I’ve read several articles and editorials in recent months about the demise of local newspapers. An editorial in The New York Times last November reported that 204 counties in the United States had no local newspaper, and 1,562 counties had only one. The Medill Local News Initiative found that in […]
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Sarah Winnemucca: 19th Century Advocate for Native Americans
Last month I wrote about Winema Riddle, a Native American woman who pursued justice for her people in 19th century Oregon. Sarah Winnemucca was another prominent Native American woman in Oregon at the time who also advocated for her people. Sarah Winnemucca was born into an influential Northern Paiute family […]
Continue readingTime Is Relative: I’m One Degree of Separation from 1867
Recently I was doing more research for my current work-in-progress the is set in 1867. (Yes, it’s drafted. Yes, I’m heavily into editing. And yes, I’m still researching arcane issues.) I came across a tidbit of information I hadn’t focused on before, and it got me thinking about how 1867 […]
Continue readingResearching an Early Oregon Murder (Again)
My current work-in-progress has a murder in it. I won’t say any more than that in this post. As I have been writing this murder into my draft, however, I have gone back to research my ancestor’s murder in 1852 Oregon again. I’ve learned some facts that cast doubt on […]
Continue readingLiveries in the Mid-19th Century United States
Writers of historical fiction often chase down rabbit holes of research they do not anticipate. In my current work-in-progress, I need my male protagonist to have a business. He is interested in caring for animals, but veterinarians schooled in how to treat animals were not common in 1867. So, my […]
Continue readingAlbany, Oregon, and Abigail Duniway — Setting for My Work-in-Progress
I posted last year about Abigail Duniway, a historical figure I found while researching Safe Thus Far. Abigail played a very minor role in that novel, but she will feature more prominently in my current work-in-progress. In fact, I have set part of the book in Albany, Oregon, because Abigail […]
Continue readingWhen the Work-in-Progress Progresses Slowly
All writers have times when their writing moves slowly, and I am in one of those times. It feels like I have been editing my work-in-progress forever. Maybe I should have expected this—the first draft came together very quickly during NaNoWriMo last November. A quick first draft probably means there […]
Continue readingChildbirth in the Mid-19th Century
In my current work-in-progress I have two female characters who are pregnant, one for the eighth time and the other for the ninth. And they are only in their early thirties. This was not at all unusual for the mid-19th century. Pregnancy and childbirth in the 1860s were common . […]
Continue readingWhen Did Slavery End? The Answer Varies
The novel I’m writing now takes place in 1864 Oregon. The Civil War was the biggest news of the day, though other issues were also important to Oregonians of the period. I’ve been researching what happened during the Civil War in 1864, and when news of these events reached Oregon. […]
Continue readingSmallpox Epidemic in Oregon: A Scene from NOW I’M FOUND
Here is a scene from Chapter 44 of my novel Now I’m Found, describing a smallpox epidemic that hit the Oregon City area in October 1849. The following Sunday morning William complained, “Mama, I’m hot.”Jenny felt his forehead—burning. O’Neil brought her a bucket of water, and she removed William’s shirt […]
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