Secret Nebraska Sandhills: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781681066462)

When not writing, lifelong Nebraskan and US Army veteran Alan J. Bartels works a day job devoted to natural resources conservation. He's been published in National Geographic, USA Today, and Smithsonian's Air & Space Magazine. In 2025 Alan received the Friend of the Byway award from the Sandhills Journey National Scenic Byway and the Friend of Tourism award from the Nebraska Tourism Commission. A past governor bestowed Alan with the honorary title of Admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska--quite a feat considering Nebraska's triple landlocked location.