Fenton Art Walk Author Tells Facts of Titanic

The is just around the corner.

On July 14 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., merchants and artists will participate in the second-year event, and officials are hoping hundreds of residents will join the fun in downtown Fenton.

Visitors will be able to come to a booth in downtown Fenton (just outside ) and receive a map, which will include instructions along with artist and merchant information. People then can visit participating businesses to observe the art, meet the artists and explore what each store has to offer.

To get you ready for the event, we will feature several artists in our Faces of the Fenton Art Walk series in the days leading up to the extravaganza.

Name: Lee Merideth

Residence: San Jose, California

Type of Work: Historian, author of two books about the Titanic, one book about a World War II aircraft carrier. Also owner of a small company that provides book formatting and indexing.

How did you get started as writer? I always wanted to be a writer since I learned about the Titanic story as a 10-year old child. It took 35 years to get around to doing so, however.

Describe your books: 1912 Facts About Titanic: a fact-based, chronological history of the Titanic story starting in 1907 with the decision to build the ship and ending in 1985 when the wreck was discovered. Published first in 1999, now in its third revision and 20th printing with over 105,000 copies sold. Titanic Names: A Complete List of the Passengers and Crew contains a listing and some history of all 2,208 people on Titanic the night it sank. Published in 2003 and in its third version with over 12,500 copies sold. Grey Ghost: The Story of the Aircraft Carrier Hornet is the story of the most decorated warship in American history, served 18 months during World War II, the cold war, Vietnam and was the prime recovery ship for the Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 astronauts. Now a floating museum in Alameda, California, I work there as a volunteer tour guide when I’m not traveling.

What is your next project?: A new Titanic book geared toward grade and middle school teachers and home schooled students, it is a cross-platform book that can be used to teach history, math, science, geography, social studies and English, all with a Titanic theme.

Where can your books be found?: Can be ordered through most bookstores. Most major (Barnes and Noble) stores don’t carry them unless there is a Titanic exhibition close by. Amazon has them including an eBook version of the 1912 Facts About Titanic book. Titanic exhibits like the one at the Henry Ford carry them. Or, they can be ordered directly from me and signed, at historyindex@earthlink.net