First Draft vs. Revision: which do you prefer? by Susan Calder

 

                                           For information on Susan's latest novel, check Amazon.ca

After my first novel was published, I participated in several group readings. At one event, an audience member asked each author which we preferred: writing first drafts or revision? I answered, "First drafts because I love the exploration." If I were asked this question today, I would say, "Revision."

What changed during the past fifteen years?

Novel writers tend to divide themselves into plotters, who outline stories before they start to write, and pantsers, who write by the seat of their pants. I'm a pantser. When I start a novel, I typically know some basics about my main characters, the book's genre, the setting, and the inciting incident but not much more than that. I develop the characters and story in the process of writing and discover such matters as "whodunnit" along with my protagonist. Like all exploration, this is a tad unsettling -- I never know if the story will hang together until I near the end of the first draft.     

With my first novel, I let the story go wherever it wanted. Each day, I continued writing from where I'd left off the previous time without a backward glance. Not surprisingly, my characters and plot went all over the place and became mired in extraneous details, but the work went quickly with this free approach. During my second draft revision, I cut large chunks of writing and made major changes, like adding and then deleting a significant character.   

While I was struggling with the third draft, I attended a speaker session on three-act novel structure, which is based on the screenwriting principle that certain types of happenings must occur at specific points in the story to make it a satisfying tale. During the first quarter, the protagonist dithers on whether or not to accept the challenge posed at the start until she finally commits to the quest, however the story defines this. Midway, there's a reversal that changes the story's direction. Then the action nosedives to the black moment at the 3/4 point. In movies, the protagonist typically wallows through moody music until she summons the strength to push to the story's climax. Even classic novels, written long before movies, follow this structure. The speaker opened her copy of Pride and Prejudice to reveal the reversal in the middle of the book. Jane Austen had an instinct for story that is hardwired into the human brain.  

This talk was a lightbulb moment for me. I instantly saw how and why three-act structure works and where I had naturally applied it to my messy draft and where I'd fallen terribly short. The opening quarter was way too long. My story had a reversal but skipped too quickly to the black moment. This led me to cut tons of stuff from the first quarter, add a completely new chapter after the black moment, and make numerous other changes. This third draft took longer to write than the first one, but it was better than it would have been had I not discovered three-act structure.  

I started my second novel with structure in mind. Since I knew the book would be roughly 100,000 words, I created a structure outline that divided it into quarters of 25,000 words each. I still didn't know what would happen in the story, but I wrote to the three major turning points - commitment, reversal, black moment. If I felt events were moving too quickly toward a turning point, I added another development to enrich the story. If events moved slowly, I eliminated something unimportant that I'd planned. For instance, I initially wanted a wedding to take place in the first quarter. When there was no space for it, I postponed the wedding to the second quarter, and then the third, and finally never. This saved me the work of extricating the wedding and its offshoots during revision. 

My first draft of this second novel was less messy than the first, and I continued the process with subsequent books. Along the way, I added new things I'd learned to create a more detailed structure outline. I still didn't know what would happen in the story or how everything would resolve, but my first drafts required increasingly less revision. For my latest novel, A Killer Whisky, each draft became quicker and more enjoyable to write than the previous one as I developed and polished the existing material.

Last month, I finished the first draft of my current novel-in-progress - yay! I realized that I've become far more attentive to the writing than I was for my earlier novels. Whenever scenes fell flat or veered off in a wrong direction, I went back and rewrote them before moving on. This increased my time spent on the draft, and yet I still didn't know if the story would work or how it would end until the last few chapters. So, my first drafts now combine the worst of both parts of the process - the uncertainty of pantsing a first draft and the attention to writing that I used to reserve for revision. It's exhausting.

But the toughest job is done (I hope), and I look forward to my new favourite part of writing novels - revision.         

 

Having a Home Library by Eileen O'Finlan

 

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A few years ago I converted one of the rooms in my house to a home library. It's something I've always wanted. The table in the center of the room gets good use when I'm doing research for a novel I want to write. It's helpful to spread out books, maps, documents and notebooks. Having shelves of history books is also handy as I often have a book or two (or more) on the subject I'm researching.

