John and Mary Lou Missall

Authors/Seminole Wars Historians

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What We Have Endured
$24.95
What We Have Endured
A Novel of the Seminole Wars
Co-Authored with Willie Johns

The Seminole Wars told through the perspective of a Seminole woman.  Narrated primarily in the first person, the book follows Aheedja's life as she tells her story to a young Seminole girl.  From her first encounters with white Americans as an adolescent in 1812, she recounts the grueling hardships and painful losses she suffered as the army relentlessly pushed her people south, from comfortable homes in North Florida to primitive camps in the Everglades.  Covering a period that spans almost fifty years, this is a tale not only of burnt homes and loved ones sent away or slain, but of the determiation and resiliance of the Seminole people.

Co-Authored with Willie Johns, Tribal Historian and Chief Justice of the Seminole Tribal Court System, the book not only focuses on the Seminole experiences during the wars, but also on the customs and traditions of Florida's native people.  Also included is a 15-page timeline of the Seminole Wars.

From the Florida Historical Society Press, 2020. 
Softcover, 292 pages, $24.95. 
ISBN # 978-1-949810-06-6






The Seminole Struggle
$35.00
The Seminole Struggle
A History of America's Longest Indian War

The Seminole Struggle: A History of America's Longest Indian War is a completely revised edition of our best-selling The Seminole Wars: America's Longest Indian Conflict, first published in 2004. Covering the entire Seminole War period (1812-1858), the book examines what would become America's longest and costliest war against Native Americans. Totally restructured and with new material, the book features expanded chapters on the Third Seminole War.

From Pineapple Press, 2019
Hardcover, 398 pages, with illustrations and maps, $35.00
ISBN # 978-1-68334-059-1




Out of Print. Replaced by "Seminole Struggle"

The Seminole Wars
America's Longest Indian Conflict

A comprehensive overview of all three Seminole Wars and the political, social, and economic forces that drove them. Intended for a general audience, the book covers not only the wars, but the genesis of the Seminole Nation, the periods leading up to the wars, and the factors that brought on these tragic conflicts. The tale of a long, bitter confrontation between cultures, the Seminole Wars teach us lessons that are surprisingly relevant in today's world. Now in its third printing. 

From the University Press of Florida, 2004. 
Softcover, 265 pages, with illustrations and maps, $19.95. 
ISBN # 978-0-8130-6243-3




Third Seminole War
$32.95
History of the Third Seminole War, 1849-1858  
Co-authored with Dr. Joe Knetsch.

An extensively researched, detailed history of the final war against the Seminole Indians of Florida, the History of the Third Seminole War is a tragic tale of heroic struggle and human perseverance. The U.S. Government, determined to remove the remaining handful of Indians from Florida, attempted diplomacy, bribery, and eventually military pressure, but the Seminole people steadfastly refused to leave their ancestral homeland. Using numerous first-hand accounts from Florida officials and federal officers, many of whom would later gain fame in the Civil War, the authors have brought forth a rich history not only of the military actions of the war, but of the harsh and unforgiving conditions that people on both sides of the conflict were forced to endure.

From Casemate Books, 2018
Hardcover, 271 pages, $32.95
ISBN #978-1-61200-576-8




Hollow Victory
$19.95
Winner of the 2012 Patrick D. Smith Award for Best Florida Fiction 
Hollow Victory
A Novel of the Second Seminole War

"Hollow Victory" traces the tragic Second Seminole War from beginning to end.  Col. William Wooster is a seasoned army officer who must match wits with Kachi-Hadjo, a dedicated and defiant Indian leader.  For seven years the two sides wage a frustrating, bitter war that neither can win, facing bullets, disease, self-serving government officials, all while trying to survive the punishing Florida environment. 

