Category: Writing Blog

History to Mystery

History to Mystery

My historical mystery Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker is the first in a series of murder mysteries set in Spokane in 1901. Archie Prescot has traveled across the country to Spokane, Washington to design the clock tower for the new Great Northern Railroad depot. When his talent for creating unique clock chimes connects him with a …

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Publication Day for Happenings

Publication Day for Happenings

Happy publication day! Today Happenings, my first book of poems, is published! To purchase a copy, head to books2read.com/happenings to order from your favorite ebook retailer. You can also ask about it at your local library, as more requests lead to libraries getting a copy to make available! I’m working hard on getting everything ready …

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Home Health Quotes from 19th Century Cookbooks

Home Health Quotes from 19th Century Cookbooks

Over the past two weeks, I’ve shared some of the cooking and cleaning quotes from 19th century cookbooks that inspired my book, Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker, and in particular the characters of Mrs. Curry (cook) and Eleanor Sigmund (maid). But cookbooks of the time didn’t contain just cooking and cleaning tips. They also included home …

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Cleaning Quotes from 19th Century Cookbooks

Cleaning Quotes from 19th Century Cookbooks

Last week I shared some cooking quotes from 19th century cookbooks that inspired my book, Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker, in particular the menus cooked by Mrs. Curry. This week I’d like to share some of the cleaning tips I gleaned through my research, many of which I incorporated into the daily duties of my maid …

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Cooking Quotes from 19th Century Cookbooks

Cooking Quotes from 19th Century Cookbooks

While writing Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker, I had such great fun finding ways to incorporate some of the many, many 19th century cookbooks I came across along the way! From Eleanor’s cleaning skills to Mrs. Curry’s menus and cooking tips, all were inspired by or taken from cookbooks of the time period. Over the next …

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Interview on KREM 2 News!

Interview on KREM 2 News!

I was interviewed by KREM 2 News! View the interview here and follow me on YouTube! This is my debut historical mystery, Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker, the first in the Spokane Clock Tower Mysteries, set in Gilded Age Spokane. It’s 1901 and Archie Prescot has traveled across the country to Spokane, Washington to design the now …

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Historical Characters in Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker

Historical Characters in Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker

One of my favorite parts of writing historical fiction is getting the chance to set a story where my characters can have chance encounters with real people from history. In my book Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker, although I’ve invented all the primary characters, I’ve sprinkled the story with cameos from some of the most well-known, …

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Why Spokane?

Why Spokane?

What made me choose Spokane, Washington as the setting of my historical mystery Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker? Three things: people, locations, and events. Over the next several months leading up to my Big Book Announcement, I’m excited to tell you more about why Spokane, Washington, of all places, really needed a book set in its …

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Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

UPDATE: It’s not too late to enter! The Giveaway draw date has been extended to December 14! I’m having a #ChristmasGiveaway!  I’m giving away a Christmas Gift Basket full of goodies including TWO signed copies of the Christmas Fiction Off the Beaten Path anthology—one for you and one for a friend!  I’ll be drawing a …

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Why Historical Fiction?

Why Historical Fiction?

One of my favorite authors is Alison Weir, and the reason I love her work so much is because she began as a biographical nonfiction writer. When she started writing historical fiction, her research paid off ten-fold by adding an element of realism that you just don’t get with other authors who don’t thoroughly research. …

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