Recently, while looking around my library, I realized that I have a multitude of books I've yet to read. There is no question that I acquire books much faster than I can read them. I'm fine with that. I probably couldn't stop if I wanted to. And while I do enjoy gazing at my shelves full of books, I don't buy them for looks. I buy them because I actually want to read them. Many of the books on my shelves have been in my possession for years and have yet to be read - a disservice to both their authors and to myself. So, I've decided to do something about it.

It is not a lack of interest that prevents me from reading them. It's a lack of time. I still work a full-time job, teach online courses for the University of Dayton anywhere from once to three times a year, run a household on my own, and, of course, research and write novels and still attempt to have a life outside of work and home. 

I also spend as much time reading as possible. I am never not in the middle of a book, usually several books. For example, at the time of my writing this, I am reading one book and listening to another audiobook on my Kindle. I bring a book to work with me so I can read on my lunch break. There is another book I keep in my bedroom to read before going to sleep. Add to those any books I'm reading for research and any other books I'm reading for unexpected circumstances (like the one I'm currently reading on clicker training cats in an attempt to keep one of my cats from strolling across my kitchen counters and stovetop.) Books are my life. Well, books, cats, and writing to be exact. They top the list of things that bring me joy. 

Also on that list is learning. I love to learn about almost anything. If I could be a professional student, I would. While I enjoy various methods of learning, reading is undoubtedly my favorite. This is reflected in the variety of books I own on many subjects. What a shame to have them and never find the time to read them.

I decided to do something about that. I am now mindfully carving out time to snuggle into the rocking chair in my library and start reading my way through my book collection. Since history is my greatest love, I've begun with the bookcase that holds my books on American history. I am more than halfway through Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick. This bookcase will take me through the Salem Witchcraft Trials, the American Revolution and into the American Civil War. 

Other bookcases include biographies, early-mid 20th century history, books on art, music, and photography, theology and eco-theology, women's history, European and Non-Western history, folklore, material culture, poetry, classics of literature, crafts, gardening, and, of course, plenty of novels.

  

One of the best things about the time I spend reading in my library is that I am almost always accompanied by one or both of my cats. 

So, books and cats, my two favorites. What more could I ask?

 

    Zach in the window                              Josette on my lap

Music Hath Charms by Eileen O'Finlan

 

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It is well known that many authors listen to music while writing. For some, music serves as inspiration. Some use specific types of music to match the mood of their writing. Still others find that music helps their writing to flow. I have found that I fall into that last category. I can write with or without music, but I more easily get into a writing rhythm (no pun intended) while music is playing. 

The type of music authors use varies widely. Stephen King, for example, is known to play loud, hard rock or heavy metal music while writing. While that type of music is definitely among my favorites, it is banished during writing sessions. It's not the volume, it's the lyrics. I can't concentrate on my own words when other words are competing. For me, writing music must be instrumental.

Classical music is among my favorite writing music, especially Mozart. Most of us have heard of the Mozart Effect. Listening to Mozart's music for 10-30 minutes is known to temporarily increase creativity. I can attest to being susceptible to it. Other classical composers are also included in my writing playlist. I especially love violin music so I'm a big fan of Joshua Bell. His CD Romance of the Violin is probably one that I play the most while writing. In fact, it's playing as I write this.

My other favorite violinist is Eileen Ivers. Her electric fiddle playing is perfect for when I need to find a faster, edgier pace to my prose.

Occasionally, I like to write to CDs of nature sounds, especially if they are mixed with instrumental music.

I don't know what it is about music that aids creativity in writing. Perhaps those who have studied the Mozart Effect can explain it. All I know is that I feel a definite difference when I write with music on in the background. My words flow more smoothly, ideas come to mind more readily, and I feel more relaxed as the music weaves it's magic spell.

A small sample of my writing music

Artificial Intelligence: the Good, Bad, & Ugly by Susan Calder

                                          For book and author information, go to Amazon

         A Killer Whisky is Book # 12 of BWL"S Canadian Historical Mystery Series

Every day I receive an email from a stranger wanting to feature one of my novels in their book club or promote the book in another way. I almost fell for the first email. It was well-written, contained specific details about my story, and analyzed it better than I could have done myself. I was sure the sender had read the book until later that day a similar email arrived from another stranger. Two new fans who loved my novel and wanted to help it get the recognition it deserved? This seemed too good to be true.   

