tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11668103703250370292024-03-06T00:31:54.224-05:00Historical Fiction, A Light in TimeSusan Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00922171469364860239noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166810370325037029.post-67895413979947711252017-03-04T06:30:00.000-05:002017-03-04T06:30:28.464-05:00Synchronized Fireflies -- Awesome! <br />
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Went to the Congaree National Park in Hopkins, SC (about 30 minutes from Columbia) from 8-10 p.m. to see the synchronized fireflies. <br />
Truly AMAZING!!! More fireflies than I've ever seen in my life. My sister and I walked along the boardwalk and then stood for an hour watching the phenomenon. <br />
There were lots of people, but most everyone was whispering and being respectful by using red flashlights (instead of the white ones, which scare the fireflies away). This happens once a year, usually between the last two weeks of May and first two weeks of June, for about two weeks. When I called the Park Ranger to check, he said the fireflies are more active this year than he's seen in a long time. <br />
How many of you caught "lightnin' bugs" in a jar when you were a child? <br />
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I have a scene in my post-Revolutionary novel, Laurel, when my main characters are swimming in a waterfall pool and see thousands of fireflies. <br />
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Susan Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00922171469364860239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166810370325037029.post-33240014422008184152015-12-01T08:39:00.000-05:002015-12-01T08:39:16.992-05:00Cassia Nominated for Christy Award<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In Cassia, the third novel in the Xanthakos Family Trilogy, Lilyan and Nicholas and their three children are attacked by pirates in the North Carolina Outer Banks in 1799. <br />
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Here's a review by Elaine Marie Cooper, author of the Deer Run Series.
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It’s difficult to pinpoint what I appreciate the most about Susan Craft’s latest release entitled “Cassia.” Is it the well-crafted and impeccably researched story? The amazing tale filled with love and adventure? Or the fact that the author describes the true face of evil, not falling into the unrealistic device of romanticizing pirates who seek to kill and destroy? It is each of these aspects of this third book in her series (that includes “Chamomile” and “Laurel”) that had me riveted to my kindle late into the night. <br />
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I am just saddened to bid farewell to these precious characters, so skillfully created by the author.
But I applaud Ms. Craft’s satisfying finish to an amazing family saga. And I never fear that the author has short-changed us on getting the historical facts correct. Her amazing ability to blend details from the past with an enticing story for present day readers never ceases to amaze me.
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Another five star novel to satisfy this historical romance reader. Well done!<br />
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Susan Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00922171469364860239noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166810370325037029.post-5245736243697282482015-10-08T10:19:00.003-04:002015-10-08T10:19:45.200-04:00Cassia and Ships Throwing Slaves Overboard <br />
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In my novel, <em>Cassia</em>, the Xanthakos family come across a ship at sea that is dumping dead and dying slaves overboard.
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This happened a lot when ships packed what they considered their "cargo" too tightly. <br />
For example, the British slave ship <em>Zong</em> threw 54 sick and dying women and children into the sea. Two days later 42 male slaves were thrown overboard; 36 slaves followed in the next few days. Another ten, in a display of defiance at the inhumanity of the slavers, threw themselves overboard. <br />
On 22 December, 1781, the <i>Zong </i>arrived at Black River, Jamaica, with 208 slaves on board, less than half the number taken from Africa. <i>The King’s Bench Trial Reports.</i><br />
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<em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1941103731/">Cassia</a> </em>is a historical romantic suspense that spans from 1799-1836 and from the Blue Ridge Mountains to Charleston, SC, and to the NC Outer Banks. It is the third book of the <em>Xanthakos Family Trilogy</em>. The first two are <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chamomile-Susan-F-Craft/dp/1941103685/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8">The Chamomile</a></em> and <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Laurel-Susan-F-Craft/dp/194110391X">Laurel</a></em>.Susan Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00922171469364860239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166810370325037029.post-85248402819624476662015-09-20T11:39:00.000-04:002015-09-20T11:39:26.820-04:00 Careening -- Pirates Watch Out!<br />
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As a result of the research I did for my novel, <strong><em>Cassia</em></strong>, set in the NC Outer Banks and the Atlantic Coast in 1799, I have lots of interesting trivia about pirates and maritime customs I’d like to share.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkxc_IRSzHr85vbB-y_fpnUqTE4m2FFWX4551IblqvWQTaSwafmJGuKgUAQyzr09CGma7hGQMp6_rXkSD-npxpbQCsNaLPkxDMjr28BzseNwfv4YbWQt037kC4ecDDflXsbZdtTB31WE/s1600/careening,+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkxc_IRSzHr85vbB-y_fpnUqTE4m2FFWX4551IblqvWQTaSwafmJGuKgUAQyzr09CGma7hGQMp6_rXkSD-npxpbQCsNaLPkxDMjr28BzseNwfv4YbWQt037kC4ecDDflXsbZdtTB31WE/s400/careening,+2.jpg" width="400" /></a> One practice is called “careening,” turning a wooden ship on its side to expose the hull. It was the most dangerous time for pirates as it made them vulnerable to attack.
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Barnacles</span></em></strong></td></tr>
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Ships’ hulls would become thick with grasses, seaweed, worms, mold, and organisms such as barnacles making the ships difficult to steer. Since speed was critical to pirates, it was necessary for the hulls to be scraped every two to three months. </div>
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Careening also allowed for repairs of damage caused by dry rot or cannon shot and for coating the exterior with a layer of sulfur, tar and tallow to reduce leakage.
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A wooden ship would be beached at high tide to expose the ship below the waterline. This was also called “hove down.”</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Hove down</span></em></strong></td></tr>
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Ships would be taken to a shallow area and the masts pulled to the ground by securing the top halyard to an object such as a tree.
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The practice of heeling over a ship in deep waters by shifting ballast or cannon to one side was called “Parliamentary heeling.” It was a much faster way of cleaning the hull. </div>
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In 1782, the HMS Royal George was lost while undergoing this procedure.<br />
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The Xanthakos Family Trilogy<br />
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<br />Susan Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00922171469364860239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166810370325037029.post-20238831311045741262015-09-03T08:49:00.002-04:002015-09-03T08:49:56.921-04:00Cassia Book Launch September 14! <br />
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<span style="color: #76a5af; font-size: large;"> <span style="color: #134f5c;"> Join me in celebrating the release of my newest inspirational historical suspense, <em>Cassia</em>. The Online Book Launch Party will be on FaceBook Monday, September 14 from 6-9 p.m. EST. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;"> The party will be on my author page/event, Susan F. Craft, at this link: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1457549954546023">https://www.facebook.com/events/1457549954546023</a></span> <br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"> Come by, chat, and leave a comment for a chance to win some really great prizes.</span> </span> <br />
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The Xanthakos family’s sea voyage from South Carolina to the North Carolina Outer Banks turns ugly after they pressure their ship’s captain to rescue a pregnant woman thrown overboard from a slave ship.
