I LOVE when mystery novels set in a past era try to stick as closely as possible to true history. It gives me goosebumps to discover that what I’m reading is inspired by actual events and is not too far from the way things really were, especially when it’s difficult to believe people really did/thought/believed that back then. What I’ve found is there’s really nothing new under the sun, only the same, but different.
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 …
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 …
As an historical mystery author, when it came to picking my “author outfit” I knew immediately I wanted to dress like my characters. Not only is this beneficial for research—is a corset really uncomfortable?—but it gives me the confidence I need as an introvert to go out there and talk about my books. 😉 For …
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 …
For my book, Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker, I loved researching historical clothing circa 1901 in which to clothe my men and women. But let’s be honest: the women are always more fun for the variety! When it came to first-hand accounts, I was greatly inspired by the Women’s Column of the Spokesman-Review. Below you’ll find …
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, …
I’m trying something new! If you subscribe to my newsletter right now, you’ll receive a free copy of my short story “Escapades of a Spokane Thief” set in 1901 Spokane! This short story actually began life as the prologue to my book The Butcher, the Baker, the Candlestick Taker. I thought it’d be fun to …
Welcome to Part 2 of my Look Up, Spokane! series. Last month I showed you some pictures I took of the Spokesman Review Building. Today, we’re going across the street. I had never noticed something rather fascinating about this more modern building: outside, along Monroe, are a series of twelve busts. Each bust is of …
How often do we look up anymore? More often than not, we’re looking down at our phone, or down at our feet to make sure we’re not stepping in dog poop or something. But the last time I was downtown in Spokane, I felt the urge to look up, to see what I was missing. …
The Great Fire that devastated Spokane on August 6, 1889, ended up breathing new life into the town, but they didn’t know that back then… Read below for the first-person account of the event. (Do note, there is some overlap at the tops and bottoms of some of the screenshots to ensure the entire article …
