My reading has been eclectic lately (as it always is, actually). I've completed my research for Down Salem Way with two of these books, though I will always have a fascination with witch hunts and witch trials. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare I loved this book when I was a teenager … Continue reading What I’m Reading: Life During World War II and My Favorite Fantasy Book of All Time
Down Salem Way: Update
A number of you have asked about Down Salem Way, so here's an update. I'm pleased to report that Down Salem Way is coming along quite well. In fact, it's (slightly) ahead of schedule. The preorder date is still set for James' birthday, April 19, 2019--his 357th birthday, to be exact. I'll let you know … Continue reading Down Salem Way: Update
Did That Word Exist Then? Language in Historical Fiction
Wonderful news for James and Sarah/Elizabeth fans. The last draft of Down Salem Way is finished. Really! Okay, the book is not finished finished because it needs final edits and other odds and ends, but the light at the end of the tunnel is bright and clear and within reach. This is where the manuscript … Continue reading Did That Word Exist Then? Language in Historical Fiction
Down Salem Way: An Excerpt
After an annoying bout of illness, I'm back to bring you the second sneak peek of Down Salem Way. I'm having a lot of fun writing from James' point of view. It's allowing me a unique perspective into James and Elizabeth's lives in Salem in 1692. For those of you who have been contacting me … Continue reading Down Salem Way: An Excerpt
Books About Life During the Salem Witch Trials
Since I've been spending most of my time writing Down Salem Way, a lot of my reading has been about either the Salem Witch Trials or life in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. One of my favorite parts of writing historical fiction is learning about the time period I'm writing about. I had a pretty good … Continue reading Books About Life During the Salem Witch Trials
Down Salem Way: An Excerpt
I'm sure at this point Loving Husband Trilogy fans have put Down Salem Way into a category with Big Foot, the Loch Ness Monster, and other urban legends: people want to believe in it yet no one's actually seen it, so maybe it doesn't exist after all. Rest assured, the new James and Elizabeth story … Continue reading Down Salem Way: An Excerpt
Cooking in the Massachusetts Bay Colony
What Did They Eat in the Massachusetts Bay Colony? One of my more popular posts is about food in colonial Massachusetts. Here's more information about the types of meals the colonists ate and other interesting tidbits about cooking in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Breakfast was a busy time of day in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The … Continue reading Cooking in the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Clothing in Colonial Massachusetts
What Did They Wear in 17th Century Colonial America? Clothing in Massachusetts wasn’t much different than clothing throughout the rest of the American colonies. However, living in the Massachusetts Bay Colony was different because Massachusetts was a theocracy ruled by Puritans. The colonial Puritans were stricter in many ways than their English counterparts, and, oddly … Continue reading Clothing in Colonial Massachusetts