When the slave contracts smallpox, the captain maroons her, Lilyan and Nicholas and their children, Laurel, Paul, and Marion, on an island. <br />
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After Nicholas and Marion leave to seek help, Lilyan and her children and the baby, whom they have named Cassia, are captured by pirates and taken to their island hideout under the command of the vile Captain Galeo (The Shark), but Paul escapes along the way. <br />
Galeo is attracted to Lilyan and orders her and Laurel to dine with him where reveals his plan to make Lilyan his own and auction Laurel to the highest bidder and where he forces them to witness a mock trial and a hanging. <br />
Heartsick to see her child exposed to such evil, Lilyan rekindles her long-dormant courage and forges an escape plan. Meanwhile, Nicholas faces his self-perceived failure to protect his family. He must abandon the life of a vintner and once again call upon the skills he honed as a captain in Francis Marion’s militia. <br />
Together they face the hardest challenge to a parent, watching as life tests the mettle of their highly sheltered and beloved children. Bolstered by their faith, they realize their strength isn’t enough to see them through and that God is in control. <br />
Will the Xanthakos children withstand their trials and learn to be as tough as their parents? Will the family be united and return to their peaceful Blue Ridge Mountain home?
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the prizes is a sugar cinnamon candle and a packet of Cassia notecards.</td></tr>
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Susan Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00922171469364860239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166810370325037029.post-85146673110529711122015-08-16T13:18:00.000-04:002015-08-16T13:18:27.261-04:00My Novel Cassia and Colonial Medicine <br />
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<b><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">picture of a medicine chest</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> courtesy of
http://www.herbalremediesinfo.com/best-herbal-remedies.html</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Sometimes doing research for my colonial era novels can be amusing. <br />
A couple of months ago, I saw my family doctor for a problem I’d been having. The night before, I’d been reading a resource book for my upcoming novel <em>Cassia</em>. The name of it is <em>Indian Doctor – Nature’s method of curing and preventing disease according to the Indians</em>.<br />
I took the book with me to show the doctor the Indian cure for my problem.
What a hoot! We had such fun looking through the book. Seems as if every cure involved mixing something with wine, ale, beer, or liquor. We came to the conclusion that with enough of the “cure,” even if you still had the problem, you wouldn’t care anymore. <br />
Here’s what the book says for my problem, “Take some pounded panic (<em>panic</em> is another name for powdered corn), and give it to the patient to drink with wine, and he will recover. The same panic, being boiled with goat’s milk, and eaten twice a day, morning and evening, will operate the same.”
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Seriously, knowing the right herbs and natural cures was extremely important in an era where there were very few, if any, doctors available. And, most of the time, those doctors weren’t classically trained. <br />
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Lilyan Xanthakos, the heroine of <em>Cassia</em>, is not only a portrait and mural artist she is a healer who carries her medicine kit wherever she goes. In <em>Cassia</em> I mention an incident in Swansboro, NC, where pirates blockaded the port not for money or other booty, but for medical supplies (which were worth their weight in gold.)<br />
There’s also a scene where the ship’s cook, because there is no doctor on board, applies a camphor-based ointment to the scratches on Lilyan’s face. <br />
While she's being cared for, Lilyan checks out the cook's medicine kit that has: jalap for purging, mercury salves for the Foul Disease, autumn crocus and meadow saffron for gout, and St. John’s Wort for insomnia, all carefully wrapped in oil-soaked paper. <br />
Lilyan, along with most colonial women, maintained a medicine kit that might have included the following: (Some of the items in this list that may seem misspelled come directly from Nicholas Culpepper's <em>The English Physician, Enlarged in 1653</em>.) <br />
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<li>
Valerian root, combined with hops and lemon balm; a sedative for sleep disorders, insomnia<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="color: blue;">valerian root</span></em></strong></td></tr>
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</li>
<li>Sweet gum bark, boiled; for sore eyes, wash eyes three times a day </li>
<li>Rum or brandy; for a burn apply a wet rag doused; Two or three swallows of cold water before breakfast; for heartburn </li>
<li>Feverfew; for headaches/migraines, body aches, and fever </li>
<li>Southern Wood; for upset stomach (also used as an insect or moth repellent<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpe8s2ztRyor1B7tMc6ogVNROBbkQaZyDlntyO0WEHm0dz05p51Ju_2ArMCLVLaGbYPlQk5jqu-tVItRF4F4SopoAhJKmmb1Y_v0jhyopl9nCnYU6hws_ISwJrJD3wLpJGIj-xX1Wu0E0/s1600/southern+wood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpe8s2ztRyor1B7tMc6ogVNROBbkQaZyDlntyO0WEHm0dz05p51Ju_2ArMCLVLaGbYPlQk5jqu-tVItRF4F4SopoAhJKmmb1Y_v0jhyopl9nCnYU6hws_ISwJrJD3wLpJGIj-xX1Wu0E0/s200/southern+wood.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="color: blue;">southern wood</span></em></strong></td></tr>
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</li>
<li>Calendula, dried, ground and mixed with animal fat; for cuts<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="color: blue;">calendula</span></em></strong></td></tr>
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</li>
<li>Tansy; for indigestion, cramps, sunburn, and to remove freckles</li>
<li>Basil; draw poison out of animal bites</li>
<li>Black Cohosh; for menopause</li>
<li>Boswellia; for arthritis</li>
<li>Chamomile tea; for digestive problems</li>
<li>Flaxseed; for menopausal discomfort and osteoporosis</li>
<li>White Willow Bark; for back pain</li>
<li>Ginger; for nausea and vomiting</li>
<li>Lavender flowers; for anxiety </li>
<li>Fleabane; for venomous bites, smoke from it kills gnats and fleas; dangerous for women and children </li>
<li>Hellebore root snuffed up the nose; for sneezing and melancholy and to kill rats and mice </li>
<li>Penyroyal; for vomiting, gas, and vertigo </li>
<li>Fox’s tongue softened in vinegar; applied topically, draws out a thorn or splinter </li>
<li>Rose petals steeped in vinegar; applied topically for headache</li>
<li>Chalk; for heartburn </li>
<li>Calamine; for skin irritations </li>
<li>Cinchona Bark (contains quinine); for fevers </li>
<li>Garden celedine, pile wort, or fig wort; for boils</li>
<li>Cottonweed, boyled in lye; it keeps the head from Nits and Lice; being laid among Cloaths, it keeps them safe from Moths; taken in a Tobacco-pipe it helps Coughs of the Lunges, and vehement headaches.</li>
<li>Take howse leeke Catts blod and Creame mixed together & oynt the place warme or take the moss that groweth in a well & Catts blod mixed & so aply it warme to the plase whare the shingles be; for the shingles. </li>
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Oh, two weeks after I saw my doctor, who prescribed medicine that cured my original problem, I had to see him again for a terrible earache. We looked at the Indian cure that involved lily onions, marsh mallows, oil of violet and, of course, taken with wine. And then, bleeding. <br />
I’ll stick with the antibiotics. <br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: blue;">The Xanthakos Family Trilogy</span></em></strong><br />
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Susan Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00922171469364860239noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166810370325037029.post-55607019188809647802015-08-01T09:10:00.000-04:002015-08-01T09:10:59.175-04:00Limners, Portrait Painters<center>
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<b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: xx-small; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> A 1765 oil on canvas by Matthew Pratt (1734-1805). </span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: xx-small; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pratt sits at
his easel, </span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: xx-small; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and his teacher and friend, </span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: xx-small; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Benjamin West, </span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: xx-small; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">stands at the far left
holding paint brushes.</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-size: small;"> By the early 1700s, wealthy American colonists hired painters, called “limners,” to paint portraits of their families. These limners, mostly self-taught, generally unknown by name, turned out naïve portraits in the Elizabethan style, the Dutch baroque style, or the English baroque court style, depending upon the European background of both artist and patron.
