Posts Tagged ‘A Great Catch’
Posted on September 6, 2011 - by JerriLynn
Who Knew? A Little About Lorna Seilstad
I was most blessed to have our very own Lorna Seilstad take some time to answer some questions for me. Lorna’s a sweet person, who works her tail end off to keep us in reading material. She’s also responsible for my recently acquired taste for historical fiction. Read on to learn about her, her books, and her writing.
Jerri: Please tell us a little about yourself and your books.
Since most of you reading this know the basics about me, I’ll try to share something new. I grew up on a farm in Iowa. My dad worked for the railroad at night and farmed during the day. My mom, a former executive secretary, stayed at home after I was born. I have an older brother and sister and one younger brother.
My mom’s name was also Lorna. Even though they always called me “Lori”, she named me Lorna because she thought it sounded more professional in case I became a doctor or a writer. I answer to both names now.
My husband David and I have been married 21 years. He works for Iowa State University Extenion as a youth specialist. We have three children. A son who is a sophomore in college, a daughter who is a high school senior, and another daughter in the seventh grade.
My favorite things to drink are Ghiradelli double chocolate cocoa and Diet Mt. Dew. I’m addicted to Oreos, and I won’t let my daughters have a puppy right now. They ask constantly and even put little notes on my cell phone about it.
About my books:
Making Waves, the first book in the Lake Manawa Series, came out in Sept. 2010. A Great Catch, the second book, released just this May. The books are stand-alones, meaning they have a compelte story in each of them. They are linked by the location and some recurring characters.
Here’s the blurb for A Great Catch:
She wants to change the world.
He wants to change her mind.It’s the beginning of a new century at Lake Manawa resort in Iowa, but some things never change. When Emily Graham’s meddlesome aunts and grandmother take it upon themselves to find her a husband among the resort guests, the spunky suffragist is determined to politely decline each and every suitor. She has neither the time nor the need for a man in her busy life.
Carter Stockton, a recent college graduate and a pitcher for the Manawa Owls baseball team, intends to enjoy every minute of the summer before he is forced into the straitlaced business world of his father.
When their worlds collide, neither Emily nor Carter could have guessed what would come next. Will Carter strike out? Or will Emily cast her vote for a love that might cost her dreams?
The perfect summer novel, A Great Catch will enchant you with its breezy setting and endearing characters.
Endorsements
“A Great Catch weaves humor, history, romance, and spiritual truths into a delicious story that will delight readers’ hearts. What a fun, relaxing read! I’d like to remain at Lake Manawa forever.”–Laura Frantz, author of The Frontiersman’s Daughter and Courting Morrow Little
“A Great Catch is a grand slam! In a story as refreshing and invigorating as lemonade, Seilstad raises deep questions about a woman’s relationship with God, her dreams, and the people in her life–while making me laugh so loudly my kids came running to get in on the joke.”–Sarah Sundin, author of the Wings of Glory series
Jerri: What is your favorite bible verse? Why?
Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
I love this verse because Paul is trying so hard to help us understand the depth and breadth of God’s unshakable love.
Jerri: What inspired the Lake Manawa series?
My father grew up in the Lake Manawa area. When the park’s days came to a close, my grandfather purchased one of the bath houses for $300 and moved it to a lot on what was once the Midway. That was the house my dad grew up in until they moved to the farm where he now lives.
Jerri: How much research went into the series, and what methods did you use for conducting and keeping up with your research?
Any historical takes a lot of research in order for the books to be accurate. I was blessed to be able to write about my own hometown so some of the sources were more accessible than they would be otherwise. Besides the trips I made down to the lake just for inspiration, I spent hours in front of the microfilm viewer reading the old newspapers for stories about Lake Manawa. I also consulted books and online sources. I found some wonderful old postcards which helped me picture the setting. Some of my most useful sources end up being old Sears and Montgomery Ward catalogs.
Jerri: How long did it take you to complete the first book in the series? Each subsequent book?
After the initial research is done, it takes me about nine months to write a book.
Jerri: Do you have a favorite character in the Lake Manawa series? Why?
