What do you get when you combine Free Book Friday and Friday the Thirteenth? A thrilling history that’s riddled with the spooky, of course! In today’s freebie, author and ghost expert Bud Steed recounts mysterious tales, all lurking in the shadows of the haunted Natchez Trace.
How do you win The Haunted Natchez Trace? It’s easy…just comment on this post by Sunday, April 15 (12 a.m. EST).
Stretching from Natchez, Mississippi, to Nashville, Tennessee, the Natchez Trace is one of the oldest, most historically significant routes in American history. Beginning as hunting ground for natives, the Trace became the favored path back home for early settlers who floated down the Mississippi River to sell goods in Natchez.
Yet the Trace was riddled with bandits, marauders and other perils, and today troubled and tortured voices from the past still echo along the road.
Photo of the west wing columns of Windsor Ruins, taken in 1936. Built between 1859 and 1861 by Smith Coffee Daniell II for a cost of approximately $175,000, in today’s currency it would have cost slightly more than $3 million to build. It was once described as the most opulent example of southern elegance. It burned to the ground when a careless party guest left a burning cigar on the third-floor balcony. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Travel to Grinder’s Stand, where famed explorer Meriwether Lewis met his untimely demise, and on to Kings Tavern, built in the late 1700s and haunted by the ghost of the innkeeper’s mistress. Join Bud Steed as he investigates tales that will surely make your Friday the Thirteenth an eerie adventure.
As always, here’s a great excerpt from the featured book (and be sure to check out Bud’s website here). We’ll draw names on Monday—see you then and good luck!
Friday the Thirteenth Special! Extra 2% discount and free freight for any order placed on April 13 containing a Haunted America, Wicked or Murder & Mayhem series title (no minimum).
This looks fascinating!! Would love to win!
What a wild book this is! Can’t wait to read it!
I have been to Windsor ruins – haunting and so beautiful. Would be interested in knowing what building is showing behind the ruins in photo above? Would LOVE to have this book!
I would love to read Bud’s book. A lot of people do not beleive in spirits, but I do. I grow up in a house that had a spirit, and now the house I live in has a spirit in it also. I love anything that has to do with haunting. Thank you. Marie
p.s Good luck to Bud and his new book
I would love to read the book ty laura
I would love to read this book. History and ghosts: two of my favorite subjects.
Congrats on winning my book Sally
I sincerely hope that you enjoy it.
How exciting–perfect for Friday the 13th! I would love to win a copy! Thank you!
This looks delightful! Would love to win and read it.
Of course, I need this book as research for the novel I’m writing.
Wow! This book looks like it would be alot of fun. I do amateur genealogy research and reading up on local history helps. I would really like to get this book for my kids and I. We like to visit old places. Especially, ones that are suppose to be haunted! This would give us some new places to visit.
Hi! I live right off the Trace in Mathiston and travel it all the time. Would love to hear more haunted stories about it!
I can not wait to read this book. I have lived close to the Natchez Trace in my earlier years and loved walking the trails. I love history!
This looks really interesting! I would love to win it!!
WANT WANT WANT IT REALLY BAD!
love stories about the Natchez Trace!
The book is very interesting-I am a history buff and we need more books like this one to re-introduce our past to us. Job well done on this- can’t wait to read more from this author.
This looks so interesting! Can’t wait to read it!!
Can’t wait to read this. Hope to get a free copy, but if not will buy one anyway. Then it will need to be signed by the author! So very proud of you Uncle Bud
I would love to read this book, especially since I’ve seen the Windsor Ruins in person.
Wow, this sounds like great research by him and reading for us. If I don’t win, looks like I’ll be purchasing this book! Love these giveaway Fridays because you are showcasing some great books.
Can’t wait to read this! Sounds fascinating!
Hi all! Thanks for participating in our most popular Free Book Friday to date! We enjoyed reading all of your comments about the Natchez Trace and its spooky history. Congrats to today’s winner, Sally McCombs! Everybody else–we hope you’ll follow our blog (just enter your email in the top right box!) for more great giveaways and local history features. And you can find Bud Steed at his upcoming book signing at the Barnes & Noble in Tupelo, MS on May 12, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
I saw this too late to participate, but The Natchez Trace is of special interest to me. Having stayed there at a B&B, I would list it as one of most fascinating and wonderful trips I have ever taken. It is indeed a hauntingly beautiful place.
Thank you to everyone who entered the History Press “Free Book Friday” contest. I wish that all of you could have won a copy of my book, The Haunted Natchez Trace, and, should you all decide to favor me with a purchase of my book, I would love to hear your comments about it. You can email me your comments at thebook@hauntednatcheztrace.com and I will try my best to reply in a timely fashion. Have a great week everyone
Traveled the trace all my life and did not know of its hauntings. Look forward to reading this book