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Many limners painted miniatures -- tiny watercolor portraits -- on pieces of ivory, often oval-shaped. These were commonly worn as jewelry.</span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-size: small;"> Limners also painted on paper and canvas and earned, on average, $15 per portrait.
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> Like most artisans of their time who found it difficult to support themselves with paintings only, they also worked in pewter, silver, glass, or textiles or took jobs doing ornamental painting of clocks, furniture, signs, coaches, and landscapes.
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> Portraiture was the most important form of painting during the Colonial period, but rather than a true portrait, the paintings were idealistic and did not present a true representation of the personality of the sitter and were often two dimensional. </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Artists focused on the material wealth of the subject, giving much attention to their clothing and accessories. Some artists painted only the faces of their subjects, explaining that they need not bother with tedious sittings, and that they would paint the bodies and clothing later. They would show their subjects English and French prints from which to choose whatever costumes they preferred.
Limners Samuel McIntire and Duncan Phyfe became celebrated painters of furniture.</span> </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Famous portrait artists included Joseph Blackburn, Peter Pelham, John Smibert, John Singleton Copley, John Trumbull and Charles Wilson Peale. An American painter, Benjamin West, became painter to the king and president of the Royal Academy in London. American painters flocked to his studio to learn under his tutelage, including Gilbert Stuart.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3ZqXTvE2xzby26uRJQ-LU9KOCgENQFFa1_3I4X-BFLTcu5NVdqOSzzNT6bhPnJtkLcJeZc4SRxJ3Xx6ljjslkFNyrNMpOmTHsehZqNxZjjjCMjLlBzg-bv6WhO8kbVAQp7E4b5pVrc8/s1600/limner,+Gilbert+Stuart+portrait+by+Sarah+Goodridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje3ZqXTvE2xzby26uRJQ-LU9KOCgENQFFa1_3I4X-BFLTcu5NVdqOSzzNT6bhPnJtkLcJeZc4SRxJ3Xx6ljjslkFNyrNMpOmTHsehZqNxZjjjCMjLlBzg-bv6WhO8kbVAQp7E4b5pVrc8/s200/limner,+Gilbert+Stuart+portrait+by+Sarah+Goodridge.jpg" width="160" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Gilbert Stuart, a portrait by Sarah Goodridge</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> Colonial limners kept supplies of pigments which they mixed to create watercolors, oil, and tempera paints. Watercolors consisted of pigment and chalk. Oil paints were a mixture of pigment and linseed oil. Tempera paints were a mixture of pigments, lime, and milk.
Pigments were derived from white lead, zinc oxide, mercuric sulfide, iron oxide-containing clay and Paris green, a poisonous compound made of green copper and arsenic. Artists also used Prussian blue, a blue iron pigment.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> Limners sometimes made their own brushes, but could buy them from merchants as well. Brushes were made of quills from geese, ducks, and crows. Red sable-tipped brushes were often used for watercolor paintings, as were squirrel-hair quill brushes. They would have afforded limners working on a miniature the ability to create fine lines. Boar's bristles, widely used for a variety of tools, were likely used for paintbrushes, as they are today. Boar's bristle paintbrushes are most commonly used for oil paintings.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfUu1Hn5GjKHVHSJP4CYQ7uQ193wbBvKS2aXPH2oQbjRyNMIqioSv5Cj1UOB75rlkL9Gx2S_xHxk5fPSFmyghyEEctLpsKefbQ3tE-2Ga_88qTCkz_9eh9fUSj3__JARC6W1wSTjqWuo/s1600/limner,+colorbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfUu1Hn5GjKHVHSJP4CYQ7uQ193wbBvKS2aXPH2oQbjRyNMIqioSv5Cj1UOB75rlkL9Gx2S_xHxk5fPSFmyghyEEctLpsKefbQ3tE-2Ga_88qTCkz_9eh9fUSj3__JARC6W1wSTjqWuo/s200/limner,+colorbox.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-size: small;"> Artists stored their pigments and paints in color boxes a sort of antique backpack--wooden boxes with hinges attaching the top to the bottom. The bottom half of the box served as a storage place for paint materials, and the lid served as a palette. A leather shoulder strap was attached for easy transport.
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> In 1754 in British colonial New York, an artist took out the following ad in the Gazette and the Weekly Post: <em>Lawrence Kilburn, Limner, just arrived from London with Capt. Miller, hereby acquaints all Gentlemen and Ladies inclined to favour him in having their pictures drawn, that he don't doubt of pleasing them in taking a true Likeness, and finishing the Drapery in a proper Manner, as also in the Choice of Attitudes, suitable to each Person's Age and Sex, and giving agreeable Satisfaction, as he has heretofore done to Gentlemen and Ladies in London. He may at present be apply'd to at his Lodgings, at Mr. Bogart's near the New Printing-Office in Beaver-Street.</em></span></span></div>
</span><br />Susan Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00922171469364860239noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166810370325037029.post-51285642495155647012015-07-07T20:00:00.000-04:002015-07-07T20:45:12.144-04:00Jayme H. Mansfield - Author, Artist, Educator<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPVplmpi2nGZF5eHmGpSAHJEsUQmzVePH36gvlrQ9maAdNDYbanNHsbl4zIWyjs7FzKwtc9WHcq-dPBFn2FsHGUhPoZAj7Q_4b1wI0b30hd81XV1MDKak-gajgtOtMrnzaKqVus4jpJw/s1600/Jayme+and+canvas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvPVplmpi2nGZF5eHmGpSAHJEsUQmzVePH36gvlrQ9maAdNDYbanNHsbl4zIWyjs7FzKwtc9WHcq-dPBFn2FsHGUhPoZAj7Q_4b1wI0b30hd81XV1MDKak-gajgtOtMrnzaKqVus4jpJw/s400/Jayme+and+canvas.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<strong></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">When did you first discover that you were a writer?</span></strong>
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The first time I found myself in “the zone” was when I knew I had found my passion to write. Hours and hours went unnoticed and turned into full days in front of the computer. <br />
Ironically, for being an extrovert, I discovered a wonderful place—to be by myself, creating new stories.
