The autograph party for Jacquelyn Cook, author of The River Between, was a big success in spite of last Wednesday’s inclement weather. The sponsoring Eufaula Heritage Association sold out of the novel which features antebellum Eufaula as it's locale.

Mayor E. H. Graves was on hand to welcome her, and he presented her a key to the city.

"Everybody is crazy about the book and is looking for the second book now," said Hilda Sexton, association staff member. Mrs. Cook said many people have read her novel and want to visit Eufaula.

The DeSoto, Georgia author praised Doug Purcell, Historic Chattahoochee Commission executive director, for his assistance in researching historic Eufaula for the first of a trilogy of novels set in the romantic Bluff City’s past. Her extensive research of the steamboat era of the 1850's brings to life again the gracious living of the days before the War Between the States in Eufaula.

Diaries and journals provided colorful background for the River Between One of the Eufaulians attending the reception at Shorter Mansion was Mrs. Emma Foy, who lent the author old letters used In the romantic novel to give authenticity even to the principal character’s love letters.

"History is so exciting when you visualize the people living there during an era", Mrs. Cook said. She added she used "the real heroes" of the town, "as authentic background" for the romantic novel which made her fictional characters come to life."

Mrs. Cook is particularly interested in young people reading her book because of its historical accuracy and spiritual quality. She has been Involved in various offices of her church since she was 18 years old, and she now teaches Sunday school in DeSoto.

"Everybody in town has just been lovely," she said, "they helped me so much."

The veteran writer returned the galley proof last week on the second book in the series, Wind Along the River, to her publisher, Zondervan Publishing Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It is scheduled for release in January.

The author thinks the sequel "is a much better book," It depicts Illumination Night and the local celebration when Alabama seceeded from Union, and the setting continues through the War Between the States.

"There is lots about the Confederate Navy - the Chattahoochee and the Muscogee," Mrs. Cook commented. The frustrations of the naval blockade are included and she said men on the Confederate gunboats, who steamed downriver had courage.

The second novel also has more about the Chattahoochee, including the Battle of Columbus and the operations of the Saffold Navy Yard on the river below Blakely.

"Fact is stranger than fiction," Mrs. Cook said, referring to her second novel. She writes of the ladies of Eufaula entertaining at teas on the gunboats in the Chattahoochee. "Everything that happened in the novel is actual fact," she added. The third and final book River of Fire, which she is now writing, probably will be published next year. It covers the period when Eufaula was settled, through Reconstruction. The "final glory" of the riverboat era, 1874 is included, too.

 The Eufaula Heritage Association's address is Box 486, Eufaula, AL 36027

The Eufaula Tribune, Eufaula, Alabama  Tuesday, November 25, 1985

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