Today I’m delighted to host a new writer friend, Kathleen Maher! We have connected through being regular contributors on the Heroes, Heroines, and History blog, as well as a common interest in Native American history and racial reconciliation, which all weave into our stories. I hope you enjoy getting to know her as much as […]
Abolitionists, Books, Giveaway, Guest blog, Iroquois, Kathleen Maher
Well, it’s the last day of February—the month we take to especially honor and celebrate the heritage and history of African Americans. In the past I’ve written about why to celebrate Black History Month, and some ideas for how. My favorite article for this month remains one written a few years ago by my dear […]
Black History Month, Hidden Figures, Sandra Barnes
It was a warm, blue-skied afternoon on our recent trip to Arizona and New Mexico, and Anthony and I were about to hike down into historic Canyon de Chelly. First Ted and Evie, our hosts and my dear friends for a number of years now, walked us to several of the most famous lookouts […]
Canyon de Chelly, Kit Carson, Navajo Long Walk
Growing up, I loved celebrating the Fourth of July. Most years, my family would head to a nearby large, grassy park late afternoon. We’d watch the small-town parade of veterans and boy scouts and antique cars and children on streamer-bedecked tricycles. One year we even entered ourselves and rode on a “covered wagon” built […]
American History, Declaration of Independence, Fourth of July
I watched my students, their faces stricken. My heart pinched for them . . . because I remembered how it felt, to learn some of these things for the first time. This school year I’m teaching American Literature, and one of things I love about our school is the flexibility to somewhat develop my […]
Common memory, doctrine of discovery, Native American Heritage Month
I have lately been perusing through a delightful antique volume I received from my grandmother, the 1892 edition of Modern Manners and Social Norms by Mrs. Julia M. Bradley. (Okay, I have a thing for old books—no wonder I like to write historical fiction. 🙂 ) It’s been helpful in researching my current […]
Antique books, etiquette, Modern Manners and Social Norms, Victorian letter writing
Originally posted February 5, 2015. It’s February—Black History Month! Sometimes people feel that separating out a select month for African-American history only emphasizes racial divisions rather than helping overcome them, but I love how my friend Sandra Barnes addresses this issue here. It’s only in the last few years that I’ve really become aware […]
Black History Month
Sometimes history seems far away. Though we know it happened, the people in those grainy black-and-white photographs or rich-hued oil paintings seem to belong not just to another time but another world. It’s hard to fathom they once lived and breathed and loved and laughed and wept on the same ground we walk today. […]
Well, I’m back, friends! And what a week it was in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC as my sister and I soaked up the green with our drought-dry California eyes, explored this area of our country so saturated with history, and enjoyed the hospitality of dear friend Sandra Barnes and her gracious family. (By the […]
Greetings from the East Coast, dear reader friends! I apologize for not posting last week…things have been a bit crazy, but good. And right now my sister and I have the privilege of visiting my dear friend and critique partner, Sandra. We’ve been having a wonderful time enjoying her family’s hospitality and exploring historical sites […]
