Marlin Fitzwater

Esther’s Pillow: The Tar and Feathering of Margaret Chambers

Marlin Fitzwater

The year is 1911. After attending college for two years, Margaret Chambers returns home to teach in the one-room school house of her youth. Trouble brews quickly. The God-fearing citizens of his small, weather-beaten town feel threatened by the bright-eyed, full-figured Margaret. She’s too smart by half and she needs to be put in her place. The men devise a plan to chase Margaret from the county forever. But fueled by whiskey and the shame of their own desires, their plan soon spins out of control. In one night of violence, they ambush Margaret and tar and feather her naked body. After the men are arrested, a long, painful trial begins – a trial that will thrust this proud, private Kansas town into the national spotlight, splitting families apart and exposing the dark secrets of one hideous night. Esther’s Pillow is based on a true story. About the Author: Marlin Fitzwater was born and raised in Kansas. He has written a memoir about his years of service to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, Call the Briefing; two novels, Esther’s Pillow, and Death in the Polka Dot Shoes; and a collection of short stories called, Sunflowers. He is married and lives in Deale, Maryland.

Death in the Polka Dot Shoes: A Novel

Marlin Fitzwater

In the small fishing village of Parkers, Maryland, on the Chesapeake Bay, there is no more independent soul than the lone oysterman or crabber who sets out every morning in pre-dawn hours to search for oyster beds or empty his crab pots. It’s a harsh life. When Jimmy Shannon, a Chesapeake waterman, dies during a holiday fishing trip for Blue Fin Tuna, it’s almost unbelievable. Stranger still, is his last will and testament that requires his brother Ned Shannon to give up his law practice in Washington, D.C. and return to his family’s traditional life on the Bay. Neddie accepts the challenge, takes over his brother’s crab boat, practices a little law on the side, and encounters the strangest string of characters in the community. The cultural changes are dramatic, especially after it’s discovered that Jimmy’s death was no accident. He was murdered during his encounter with the giant tuna. Neddie is forced to balance the life of a crab fisherman with a small town law practice, while aiding in the investigation of his brother’s death. The murder goes from sublime to bizarre when Jimmy’s body washes ashore on a Cape Hatteras beach. At the same time, Neddie discovers the passions and values his family has known for generations, and the small town relationships that give meaning to the joys of friendship. When the watermen of the community marshal their workboats to rescue Neddie, the murder mystery unravels and the heartwarming nature of the community is revealed. About the Author: Marlin Fitzwater is the author of several books including a memoir, a novel, and short stories. He received America’s second highest civilian achievement award, the Presidential Citizens Medal, from President George H. W. Bush in 1992. He was Presidential Press Secretary to both Bush and President Ronald Reagan. He is from Abilene, Kansas and is actively involved with the Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communication at Franklin Pierce University. He is married and has two children.