You know, this is a hard question. It’s sort of like asking, “Which of your children do you like better?” I like each of them for a different reason. If I had to pick any favorites that weren’t heroes or heroines, I’d pick the aunts in A Great Catch. They were so much fun to write.
Jerri: Do your characters take on a life of their own as you’re writing?
Absolutely! I always know quite a bit about the hero and heroine when I start, but I’m always surprised by some of the things that come out.
Jerri: What was the most interesting fact that you learned while researching the series?
I think one of the most interesting things I learned was something I didn’t include in the books. Ben Marks owned the hog farm/ gambling parlor. He and his wife were well respected citizens of the area. While he operated the gambling parlor, she ran the bordello upstairs.
One day, some of the ladies from the upper society came to call on her. They invited her to join them, but said she would have to give up her “occupation” of course.
She simply smiled and said, “Thank you for you kind offer, but I will have to decline. Now, if you ladies will wait here, you’re husbands will be down in a moment to escort you home.”
Can’t you just see the faces of those women?
Jerri: What are some of the challenges that you face as an author?
I think the biggest challenges involve balancing things—family, home, church, friends, business side of writing, promotion, research, and actually writing.
Jerri: How do you overcome those challenges?
I don’t know if I do overcome it. I try hard to keep my priorities straight, but it’s never easy. Then again, life seldom is easy for anyone. We all have to balance those things.
Jerri: What aspects of writing do you most enjoy?
My favorite part of writing is the storytelling. I love the creation part and when everything fits together. I also love the writing friends I’ve made along the journey.
Jerri: What is your goal or mission as a writer?
I want readers to be transported to another time and place, and experience God’s truth in a new way while being entertained. Story is first. Of course, I want readersto laugh a little along the way.
Jerri: What upcoming projects can we expect from you?
Next spring, the third book in the series is coming out called The Ride of Her Life. It’s Lilly’s story and involves a roller coaster designer.
I’m working on a new series tentatively called The Gregory Girls. It involves three sisters who vow to help each other achieve their dreams after their parents’ death. The oldest daughter becomes a “hello girl” or switchboard operator. She’s the main character in book one.
Posted on May 31, 2011 - by Brenda Anderson
Celebration Time!!!
We interrupt our daily blog category of News You CAN’T Use, to bring you News To Celebrate.
Yes sirree, this is news that’ll bring a teeth-gleaming smile to your lips–news that’ll leave you cheering and turning somersaults, so break out the balloons, the noise makers, and, of course, the chocolate.
And just what is this news, you ask? Well, let me tell you. It has to do with three of our own at Inkspirational Messages. Yes, you heard me right. Three of our very own Inkspers have given us reason to party.
And that reason is …?
<drum roll, please>
Three Inkspirational Messages writers have New Releases!!!
Woo Hoo!
Party time!
And now, without further adieu, let me tell you all about those wonderful new books.
Shannon Taylor Vannatter, the queen of writing love stories that make your pulse thump faster than a Lamborghini on a straightaway, has two stories to accelerate your heart rate. Yes, you heard me right. That’s TWO books so swoon-worthy you’ll forget Fabio ever existed.
First, you’ll want to pick up White Doves, released in stores in April and releasing at Christianbook.com come June. Here’s a teaser:
Laken Kroft left home eight years ago and never looked back. Who knew when she applied for the promotion to postmaster that she’d end up in Romance, Arkansas, and much too close to her parents: the town drunk and the local gossip maven?
Hayden Winters has his hands full raising his paraplegic nephew, Brady, and wrestling with his guilt over having caused the child’s injury. When the boy’s father, Laken’s brother, turn up and start talking custody, Laken’s influence is Hayden’s only hope. But whose side is she really on?
Will their mutual bond with their seven-year-old nephew draw them closer or rip them asunder? Will Laken accept Hayden “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” or be forced to turn her back on him and “Return to Sender?”
I’ll bet you can’t wait for the answer.
Once you’ve sniffled your way through Laken’s and Hayden’s romance, you won’t be able to resist moving on to White Pearls, released by Heartsong Presents in January, available at Amazon and in stores come July. You’ll want to keep your tissues handy when you read Shell’s and Ryler’s story.
