Finally!! I'm pleased to announce the "birth" of a new "child" in our family: Horse Thief 1898 is now available on Amazon (complete with a typo I hope will be fixed soon). My nephew Joel Griswell designed the beautiful image for the cover, and other friends and family members have helped in various ways along the way. … Continue reading Horse Thief 1898 is available on Amazon!
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Hello friends,
Today I learned the disappointing news that for various reasons, Horse Thief 1898 won't be ready for another two or three weeks--not in time for the St Davids Writers Conference. I'll let you know once I know!! Meanwhile, I have three chapters to go to complete the rough draft of Book II of the Cally … Continue reading Hello friends,
Questioning the value of historical fiction
If you're receiving this blog post, I assume you like historical fiction. But not everyone does. I find this article helpful in considering the legitimacy of historical fiction, from a historical point of view (thank you, Karen!). You'll find a reference in Horse Thief 1898 to a book, Orphan Train, by one of the article's … Continue reading Questioning the value of historical fiction
Exciting news, friends!
Horse Thief 1898 is becoming a reality!!!! My publisher, EABooks, just sent me the cover image and I confess, seeing it made me feel a bit emotional, after so many years working on this book! The launch will be in AUGUST. I'll let you know the date and more details when I figure it out. … Continue reading Exciting news, friends!
Publishing can be complicated
So, on our vacation in January I spent time researching companies that help with self-publishing, and ran across a publishing company that accepts manuscripts directly, without an agent. They are a marketing firm but decided to publish books. I couldn't believe what I read, acknowledging that writing and marketing are two different skill sets; they … Continue reading Publishing can be complicated
Merry Christmas/Happy New Year!
Wow, I didn't realize it's been so long since I posted here. I've been focused on writing Treasure Hunt 1904, Book Two of the Cally and Charlie series. It's quite a different book from Horse Thief 1898. Treasure Hunt 1904 takes place from April to August of 1904, mostly in southern Idaho, and involves (of … Continue reading Merry Christmas/Happy New Year!
What do you think about the Irish words and expressions in Horse Thief 1898?
I'm asking because people have reacted two opposite ways, but I can only publish one version. Literary agents have universally told me to take them out. They say people don't like anything that slows down their reading. So I've removed about 200 Irish words and expressions, but I feel a little bit sad. I think … Continue reading What do you think about the Irish words and expressions in Horse Thief 1898?
Finally! More on Scott Joplin under Historical Links.
Scott has been on my mind virtually every day, through a family wedding, a sibling retreat, and a series of other events. I've been determined to publish this review of Scott Joplin's life before I travel again next week, and finally, today, it has happened! Yay!
Not even the experts agree
So, the issue with Scott Joplin that's had me stumped is whether or not he performed at the Chicago World's Fair (the "Columbian Exposition") in 1893 and if so, in what capacity. Everyone agrees he was in Chicago at the time of the Fair, and that it was life-changing for him, in part because he … Continue reading Not even the experts agree
More to learn!
I thought I was ready to write about Scott Joplin, but I'm not. I learned something new which made me question other things. I just brought home seven books from the library, and hope to figure this out by next week! Until then, Debra