Within days, I saw a Facebook post by an author who had received one of these effusive emails. This convinced me they were scams created by Artificial Intelligence. Not that I understood AI, but the emails were something beyond my previous experience. I deleted them both. 

From then on, I pressed "delete" without reading these kinds of emails. Quick deletion was possible because the first line of messages appears in my inbox and clues me in to the rest. So, this daily process wasn't too time consuming. Then variants appeared. Authors I didn't know wanted to connect with me as a fellow writer. A few were famous, like "Margret Atwood." Fortunately, I knew the real Atwood spells her first name "Margaret." 

The most recent variant came from "Kaela" who said she'd tried to post a review of my novel A Killer Whisky on Amazon but her review was rejected, so she asked for my Goodreads link to post a review there. Her story was plausible as I know many people who've been unable to post Amazon reviews, but why would she need my Goodreads link? While I was suspicious, I wrote back advising her to search for me on Goodreads. Meanwhile, a second person (I'll call him Jake) emailed me with the same review issues.  

"Kaela" replied with an attachment of the Goodreads review she'd posted. I went directly to the Goodreads site and her review was there! Was this really legitimate? I sent "Jake" my same reply, suggesting he search for me on Goodreads. I also thanked "Kaela" for her review. Then -- big mistake -- I decided to copy her rave review for my records and clicked on her attachment. Seconds later, alarms shrilled on my computer. A voice blared "Your IP address is stolen!" My computer mouse didn't work. I think the voice told me NOT to shut down my computer, but this is exactly what you should do in that situation. It worked. When I turned my computer back on, all was normal with no apparent damage done.   

"Jake" had now replied. I was curious to see what he'd said and assumed my computer would be safe if I didn't open any attachments or click on links. I opened his email and the alarm instantly blared because he had embedded his review in the email message. Curse you "Jake" for fooling me a second time. 

"Kaela" replied to my thank-you note with a message that began, "Susan, you're very welcome! It truly was my pleasure to read and review ..." I was too afraid to open her email for fear of crashing my computer, but I pinned the email to the top of my inbox in case I had the nerve (or foolishness) to see what she had said.  

Writers who've responded to these scam emails say that, once they rope you in, they ask for money to fund the project they'll set up for your awesome book. Some direct you to websites that look legit but turn out to be phony. The individual amounts requested aren't enormous, but if a percentage of the targeted authors sends money, presumably the accumulated amount is worth the scammer's effort. 

Like all scams, they appeal to the target's weakness. In this case, it's every writers' longing for their hard-earned work to reach and be appreciated by readers.         

Sadder still, these scam emails have made me suspicious of every unexpected email related to my writing. In the past, I've enjoyed engaging with readers this way, and some were strangers with genuine interest. I can't even fully trust emails of this type from people I know because email addresses can be stolen. Along the way, I'll probably delete an opportunity that is actually real. 

So far, this post has been all about the Bad & Ugly of Artificial Intelligence, but the Good exists. For the past 13 years, I've exchanged letters with a relative in the Czech Republic. Neither of us speaks the other's language. I compose my letters in English, plug them into Google Translate, and send her the Czech translation. I've suggested she do the same, but she continues to handwrite me letters in Czech. I tried typing them on Google translate, but it doesn't work because every second Czech word has an accent. Over the years, I've scrambled to find people to translate her letters, but now, thanks to AI, I photographed her last letter, uploaded it to ChatGPT, and got a good translation. 

I'm sure Artificial Intelligence has hundreds of other useful applications, and I can see a great potential for medical diagnoses and treatment programs. Every innovation comes with the good, bad, & ugly.

Today, in the name of research for this blog post, I opened "Kaela's" latest email on my old computer. No alarms went off. My computer didn't freeze. "Kaela's" friendly message continued with an offer to introduce me to Book Cafe to promote my novel that touched her deeply. She signed off with a casual, "Would you like more details?"

I deleted her but almost feel we had a relationship. Creepy, but maybe in the future we'll all have AI friends. Is this a huge leap from Facebook and other online friendships?  

I also checked my novel's reviews on the Goodreads site. "Kaela's" rave review is gone. Drat!