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">What inspired your novel <em>Chasing the Butterfly</em>?</span></strong>
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The initial seeds for the story grew out of writing assignments for the Christian Writers Guild and my personal passions for painting and traveling to France numerous times. But after that, I was inspired to persevere and complete the novel as a personal journey and challenge. <br />
At some (often many) junctures of our lives, we have to contend with forgiveness. Writing the book was my way of navigating pain, communing with the Lord, and ultimately realizing the freedom and joy that come with forgiving. <br />
I promised God I would finish the story, and when I did, I wasn’t sure if it would remain for His eyes and mine only. But His ways are surprising—that’s when the doors began to fly open.
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">Where do your story and character ideas come from?</span></strong> <br />
My characters come from bits and pieces of family members, friends, and myself. I don’t recall ever concocting all of the characters—instead, they seem to invite themselves into the story because they have something important to say or do. <br />
As for the story idea, I am fascinated by strong women who eventually figure out how to survive life’s difficulties, and ultimately find hope in the blessings. I have always been intrigued with history so weaving that with an artistic element motivates me to create story.
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">Tell us how you came up with the lovely cover of your book.</span></strong> <br />
My long-time friend, Kelly Berger, is an accomplished professional artist in Colorado. When I received word from the publisher that they would consider an original piece of art for the cover, I went straight to Kelly. She read the manuscript and fell in love with the story. <br />
I had pulled at least thirty different images and photographs of Provence, laid them out randomly in my art studio, and asked her to take a look. From those and our shared travels to Provence, we envisioned the low vantage point—poppy field with the butterfly in the distance and the sunset backdrop. <br />
Off to work she went…when the final painting was unveiled, I was stunned. Truly, it was exactly how I had imagined the cover! <br />
Our friendship has been blessed by the opportunity to share in the creation of the novel. <br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">You are one of the busiest writers I have met. How do you manage to balance writing time with teaching school and being mom to three active boys?</span></strong> <br />
I suppose I’m one of those people who have never understood the meaning of boredom. I find that I am driven by my passions to create in many forms. Sometimes, I wish I could lay aside a thing or two, but then I feel something’s incomplete. <br />
It’s probably a good thing I have three boys and a husband who are active and have so many personal interests. But I admit, there have been many days that I jump on and hold on tight!
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<br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">How did you research your setting in France? Do you have any anecdotes or interesting experiences arising from your research which you would like to share with our readers? Have any of these found their way into your book?</span></strong>
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I’ve been to France, particularly Paris and Provence, several times. On each visit, hundreds of photographs captured the beauty and history—those images became ingrained in my mind and served as the visual memory when I wrote many of the scenes. <br />
I find World War II fascinating to read about, both in other novels and in non-fiction. Eventually, I needed to pull myself away from researching and get on with the story. <br />
On a fun side-note, whenever I mentioned paint colors I had to make sure the specific names of the paints existed at that time. I had a wonderful time delving into the history of art materials—it’s amazing where those unique names originated—but, that’s another story.
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<br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">How do you see the importance of Christian fiction?</span></strong>
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The presence of Christian fiction is imperative—it’s a venue for biblical truth to be woven into story in an appealing, inspirational, and fresh manner. I can’t tell you how many readers have appreciated enjoying a story without the offenses that are prevalent in much of today’s writing. Whether a reader has been a Christian or not, the discussions that have ensued from the story always contain elements of faith, hope, love, and God.
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">What are three things that have had the most influence on your writing process?</span></strong>
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<em> <strong>Belief</strong></em> -- I have a story to create that is intended to touch the lives of others.
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<strong><em>Gratitude and Humility</em></strong> – this writing journey is not merely about me, and I couldn’t do it by myself. <br />
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Challenge</em></strong> – writing is difficult in every way imaginable—but the process, nuances, and craft is exhilarating (even when I’m exhausted!).
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">Do you plot your stories ahead of time, or do you write from the seat of your pants?</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></strong>Give me a horse to ride, and I’m on it! That’s my way of saying, “I love to write seat of the pants!” I get a rush from letting the story take off and run.
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">What events in your personal life have most impacted your writing, and how?</span></strong>
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I write from plenty of emotion. I have discovered that I write scenes and dialogue based largely on what is currently on my mind and what themes are coursing through my heart and soul at the time.
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">More About Jayme:</span></strong><br />
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Jayme H. Mansfield is an author, artist, and educator. She provides vivid imagery as she melds her inspiring writing and artistic talents. <br />
Her passion for weaving stories about women who find their strength in the Lord continues in her upcoming novel, <em>Rush</em>, a historically compelling tale of the Oklahoma Land Rush in the late 1800’s. <br />
Jayme owns, paints, and shares the joy of creating visual art with children and adults at the <em>Piggy Toes Art Studio</em> in Lakewood, Colorado, for the past twenty years. <br />
After a career in both the business and creative sides of advertising, Jayme received her teaching and Master’s Degree in Elementary Education and Creative Arts. <br />
For many years in elementary education, she has shared a passion for literacy and the writing process with her students. She teaches at Aspen Academy in Greenwood Village, Colorado. <br />
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">About <em>Chasing the Butterfly:</em></span></strong>
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From a vineyard in the south of France to the sophisticated city of Paris, Ella Moreau searches for the hope and love she lost as a young girl when her mother abandoned the family. Ella's journey is portrayed through a heartbroken child, a young woman's struggles during the tumultuous times surrounding World War II, and as a reflective adult. Through a series of secret paintings, her art becomes the substitute for lost love--the visual metaphor of her life. But when her paintings are discovered, the intentions of those she loves are revealed.
