Previous book updates, comments from various book signing events

Feb. 2009 - There are two new reviews on Amazon.com. They are both interesting reviews as they come from very different perspecives. The most recent was posted in January by someone who calls himself Northwest Reader. He had some very pointed criticisms of the book and how the author put it together. On some of the points we would agree, but we feel it is a bit better job than he is giving us credit for. What we did find in all this person's reviews is he enjoys taking knocks at all he has picked on, and apparently has not found a single book he feels deserves a high rating.

The second review was posted last fall by Ken Taylor, who is the author of The Standup Comedian and a couple other books. He said he enjoyed the book, but it was not the kind of book he usually reads.

We thank everyone who has written a review, and hope others will consider doing so whether you want to rate it high or low we appreciate the feedback and interest. It seems impossible, but the book is about to celebrate the fourth year since it was published next month. We know more than 1,000 copies have been sold and a few seem to sell each month. We know it is not going to win any major awards, but have been satisfied with the response we have had.

It would be great if someone from Hollywood would pick the story up for a mini-series for TV or even a movie. We know at one time a proposed movie manuscript was being floated around the movie people, but nothing seems to have come of it over the years.

(April 2010 - We had a call from History's Mystery public television program that they are working on a program that deals with the Fleagle Gang from 1933. We are hoping to help get them the information and graphics to move the program ahead.)

May 2008 - A new review of the book has been posted on Amazon.com. It is a wonderful review, and comes at the book from a very different point of view. Nice to see after three years the book continues to get some good reviews.

April 2008 - Was asked to be the program at the Goodland Kiwanis, and had a good audience. Sold one book and had good response from those present. Hard to believe the book has now been out for three years. Know we have sold more than 1,000 copies, and that is a good feeling. Found out about another layout error in the book - oops.

March 2008 - Made a presentation about the book to the Book for Lunch group at the Pioneer Library in Colby on March 5. We had a good response and sold out of the books we had taken. One of those present brought us their copy of the book to sign. There were about 30 people at the lunch program and they had some good questions.

Feb. 14, 2007 ­ It is hard to believe the book has been out for two years, and we continue to get good comments from peole who have read it. We recently got a call from a young girl who is the granddaughterof Dr. Wineinger of Dighton who was killed by the Fleagle's after he was kidnapped to treat gang member Herbert Royston. She said she had found my book and was doing a report for her school. She asked us about a story that was told to me by a Fleagle relative, and I put in the book about her grandmother being a bridesmaid for the wife of Ralph Clayton Fleagle. She said her grandmother did not remember anything about that story. I told her I could not tell her any more about the story, and thanked her for calling. She said she would send a copy of her report. Have not seen anything yet. We have renewed the contract with Authorhouse for at least two more years to keep the book on the lists. Over the Christmas season the book did pretty well. We have been buried in snow around here, but when spring does come we will be looking for other ways to promote the book. We hope to work with the Finney County Museum to do some more fund raising for the Fleagle car they have. If you have questions or comments about the book or the Fleagle family we would like to hear from you by e-mail to ntbetz@nwkansas.com, or by writing to me at 1205 Main, Goodland, KS 67735.

Sept. 22, 2006 ­ The book has been available for about 16 months, and we continue to see some sales, but not as many as the first year. It is fun to hear from people about their memories of the robbery and what their connection was to the events or the families involved in the story. We had an interesting one recently. We were talking to or mother down in Arizona, and she said a woman from Missouri called to ask if she was related to the author of The Fleagle Gang. I would guess she found mom through the Internet, but she was telling her how much she enjoyed reading the book. A few days later I received a note card in the mail from Mildred Cornelius of Thayer, Mo.She said: "Your mother may have told you that I called her to inquire about you. I found your address on the Internet. I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your book about the Fleagle Gang. My family moved to Lamar the day of the robbery so don't remember much about it. I looked on Google and found your book and bought it. It inspired me to write a journal to pass on to my children about growing up in southeast Colorado. I raised all my children here in Missouri. My maiden name was Keeton and I was four years ahead of your dad in school. My husband was not related to Bob and Gerbing Cournelius (They ran Cornelius Transfer and Storage in Lamar) but we met and married in Lamar.