Shell doesn’t have a good reputation, but no matter what everyone in Rose Bud, Arkansas, thinks of her, Shell Evans is back in town with a job to do. She’ll just have to stick it out and make the best of things. But why does Ryler have to be the landscaper on this project? She was just getting her heart back under control.
Ryler Grant has his own reasons for being in Rose Bud, and they certainly don’t include Shell. Spying on his birth family was going to be hard enough. He doesn’t have time to worry about a woman who dumped him … even if his heart says otherwise.
But God’s love can change the hardest heart. In the light of His presence, even the darkest past can be overcome. They may not know it, but the people of Rose Bud are about to change!
Ahhh. Warms you to your toes, doesn’t it? Just wait till you read the entire story.
Now, if you need a little break from all that heart-palpitating romance, how about a little travel and a whole bunch of mystery?
That’s precisely what Shari Barr brings you in her Camp Club Girls books as she follows inquisitive McKenzie from Montana to Oregon and now to Branson, Missouri. Need a story for that preteen or teenage (or even adult) girl in your life? Looking for an author who “gets” young girls? Well, then don’t look any further than our own Shari Barr.
In May, Shari’s third McKenzie story was released, McKenzie’s Branson Brainteaser. After reading this back cover copy, I know you’ll want to rush right down to your store and pick this one up:
Someone’s missing in Missouri!
McKenzie and Sydney meet in Branson, Missouri, where McKenzie has been recruited to help at the Dixie Stampede. While the girls take in the sights and sounds of Silver Dollar City, they become involved in a search for a teen girl’s long-lost uncle.
A thirteen-year old family feud…
A necklace carved with “SS”…
A familiar fairy statue…
The “Shara Smiles” Man…
With no other clue than a whittled necklace, how will the Camp Club Girls ever reunite this family?
I’ll bet your heart’s a-beatin’ for whole new reasons now, isn’t it? You just can’t wait to solve their mystery, can you?
Just like I’ll bet you can’t wait to get a hold of Lorna Seilstad’s new release, A Great Catch. But, just to warn you, remember that heart-tangoing romance I talked about above? The kind Shannon writes? Well, that heart’ll be getting a whole lot more exercise when your read A Great Catch.
Let me clue you in on what it’s about:
It’s the beginning of a new century at Lake Manawa resort in Iowa, but some things never change. When Emily Graham’s meddlesome aunts and grandmother take it upon themselves to find her a husband among the resort guests, the spunky suffragist is determined to politely decline each and every suitor. She has neither the time nor the need for a man in her busy life.
Carter Stockton, a recent college graduate and a pitcher for the Manawa Owls baseball team, intends to enjoy every minute of the summer before he is forced into the straitlaced business world of his father.
When their worlds collide, neither Emily nor Carter could have guessed what would come next. Will Carter strike out? Or will Emily cast her vote for a love that might cost her dreams?
I forgot to warn you about needing tissues again (sorry), but when reading books by Lorna, also be prepared to chuckle, giggle, and laugh right out loud.
Now, don’t throw those noisemakers away quite yet. You see, we have a few more reasons to celebrate.
First, if you go to Lorna Seilstad’s website today (May 31, 2011) and sign up for her newsletter, you’ll be entered into a drawing for the A Great Catch Baseball Basket Giveaway that includes a $20 Amazon certificate (so you can buy more of Lorna’s and Shannon’s and Shari’s books). So, hurry on over to her website.
Go ahead, do it now, but come right back. We’ll wait.
<waiting … waiting … waiting>
You’re back? And you’re all signed up? Wonderful! Just in time for some more fun news.
Prepare yourself for more heart waltzing love stories from Romance Queen Shannon Vannatter. Yes, you heard me right. Shannon’s been contracted by Heartsong Presents for another three book series.
<Wild cheering>
This time with cowboys and rodeos.