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Digit ISBN: 978-1-941-103-37-1 </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Genre: Historical Fiction </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Release Date: October 14, 2014 </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">2015 Historical Fiction Book of the Year, </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Christian Small Publisher Association </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">2015 Inspirational Readers Choice Award Finalist – Women’s Fiction</span> </div>
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">Jayme on social media:</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>Website: </strong></span><a href="http://www.jaymemansfield.com/"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>www.jaymemansfield.com</strong></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>Facebook Author Page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jayme-H-Mansfield/669237533103946">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jayme-H-Mansfield/669237533103946</a>
</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>Pinterest: <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/jaymemansfield/">https://www.pinterest.com/jaymemansfield/</a>
</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>Goodreads: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8432600.Jayme_H_Mansfield">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8432600.Jayme_H_Mansfield</a>
</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/jaymemansfield">http://twitter.com/jaymemansfield</a>
</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>Other: Instagram : <a href="http://instagram.com/jaymemansfield">http://instagram.com/jaymemansfield</a>
</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong> Art Studio website: www.piggytoes.com</strong></span>
Susan Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00922171469364860239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166810370325037029.post-12577043679279080852015-03-18T17:11:00.000-04:002015-03-18T17:11:01.008-04:00Colonial American Cosmetics, A Deadly Vanity<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciz6mDh_6Q2aXC5Opf9ImaEZ9eMXxaMAHhBK0mxxqaqaEaeFDJFYy4eeO_eab_iYcrTRSxfkB8Gni2Qbc3BrkFMC1Wm2aXayiEKKvay3r83T76KjYcnXoEO9kuqXT6ds_oq2AA0OjKaY/s1600/cosmetics,+gainsborough-grace-dalrymple-elliott-1782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciz6mDh_6Q2aXC5Opf9ImaEZ9eMXxaMAHhBK0mxxqaqaEaeFDJFYy4eeO_eab_iYcrTRSxfkB8Gni2Qbc3BrkFMC1Wm2aXayiEKKvay3r83T76KjYcnXoEO9kuqXT6ds_oq2AA0OjKaY/s1600/cosmetics,+gainsborough-grace-dalrymple-elliott-1782.jpg" height="320" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="color: red;">Lady Dawlrymple by Gainsborough (an example of pale skin, </span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: red;">rouged cheeks and lips, and dark eyebrows)</span></em></strong> </td></tr>
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The average colonial American woman, whether due to a lack of money, time, incentive, or religious reasons and cultural mores, wore little or no makeup. European women who visited America from places where makeup was common among the upper classes, often commented in their letters and diaries about this. <br />
Colonial women did apply skin treatments that were intended to be washed off. <br />
Here’s one concoction for a cleanser made of a paste of dried almonds: <br />
<em> Beat any quantity you please of Sweet and Bitter Almonds in a marble mortar, and while beating, pour on them a little Vinegar in a small stream to prevent their turning oily; then add 2 drachms of storax in fine powder, 2 drachms of white Honey, and 2 Yolks of Eggs boiled hard; mix the whole into a paste.</em> <br />
Women, mostly wealthy, who were attentive to their looks did the following: <br />
• For pale, waifish skin --
apply rice powder or powder made from lead paint;
trace the veins with a blue pencil <br />
• Glistening eyes --
belladonna eye drops<br />
• Lip Color
-- mix beet juice with lard;
use carmine red, a color derived from cochineal beetles imported from Central
America (these beetles are used in lipstick today!) <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvGmSmyc1_cYuMh733TGN2h7Jjhb0ZrKhHa7E9XKiGAs70MunFMwpoKLLYB6WyWmdwLQZjRi2btPEuweB_I60eWlLWzmTHO5ZMotmQg39WtULg5cbvbfKHnv9myN_GZOuJPggF2zZXGs/s1600/cosmetics,+cochineal+beetle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvGmSmyc1_cYuMh733TGN2h7Jjhb0ZrKhHa7E9XKiGAs70MunFMwpoKLLYB6WyWmdwLQZjRi2btPEuweB_I60eWlLWzmTHO5ZMotmQg39WtULg5cbvbfKHnv9myN_GZOuJPggF2zZXGs/s1600/cosmetics,+cochineal+beetle.jpg" height="135" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><span style="color: red;">cochineal beetle</span></strong></em><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWS6s8csahMVIKKiPmuTq1dMb11SsiJVi_0OIUaDCnhwqKuDFvOvIp-gqU7HUcUnQrQ6JBv_Z-NT9GFzBDZJNnufEcPSZv6c96nyH2Zmucphyl4ND3sticAwSPkgYxuHQfuI6aQmi_9u4/s1600/cosmetics,+cochineal+beetle+carmine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWS6s8csahMVIKKiPmuTq1dMb11SsiJVi_0OIUaDCnhwqKuDFvOvIp-gqU7HUcUnQrQ6JBv_Z-NT9GFzBDZJNnufEcPSZv6c96nyH2Zmucphyl4ND3sticAwSPkgYxuHQfuI6aQmi_9u4/s1600/cosmetics,+cochineal+beetle+carmine.jpg" height="114" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="color: red;">vermillion powder made from </span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: red;">the cochineal beetle</span></em></strong></td></tr>
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• Blush -- pinch your cheeks or mix beet juice with talc or
cornstarch;
puncture one’s finger and use the blood for rouge (Ee-ew!);
safflower, wood resin, sandalwood, and brazilwood mixed with greases, creams,
or vinegars to create a paste <br />
• Mascara/Eyeliner -- moisten eyelashes with your fingers or line eyes with coal tar (could cause
blindness) <br />
• Anti-aging skin creams -- rub bacon grease on your face or egg whites for a “glaze.” <br />
• Lip Plumpers --
bite your lip several times throughout the day <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyisjHthvWT9FZzIz3p1Pxcn-WQJcRmBQkThWch3CcZ5jWrJLriHXIOB2jDb1k6S9BESE0fwdUncLZg4wbGSJoTfEK-lkbVa6upTU8hOYo0hVTfYNQ7XM0_bw2ueCY3l0xBJEu0QFiTg/s1600/cosmetics,+Kitty+Fisher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyisjHthvWT9FZzIz3p1Pxcn-WQJcRmBQkThWch3CcZ5jWrJLriHXIOB2jDb1k6S9BESE0fwdUncLZg4wbGSJoTfEK-lkbVa6upTU8hOYo0hVTfYNQ7XM0_bw2ueCY3l0xBJEu0QFiTg/s1600/cosmetics,+Kitty+Fisher.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <em><strong><span style="color: red;">In 1767, Kitty Fisher, a famous English beauty, </span></strong></em><br />
<em><strong><span style="color: red;">died at age 23 from lead poisoning.</span></strong></em> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
• Perfume/Scents -- no essential oils like sandalwood, but plenty of rose petals and potpourri were
used to mask the smells of the streets <br />
• Acne Products -- lemon-juice, rosewater, or concoctions of mercury, alum, honey, and eggshells
(which is not advisable) <br />
The French physician Deshais-Gendron believed in 1760 that pulmonary lung disease among high-born ladies was associated with frequent use of lead face paint and rouge.<br />
<br />
<h4>
</h4>
<h4>
You Want My Fur for What?!!!
