This is a testimonial FOR buying the Shelby County history book which possibly is being reprinted. I look at a lot of County history books and none that I have seen are better. Many are not as good. The illustrations in it by Shelby County's Woodrow Foster put it in a category all its on. You are more interested in the contents than you are the looks, of course. I promise you, you'll enjoy even the articles which are not about your own family. They often help to understand earlier times or even suggest migration patterns to Shelby County and other ideas to help in further research of your own. I first understood the benefit of a county history when I saw an article in one which was prepared about 1895 and was about my husband's great grandfather. It had information the family no longer knew and put me further back on research than I likely ever would have gotten on my own. Such a book gains in value and importance. I own two of the Shelby County books. Admittedly, I'm glad I bought them at the prepublication price, but the books are worth the price that has to be asked now and if I didn't already have one for each of my children, I'd be on the list to buy. County history books preserve history and will be more valuable in years to come than they are now. All four of my grandparents and their long established Shelby County families are in the present book. However, my response to a question about a new book is that I very likely would submit newly written articles, and I'd be a customer again. As to how a new book should be done, one thing I'd like to see is a little paper pamphlet containing names and addresses of submitters accompanying each book. For a few years, that would be good for making contacts. CWBrazell@aol.com