Hats off to Robin Henry and the other fine folks in the History Department at Wichita State University. Just wrapped up a two-day visit, which included appearing on Allison Johnson and Eugene Pott’s superb Maybe Water, Maybe Vodka history podcast. Let’s Go, Shockers!

Hello Kansans! Just a quick note to announce that I will be speaking about MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC in Wichita this week. Thanks to the Department of History at Wichita State, I'll be speaking at Hubbard Hall, Room 211, 1845 Fairmount, at 5:30 pm on Thursday, September 25th. Let's Go Shockers!

A big thank you to the folks at WBUR Boston who had me on NPR's "Here & Now" midday news program yesterday, talking about political division and the legacy of the Civil War. Recording in link: www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...

Thrilled to be joining the White House Historical Association for a livestream interview on Facebook and YouTube on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 5:30 pm. www.whitehousehistory.org/events/white...

It was both an honor and a true delight to pay a visit yesterday to the legendary Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, Inc. in Chicago, home to the world's largest inventory of books, manuscripts, antique prints, and sculpture relating to Abraham Lincoln & the Civil War. alincolnbookshop.com

Fortitude the lion, New York Public Library, Fifth Avenue at 41st Street, on a hot August afternoon. Carved by the Piccirilli brothers, Fortitude and his brother, Patience, have stood guard—and won admirers, including yours truly—outside the library since 1911.

A nice way to kick off a trip to NYC. Thank you Amanda Brickell Bellows for the terrific review of MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC in today’s Wall Street Journal. “Suspenseful . . . ‘a fight for the very soul of the nation.’”

"If you live in Alaska, I need you to buy a Ukrainian flag and turn any area that Putin is going to be into a sea of Ukrainian flags - so many that, when Putin lands, all he's going to see is just yellow and blue."

New Englanders! I am heading your way. I'll be doing a book event for MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC at the Harvard Book Store, 1256 Mass Ave, Cambridge, on Thursday, August 14th, at 7 pm. Even better, I'll be interviewed by the wonderful novelist Steve Yarbrough. Hope you can come.

@scottellsworth.bsky.social www.ben-hur.com/william-sewa... So pleased to read about the little known Battle of Monocacy in your new book. The Seward House Museum in Auburn, NY, where I volunteered as a docent for many years, tells the story with a Seward twist.

With all of the petty hassles of air travel, it’s easy to forget the majesty of flight. I absolutely adore being above the clouds. Have a good day everybody.

Michiganders! Hope to see you tomorrow night, Tuesday, July 22nd, at 6:30 pm at Literati Bookstore, 124 E. Washington Street, Ann Arbor. I'll be discussing my new book, MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC, and how a remarkable coalition of loyal Americans defeated the Confederacy and destroyed slavery.

Hey, fellow Okies! I'll be speaking about my new book, MIDNIGHT IN THE POTOMAC, this Wednesday, July 23rd, at 7 pm at Congregation B'nai Emunah, 1719 S. Owasso Avenue, Tulsa. Let Freedom Ring.

Hey, Michiganders! I'll be speaking about my new book, MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC, this Tuesday, July 22nd, at 6:30 pm at Literati Bookstore, 124 E. Washington, Ann Arbor. Hope you can swing by!

Thrilled to have ended the first leg of the book tour for MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC last week in Washington, D.C. Had to stop by the Lincoln Memorial on my last night in town. Always awe-inspiring! #Lincoln #CivilWar

A squirrel leaves a thank-you gift for the woman who feeds him every day... 🥺

Pub day!

Five days until MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC is released. The book is about how close we came to losing our country during the last fraught months of the Civil War, and the loyal men and women who defeated the Confederacy, destroyed slavery, and gave our nation a new beginning. Out July 15th.

This advance copy of my forthcoming new book arrived in the mail yesterday—and I’m over the moon with the design. What do you all think? The book drops on July 15th.

What a delight it was to be interviewed this morning alongside the amazing Dr. Irene Butter for Bob Greenberg’s Brainwaves video series. Holocaust survivor, emerita University of Michigan professor, and author, Irene had friends in common with Anne Frank.

One of the most under-taught horrors of modern American history. Strongly recommend @scottellsworth.bsky.social’s “The Groundbreaking.”

Finished recording the narration for the audiobook for MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC today. A big shout out to all the great folks at Penguin Random House Audio in NYC, director Jessica Kaye in L.A., and Ann Arbor’s own engineering wizard, Marty Gray at Big Sky Recording. They had the patience of saints.

Put aside the lies and the open defiance of the Supreme Court, as well as the cruelty, and ask yourself: who talks like this? This is the *official* account of the *White House* - is it being run by a six year old?

Having served as a Moscow correspondent in the early days of Putin's reign, this reminds me of how the Kremlin took over its own press pool and made sure that only compliant journalists were given access.

Galleys! While my new book, MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC, won’t come out until July, bound galleys arrived this weekend. I am absolutely over the moon with the stunning job done by the design team at Dutton/Penguin Random House. What do you all think?

Went to the farmers market this morning to pick up a few last minute items—including, as it turned out, a bag belonging to one of the vendors. Temptation resisted, contents returned. Happy Thanksgiving, y’all!

Meanwhile, here in Ann Arbor . . .

Just spent a delightful two days at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. Wonderful folks, beautiful campus, a terrific audience for my talk—plus killer Maine accents. Go Polar Bears!

Hi, everybody! My name is Scott Ellsworth and I’m an American writer and historian. I’m the author of four books, two about the Tulsa race massacre, one about basketball, and one on mountaineering in the Himalayas. My next book, MIDNIGHT ON THE POTOMAC, will come out in July.