Today is November 30, 2011 and we celebrate Mark Twain's 176th. birthday. He was named Samuel Langhorne Clemens, when he entered the world as the sixth child of a judge, John Marshall, and his wife, Jane Lampton Clemens. When Twain was four, the family moved to Hannibal, Mo., a port city where steam boats arrived from St. Louis and New Orleans. I imagine the port and the steam boats influenced Twain and encouraged him to become a river pilot's apprentice when he was in his teens. By 1858, he had become a licensed river pilot and acquired the name, "Mark Twain"--a term which means the depth of the water is being sounded and is safe to navigate. He began writing as a newspaper reporter in 1861 and in 1865, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calavaras County, was published in the New York Saturday Press. Roughing It stemmed from his adventures out West and every child and adult reads and rereads Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Happy, Happy birthday Mr. Twain.
Best,
Elise
My cozy--an eBook titled Scene Stealer is available through Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Carina Press and wherever eBooks are sold. An audio version has been produced by Audible.com
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