What you are about to read is, what I think, a very interesting story. It is a story of lies and deception. More importantly, it is a story of a small corner of North Carolina and primarily one of the families who lives there. It is a story of connections. Many people have asked me if this tale is true. I can honestly say that I have no idea. I am certain that much of what you read here is not true. Some of what you will read here is definitely true. The task for the reader is to determine for him or herself what to believe. We have found connections with the Pirate Jean Lafitte, Napoleon's Marshal Michel Ney, Abraham Lincoln, A.A. Springs, Jesse James, Louis XVI, King George III, the Knights Templar, the Illuminati, and many more. I, and no one else, have been able to confirm most of these connections. However, the more we look into them, the more questions and coincidences seem to pop up. In other words, the more I know, the more I don't know. The following pages will put forth the efforts of my research in pretty much straightforward manner. Many people will think it is all a work of fiction. Maybe it is. Then again, I believe that there is more to the story than many would think. I prefer to call it "speculative nonfiction." You be the judge.

In 1935, as part of the WPA, President Roosevelt created the Federal Writers Project. This was a very ambitious program designed to put unemployed writers, editors, teachers and others to work. They were paid between $20 and $25 dollars per week on average. Over 6000 people were employed by the Federal Writers Project. Some later on became quite famous in the literary world. Among those were Conrad Aiken, Nelson Algren, Saul Bellow, Anna Bontemps, John Cheever, Malcolm Cowley, Edward Dahlberg, Ralph Ellison, Zora Neale Hurston, Claude Mckay, Kenneth Patchen, Phillip Rahv, Kenneth Rexroth, Harold Rosenberg, John Steinbeck, Studs Terkel, Margaret Walker, Richard Wright, and Frank Yerby. One of the Writers Project best known projects was the Oral History Project. Interviewers went out all over the country talking to the "common" people to document their lives. Thousands of people in hundreds of groups were interviewed. One of these groups were former slaves. This book is a compilation of some of those interviews conducted in North Carolina. As you read them you will notice that the interviewers tried to write as the subjects spoke, in their own dialect. The former slaves used words and terms that are not considered politically correct in today's world. They may be offensive to some, but I hope not. It is how the subjects of the interviews actually spoke. In this book, the interviews are presented exactly as they were written during the years 1836-1938. They have not been edited. The writers at that time were instructed to stick to the exact words spoken by those interviewed. Editing it was feared would change the tone and meaning of the interview. So, here they are. If they give anyone offense, I sincerely apologize. I feel that these documents are far too important to be languishing in some collection, that most people will never see. It is my hope that you will find these stories compelling, fascinating, disturbing, interesting and an essential chronicle of an unpleasant and embarrassing period in our nation's history.

In 2001, Michael Owen and Stephen Payseur were playing golf together. During their play the discussion turned to many areas including religion. After talking for awhile they realized that they knew very little about the Apostles of Christ. They decided to do something about it. Both friends researched the Apostles and found some interesting stories, most of which they had never heard. They decided to write a book about all the things they had found in their research. They had no idea that their little, easy-to-read, book would turn out to be so popular. They were invited to speak at many book clubs, churches, and civic groups throughout the area and the book sold thousands of copies, surprising everyone. A.D. The Fate of the Apostles of Christ (and Others) After the Crucifixion, has been out of print for over 10 years. In Late 2010, Mike and Steve decided to re-issue the book with some up grades, including pictures, and new cover and other enhancements. This is the result. It still contains the stories and legends surrounding the deaths of the Apostles, plus it includes others who were present or had some role in the Crucifixion. People like King Herod, Pontius Pilate, Mary Magdalene, and Joseph of Arimathea are included. This little book pack lots of information between its covers and is an excellent starting point for anyone wanting to know more about the events in the early Christian Church.

Steve set out on a flyfishing trip for trout in the Southern Appalachians. Waht promised to be a normal, typical fishing weekend turned out to be something much more. While camping on an un-named creek, Steve met a fellow camper and instructed him in the art of flyfishing. He didn't realize at the time, but this mysterious stranger was also instructing Steve on life and how to live it. These subtle lessons changed Steve's life in many ways. This book is the beginning of Steve's journey. It is a story of soul searching and joy and it continues to this day.