</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqYlNnKU8VYJKOfQ_9TiKfXhyXHislHWq7BRTFxaGo3Wt9Glepe08cu-QqHPSaLR_ahEelONeJq3h8__T81cSvE7oF94n6naR1LrV_67dbiNO2h9jFecMQbMpT1v9Szb3TjIzDXdq9QY/s1600/cosmetics,+mouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqYlNnKU8VYJKOfQ_9TiKfXhyXHislHWq7BRTFxaGo3Wt9Glepe08cu-QqHPSaLR_ahEelONeJq3h8__T81cSvE7oF94n6naR1LrV_67dbiNO2h9jFecMQbMpT1v9Szb3TjIzDXdq9QY/s1600/cosmetics,+mouse.jpg" /></a> </div>
During the third quarter of the 18th century, dark eyebrows became all the rage. <br />
Over time, lead-based cosmetics caused hair loss at the forehead and over the brows, resulting in a receding hairline and a bare brow. <br />
It became the custom as early as 1703 to trap mice and use their fur for artificial eyebrows, which were glued on. <br />
Sometimes, the glue did not always adhere well. Wouldn't that make a wonderful scene in a book -- a runaway eyebrow!<br />
In 1718, Matthew Prior wrote a poem about eyebrows. Here’s the last stanza: <br />
<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;"></span></em></strong><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">On little things, as sages write, </span></em></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">
Depends our human joy or sorrow; </span></em></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">
If we don’t catch a mouse to-night, </span></em></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em>
Alas! no eyebrows for to-morrow.</em></strong> </span></div>
<br />
Susan Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00922171469364860239noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166810370325037029.post-23127344381145270952015-02-13T17:28:00.001-05:002015-02-13T17:28:56.273-05:00Colonial Valentine Poems <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQ3rCcAojibI41lAdw22vQlq5BnqZmFr91xugUaFTrujpEkA_jaUAIGhCLI_FGGDCeE81S6bcfgjn2ffPsce0aUk_93tDTx6PkVI4kj05S3AVgO-ZTYir484DqMKNAVlGHZ0tL3GkI0A/s1600/colonial+valentines,+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQ3rCcAojibI41lAdw22vQlq5BnqZmFr91xugUaFTrujpEkA_jaUAIGhCLI_FGGDCeE81S6bcfgjn2ffPsce0aUk_93tDTx6PkVI4kj05S3AVgO-ZTYir484DqMKNAVlGHZ0tL3GkI0A/s1600/colonial+valentines,+4.jpg" height="248" width="400" /></a></div>
As part of a fad that was called “the lovers’ literary campaign of 1768,” the <em>Virginia Gazette</em> featured acrostic poems where the first letter, syllable, or word of each line, paragraph or other recurring featured in the text spelled out a word or a message. <br />
Several love struck swains of Williamsburg and its neighboring plantations honored their beloveds during the month on February, beginning three days before Valentine’s Day. <br />
One unknown admirer sang the praises of Miss Frances Lewis of a prominent Gloucester County family. <br />
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Notice that the first letter of each line of his poem spells out Miss Lewis’ name: <br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">MISS FRANCES LEWIS</span></strong><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">
M</span></strong>inerva's choice;—Apollo's fond delight, <br />
<strong><span style="color: red;"> I</span></strong>n whom fine sense and music's charms unite: <br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">
S</span></strong>weet lovely maid; dear fav'rite of the nine. <br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">
S</span></strong>ay, will you be my constant VALENTINE? <br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">
F</span></strong>or you the Muse expands her lapsid wings, <br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">
R</span></strong>ears her fall'n pow'rs, and strikes the trembling strings. <br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">
A</span></strong>t thy dear feet she pays the tribute due: <br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">
N</span></strong>or thinks she bends too low to wait on you: <br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">
C</span></strong>harm'd with thy lovely form;—thy music fine: <br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">
E</span></strong>xtatic raptures all my heart entwine. <br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">
S</span></strong>o my once lov'd Celinda touch'd the keys: <br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">
L</span></strong>ovely like you—like you was form'd to please! <br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">
E</span></strong>arly in life the fatal summons came, <br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">
W</span></strong>ither'd my joys and snatched the beauteous dame! <br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">
I</span></strong>n you dear nymph, the reparation lies, <br />
<strong><span style="color: red;">
S</span></strong>ay you'll be kind, or youthful Strephon dies. <br />
<br />
For the young men and women of Williamsburg, this romantic wordplay was the equivalent of pop songs and Hallmark cards.
Here’s another sample written by David Mead of Nansemond County singing the virtues of his fiancée, Sally Waters: MISS WATERS<br />
<br />
Most praise the gaudy tulips streak'd with red. <br />
I praise the virgin lilly's bending head: <br />
Some the jonquil in shining yellow drest; <br />
Some love the fring'd carnation's varied vest; <br />
Whilst others, pleas'd that fabled youth to trace, <br />
As o'er the stream he bends to view his face. <br />
The exulting florist views their varied dyes; <br />
E'n thus fares beauty in each lover's eyes. <br />
Read o'er these lines, you'll see the nymph with ease, <br />
She like the rose was made, all eyes to please. <br />
<br />
Mr. Mead’s valentine must have succeeded in winning Sally’s heart, for three months later, on May 19, the <em>Virginia Gazette</em> announced, “on Thursday last David Mead, Esq., of Nansemond, was married to Miss Sally Waters, of this city, an agreeable young Lady." <br />
As with all fads, the lovers' literary campaign of 1768 faded away as quickly as it started, but cropped up sporadically with one poem appearing in 1769, and other tributes between March 1773 and December 1776.
