Find my book here -- https://books2read.com/Before-Tomorrow-Comes
It had been a busy day. I baked bread, did laundry, watched a basketball game and did some research for my work in progress. I was tired. But the minute I climbed into bed, my brain started plotting and when I couldn’t sleep, I got up and here I am, back at the computer. Any writer will tell you the same story. Regardless of how tired you may be or where you are, you write when inspiration strikes and that’s not always when you sit down at your desk. I was once driving along on my way to somewhere and had to pull off on a side road, put on my hazard lights and start jotting a scene on various stick-it notes. I had two people pull over to see if I needed help. “Not unless you know another word for antiquated,” I thought. I wrote on the back of a wedding invitation as the ceremony took place. It was a beautiful ceremony and I wanted to remember the feel of the day.
And let’s not forget the shower –
always the place for random scene generation.
At least with today’s technology, I
can dictate emails to myself on my phone while I drive, hands free.
You
would think I could remember these flashes of inspiration for a more
appropriate time and place, but no. If I don’t write down at least some sketchy
notes, the thought disappears like fog when the sun rises. That’s why my work
notes are not neatly typed pages in chronological order. They’re register
receipts, sticky notes or paper napkins. I do sometimes manage to write in the small notebook
I keep in my purse.Where is the oddest place you have had to stop and write? And on what? Have those cryptically written phrases found their way into your story in exactly the same way? Here’s to happy writing…and reading. Barbara Baldwin http://www.bookswelove.com/baldwin-barbara/ |
Monday, February 10, 2020
It’s 3 in the morning!
I love to travel and would gladly roam from place to place.
Saturday, February 8, 2020
I Read Canadian Day? by J. S. Marlo
Every month I receive an email from my local library highlighting the events of the month. There are preschooler activities, story time, homework clubs, artist nights, senior bingo, movie nights, craft days, and many more.
For February, the first event listed in the email was "I read Canadian Day" on Wednesday, February 19th, 2020.
It was the first time I heard of a "I read Canadian Day", but I loved the idea. I mean what's not to love? It promotes reading, it promotes Canadian authors, and who doesn't like a chance to win some prizes. It's a terrific idea!
My five-year-old granddaughter's book shelf is full of books. I'll pick the ones written by Canadian authors and we'll have a half an hour reading spree before her swimming lessons in the morning. Then in the afternoon, I'll read another Canadian Historical Brides novel. Within minutes of reading the library email, I'd already planned my entire February 19th. Still, it puzzled me that I'd never heard of it until now. I guessed I missed the Press Release back in October.
I'm thrilled that my local library is taking it a step further by inviting everyone--young and young at heart--to read. I hope this becomes an annual event. For more info go to https://ireadcanadian.com/day/
I invite everyone to grab a book and escape on a new adventure with their favorite local author.
Happy reading!
JS
For February, the first event listed in the email was "I read Canadian Day" on Wednesday, February 19th, 2020.
It was the first time I heard of a "I read Canadian Day", but I loved the idea. I mean what's not to love? It promotes reading, it promotes Canadian authors, and who doesn't like a chance to win some prizes. It's a terrific idea!
My five-year-old granddaughter's book shelf is full of books. I'll pick the ones written by Canadian authors and we'll have a half an hour reading spree before her swimming lessons in the morning. Then in the afternoon, I'll read another Canadian Historical Brides novel. Within minutes of reading the library email, I'd already planned my entire February 19th. Still, it puzzled me that I'd never heard of it until now. I guessed I missed the Press Release back in October.
I'm thrilled that my local library is taking it a step further by inviting everyone--young and young at heart--to read. I hope this becomes an annual event. For more info go to https://ireadcanadian.com/day/
I invite everyone to grab a book and escape on a new adventure with their favorite local author.
Happy reading!
JS
Labels:
#BWL Author Blog,
books,
I Read Canadian Day,
local authors,
National Day,
reading
I grew up in Shawinigan, a small French Canadian town, attended military college, married a young officer, and raised three spirited children. Over the years, I enjoyed many wonderful postings in many different regions of Canada.
After my children left the nest, I began writing. Three years later, I captured my dream of becoming a published author with my underwater novel “Salvaged”.
Many of my romantic suspense novels are set in Canada or feature Canadian characters. One of my latest series also involves time travel.
I'm not sure where time flew, but decades later, I ended up writing under the Northern Lights in Alberta while spoiling a gorgeous little granddaughter.
Friday, February 7, 2020
My Own Personal Research Historian by Eileen O'Finlan
Click here for purchase information
Click here to visit Eileen O'Finlan's website
As
any historical fiction author can attest, an enormous amount of
research is necessary before and during the writing of an historical
novel. That research can include reading primary and secondary
sources, visiting historical sites, museums, and the location of the
story’s setting. It may also include Internet searches and the use
of digital archives. Speaking with experts, such as I’ve been
fortunate enough to do while researching my forthcoming novel, is
always of great value. It also tends to lead to more research as
often the author is given more book titles and websites to peruse.