On the Loss of a Muse by Eileen O'Finlan

 

                              

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On Friday, January 16, 2026, my muse passed away. She was 17 years old, calico, and very fluffy. Her name was Autumn Amelia. She was a gorgeous Maine Coon mix. As anyone who knows cats well can attest, they are excellent at hiding illness and pain. I knew she was slowing down. That wasn't surprising. She'd been considered a "senior cat" by the vet for several years. She'd also been on medication for hyperthyroidism for several years, too. However, it did take me by surprise to find out at her December vet appointment that her liver and white blood cell counts were way off. The vet thought it might a side effect from her thyroid medication and suggested taking her off it for a month and rechecking her bloodwork. If her liver and white cell counts were headed back to normal, we'd know that  was the cause.

A few days before her next appointment, I could tell she was very sick, so I called the vet. They had me bring her in that afternoon. A recheck of her bloodwork showed that not only had her liver and white cell count not improved, but they had dramatically worsened. The vet was certain she had liver cancer and, given how quickly things had gone downhill along with her current condition, felt that she probably only had a few days left. Not wanting her to suffer any longer, I asked the vet to euthanize her. I held her in my arms, told her how much I loved her and what a special cat she'd been. I reminded her that she would live on in the Cat Tales books, and I asked her to send me the next kitties that needed a loving forever home. She left this world peacefully in my arms, soaked with my tears.

Autumn Amelia used to live with me along with a beautiful Russian Blue cat named Smokey. They were the inspiration for All the Furs and Feathers, a novel I wrote while home from work for a month recovering from a major surgery. Smokey passed away just as that book was being completed. My mom, who had been living with me, went into a nursing home due to advancing dementia one month later. She would pass away within three years.

Autumn and I were on our own ever since. We shared a home and a life. She was a great source of love, affection, amusement, and inspiration. She was always with me while I was writing, laying next to (or on top of) my keyboard. I called her my muse for that's what she was. My beautiful, magical muse. She celebrated with me when the second Cat Tales book, All in the Furry Family, was released. I bought cat "wine" for her and we toasted the unboxing of the new books when they arrived. 

She was a regular fixture at the writing group that meets at my house every Wednesday evening. They will all miss her, too.

Autumn and Smokey are the main characters in the Cat Tales series books. Their characters are based on their personalities. Many of their antics in the books were true to life including Smokey's zoomies before a storm and Autumn's penchant for stealing food. Autumn really did take apart my humidifier and eat the charcoal filter when she was a kitten and she really did have a pirate ship that she adored just like in the books.

The Cat Tales series will continue. I have the basic idea for the next book in my head now. Smokey and Autumn Amelia will return with all their furry and feathered friends. 

Autumn Amelia and Smokey

And in the next book, they will have two new friends because Autumn and Smokey completed their assignment very quickly and sent me two new kitties to help heal my broken heart. Zachary and Josette are brother and sister orange cats who are now living with me. I have had one cat or another since I was six years old and simply could not stand being without one. They came from a local shelter and now have a forever home where they will be loved and pampered for the rest of their lives. They will also become characters. I need to finish the paranormal book I'm writing now before I can start on the next Cat Tales book, but that will give me plenty of time to get to know Zach and Josette so that their personalities can shine through in the next story.

Rest in peace my precious Autumn Amelia. Thank you for your wonderful inspiration and for sending me these two new babies to love.

   

                            Zach                                                                            Josette

Muddling Through a First Draft

                              Please visit the BWL website for book and author information

Last summer, I started a new novel. I got half way through the first draft by Christmas and set the manuscript aside for the holidays. My New Year’s Resolution is to finish the first draft this spring.

The novel’s story begins in Czechia aka Czech Republic three months before the start of World War One. I chose this time period to make use of the research I’d done for my last novel, A Killer Whisky, which was set during WWI. This era also ties the new book to my maternal grandparents, the inspirations for the story. They emigrated from Czechia (then part of the Austria-Hungary empire) shortly after The Great War and settled in Canada. 