The final acrostic published in the <em>Gazette</em> in 1776 honored Sally Cary. <br />
A subsequent notice in 1768 provided a happy ending to that poem with this marriage announcement, "Thomas Nelson, jun. Esq; captain in the first Virginia regiment, to Miss Sally Cary, eldest daughter of Wilson Miles Cary, Esq; of the county of Fluvanna." <br />
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Susan Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00922171469364860239noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166810370325037029.post-11887698161073175772015-02-12T18:51:00.000-05:002015-02-12T18:51:05.812-05:00Yankee Doodles and Macaronis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZYkikLoaLhWUQSuoQHe6AmuJpc22AcbFVGDRw_dGcSXMCMpW-qjoMFhcBQkMFa8UIgWymmFbeRILfbHiRH5KUdgJ56sR98ZbtkoEJ5KpkNhmgUvwuNE44Hc7zg6A4V_7V97SJmmnbv4/s1600/Macaronis+and+Yankee+Doodles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZYkikLoaLhWUQSuoQHe6AmuJpc22AcbFVGDRw_dGcSXMCMpW-qjoMFhcBQkMFa8UIgWymmFbeRILfbHiRH5KUdgJ56sR98ZbtkoEJ5KpkNhmgUvwuNE44Hc7zg6A4V_7V97SJmmnbv4/s1600/Macaronis+and+Yankee+Doodles.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: red;">Yankee Doodle went to town </span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: red;">
A-riding on a pony,
</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: red;">Stuck a feather in his cap
</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: red;">And called it macaroni.</span></strong>
</div>
<br />
Macaroni was the name given in the 1770s to an extravagantly dressed man, who wore bizarre and over-the-top fashions such as narrow breeches and short, tight waistcoats, usually decorated with large buttons and lace. Macaronis also wore high heeled shoes and small hats. They would often carry a posey of flowers in their hands or pinned to their waistcoats. <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkR7pjn7rz4WtzDOd_gt_hs_LGCeoRUSRScOALhXIwiLH1kXrsTovVkxHZ5suGy6Tw6GXcGUdwbbmtqq9MDDDks3dhM-z2q6LgPzcw1xAnYYQ46wN9Ybp2I1FzzQhmosNvvbD3q03a6TQ/s1600/macaroni,+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkR7pjn7rz4WtzDOd_gt_hs_LGCeoRUSRScOALhXIwiLH1kXrsTovVkxHZ5suGy6Tw6GXcGUdwbbmtqq9MDDDks3dhM-z2q6LgPzcw1xAnYYQ46wN9Ybp2I1FzzQhmosNvvbD3q03a6TQ/s1600/macaroni,+2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: red;">Clerical Macaroni</span></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The name came from people who had been on The Grand Tour of European countries who liked all things foreign, especially food and who referred to something that was Italian in style as very Macaroni. Macaronis, or fops as they came to be known, frequented the fashionable places of London and won and lost vast fortunes gambling.
<br />
<br />
The newspapers of the day often made fun of them. For example, The Oxford Magazine published this account: “There is indeed a kind of animal, neither male, nor female, a thing of neuter gender, lately started up among us. It is called a Macaroni. It talks without meaning, it smiles without pleasure, it eats without appetite...” <br />
<br />
The British employed the song as a dig at people from the American colonies who they thought were trying to give themselves airs and graces but looking ridiculous. During the Revolutionary War, the colonists reclaimed the song and made it their own patriotic song. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SUE43k6cYy-ytqgwyZKiNwkEOf5VRydjPpR1b3DbGMHqy2BY6Ibhyr37kOVnCTrKDAcYCZeG69awoL5LDER9Fgo7xiP3XcJUv6NSZcjYLOmSIjoNSRQWFp3hEr-9BlOls1DTKB75p84/s1600/macaroni,+machine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SUE43k6cYy-ytqgwyZKiNwkEOf5VRydjPpR1b3DbGMHqy2BY6Ibhyr37kOVnCTrKDAcYCZeG69awoL5LDER9Fgo7xiP3XcJUv6NSZcjYLOmSIjoNSRQWFp3hEr-9BlOls1DTKB75p84/s1600/macaroni,+machine.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: red;">Thomas Jefferson's pasta machine design.</span></strong> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Speaking of macaroni as a food, macaroni and cheese was a favorite dish of colonists, especially Thomas Jefferson. In 1787, upon his return to America from his tour as minister to France, Jefferson brought back a pasta machine he had bought in Italy. He improved on the design of the machine and also came up with recipes that included not only American or English cheddar cheese, but also goat cheese and truffle cheese.
Susan Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00922171469364860239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166810370325037029.post-3487189962035171212015-02-05T14:04:00.002-05:002015-02-05T14:04:48.749-05:00Raven Mocker, The Night Goer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<strong><em>In my novel, Laurel, the daughter of Lilyan and Nicholas Xanthakos is kidnapped by slavers who attack the Cherokee village that Laurel and her Aunt Golden Fawn are visiting. In search of her daughter, Lilyan comes upon the village to find a medicine man taking part in a ceremony to keep away the Raven Mocker from the dead and dying.</em></strong>
<br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>Raven Mocker</strong>
<br />
The Cherokee call evil spirits that torment the sick Sunnayi Edahi, "the Night Goer." The spirits come at night to a sick person’s house and stomp on the roof, beat the side of the house, knock the person out of bed, and drag him on the floor. They try to hasten death. They want the sick person to die faster and not use up any of his life span so that they can take his unused lifetime and add it to their own.
<br />
Of all the Cherokee evil spirits the most dreaded is the Raven Mocker (Kâ'lanû Ahkyeli'skï), the one that robs the dying man of life. They are of either sex and there is no sure way to know one, though they usually look withered and old, because they have added so many lives to their own. At night, when someone is sick or dying in the village, the Raven Mocker goes to the place to take the life. He flies through the air in fiery shape, with arms outstretched like wings, and sparks trailing behind, and a rushing sound like the noise of a strong wind. Sometimes as he flies he makes a cry like a raven and those who hear are afraid, because they know that some man's life will soon end. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52fwRawl8QRdkL0enEOzcy7kg7bFyz97wXHfjm1Nr-y96KSXdR5x4ALJwfwEVaHb28msKGv4EQjz2_XgBCGt2JDwsm4XjGypRuILo2UU_dMkmUPWRCDG6LMSLznvwBA55FqNMBX8KMxg/s1600/Raven+Mocker+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52fwRawl8QRdkL0enEOzcy7kg7bFyz97wXHfjm1Nr-y96KSXdR5x4ALJwfwEVaHb28msKGv4EQjz2_XgBCGt2JDwsm4XjGypRuILo2UU_dMkmUPWRCDG6LMSLznvwBA55FqNMBX8KMxg/s1600/Raven+Mocker+2.jpg" height="200" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><em>picture by T.E.
Mails</em></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When the Raven Mocker comes to the house he finds others of his kind waiting there, and unless there is a doctor on guard who knows how to drive them away they go inside, all invisible, and frighten and torment the sick man until they kill him. Sometimes to do this they even lift him from the bed and throw him on the floor, but his friends who are with him think he is only struggling for breath.
After the evil spirits kill him, they take out his heart and eat it, and so add to their own lives as many days or years as they have taken from his. No one in the room can see them, and there is no scar where they take out the heart, but yet there is no heart left in the body. <br />
Only one who has the right medicine can recognize a Raven Mocker, and if such a man stays in the room with the sick person these witches are afraid to come in, and retreat as soon as they see him, because when one of them is recognized in his right shape he must die within seven days. <br />
The family will summon a medicine man to keep watch and hold it away until the person recovers. It the person dies, the medicine man will keep watch until the person is buried. After burial the heart cannot be taken.