From the
Florida Historical Society Press, 2010. 
Softcover, 350 pages, $19.95. 
ISBN # 978-1-886104-45-7





Elizabeth's War
$24.95
Winner of the 2016 Patrick D. Smith Award for Best Florida Fiction
Elizabeth's War
A Novel of the First Seminole War

“Elizabeth’s War" is a tale inspired by the real-life story of Elizabeth Stuart, the lone female survivor of the Scott Massacre of 1817. The young wife of a soldier serving on the frontier border with Spanish Florida, Elizabeth is among seven women accompanying forty-one soldiers ascending the Apalachicola River. When their boat is attacked by vengeful Seminoles, only a handful of soldiers escape the slaughter, and Elizabeth is taken prisoner by the Indians. With little chance of a quick rescue, Elizabeth must use her wits to stay alive among a people who have good reason to want her dead.  Also included is a factual history of the Scott Massacre and an overview of the First Seminole War.

From the Florida Historical Society Press, 2015. 
Softcover, 465 pages, $24.95. 
ISBN # 978-1-886104-83-9




Dear Pik
$19.95
Dear Pik
Letters from a Stellar Exporer
By John Missall

Gifted Photomass Engineer Asgar Kazmian needs to get away. After the loss of his wife and young son in an earthquake, the home planet no longer feels like home. Packing a few mementoes in a travel bag, he emigrates to space, hoping to build a new life among the hundreds of millions of people who are spreading across the galaxy. What he doesn’t know is that someone has her eye on him. There’s been an unexplained death on the research and rescue vessel Watson, and Asgar might be one of the few people capable of solving the mystery. Enticed to join Watson’s crew, he soon finds himself facing more than technical problems. In a series of letters to a badly injured child on Earth, he tells of desperate rescues, exciting new worlds, and confrontations with murderers and rogue scientists. All this while learning to navigate a new culture that has evolved to exist in an environment that is both deadly and unforgiving. In the process, he must confront his own responsibility for the death of his family and discover the true meaning of life and of right and wrong.

From Bodkin Books, 2020
Paperback, 338 pages, $19.95
ISBN 9798573911144




The Army Is My Calling
$24.95
   
The Army Is My Calling
The Life and Writings of Major John Rogers Vinton

“The Army Is My Calling” traces the life of a career army officer who served with distinction in both the Second Seminole War and the Mexican War. Using Vinton’s letters and journals, the authors tell the tale of a man who devoted his life to God, country, and family, often having to make hard choices between the things he cherished most in life. A gifted artist and philosopher, Vinton shows us a side of early nineteenth century life that is rarely seen and little appreciated.

From the Florida Historical Society Press, 2017. 
Softcover, 350 pages with color section, $24.95. 
ISBN #978-1-886104-91-4






An Ancient Tale New Told
The Stories of Shakespeare
Volume 1: Tragedies   Volume 2: Histories   Volume 3: Comedies

The stories told in the plays of William Shakespeare are among the most beloved in all literature. In this unique three-volume set, award-winning author and historian John Missall retells each play in modern prose while retaining Shakespeare's original language for the characters' conversations. The stories closely follow the action of the plays, using little added embellishment and minimal paraphrasing, allowing readers to easily understand and appreciate these timeless dramatic works.

Illustrated with numerous Shakespeare-inspired works of art, "An Ancient Tale New Told" is the perfect tool for those who would like to become familiar with the greatest works in the English language.
Availiable on Amazon.com




What Shakespeare Didn't Tell Us
$19.95
What Shakespeare Didn't Tell Us
Backstories and Other Tales Inspired by The Bard
By John Missall

William Shakespeare was rarely concerned with a back-story. Introductory scenes usually exist only to give us the bare amount of information necessary to set the stage. How we got to that point is of no importance. Events are already in motion; we are there simply to see how it all plays out. 

And yet sometimes we can't help but wonder, "What led up to this?" In Romeo & Juliet, what was the long-running feud about? In The Merchant of Venice, why was Shylock so intent on taking that pound of flesh from Antonio? What made Lady MacBeth so murderously ambitious, yet so loved by her husband? How did Jack Falstaff become such a loveable scoundrel? Shakespeare doesn't tell us, but we'd really like to know.

