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Discover the legends, lore and secrets of Delmarva

Between the waters of the Chesapeake and the Delaware is Delmarva, a storied land that was once the hunting ground of Blackbeard, where ancient sea monsters lurk and wild ponies gallop along the beaches. 

Join local author David Healey at several upcoming Cecil County Public Library talks for an exploration of the lore of Delmarva, from the legend of St. Michaels-the town that escaped British cannons with a clever trick-to stories of Assateague's cannibalistic colonists and the all-but-forgotten story of Anna Carroll, President Lincoln's "Dear Lady," the Marylander who is rumored to have brilliantly advised Lincoln on strategy during the Civil War. 

These sometimes quirky, sometimes spooky tales come from Healey's newest book, "Delmarva Legends and Lore," published by the History Press. His upcoming talks will include a reenactment of the fatal confrontation between a Maryland duelist and Andrew Jackson.

In September at the Elkton library, Healey will give an overview of the War of 1812 in Cecil County. It was a time when Redcoats pillaged and plundered the upper Chesapeake Bay, but local heroes such as Kitty Knight and the defenders of Elkton used luck and courage to make a stand against overwhelming odds. It's a history that's literally in our backyards, and Healey explains how his own rediscovery of 1812 began when he found a musketball in his tomato patch. The history he collected evolved into "1812: Rediscovering Chesapeake Bay's Forgotten War" published by Bella Rosa Books, a book that Healey describes as part history, part travelogue that mixes past and present.

The following library programs are planned. All events are free and open to the public:

• "The War of 1812 on the Upper Chesapeake," Wednesday, September 15, 7 p.m. at the Elkton Library.

• "Delmarva: Legends and Lore" takes place at the following library branches:

North East Branch library, Tuesday, Sept. 21 at 6:30 p.m.

Cecilton Branch library, Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 6:30 p.m.

Chesapeake City Branch library, Monday, Oct. 25 at 6:30 p.m.

Upcoming events

Book signing, Saturday, Oct. 23 at the Christiana, Delaware, Borders 12-4. 

Bainbridge past and present, Perryville branch library, noon, Friday, Nov. 5, 2010. This is a special event hosted by the library for its many hardworking volunteers. 

 Updates

New book outlets! People are always asking where they can find copies of David's books. Autographed books are available at England's Colony on the Bay, Main Street, North East ... Lighthouse Gifts at Rt. 213 & Town Point Road, Chesapeake City area ... Back Creek General Store, downtown Chesapeake City ... the Historical Society of Cecil County, 135 E. Main St., Elkton ... the Fort McHenry gift shop in Baltimore ... Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum gift shop in St. Michaels ... Browseabout Books on Rehoboth Avenue in Rehoboth Beach ... Barnes & Noble at Concord Mall in Wilmington, Del. ... and as always at Washington Street Books, Havre de Grace, Md.

Book signings! That's yours truly at Washington Street Books in June and (below) at the Historical Society of Cecil County.

Below, our living room was transformed recently when filmmakers showed up to film a segment for a new War of 1812 documentary about the Battle of North Point. The lighting hides the fact that the walls need to be painted!