Matous & Emilie Slovacek 

Unlike A Killer Whisky, this novel-in-progress isn’t a whodunit mystery. A murder will take place – I think – but it won’t happen until later in the book. My original plan was to kill off the victim at the book’s one quarter mark, prompting my protagonist and her friends to escape to North America to avoid the police and imminent war. But as my writing of the story progressed, I didn’t want to rush the killing and stumbled upon a different first quarter turning point. My characters remained in Czechia and hatched a criminal plan, but it still didn’t lead to murder half way through. Their prospective victim was also becoming fun, in an evil way, and I wanted to keep him in the story.  

Before my Christmas break, I outlined enough future action to take place in Czechia that I’m pretty sure my characters won’t cross the Atlantic Ocean before the end of the book. There are advantages to keeping them in one location. Sending them elsewhere would mean creating a new supporting cast and researching another historical setting. Instead, I can develop my existing support characters more deeply and give them larger roles in the story.

My Czechia setting of Karlovy Vary will also become more important. A positive will be the opportunity more richly describe Karlovy Vary (Karlsbad in German), a beautiful spa city known for its hot springs and healing mineral waters. Goethe, Beethoven, Chopin, and Peter the Great were frequent visitors. A negative is that I don’t live there. I visited Karlovy Vary thirteen years ago but feel a need to return to check out the locations in my story and learn more about the spa city’s history. 

View of Karlovy Vary from Diana Lookout 

So, this spring, I’ll be adding a week or so in Czechia to a holiday in southern Germany. In Karlovy Vary, I’ll soak in some spa baths, drink the (extremely salty) mineral water from a classic sippy cup, visit the history museum, trace my characters’ footsteps on forested hill walks, stroll the river promenade, dine in the luxury hotel murder site, and absorb the city’s baroque architecture that hasn’t changed since the era of my story.  Not a bad incentive to finish the first draft of a book. 

Sippy Cups for sale - (above) Drinking hot mineral water from a sippy cup

Susan on the promenade

Surviving a New England Winter by Eileen O'Finlan

 

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Every time I send my sister in Florida a picture of the snowfall I just woke up to, she always texts me back about how pretty it is. She's right. A fresh  snowfall in New England is lovely as I'm sure it is anywhere. Waking up to look out at a blanket of sparkling white is awe-inducing. That is, until you have to shovel it. As of this writing, I have spent the past several mornings removing several inches of snow from my car and driveway. On go the boots, hat, coat, and gloves. Grab the shovel, spray the scoop part with cooking spray to keep the snow from sticking to it, and step out into frigid temperatures for some vigorous exercise guaranteed to wake me up. In my case, that also includes causing a very sore back for at least the next 24 hours due to the severe arthritis throughout my spine. On days when the shoveling is immediately followed by getting in the car and driving to my full-time job, there isn't even a moment to rest.

                   

Though I do appreciate the beauty of a pristine snow-covered landscape, I find the long, cold New England winters to be more and more of a hardship as the years go by. Oh, how I wish I could hibernate.

So, what do I do to survive the winter months? I spend as much time as possible tucked away inside my house, snuggled up on the couch or draped with a blanket in the rocking chair in my home library, a cup of hot chocolate next to me, a good book in hand, and my beloved cat nearby. More than ever, winter has become my cozy time. For me, cozy means books, cats, and warmth. The more time like this I can get in the winter, the better.

My "stay in the house as much as possible" routine has the added benefit of giving me more time for writing and research. Though I never make New Year's resolutions, I have promised myself I will be more diligent than ever about my writing this year. Ideas for novels have been spinning in my head so much lately, it's surprising that characters aren't falling out of my ears!

So, fine, bring on the snow and cold. I just wish it could be contained to the days I don't have to go out. Then I can semi-hibernate in my little house with my laptop, my books, my sweetie pie, Autumn Amelia, and some warming comfort food and that will see me through the winter just fine. 

Who could resist cozying up to this face?

Historical Fiction: how accurate do you need to be?

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At this year's When Words Collide Festival for Writers and Readers, I participated in a panel titled Historical Fact and Fiction: what can and can't be changed. Moderator Lori Hahnel began by asking how and where to find accurate historical facts. My fellow panelists, John Corry and Donna D. Conrad, talked of the challenges of historical research for novels set centuries ago. John's novel about British author Geoffrey Chaucer takes place in the 1300s; Donna's retelling of the story of Mary Magdalene in the first century. 