<Be still my heart>
And let me whet that whistle just a little bit more with a blurb from Rodeo Dust, due to release to Heartsong Presents book club members in October, and on Amazon in April of 2012:
Ad exec, Rayna Landers meets bull rider, Clay Warren at the State Fair of Texas. While Rayna thinks she’s content solo, Clay longs for marriage and family. Though poised to win his third world championship, his ranch is in a slump. Clay convinces his publicist to hire her advertising firm in a last-ditch effort to keep his employees and lasso her heart.
Soon the city girl is on the ride of her life, until the rodeo unearths buried memories from her past. Clay sees her through the trauma, but an injury and his stubborn determination to get back in the hypothetical saddle threatens their budding relationship. Can they rely on God to find their common ground or will they draw a line in the rodeo dust that neither will cross?
Whew.
All partied out? Well, you can set those noise makers down for now, but keep them close. Something tells me many more celebrations are not too far behind.
Posted on May 8, 2011 - by Lorna Seilstad
Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader: A Source of Inspiration?
Since A Great Catch just hit store shelves, I’ve been doing several interviews for various blogs. A recurrent question is “Where did I get the idea for the Lake Manawa Summer Series?”
That’s an easy answer. My father grew up in Lake Manawa after its heyday as a resort. When the park closed in 1927, my grandfather purchased one of the bath houses (the places where people changed into their bathing suits) for $300 and moved it to a lot on the northeast shore of the lake.
Although my dad was too little to remember Lake Manawa in as a place filled with summer guests, he’d told me stories he’d heard over the years and my interest was piqued. I went to the library and found a book called The History of Lake Manawa by Frank Smetana. Had Mr. Smetana not collected the stories through interviews, much of the area’s rich history would have been lost forever and my Lake Manawa series would never have been written.
After reading that book, I knew I had to make the area come alive on a page again. I decided I wanted book one, Making Waves, to focus on the sailing aspect of the lake. In A Great Catch, I wanted to bring in the baseball aspect. I also knew I wanted to bring in some more of the area’s history in sharing some of the life of Amelia Bloomer, suffragist. Did you know we might all still be wearing dresses all the time if it wasn’t for her?
But where have other ideas come from? What about the next series I’ve propose?
It may sound strange, but I’ve gotten some of my best ideas from Uncle John’s Bathroom Readers. My husband had been a collector of this particular literary source for years and usually keeps one—well, where they were meant to be read. His library includes such classics as Uncle John’s Slightly Irregular Bathroom Reader and Uncle John’s Absolutely Absorbing Bathroom Reader.
Surprisingly, I’ve found them to be a wealth of unusual pieces of history. Uncle John’s editors seem to have a knack for discovering the interesting and the unusual. Besides history, they include tidbits on news, nature, science and pop culture. I can usually think of some sort of story that could go with every article. Some of those ideas have found their way into my “idea file.” Others, I washed down the you-know-what.
Another wonderful source for ideas, for me, has been Library Congress’s Chronicling of America. Hundreds of newspapers from 23 states and D.C. have been digitalized and can be viewed online. They date from 1866 to 1922. You can search by the year, topic, or state for an idea. Sometimes, I like to randomly select a newspaper from way back when just to read. It’s also a great way to get an idea of what was going on in the news and culturally.
For example, in 1900, Miss Clifford Mitchell was the elected first vice-president of the Kansas State Teachers Association, according to the Jan. 05 Iola Register. How many story ideas can you get out of that?
The key to using any of these sources to ask questions about what you read. In the sample above, my first thought was what would it be like to grow up as a girl named Clifford? Or was her father named Clifford Mitchell (probably more likely), but why didn’t they refer to her name at a time when the world was opening up to women? My next thought was what would happen to a young woman who had been elected to such a prestigious position if she fell in love and wanted to marry? In most places, Teachers, at this time, had to remain single. Can you see how these articles spark story ideas for me?
In honor of the release of A Great Catch, I am giving away a signed copy to one lucky commenter this week from the U.S. Every time you leave a comment during the next two weeks, your name will be entered. The more often you comment, the more chances you have to win. Also, sign up for my newsletter at my website for a chance to win a Great Catch Baseball Gift Basket, complete with a signed copy, Amazon gift certificate, and items representing things from the book. You can find more details at www.lornaseilstad.com
Posted on March 28, 2011 - by Lorna Seilstad
Characters, Chemistry, and Gunsmoke?
