Debut Lincoln Novel Ride With the Assassin offered at The Lincoln Home and Appomattox Courthouse

Jan. 14, 2012 - PRLog -- Ride With the Assassin gives a fresh look into the Lincoln Assassination from a teenage witness.The main character, Mark Harris, admires Lincoln, and his respectful actions are in contrast with the treatment of Lincoln through the lens of the film Abraham Lincoln, the Vampire Hunter. RWTA has a few plot twists including ESP visions and mistaken identity.  Her story is inspired by a real boy who held the reins of Booth’s horse on April 14, 1865.  

Megan’s mission to share Lincoln’s life and legacy is strong.  Interest in the story began with a junior high bus ride home as she had a book The Assassination open on her lap.  Classmates peered over the seats and began looking at the book’s escape route map and pictures.  They saw a picture of a woodcut of Booth on horseback escaping from the back of the theater, and next to the stage back door stood a kid, and one boy asked, “Who was the kid?”

Ms. Hardgrave is proud to have her debut Lincoln novel placed in 13 Lincoln-related museum gift shops across the country.  As word of mouth on Facebook has spread about her intriguing story, social media friends have ordered their copies.  
Although her original audience was young adults, Hardgrave is surprised with the book’s warm praises from adults:
“Language true to the Civil War Era and solid historical facts are encased in a beautifully crafted novel about a young man named Mark who unwittingly helps John Booth flee from the back door of the theater after shooting President Lincoln.  The boy takes the reader through a first person account of events surrounding the assassination of President Lincoln and subsequent fury paced escape to avoid capture.    Ride With the Assassin is a story of being strong enough to make the right choices, growing up and learning from events in one's life and realizing in the end that love and support of family conquers all,” concludes Becky Brewer, Librarian.  
“With Lincoln’s wink at your leading man you had me. It was a fun read and gave just the right touch of period so it almost sounded like an old time memoir.  I’d say you should try for a film treatment,” states actor Patrick Gorman, General John Bell Hood in Gettysburg.
Jim Abrahams, Hollywood director and writer (Airplane!) gave a thumbs-up:  “I especially liked your descriptions of the Ford Theater and the events leading up to Lincoln's death.  Such details really enhanced the believability of the plot.  Furthermore, I also liked the way you developed your characters. I particularly thought Mark and John Wilkes Booth were well thought out and described; your supporting characters were also quite strong. ”  
She expects more interest in RWTA with the new Lincoln films to be released this year, especially Spielberg’s Lincoln.  
The book includes a timeline, a John Wilkes Booth escape route map, historical notes and pictures in a glossy cover paperback, approximately 120 pages.

Ride With the Assassin is also available at selected museum gift shops and by emailing megan_hardgrave@yahoo.com  for autographed copies.