I
consider myself especially fortunate in that I have tucked away in my
pocket, so to speak, my own personal research historian. His name is
Tom Kelleher. Tom is a professional Research Historian and Curator
for Old Sturbridge Village, (OSV, aka the Village) a living history museum in Sturbridge,
Massachusetts which portrays rural life in an 1830s New England town.
I
first met Tom when I worked for Old Sturbridge Village. I was a
Museum Assistant in the Department of Research, Collections, and
Library during the mid-1990s. My position entailed administrative
duties to the Director of Historical Research as well as the all
other research historians and curators. Along with the secretarial
duties, I got to assist with research projects for books and museum
exhibits as well as helping curators catalog the artifacts and
reproductions. It was an amazing experience with a fantastic group of
people.
Tom
had already been working at OSV for many years by the time I started.
He began as a costumed interpreter, mostly working in the Blacksmith
shop and the saw and grist mills. Before long, he knew the whole
village and its crafts well enough to fill in just about anywhere.
With a Master’s Degree in History and a Bachelor’s in Education,
he moved up the ranks to Historian and Curator.
Tom
is one of the most brilliant people I’ve ever met in my life. He’s
also one of the most capable and self-sufficient. He has a blacksmith
shop at his own home. He also does his own coopering, making barrels,
butter churns, pails, etc. for gifts or paying customers. He learned
to do stone carving so that he could replace the headstones in the
Village’s cemetery (not a real cemetery). He was also kind enough
to make headstones for my beloved cats when they passed away and I
buried them in my backyard. He is adept at tinsmithing, pottery,
milling, and any number of 19th
century crafts. He’s sewn some of his own work costumes using his
grandmother’s treadle sewing machine. I could go on, but you
probably get the point.
Over
the years, Tom has created and portrayed many 19th
century characters at Old Sturbridge Village including at dentist, a
peddler, an itinerant preacher, and even a phrenologist (yes, he
learned to read the bumps on people’s heads, just as the 19th
phrenologists did when it was all the rage.)
Tom’s
abilities are a wonder to behold, but they don’t begin to compare
with what’s in his head. The amount of knowledge he has in regards
to history (and many other things, for that matter) is astounding. I
sometimes wonder if he has an eidetic memory. He is especially
well-versed in 19th
century American history for obvious reasons, but his Master’s
Degree was in European History so he’s got a vast store of
knowledge on that as well. In fact, I’m always amazed at what he
knows about almost any time period and place.
Tom
and I got to know each other very well during the three years I
worked for Old Sturbridge Village. Actually, that’s an
understatement. We started dating and continued for eight years. We
got engaged, almost got married, broke up, and got back together as
friends. Tom is probably my best friend in the world and, hopefully,
always will be. He is a constant in my life. We were right not to
marry, but we were also right to remain friends. Our relationship is
stronger than ever today.
One
lovely bonus of my deep friendship with Tom is that he is happy to
act as my personal research historian. Countless times, I’ve needed
an answer that would have taken precious time to look up, if I could
find the answer at all. A quick text to Tom and I’ve got what I
need in minutes. Here is a sample of some of the texts we’ve shared
while I’ve been working on Erin’s
Children,
the sequel to
Kelegeen.
ME:
If one 19th
c. person is telling another one not to spend too much money is it
okay if he says, “get what you need, just don’t break the bank”?
According to Google, the expression goes back to the 1600s, but was
it in common use in the 1850s?
TOM:
That is fine. Lots of banks broke in 1837.
ME:
Did people drink hot chocolate or hot cocoa in the 1850s?
TOM:
Yes. Drinking chocolate was the most common way to consume it then.
But not cocoa.
ME:
Would the man of the house carve the Thanksgiving turkey at the
table or is that more of a Norman Rockwell fiction?
TOM:
The wife.
ME:
Seriously? At the table? The husband led the blessing, though,
right?
TOM:
Yes to both.
ME:
How much did it cost to rent a sleigh and horse for an hour or two
in 1851?
TOM:
I guess 25 cents is about right. With a driver, make it 50 cents.
ME:
Could they have gone for a sleigh ride on a Sunday or would that be
against the having too much fun on a Sunday law?
TOM:
Not on a Sunday. Sorry. Go to sleep. (Okay, ‘cuz I sent that
particular text at 11:00 p.m.)
ME:
In what year did most northerners realize civil war [American Civil
War] was probably inevitable? Was there a specific incident that made
them feel that way? I mean before Fort Sumter.
