth bass, profiles the number two and three record holders, gives the reader a glimpse of the men behind the those catches and includes several fishing experts’ top 10 tips for catching smallmouth bass. Shell has also set aside 50 signed copies of the book for charity. Dubbed “Fishing For Charity,” Shell’s goal is to donate a total of $5,000 in charitable funds to charities chosen by the people buying the special books. Darren Shell lives and works at his family-run marina on Dale Hollow Lake in middle Tennessee.

The Usurper King (The Plantagenet Legacy Book 3)

The Usurper King (The Plantagenet Legacy Book 3)

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Description

<p><span style="color:rgb(15,17,17);font-family:'Amazon Ember', Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px;">First, he led his own uprising. Then he captured a forsaken king. Henry had no intention of taking the crown for himself; it was given to him by popular acclaim. Alas, it didn't take long to realize that that having the kingship was much less rewarding than striving for it. Only three months after his coronation, Henry IV had to face a rebellion led by Richard's disgruntled favorites. Repressive measures led to more discontent. His own supporters turned against him, demanding more than he could give. The haughty Percies precipitated the Battle of Shrewsbury which nearly cost him the throne—and his life.</span><br style="color:rgb(15,17,17);font-family:'Amazon Ember', Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px;" /><span style="color:rgb(15,17,17);font-family:'Amazon Ember', Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px;">To make matters worse, even after Richard II's funeral, the deposed monarch was rumored to be in Scotland, planning his return. The king just wouldn't stay down and malcontents wanted him back.</span></p>

Story Behind The Book

“I don’t care what size my last fish will be …I just want it to be a smallmouth.”~Tony Bean Tony Bean, one of America’s most renowned smallmouth bass fishermen, is back fishing and teaching anglers the sport he loves. The Last Smallmouth provides step-by-step techniques for catching the elusive smallmouth as well as showing anglers good fishing practices. Entertaining stories illustrate Tony’s teachings and give further insight into the art of smallmouth bass fishing. New fishermen and seasoned anglers alike will come to love his words of wisdom. Packed with illustrations and fun photos, this book is the ultimate smallmouth bass fishing resource.

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Reviews

<p>If you are an avid smallmouth fisherman (like myself) then you need to read this book. I was in the book for five minutes and already had visions in my head of a place I fish that holds big smallies, it was almost like Mr. Bean was in my boat and writing about that one spot. I love this book and it has all the info you ever care to know in a style or should I say Lifestyle of fishing for and catching smallmouth bass. Tony knew his stuff on fishing and helping others understand and catch those small jaws. Mr. Bean was one of the best and I am glad he and Darren Shell crossed paths for such a book. - <span class="gry" style="font-family:Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;color:rgb(102,102,102);">By</span> <a class="noTextDecoration" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A2SOK9ABETCP4J/ref=cm_cr_dp_pdp" style="color:rgb(0,75,145);font-family:Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;">H2OHunter</a> on Amazon.com</p>