Michael,

Sorry about the delay in replying to your questions. I've been working this weekend.

I am going to review a bit, so we understand each other about what volumes are in the "Guerrilla Warfare in Civil War Missouri" series, what is available, and what is not available:

Volume I, covers 1862, entered the market in 2004, currently only available in softback;

Volume II, covers 1863, entered the market in 2007, currently only available in softback;

Volume III, covers January through August 1864, the publisher is eagerly awaiting my last few days' work on the index to put this volume in the presses and on the market. A detailed history like this is only a storybook without a carefully-prepared, detailed index.

Volume IV, covers September 1864 through June 1865, and I will begin work on the index of this volume just as soon as I complete the index of Volume III. All other work on Volume IV is in the proof stage waiting only for the index I must build. I devised some methods to speed up the indexing process and save time, as I know readers are waiting, and I want my life back, too. Composing a valid, useable Volume IV index will take me a few weeks.

The publisher informed me that current sales of all four volumes will be in softback at least for a while. The print media everywhere is trying to stay in business and remain competitive by cutting production costs. McFarland and Company has been wonderful to me, and I am very appreciative of all their efforts. They make responsible, logical business decisions, remain responsive to their customers, and are very considerate of their authors.

Some buyers of Volumes I and II told me they found outlets that still have new hardback issues of Volume I and II through Amazon.com and other online booksellers such as Abebooks, and others. I am unsure about this, but you can browse the online bookseller listings to see if some hardbacks are still available for Volume I and II. I am talking here about new hardback books, and not used ones. I know there are a number of used hardbacks of Volume I and II out there, too. Volume III and IV will only be available in softback when they reach the market--at least initially.

From the author's perspective, this is my total knowledge on the status of the series. I appreciate your interest in my books, I regret any inconvenience you have been having, and I hope this answers your questions.

Bruce Nichols