TOM:
Well, people had warned about it since the 1830s at least. But
inevitable? No. Even when South Carolina left many thought they could
be brought back. Jackson did as much in 1832. When six more deep
south states left many thought it could be reversed. When the upper
south left many on both sides thought it would be a quick war. The
long blood bath surprised most. So no.
This
is just a small sample, but it seems as though any history question I
have, whether about huge events or the details of everyday life can
be answered with a quick text to Tom.
To
attest even further to this, when I was speaking with Holly Izard who
is the Curator of Collections for the Worcester Historical Museum and
a former research historian at Old Sturbridge Village, I happened to
mention that I often text Tom with my questions. Holly, who knew Tom
years ago when she worked at the Village, said to me, “There are
times when I just can’t find an answer to an historical question.
When that happens I email Tom. He never fails me. There are just some
things I know for a fact only Tom will have the answer to.”
I
hear that!
Historian, Curator, and Costumed Interpreter at Old Sturbridge Village,
Tom Kelleher
Labels:
Eileen O'Finlan,
Erin's Children,
historical fiction,
historical research,
Holly Izard,
Kelegeen,
Old Sturbridge Village,
Tom Kelleher,
Worcester Historical Museum
Eileen O’Finlan was a member of the Worcester Writers Workshop for many years and now hosts a writing group at her home in Holden.
Kelegeen, published by BWL Publishing, is her debut novel. She is currently working on the sequel to be titled Erin's Children set in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Eileen is a holds a Bachelor’s Degree in history and a Master’s Degree in pastoral ministry.
When not writing or working her full-time job, Eileen facilitates online courses for the University of Dayton, Ohio.
Thursday, February 6, 2020
HOW WRITERS BUILD WORLDS - CREATING FICTIONAL COMMUNITIES
Characters cannot float in space. They need a world to walk in, to talk in, and to live their lives joyously
I start with the characters:
I ask them what type of community they live in.
I find places with those ingredients and use the pieces.
I add family, friends, and enemies.
I provide jobs on the main street; homes on side streets.
I surround the place with roads, beaches, parks, or businesses.
I daw a map of the village or town.
For Caleb's Cove, I looked to Nova Scotia's south shore islands, ocean-side markets, and beaches. I sprinkled in hurricanes, boats, history, and ghosts. (The Caleb Cove Mysteries - 4 books)
Writers can be inspired by characters or an event, but as the story evolves the characters need a place to live. The setting is a character in its own right and often dictates the direction in the story. Some writers set books in real places. In a large city, this works. However, using a smaller, limited population creates privacy issues and limits events. The solution is to create a fictional community to showcase the story.
Inspiration # 1 - Tancook Island,
Nova Scotia, Canada
Three real locations provided
inspiration, visuals, and ambiance for Caleb's Cove. (Book 2 Came Home to a Killing )
However, all people and story events are products of my writer's imagination and other than the awesome ocean setting, bear no connection to any real person in the three background communities.
Tancook Island started it all. I've
had a fascination with Tancook for decades. My sister-in-law's mother worked on
Little Tancook and I loved her stories and the name. At eight I thought it a
great setting for a mystery and wrote (longhand in a Hilary Scribbler) The
Mystery on Tancook Island.
Accidentally, or at the bidding of
my unconscious, my first published novel was set on an island off Nova
Scotia. Additional details and ideas for Caleb's Cove came from Tancook and two
other Nova Scotia locations. And now there are four books in total in the series.
“Sweeping his gaze from left to right Greg checked the altered sandy strip, the docks and the rocky protrusions. The waves still arched and crested against the land, splashing through gaps in the boardwalk and sucking back to display the damage. In the harbor beyond, white caps revealed the sea’s continued turmoil. The rhythmic roar and whoosh were primal. He’d wait for calmer seas before launching the dory even if she was designed for rough waters. And you? What are you waiting for?”
Book 4 - Came Home from the Grave
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
February The Shortest Month of the Year by Rosemary Morris
For more information on Rosemary's books please click the cover above.
February the Shortest Month of the Year
“February brings the snow.
“Makes our feet and fingers glow.”
3rd and 4th lines of a nursery rhyme. Anonymous.
Hertfordshire. S. East England. 2019
Extracts from My Garden Diary
6th February. First thing in the morning a baby blue sky and sunshine followed by banks of cloud rimmed with gold. Later the sky darkened, and baby snowflakes fluttered to the ground. I wish I was as tolerant in every condition of my life as the trees and plants.
8th February. Patchy snow on the raised beds. Light frost changing the hue of the grass from bright green to silvery green. My nose glowed red when I ventured outside.
* * *
Miscellaneous.
The origin of February’s name is either from the ancient Italian God, Februus or februa purification festivals observed in Rome.
Aquarius is the sign of the zodiac for those born between the 1st and 18th. People born between the 19th and 28th/29th are influenced by Pisces. Violets, primroses, and irises are the month’s birth flowers. The birthstone is amethyst, symbol of piety, humility, sincerity and spirituality.
