Gene Kizer

Gene Kizer, Jr. was born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina and from the time he was able to walk, his imagination has been fired by the colorful, powerful history of his native city. He went back to school at middle age and completed his undergraduate degree at the College of Charleston in 2000 graduating magna cum laude, with History Departmental Honors, and the Outstanding Student Award for the History Department. He also won the Rebecca Motte American History Award the year before.

His first book, Charleston, SC Short Stories, Book One: Six Tales of Courage, Love, the War Between the States, Satire, Ghosts & Horror from the Holy City, was published in July, 2012 as an eBook. It includes numerous GREAT pictures around Charleston where the stories took place.

His second book, The Elements of Academic Success, How to Graduate Magna Cum Laude from College (or how to just graduate, PERIOD!), was published in November, 2012 as an eBook, and in PRINT as a 364-page softcover publication.

The Elements of Academic Success was inspired by The Elements of Style, the legendary book by Professor William Strunk, Jr. and E. B. White. It is formatted the exact same way for speed and ease of use. There are 351 numbered topic sections in 10 chapters that cover everything a student will face in college.

His third book, Slavery Was Not the Cause of the War Between the States, The Irrefutable Argument, is in print and as an eBook. It is 360 pages of fast-paced, powerfully argued, thoroughly documented history with 218 footnotes using over 200 sources that are listed in the bibliography. There are 86 sample pages on www.BonnieBluePublishing.com.

His fourth book (2017) is a 462 page compilation of the writings of the great Southern historian Charles W. Ramsdell. It is entitled Charles W. Ramsdell, Dean of Southern Historians, Book One: His Best Work.

Ramsdell is author of the famous treatise, "Lincoln and Fort Sumter," which argues persuasively and documents Lincoln's plan to get the War Between the States started in Charleston Harbor in April, 1861. Several prominent Northern newspapers agreed that Lincoln started the war. From Lincoln's standpoint, he had to. His economy was headed for annihilation, and, once the South had trade and military treaties with Europe, the North would not have been able to beat the South. The way would, then, have been clear for a rapidly industrializing South with 100% control of King Cotton, to dominate North America, something Lincoln and the North could not tolerate. Slavery had nothing to do with any of it.

The author is right now working on Volume II of Slavery Was Not the Cause of the War Between the States, with subtitle: The Conclusive Case.

Kizer also produced an outstanding two-DVD set entitled Mixed Up with All the Rebel Horde: Why Black Southerners Fought for the South in the War Between the States. It features Professor Edward C. Smith who is one of the foremost authorities in the country on black Confederates. There is a video clip on www.BonnieBluePublishing.com.

He also produced the outstanding 80-DVD series, World History 101 and 102, featuring distinguished professor Dr. Clark G. Reynolds, shot live in front of two college classes at the College of Charleston over a semester. There are 10 video clips on www.WorldHistory101-102.com and Dr. Reynolds is the BEST! -- A fascinating historian adored by his students.

Kizer founded Charleston Athenaeum Press (www.CharlestonAthenaeumPress.com) and Bonnie Blue Publishing (www.BonnieBluePublishing.com) in 2005 to publish fiction and non-fiction. Both have several exciting new works to be released this year.

Kizer is also broker-in-charge of Charleston Saltwater Realty (www.CharlestonSaltwaterRealty.com), a real estate brokerage specializing in residential homes, condos and land in Charleston, South Carolina.

He is an avid runner/walker/cyclist, having run four marathons and over 75 10Ks. The 2018 Cooper River Bridge Run 10K was his 23rd Bridge Run in a row (and 29th overall).

He adores literature and Southern history and has read many of the novels and every short story the great British writer, William Somerset Maugham, ever wrote (over 200 short stories), all of the great Russian playright and writer, Anton Chekhov's short stories, as well as every short story (hundreds!) and many of the novels Louie L'Amour wrote. He just finished L'Amour's brilliant Sackett series of novels, and is desirous of deepening his knowledge of Shakespeare and Shakespeare's enormous body of work.

Kizer appreciates his readers and supporters VERY MUCH and says THANK YOU! Thank you for your encouragement!

Expect much more.