Donna said she used sources from different countries and religious perspectives to get the most accurate spin on Mary Magdalene. John noted that he had to be careful about dates in his research, since most countries changed from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar after his novel's time period. 

My historical novel, A Killer Whisky, set in 1918 during World War One, felt modern in comparison, and I had more research tools available. While I found that reading historical fiction and non-fiction was useful, I learned the most from material published at the time of my novel. I signed up for a one-week free subscription to Newspapers.com and devoured the headlines of the day as well as ads for groceries, houses, jobs, and more. Online, I combed through the 1,000+ page 1918 Sears catalogue for images and descriptions of fashion and other consumer goods. Novels and memoirs published in the early twentieth century provided details of daily life, attitudes of the times, and words and expressions used. To avoid language anachronism, I suggested that the panel audience check out Google Books Ngram Viewer. You plug in a word or phrase and a graph tracks its usage in books from 1800 to 2022. For instance, the word "groovy" barely registered before 1960, when it peaked. Then it dropped and hit a higher peak this century, perhaps from people writing about the swinging sixties. My WWI characters would never say "groovy." 

Unless I try my hand at writing alternate history. 

Lori asked what we thought of television shows like Bridgerton, a Netflix series based on Julia Quinn's novels set in early 19th century London. Main characters include wealthy and aristocratic people of colour who are totally accepted in high society. 

I said I liked Bridgerton. Everyone watching knows the world wasn't like that then or even now, but Bridgerton makes you think, what if this alternate world were true? Donna said she enjoys these kinds of shows but cringes at the historical inaccuracy. 

Lori brought up her second concern about historical fiction: the abundance of WWII novels. Is the market saturated? Will people ever get tired of reading about that war?

John and Donna thought the trend would continue because writers are constantly finding new angles about the war. I suggested that WWII endures because it is arguably the last heroic war and it is still close to many of us whose parents or grandparents fought in or lived through the war. Perhaps, interest will wane for the next generations, until writers rediscover and reinterpret that momentous time.    

As to the panel topic question: what can and can't be changed? We all agreed you can't change major known facts. I wouldn't change key dates about WWI, even though it would probably work better for my novel-in-progress if the war had started a month earlier. John and Donna said they wouldn't change dates that Chaucer or Mary Magdalene were known to be in particular locations. 

I pointed out that Chaucer and Mary were their novels' main characters, but it might be okay for me to write a novel set in 14th century York and have Chaucer make a cameo appearance despite no evidence that he'd ever gone there. Small changes like that wouldn't significantly impact history or my main characters and themes, although I think it's more interesting to readers if the historical figure really was present. We all like to pick up factual trivia from our reading and history is ripe with interesting tidbits. 

My historical novel-in-progress begins in Karlovy Vary (aka Karlsbad), a spa town in Czechia (aka Czech Republic). Somewhere I read that Sigmund Freud, founder of psychoanalysis was in Karlovy Vary at the outbreak of World War One, when my novel takes place. Unfortunately, I've lost the reference. (Advice to historical fiction writers: keep your references). The Psychiatric Times confirms that Freud visited Karlsbad more than once for health reasons and I'll do my best to find my missing reference. But if I can't, would it be wrong to make him a character in my novel? Freud's interactions with my fictional characters would be interesting and relevant to the story.     

WWC 2025 Historical Facts and Fiction panel

        

Fun with Research by Eileen O'Finlan

 

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A lot of research is involved when writing historical fiction. Most writers of this genre will say that the research is nearly as much fun as writing the novel. I am no exception. I love doing historical research. For me this normally includes reading a lot of historical non-fiction both primary and secondary sources, watching videos, visiting pertinent historical sites and museums, and talking with professional historians. All of this is usually very interesting and informative.

Recently, however, I found myself doing research unexpectedly and sort of by accident.

