David M. Burke - Artist and Author

"Burke" is the name he prefers. I have known him for over 12 years now and he is both a talented artist and a vibrant historical author. Besides being very adept with a myriad of skills, he has done the cover art for all 17 Derek Hart novels. It goes without saying that I have come to trust his judgment, but you would get quite a kick out of our meetings, when Burke and I discuss each impending book's cover. It's a form of verbal tug of war, with lots of laughter in between, but always satisfying in the end. There are usually a few rough drafts before we come to agreement, but it's a delight to go through the process.

However, Burke is also a dynamic historical author. His Images of America - Warm Springs www.arcadiapublishing.com is simply a fascinating look at Warm Springs, Georgia, which earned significance, because of a famous resident and visitor. FDR built his Little White House in Warm Springs and the historical implications were both monumental and heart warming. David captures this relationship in his choice of photographs and the in-depth research invested in such a work of love.

David Burke is currently employed at the Little White House as a ranger and lives in nearby Pine Mountain, so he intimately knows his subject matter. You can feel it as you read his book. Burke was also instrumental in helping me conduct my research for my WWII historical thriller, A Favor for FDR.

"The Spirit of Warm Springs” is what Franklin D. Roosevelt described as the peaceful atmosphere and healing qualities he found along the slopes of Georgia’s Pine Mountain. But long before FDR, the warm springs attracted people. Legend has it the Creek Indians used them for healing. European settlers used them as a revenue source. In the 1800s, the springs became a resort area, and the village of Warm Springs, Georgia, was founded. Rail brought visitors to this farming community for decades until travelers sought different destinations. By the 1920s, Warm Springs began slipping into the Great Depression. Destiny intervened when Franklin Roosevelt arrived in Warm Springs seeking a cure for his polio. After his first visit, he was able to move his leg. The news drew others afflicted with polio. Warm Springs provided FDR with hope. He returned the gift through New Deal programs and the March of Dimes while restoring hope in America. The waters are still used for healing, the town of Warm Springs thrives, and FDR’s Little White House is a memorial to “the foremost statesman and political leader” of the 20th century.

If you are a Franklin Delano Roosevelt fan or are interested in Georgia history or the significance of this location as it shaped FDR's view of the world, you owe it to yourself to read this book. It's a masterpiece of subtle and emotionally moving history.

It's also an honor to know the author.