But are those things alone enough to make a show last twenty years? I don’t think so. I think one of the key ingredients for memorable characters is the chemistry between them, and Matt and Kitty had it in spades. Watch this video and see if you can’t feel the chemistry even in the photo shots?Writers don’t have the benefit of stolen glances on screen to develop this. They have to create that chemistry on the page and bring it to life.
Posted on January 2, 2011 - by Lorna Seilstad
Books are a Bubblin’ Over
Happy New Year to all our Inkspirational Messages friends!
Because we like to keep things lively and to challenge our reader’s minds, let’s start this year off with a puzzle. The list below is a Top 10 list. What do you think it’s a Top 10 list for?
- In bed
- At the park
- In a library
- On a couch
- In a tent
- In a tree house
- In the bathtub
- At a friend’s house
- In the car
- By the pool
According to the blog, Literature Young Adult Fiction, the above is the Top 10 Places to Read a Book. Did your favorite places make the list?
Now, you might be wondering what bubbles, books, and a top 10 list have in common. Let me add one more clue. Does the date January 8 mean anything to you?
It should. It’s National Bubble Bath Day and we’re celebrating it during the next two weeks. After all, reading in the bathtub did make the best places to read list. And what better way to celebrate, than to share the books we are looking forward to reading in 2011.
Oh, and did I mention that one lucky commenter during this series will receive a bubble bath gift pack? Every time you comment during the next two weeks, your name will be entered. You’ll get everything you need to relax in a bath with a good book except the water—and the tub, of course.
So, here are four books am I most looking forward to holding in my hands in 2011. (There are so many books I can’t wait to read, so I picked ones with a common thread—blue covers.)
The Colonel’s Lady by Laura Frantz releases in August. Yes, you will have to wait for eight months to hold what I’m sure will be another treasure in your hands. I can’t wait to curl up and lose myself in the world Laura creates.
Here’s the synopsis for this book:
“In 1779, when genteel Virginia spinster Roxanna Rowan arrives at the Kentucky fort commanded by Colonel Cassius McLinn, she finds that her officer father has died. Penniless and destitute, Roxanna is forced to take her father’s place as scrivener. Before long, it’s clear that the colonel himself is attracted to her. But she soon realizes the colonel has grave secrets of his own–some of which have to do with her father’s sudden death. Can she ever truly love him?
Bathsheba: A Novel is the third book in Jill Eileen Smith’s The Wives of King David series. I loved the other two and can’t wait to see how Jill handles this conflicting and emotional Biblical story. I know that I haven’t seen David the same after the first two, and I’m sure book three will be just as enlightening.
“This well-researched and beautifully crafted story will resonate in your heart and mind long after you’ve read the final page, “ said Judith Miller, author of the Daughters of Amana series, “With beauty and truth, Jill Eileen Smith will take you back in time to reveal the consequences of sin coupled with the depth of God’s grace and forgiveness. An excellent read with a message that transcends time.”
Bathsheba releases in March.
The Lady of Bolton Hill is the debut novel for author Elizabeth Camden which releases in June. Elizabeth is a research librarian and an associate professor, so you know her research is going to excellent.
“Something that was very important for me is that both my characters be very passionate people, but who are still fiercely intelligent and sensible,” Elizabeth said at http://www.myfriendamysblog.com/2010/11/meet-elizabeth-camden.html. “Have you ever read a book where the conflict between the hero and heroine could be solved by a simple, honest conversation? There was no way I was going to let Daniel and Clara off the hook so easily! Although it is clear they are madly in love, they will be put through the wringer before they can get to a happy ending. I love a good turbulent story with love, betrayal, heartbreak, all punctuated with periods of soaring joy and utter delight. That is what I aimed for with The Lady of Bolton Hill. I’ll be curious to hear from folks if they think I got it in the ballpark.”
Since she used the term ballpark, that leads me to my selection. One more book I can’t wait to hold, and that’s a copy of my own A Great Catch. This book was so much fun to write, and I hope readers will enjoy it as much as I did. It releases in May.