Lately,  I have been reading and taking copious notes on the American Civil War, everyday life during the mid-19th century, and specifically, the history of Worcester, Massachusetts at that time in preparation for writing the third novel in my Children of Ireland series. The first book in the series, Kelegeen, is set in 1740s Ireland during An Gorta Mor (the Great Hunger aka Potato Famine). The second book, Erin's Children, is set in Worcester in the 1850s after some of the characters from Kelegeen emigrated. The third book (no title yet) will also be set in Worcester but in the 1860s. Most recently I have been going through the Worcester City Annual Reports for the 1860s. The names of several of Worcester's prominent citizens appear from time-to-time in these reports.

In something totally unrelated, or so I thought, my neighbor and I recently went on a night time tour of Rural Cemetery, the oldest cemetery still in use in Worcester. Billed as Rural Remains, the tour was given by Preservation Worcester. Never having been on this tour before, we assumed it was Halloween- oriented since it was to take place in an old cemetery at night in late October. I suppose that actually was the intent. However, for me, it quickly turned into a research opportunity.

As the tour guide walked us by lantern light and flashlights through the winding paths of the old graveyard, she called our attention to the grave sites of some of Worcester's early prominent citizens. It wasn't long before two of those citizens stepped out of the shadows to greet us and tell us their stories.

Imagine my surprise upon meeting Doctor John Green, one of Worcester's earliest physicians and the founder of the Worcester Public Library and his brother, pharmacist Meltiah Green. In the annual report for 1865, which I had just been reading, the Mayor of Worcester noted the death that year of Dr. John Green and his generous donation of hundreds of books to the library including nearly all the books that made up the medical library. Now, here was Dr. Green standing before me. History come to life! (Well, sort of)

Dr. John Green (left, played by John Riccio) and Meltiah Green (right, played by Fran DeNicola).

As we moved on, we soon encountered another pair of brothers, James Prescott Hamilton and Edward Bangs Hamilton. James was a successful banker, eventually becoming the President of Worcester County Institute for Savings Bank. His brother, Edward, did not fare so well. After a serious injury he became addicted to opioids and eventually murdered his family then took his own life. This was a sad and sobering tale that is all too human.

James Prescott Hamilton (standing, played by Shane Sampson) and Edward Bangs Hamilton (seated, played by Patrick Crawley)

As the tour continued we visited with George Bancroft, a historian, statesman, and founder of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland along with his sister, Eliza Bancroft Davis, wife of Governor John Davis.

Eliza Bancroft Davis (played by Ana Santos) and her brother George Bancroft (actor's name not given)

Then it was on to two sisters, Anna L Foster and Cora Mercy Foster. Though neither ever married and both were sixth grade teachers, these ladies were as different as they could be. Anna loved to travel and longed for the finer things in life. Cora was more of a homebody. She eventually became a Jehovah's Witness. Due to her religious views she refused to salute the American flag which led to no little controversy in the school where she taught.

Anna L. Foster (left, played by Erica Cawley) and Cora Mercy Foster (right, played by Monika Mangsen)

One of Worcester's mayors graced our tour. The respected and well-liked James Barnard Blake was elected mayor six times. At age 18, he entered his uncle's firm, Blake and Darracott, which had charge of Worcester Gas Works, the first gas works in Worcester. Sadly, one evening just before Christmas in 1870, he went to visit the gas works when a spark jumped from his lantern causing an explosion that took his life.

Mayor James Barnard Blake (actor's name not given)

Our tour ended with a visit from Caleb and Roxana Metcalf. After the devastating loss of their three year old son, they dedicated their lives to the education of children by founding the Highland Academy for Boys in 1856. With the onset of the Civil War, the name was changed to the Highland Military Academy and remained open until 1912.

Roxana and Caleb Metcalf (actors' names not given)

Others on the tour may have found being greeted by ghosts who appeared to have just stepped from their graves a bit spooky, but for me it was a fascinating glimpse into the lives of some of the people who shared the city with my characters and, in some cases, may even have an impact on their lives.

Found: A Book Lover's Paradise by Eileen O'Finlan

 

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A friend recently told me of an incredible place to buy used books. It's called The Book Barn, and it's in Niantic, Connecticut. It has three locations all within minutes of each other. Once I heard about it, I knew I had to go. So, on a recent, gorgeous fall day, my friend, Katie, and I took a ride south to check it out. 

Oh my, what a place! If you are a book lover and you're in the area, you must give the Book Barn a try. It's not just a store. It's an experience. Besides the main buildings of the three locations, there are loads of smaller buildings and stalls filled with books. Because they are all used books, the prices are low.               

