“We have this bashfulness when it comes to all these things Michigan,” Dempsey said. “We’re too humble about this great place and us being a great people.”

Dempsey received a few laughs from the crowd of nearly 30 individuals when he said that although some dispute the accuracy of Lincoln’s attributed statement, as a lawyer he believes anything is true until disproved.

Michigan Notable Books is an annual list released by The Library of Michigan and consists of 20 books about Michigan or by Michigan authors said Program Coordinator Randy Riley.

Riley said a committee of 12 individuals from the library choose the winning books from a list of 150-300 potential Notable books published the previous year.

“I think some people are surprised by how good some of the books are,” Riley said.

Riley said many people forget there are other great books besides the ones listed on best-sellers lists.

Dempsey’s presentation included a speech about his book and lawyers involved in the Civil War, a question and answer session and a book signing.

“It’s a great thing to have this event and make people aware of our writers and authors in Michigan, and this is just one way we can be involved in the community,” Cooley Law School Director of Communications Terry Carella.

Cooley has been involved in Michigan Notable Books Tours for years and they often try to host authors with legal backgrounds, she said. Dempsey is an attorney of Dickinson Wright Law Firm.

“I found it interesting — it’s obviously a tease to get you to read the book,” Cooley Law student Stephen Kormanik said of Dempsey’s presentation.

Kormanik, a self-proclaimed Civil War history fan, said he was
surprised how high Michigan’s casualty rate was in the war and disappointed so few members of his generation attended the book event.

The reasonably sized crowd was made up of primarily middle-aged or older individuals.

Dempsey said he has had an interest in the Civil War since he was eight years old and was inspired to write his book after seeing the struggles Michigan citizens were dealing with due to the economy.

“When I realized the phenomenal stories, I thought it would be inspirational both to write and read about how the people of Michigan rose to the occasion despite great difficulties,” Dempsey said.

Dempsey will publish his second book, “Ink Trails: Michigan’s Famous and Forgotten Authors,” with his brother Dave Dempsey through MSU Press in August. Dave Dempsey has previously been a Michigan Notable Books author.

All proceeds of the book will go to Michigan programs in honor of the Civil War sesquicentennial.

“This is part of what (we) Michiganders need to do,” he said. “(We need to) perpetuate our heritage and don’t forget it.”