Sumer 2026 was wonderful, and I’m looking forward to the new academic year. Here’s a brief update.

Research

I divided research time over the summer of 2026 in roughly two halves. 

In the first part, my goal was to work toward choosing the topic of my next book. I had been working in a general direction on a topic but needed to do more to test the idea by going back to the basics and ask myself three basic questions:

1. Does the topic grip me? Do I want to spend the next several years researching and writing about it?
2. Are there materials to research the topic in the way that corresponds with my academic interests or goals as a writer?
3. What has been written about the topic? Why should I write about it, or what can I add?

To answer the first question, I needed revisit what happened and begin refamiliarizing myself with some basic points. I felt like I was building some momentum and growing more certain every day that I did, indeed, want to pursue the idea.

Then a welcome email arrived in my inbox that caused me to pivot. A journal editor sent reader reports and a revise and resubmit decision for an an article manuscript I had submitted toward the end of March. I celebrated this news because the journal has a very high rejection rate–90% according to one indicator.

Writing time became scarce as the semester approached, but I have been working steadily to improve the manuscript. I hope I can return it to the editor before October 1. (This is self-imposed deadline, not one from the journal and might be pure fantasy given how busy September is shaping up to be.)

On Campus

• Starting my nineteenth year teaching in the History Department at the University of Central Arkansas. What follows is a partial list of my teaching and service responsibilities.
• Three classes on my fall teaching schedule:
  • Two sections of Hist 2302 America in the Modern Era (a survey of United States history after 1865)
  • Hist 2390 The Historian’s Craft Seminar (the intro to historical methods for majors, minors, and any others interested)
• Continuing as Associate Chair of the History Department, chair of the department’s Curriculum Committee, and departmental representative on the college Curriculum Committee.
• Starting the second year of a three-year term on Faculty Senate.
• Continuing to serve on the university’s Teaching Technology Advisory Committee.
• Year three as Secretary for the Hudson Chapter of the American Association of University Professionals (AAUP).
• Committee member, Presenting Labor History, Labor and Working Class History Association (LAWCHA).

Reading

I recently finished Muskism: A Guide for the Perplexed by Quinn Slobodian and Ben Tarnoff and Buckeye: A Novel by Patrick Ryan.

For nonfiction, I’ve just started Orwell: Wintry Conscience of a Generation by Jeffrey Meyers.

For fiction, I decided to take on a project to read every Goodreads Choice Awards winner for 2025. I’m currently on the winner for the Young Adult category and am reading Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins.

Tools and Tech

At the beginning of the summer I made a massive upgrade to my home office. I purchased a 27″ Dell UltraSharp 4K monitor with power delivery to connect and charge my MacBook Pro with one cable. I paired it with an Epomaker Aula F75 keyboard and a Magic Trackpad. 

I loved the build quality and feel of the Aula F75, but I had to return it because it didn’t have command and option keys on the right side of the spacebar. Since I use the trackpad with my left hand, I use the keys to on the right side of the spacebar frequently throughout the day and not having them was a dealbreaker, although the Aula F75 was probably the nicest keyboard I’ve ever laid fingers on. I was sad to send it back.

I replaced it with a Keychron K8 Tenkeyless. While the Keychron feels plasticky and cheap compared to the Aula F75, it has a more traditional Mac layout with command and options keys on both sides of the spacebar.

Although I miss some of my desk real estate, especially when I need to spread books and notes around in the midst of a writing session, I do not miss hunching over a small laptop screen.