The main site has an enclosure with some friendly goats available for visiting. Fortunately, they do not have the pellets available for (over)feeding, but you can purchase a few carrot sticks for 25 cents if you want to give the goats a treat.

Oh, and they also buy books at the Main Barn, so if you go don't forget to bring some books to sell. You can get a check or credit for them.

At Chapter Three, the site just 100 feet from the Main Barn, live several beautiful cats who patrol the store and sometimes even allow petting.

 These two sites are both on West Main Street. Then there's the Downtown Store on Pennsylvannia Avenue just about a mile away set in the heart of this lovely seaside town.

If you don't live are don't plan to be anywhere near Niantic, try to find a unique book shop somewhere. It's a balm to the book lover's soul.

My book haul for the day: 13 books. My joy level: Through the roof!

History in the Footnotes

 

                                                                            

                                                                        My author page

I love finding history in the footnotes of my research. Did you know that Native Americans have used a now disgraced symbol in their art? For the first peoples of the American southwest, the symbol is the whirlwind or whirling log. But with the rise of the Nazi party in Germany its benevolence turned deadly. 

It is, of course, the swastika.

    Realizing the growing threat to the world, four nations--the Hopi, Navajo, Apache and Papago decided to have a ceremony to renounce its use. In 1940, representatives signed a proclamation which read:

Because the above ornament which has been a symbol of friendship among our forefathers for many centuries has been desecrated recently by another nation of peoples,

Therefore, it is resolved that henceforth from this date and forevermore our tribes renounce the use of the emblem commonly known as the swastika or flyfot on our blankets, baskets, art objects, sandpainting, and clothing.

 Here is a photo of the event:

Did I use this in book 3 of my Navajo Code Talker Chronicles, All of Me? Of course I found a way to work it in!

Since then, some artists and craftspeople have reclaimed their ancient benevolent symbol, which exists in many cultures throughout the world. Others think it should stay buried, because of the trauma it engendered by the Nazis.

What do you think? 

Reading by Season by Eileen O'Finlan

                                                                                                                                                                   

https://www.bookswelove.com/search?q=O%27Finlan

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Over the years, I have noticed an interesting phenomenon. At certain times of the year, usually at the change of seasons, I get the overwhelming urge to read specific types of books. Often, just as we are sliding into summer, I get the hankering for historical fiction set during either the American Revolution or the American Civil War. I've no idea why the warmer weather induces such a fancy. After all, those are hardly what most people would call beach reads, but there we are. 

I've never been into the typical "beach read" anyway. The last time I read a book on the beach (many, many years ago), it was The Shining by Stephen King. I was so into it that I completely lost track of time - a common occurrence when I'm reading a good book - and didn't realize that four hours had gone by. I'd been laying on my stomach, propped up on my elbows. I got a massive sunburn and wore the outline of it on my back from my low, scoop-back, one-piece bathing suit for the next two years! Yes, Stephen King books can be dangerous!

Now that we are heading into fall, the temperatures here in New England are beginning to dip, the days are getting shorter, and autumn is definitely on its way, my book cravings are turning to the supernatural. I'm beginning to amass a "to be read" pile of such books, having just finished two of the genre's classics - Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House and Henry James's The Turn of the Screw.

I'm sure I'm not alone in turning to these types of books at this time of year. It makes sense. (Certainly more than yearning for Revolution and Civil War books just because it's summer.) Come the holidays and the long, cold winter, I'll probably start looking for something more cozy. But from now through Halloween, bring on the vampires, ghosts, and haunted houses. 

While it took a year to write The Folklorist, (after at least six months of research), I really got into it the most during the fall. It was exciting to craft a novel that could have been on my own autumn TBR list at the same time I was craving that type of book. I think it helped me write the kind of book I most wanted to read at that moment.

Included in this fall's reading will be books from BWL's Paranormal Canadiana Collection. If Nancy M. Bell's Night at the Legislature is any indication, they are sure to induce plenty of spine tingles!

Of course, I might throw a book or two by Stephen King into the mix. At least at this time of year, I won't be risking a sunburn.

The beginning of my fall TBR