In this collection of six short stories, award-winning author John Missall delves into those questions and others, taking us on a journey that is both humorous and tragic, looking into the lives and minds of characters we'd like to know better. 

From Bodkin Books, 2022
Paperback, 403 pages, $19.95
ISBN 9798362750374




Just Havin' Fun (with Boots Hansen)
$19.95
New: Second Edition

Just Havin' Fun
Adventures of an Oil Well Firefighter
with Boots Hansen

"Just Havin' Fun: Adventures of an Oil Well Firefighter" The story of legendary firefighter Boots Hansen. From his early days as a pioneer in the industry, until his work extinguishing hundreds of oil well fires set by the Iraqis at the end of the First Gulf War, Boots Hansen has been one of the leaders in this exciting and dangerous business. A man of many adventures, Boots served on submarines in WWII, drove race cars and speed boats, and served as technical consultant for the John Wayne movie "Hellfighters," a film based on the exploits of Boots, his partner Coots Matthews, and Red Adair.

From Bodkin Books, 2019
Softcover, 272 pages, $19.95
ISBN # 9781078158398




This Miserable Pride of a Soldier
$29.95

This Miserable Pride of a Soldier:
The Letters and Journals of Col. William S. Foster in the Second Seminole War

An insightful compilation of the writings of one of the senior officers of the Second Seminole War. Colonel Foster served directly under the war's foremost leaders while seeing action in most of the war's decisive battles. The editors have filled in the history behind and between the colonel's offical writings and have included many letters to his wife Betty, making for a tale that carries the reader not only through the details of a brutal war, but through the struggles of those most closely affected by it. 

From the Seminole Wars Foundation and the University of Tampa Press, 2005. 
Hardcover, 200 pages, with illustrations and maps, $29.95. 
ISBN # 978-1-879852-04-4




This Torn Land
$29.95
This Torn Land:
Poetry of the Second Seminole War

A collection of over seventy-five poems written during the Second Seminole War. Penned by anxious and grieving family members, soldiers in the field, or concerned citizens, these verses allow us a glimpse into the emotions brought on by one of the nation's most desperate conflicts. 

From the Seminole Wars Foundation, 2009. 
Hardcover, 260 pages, $29.95. 
ISBN# 978-0-9821105-2-2







The War in Florida
$15.95
The War in Florida: Enhanced Edition
by Woodburne Potter
Introduction, Endnotes and Index
by John and Mary Lou Missall

Woodburne Potter's classic account of the early months of the Second Seminole War, now with enhancements by John & Mary Lou Missall.  Although Potter was only in Florida for a few months, he was present at a time when much of the action took place and was able to speak to many of the participants.  Long available only in facsimile editions, this new edition features an Introduction, Endnotes, and an Index by the editors.

From the Seminole Wars Foundation, 2013
Softcover, 235 pages, $15.95
ISBN# 978-0-9821105-3-9





Florida Seminole Wars Heritage Trail Guide

John and Mary Lou are proud to be Editors-in-Chief of the official State of Florida Seminole Wars Heritage Trail Guide. Produced by the Seminole Wars Foundation, this colorful 56-page booklet contains listings for 143 sites, 4 maps, a timeline, 96 illustrations, 37 articles, and a short history of all three Seminole Wars.

Copies are available free of charge or for downlaod from the Division of Historical Resources at: 

http://dos.myflorida.com/historical/preservation/heritage-trails/seminole-wars-heritage-trail/




Look for our articles on The Seminole Wars, Osceola, and The Eastern Indian Wars in "The Encyclopedia of War and American Society" from Sage Publications (2006).


Copyright 2016 by John and Mary Lou Missall

Artwork courtesy Jackson Walker, copyright 2004