James Andrew Dickman was the speaker at the August 21 meeting. He is the author of The Rebel Isidore Samuels. The tome is about Isidore Samuels, a dashing surgeon and fearless Patriot that smuggled weapons to help the Rebel cause. James has always been fascinated by history and storytelling. His family valued education and literature, and James began writing in his youth and has maintained a personal journal since 1977. After earning an English literature degree from UCLA, he managed a family deli-meat business before dedicating himself fully to writing. His experiences in life, from managing a business to engaging with different cultures, enrich his novels with authenticity and depth.