Here’s the back cover copy:
“She wants to change the world. He wants to change her mind.
It is the beginning of a new century at Lake Manawa Resort in Iowa, but some things never change. When 22-year-old Emily Graham’s meddlesome aunts and grandmother take it upon themselves to find her a husband among the resort guests, the spunky suffragist is determined to politely decline each and every suitor. She has neither the time nor the need for a man in her busy life.
Carter Stockton, a recent college graduate and pitcher for the Manawa Owls baseball team, intends to enjoy every minute of the summer at Lake Manawa, Iowa, before he is forced into the straitlaced business world of his father.
When Emily crashes into Carter at a roller skating rink, neither could guess what would come next. Will Carter strike out? Or will Emily cast her vote for a love that might cost her dreams?”
So, are you a bubble bath reader or do you prefer to read somewhere else? And which of these books will you be putting on your bubble bath reading list? Do any of the covers strike you as especially eye catching? Remember, leave a comment for a chance to enter.
P.S. It’s also National Hot Tea Month. Make sure you pour a cup to enjoy in your bath.
Posted on October 11, 2010 - by Lorna Seilstad
The Roller Coaster Ride of Research
I know it’s Monday and I’m pushing it, but I want you to put your thinking cap on and take the following quiz. (I’ll give you the answers in the first paragraph.)
1. Which of the following phrases could you not use in a novel set in 1950?
A. Climb the walls (1970)
B. Down to earth (1930)
C. Knock the socks off (mid 1800’s)
2. In 1881, how might a drowning victim be medically treated?
A. Roll victim over a barrel to expel water from lungs. Give large dose of castor oil.
B. Hold victim up by his heels. Strike firmly on the back. Lie down. Raise and lower arms.
C. Rub victim with flannels dipped in brandy and blow billows into one nostril. Brandy, water and salt, or peppermint may be injected.
3. Which of the following would have some vampire readers screaming, “No way!”
A. Count Dracula once quoted Deut. 12:23 “The blood is the life.”
B. Sunlight always kills a vampire.
C. The most popular vampire in children’s fiction is Bunnicula, a cute rabbit that lives a happy existence as a vegetarian vampire.
4. Which of the following would have a true crime, mystery reader up in arms?
A. The DNA evidence being slipped into plastic bags.
B. Photographs being taken with a digital camera.
C. Many people involved in processing the crime scene.
So how do you think you did? Here are the answers.
- A is correct. “Climb the walls wasn’t popular until 1970. “Down to earth” came to be in 1930, and “knock the socks off” in the mid 1800’s.
- C is correct in 1881, although A and B where things tried in earlier times.
- B is correct. The “fact” that sunlight can kill vampires is a modern invention, probably started in the 1950’s. In Ann Rice’s Interview with a Vampire, sunlight kills vampires, but in the Twilight series it does not.
- All of the above would make a crime writer cringe. DNA evidence can deteriorate in plastic bags, digital photos can be altered and so are never used at crime scenes, and the number of people involved are always kept to a minimum.
Now that you are feeling much smarter, you probably want to know why I gave you this little impromptu quiz. All of these questions require research. Whether a person is writing a historical novel, a sci-fi novel, contemporary, or a mystery, research is a must.
Good research makes a story ring true and deepens the characters. For the next two weeks, the Inksters will be talking about research. We Inksters will discuss why good research is so important, how it applies to our writing, what research we have had to do, and some of our favorite resources.
As a historical fiction writer, I spend a great deal of time doing research. I love it. I can get lost in history books or old newspapers. I can spend half a day trying to find what kind of purse a lady would carry in 1901. But it becomes almost a treasure hunt for me and I truly love it.
I end up looking up things like can you “make a made rush” in 1850? Or ”make a beeline for” the dessert table at the turn of the century? I look up how fast a horse can trot pulling a carriage, how fast a streetcar travels, and how long a journey takes by train. I spent a day discovering how high the pitchers mound was in 1901. Answer? As high as the pitcher wanted. Currently, I’m becoming an expert on early roller coasters.