The Roman Catholic church dedicates February to the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
2nd February.
This the day on which it is thought Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord in the temple.
Shrove Tuesday. Pancake Day
Shrove Tuesday is on the first Tuesday before Lent. During the two previous days, known as shrove tide, Christians confess/ed their sins. On this day pancakes are made with eggs, which symbolise creation, flour, the staff of life, salt considered wholesome and milk for purity. This day was one of revelry and pancakes are still served in many homes.
Ash Wednesday the Beginning of Lent
Ash Wednesday lasts for forty days which represent the days Jesus spent in the wilderness. At church the priest or minister might mark Christian’s foreheads with the sign of the Cross, with ashes from palms burnt in the previous year after Palm Sunday. This is a sign of mourning and repentance. It also represents the cross Jesus sacrificed his life on. As a child during Lent I was encouraged to renounce sweets, which made chocolate Easter eggs very welcome.
14th February - St Valentine’s Day
There are several saints called Valentine but the martyrdom of two falls on this day. In times past it was believed birds mate on this day and sweethearts were chosen. The custom of sending anonymous cards developed from that belief.
Classic Historical Fiction by Rosemary Morris
Early 18th Century novels: Tangled Love, Far Beyond Rubies, The Captain and The Countess
Regency Novels. False Pretences. Heroines Born on Different Days of the Week Books One to Six, Sunday’s Child, Monday’s Child, Tuesday’s Child, Wednesday’s Child, Thursday’s Child, and Friday’s Child. (The novels in the series are not dependent on each other, although events in previous novels are sometimes referred to and characters reappear.) Saturday’s Child will be published in July 2020.
Mediaeval Novel Yvonne Lady of Cassio. The Lovages of Cassio Book
www.rosemarymorris.co.uk
https;//bwlpublishing.net/authors/rosemary-morris-rosemary-historical-uk/
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
The Destruction of Port Royal by Katherine Pym
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Port Royal, Jamaica 1690 |
First, a
little history of the town…
Port Royal (changed
in 1660 from Point Cagway) was a village in Jamaica, taken by the English in
1655. The town had a natural deep harbor
perfect for ships, but there was little to defend it. Houses dotted the
landscape up the hills and down to the water, some with stilts in the sand,
their houses standing in the tidal swells.
A couple
forts were built, but that was not enough to keep the Spanish at bay, so the
inhabitants contacted the Brethren of the Coast, a pirate union of sorts, and
invited them to settle there. Port Royal boomed. Soon 6,500 souls resided
there. Ships in the harbor and a lively town with men known for their
swashbuckling, rough ways were a deterrent for anyone thinking to come ashore
and cause havoc.
Port Royal After quake |
Before long
Port Royal became a haven for pirates with brothels and lawlessness. Merchants
bought and sold what the pirates dragged ashore, but this wild life had its
comeuppance, with a final, deadly end.
June 7, 1692
life in Port Royal changed forever. Just before noon a magnitude 7.5 earthquake
hit Jamaica, its epicenter in the hills above the town. The ground suffered
liquidation, sinking buildings, animals, trees and streets. Geysers erupted. When
the town collapsed, a large tsunami crashed onto the island, taking a ship with
it. 40 feet high on the wall of water the ship throttled inland to rest on a
ruined building. Unearthed corpses floated amongst the debris. Landslides
prevailed. Except for the ship perched on an old building, what remained of Port
Royal sank into the sea.
Over 5000 died. Looting and violence took over. Of those who survived the initial destruction, many later succumbed to their injuries or illness.
Over 5000 died. Looting and violence took over. Of those who survived the initial destruction, many later succumbed to their injuries or illness.
Port Royal Before the quake |
Port Royal After the quake |
As a species, people are enduring. They usually rebuild after a catastrophe, and many tried to rebuild Port Royal, but one disaster after another struck, hurricanes, fire, more earthquakes. What remains today is insignificant compared to the late 17th century.
Today, you
can swim over the sunken city, and see rooftops not far below. In the past
years, archaeological digs have explored the remains. Interesting finds have
surfaced. “In 1969, Edwin Link discovered the most
famous artifact: a pocket watch dated 1686, stopped at exactly 11:43 (a.m.).”
~*~*~*~
Many
thanks to:
Wikicommons
public domain.
‘Port
Royal, Jamaica, Sunken Pirate City
at Port Royal, Nature took her revenge on the
"Wickedest City in the World."’ https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/sunken-pirate-stronghold-at-port-royal
History
Channel:
“Earthquake
destroys Jamaican pirate haven”
‘The History
of Port Royal, Jamaica”
o
Author of historical novels set in 1660's London with one novel of the French Revolution.
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