LOCAL AUTHOR JOHN PONISKE BRINGS HISTORY TO LIFE
By Robb Helfrick
The seeds of John Poniske’s affinity for history were sown in the land of Lincoln. Poniske grew up in Springfield, Illinois, the same city Abraham Lincoln adopted as his adult home. While in Springfield, Lincoln polished his skills as a lawyer, orator, and future statesman. He departed for Washington, DC in the spring of 1865 to assume leadership as the 16th U.S. President. Lincoln faced a looming Civil War.
John Poniske also left Springfield, embarking on a successful career in military service, journalism, and teaching. Through these unique experiences, Poniske honed his talents and sculpted a creative identity. During that process, he recognized history’s power to teach and inspire modern cultural reflection.
Today, Poniske’s writing interprets the incredible challenges leaders like President Lincoln faced, and also examines the struggles of ordinary Americans.
Poniske is an atypical author. His imagination has not only produced descriptive narratives in multiple books, but also original games whose maps and military strategies illustrate and interpret famous battles. With this rare skillset, Poniske brings history alive.
In the mid-1990s, Poniske began working as a military game designer. Numerous publishers brought his ideas to fruition, encouraging modern-day armchair generals to test their skills. Among Poniske’s games are Lincoln’s War, Balls Bluff, Bleeding Kansas, and the most recent game, Flanks of Gettysburg, which was released in 2024.
After Poniske retired from a teaching position in Hagerstown, he actively pursued historical interests by writing fiction. The thorough research involved in designing board games had schooled him, and he embarked on an ambitious historical novel project.
An idea was sparked during a hike on the Appalachian Trail. He noticed a sign that said: “Beware of Timber Rattlers!” The Civil War was on his mind that day, and Poniske recalls: “It occurred to me that we should also guard against poisonous ideas.”
That day, the concept of “Snakebit” series was born. Poniske decided to write an anthology about a fictional family named the Garretts. Through their brushes with real events, Poniske hoped to expose readers to the origins of long-running U.S. societal divides, ones that began during the Civil War, and some that still persist today.
In the first Snakebit book, “Prelude to War,” Poniske introduces interesting characters through a series of historical vignettes. The Garretts, who favor abolition, spar with Maryland neighbors, the McCunes, who are slaveholders.
During ongoing adventures, family members interact with religious and social doctrines, encounter runaway slaves, argue about divided opinions regarding abolition, meet campaigning Abraham Lincoln, and in one memorable chapter, they witness John Brown’s famous criminal trial in Charlestown, West Virginia, in late 1859.
Poniske’s Prelude to War takes readers on an evocative journey, one that travels to the brink of the Civil War’s first cannon fire. The next two volumes in the Snakebit Series- “Fire-Eaters” and “Choosing Sides” plunge deeper into an active war (during 1860-1861) that pits brother against brother. The Garretts’ secret efforts to help free slaves via the Underground Railroad are exposed, leading to further conflict with their neighbors.
Poniske plans up to 18 volumes for this intriguing saga, which will accompany the Garretts and McCunes through the Reconstruction period ending in 1876.
John Poniske’s books are sold at Waynesboro’s Wee Scot Bookshop and Gallery 50. His website (johnponiske.com) offers more information about the author, including his latest book releases in the Snakebit series, an archive of author-spoken recordings, and a sign-up opportunity for weekly book readings.