Being a historical writer means you have to be a stickler for details. Here are a few of the areas I try to be extra cautious in:
Clothing: Styles change a great deal from year to year. For women, this often is shown in sleeve styles and hats. Clothing also varies for social class and age. A study of old photographs show a younger woman will always try to be more contemporary and older women tend to wear styles a few years older. One of my favorite sources is actually a website that tries to date old photographs.
Words and phrases: Language is constantly changing. Phrases that weren’t around ten years ago are common place today. Think about these terms: Twitter, Facebook, Red Box, and iPad. Those same things occurred in decades before us. Sometimes these words and phrases are hard to catch. As I type and look them up, I put the date in brackets beside the word. Still, I’m always shocked at the ones my editor catches at the end!
In Making Waves, one of the words I missed was “tizzy.” Who would have thought “tizzy” wasn’t around until 1935? I think I get in trouble most with words from the 20’s and 30’s. Because they sound old, and my grandma used them, I just don’t think to look them up.
My two main language sources are Merriam-Websters and The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms.
Locations: People know their cities, so if I use a street name or store, I work to make sure names are correct, directions are right, and the stores were around then. The same goes for the facts about an area. This was easier for Making Waves, because I live in the area. When I talk about black squirrels, I know we have them.
Details: This is probably the hardest to nail down. Details make or break a story. If a reader comes across something they know isn’t true, it stops them cold. In Making Waves, Marguerite learns to sail. I don’t sail, but I read several books on it including “Sailing for Dummies.” I also had a friend who does sail, read the manuscript to make sure I had the details correct. In A Great Catch, Carter is a baseball player. Brenda, who is an avid fan, made sure my innings were in order.
A favorite place to look up details of the day is at Chronicling of America. This is an online source from the Library of Congress. Over a hundred newspapers from across the country have been digitalized. If you start reading them, just be prepared to lose track of time.
Recently, I received my edits back on A Great Catch. Are you ready for one more quiz? Below are a few of the things I missed, but one of my wonderful editors, Jessica Miles, thankfully caught. Put your answers in the responses and we’ll see who guesses the most right.
1. Which of the following words was around in 1901?
- Sourpuss
- Tagalong
- Klutz
- Oaf
2. In 1901, people were most apt to use the King James version of the Bible. Which is not quoted from that translation?
- “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”
- “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
- “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to wrath.”
3. The year 1901 was Carrie Chapman Catt’s ____ year as president of the National Suffrage Association.
- First
- Second
- Third
- Fourth
4. Which Biblical “H’ name has to do with the Israelites being too busy to rebuild the temple?
- Hezekiah
- Haggai
- Hannah
- Habakkuk
Now, no researching. Just guess this time. I’ll post the answers later in the day.
White Pearls by Shannon Taylor Vannatter
Shell doesn't have a good reputation...But no matter what everyone in Rose Bud, Arkansas, thinks of her, she's back in town with a job to do. She'll stick it out and make the best of things. But why does Ryler have to be the landscaper on this project? She was just getting her heart under control. Ryler has his own reasons for being in Rose Bud, and they don't include Shell. Spying on his birth family was going to be hard enough. He doesn't have time to worry about a woman who dumped him...even if his heart says otherwise. McKenzie’s Branson Brainteaser by Shari Barr
McKenzie and Sydney meet in Branson, Missouri, where McKenzie has been recruited to help at the Dixie Stampede. While the girls take in the sights and sounds of Silver Dollar City, they become involved in a search to find a teen girl’s long lost uncle–who is rumored to have settled near the Branson area. With no clue other than a whittled necklace with an “SS” on the back, how will they ever reunite Shara with her uncle? The Camp Club girls are on the case, and they’re not about to give up until they close the gap and reconnect Shara’s family.
The Prodigal Daughter by Linda Fulkerson
Ruled by despair, remorse, and anger, the author’s life had become a classic rendition of the cliché “What’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?” Desperate. Overwhelmed. Isolated. Trapped. She hit bottom.
On the elevator of life, those descending will all exit on different levels–some much lower than others. You don’t have to go all the way to the bottom. Stop now and push the “up” button. This book will show you how!