The medicine man drives a sharpened stick into the ground at each corner of the house. Then, about noontime he gets ready the Tsâl-agayû'nlï or "Old Tobacco," with which he fills his pipe, repeating the chant below. He then wraps the pipe in a black cloth. This sacred tobacco is smoked only for this purpose. <br />
He then goes out into the forest, and returns just before dark, about which time the sprit will arrive. Lighting his pipe, he goes slowly around the house, puffing the smoke in the direction of every trail by which the sprit might approach. He then goes into the house to wait. <br />
When the spirit arrives, the sharpened stick on that side of the house shoots up into the air and comes down like an arrow upon his head. This causes the sprit to die within seven days.
Susan Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00922171469364860239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166810370325037029.post-51776708054191702212015-02-01T08:54:00.000-05:002015-02-01T08:54:20.559-05:00Laurel, a Post-Revolutionary War Inspirational Suspense<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>A 200-Mile Journey, a Trial, and a Shipwreck Test the Limits of Love and Faith</strong></span> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #783f04;"></span> </div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Review</span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">From the first word to the last sentence, "Laurel"
captured my attention. Chock full of factual history, the book moves from
Appalachia to Charleston, South Carolina, and on to the Outer Banks of North
Carolina with interesting twists and turns along the way. Characters become
like family with whom you do not want to part, and the emotions expressed are
spot-on for the circumstances. My hope is that there is a sequel to
"Laurel" in the works as the book left me wanting to spend more time
with this incredible family first introduced in the author's award-winning book
"The Chamomile." In my opinion, "Laurel" is also a winner
and award-worthy.</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong><span style="font-family: Times;">Brenda B. Crowley</span></strong> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Susan Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00922171469364860239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166810370325037029.post-57413097300664301232015-01-20T08:29:00.000-05:002015-01-20T08:33:36.534-05:00A Desperate Search for Their Kidnapped Child Is Just the Beginning<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-CecjyMVqrmtCsTJofQZaYZRq9UMKSArtQxM1w6RapLdHQeDTov_a39FxJetc_PDujeDZ7wz13YP6KVREauoMQqSI4Ur9R8AUXlvwOqVNxfRJk6iujCW5g6aBkL_Od1kOe09gssrAzY/s1600/Laurel+Cover+5+JPG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-CecjyMVqrmtCsTJofQZaYZRq9UMKSArtQxM1w6RapLdHQeDTov_a39FxJetc_PDujeDZ7wz13YP6KVREauoMQqSI4Ur9R8AUXlvwOqVNxfRJk6iujCW5g6aBkL_Od1kOe09gssrAzY/s1600/Laurel+Cover+5+JPG.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #783f04;"> A 200-Mile Journey, a Trial, and a Shipwreck Test
the Limits of Love and Faith i</span></strong><strong><span style="color: #783f04;">n the Post-Revolutionary War South</span></strong> </div>
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<strong><em>It's May 1783 in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina</em></strong></div>
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Your daughter’s been taken. Those unimaginable words begin Lilyan and Nicholas Xanthakos’ desperate trek to rescue their kidnapped daughter and her Cherokee aunt from slavers. The couple journeys two hundred miles through the Carolina wilderness, fighting outlaws, hunger, sleeplessness and despair. <br />
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They track Laurel to the port of Charleston as post-war passions reach fever pitch. There, Lilyan, a former patriot spy, is charged in the murder of a British officer. <br />
Separated from her husband, she digs deep to re-ignite the courage and faith that helped her survive the war. <br />
Determined to free his wife at any cost, Nicholas finds himself forced back into a life of violence he thought he’d left behind. <br />
After the trauma of the trial, the couple follows a rumor that Laurel may be aboard a freighter bound for Baltimore and secure passage on a departing schooner. <br />
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Two days into the voyage, a storm blows their ship aground on Diamond Shoals. As the ship founders, both are swept overboard into the roiling sea. <br />
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<em>Will the couple’s love and their beliefs buoy them as they struggle to find each other and their missing child?</em> <br />
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Laurel explores the faith that sustains hope in times of desperate struggle. <br />
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Praise for Laurel: 5 Stars on Amazon</span></strong> </div>
<em>Craft is brilliant in her marriage of both fact and fiction, as she weaves a story that captures your attention from first page to last. Ms. Craft has a gift with her pen, creating words that are both breathtaking and beautiful.</em> ~ <span style="font-size: x-small;">Elaine Marie Cooper, Author of Fields of the Fatherless and Bethany's Calendar</span> <br />
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<em>In Laurel, Susan F. Craft weaves a tale of enduring familial love, sacrifice, and adventure that kept me reading late into the night. The stakes are high when a tiny child is kidnapped, but there’s no peril Lilyan and Nicholas Xanthakos won’t face to see their daughter restored. Readers of Craft’s The Chamomile and new readers alike will enjoy this exciting sequel set in the Carolinas during the first years after the Revolutionary War, a setting Craft brings to vivid life. </em>~ <span style="font-size: x-small;">Lori Benton, Author of Burning Sky, a 2014 Triple Christy Award Winner</span> </div>
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To Purchase Laurel, visit <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/194110391X/">http://www.amazon.com/dp/194110391X/</a><br />
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Susan Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00922171469364860239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166810370325037029.post-3425985407993148532015-01-13T20:43:00.000-05:002015-01-13T20:43:41.147-05:00Laurel, A Post-Revolutionary War Inspirational Suspense<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6-shjbzdwZH0fE-Hfxc5q15MUY_xj0pBIfGJQYZzTY5PHjoGXTPWrwL9ck6E0IwQBXCzLB3wvrupN9-uDqIIdOv9jFNLqir51RbWPYR7B_TI3birBvRX_O4S5Nq5wT7HG15FH2VrZmo/s1600/Laurel+Cover+5+JPG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6-shjbzdwZH0fE-Hfxc5q15MUY_xj0pBIfGJQYZzTY5PHjoGXTPWrwL9ck6E0IwQBXCzLB3wvrupN9-uDqIIdOv9jFNLqir51RbWPYR7B_TI3birBvRX_O4S5Nq5wT7HG15FH2VrZmo/s1600/Laurel+Cover+5+JPG.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<strong><span style="color: blue;">Searching for their toddler and her Cherokee aunt kidnapped by slavers, Lilyan and Nicholas Xanthakos trek from their North Carolina vineyard, through South Carolina backcountry to Charleston, a tinderbox of post-Revolutionary War passions. There Lilyan, a former patriot spy, faces a grand jury on charges of murdering a British officer. Once free, they follow Laurel’s trail by sea and are shipwrecked on Ocracoke Island.</span></strong> <br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue;">Will they be reunited with their dear child or is Laurel lost to them forever?</span></strong>
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Join me in the celebration of the release of my newest inspirational historical suspense, <em>Laurel</em>. The Online Book Launch Party will be on FaceBook Saturday, Jan. 17 from 2-4 p.m. EST. <br />
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Come by, chat, and leave a comment for a chance to win some really great prizes. <br />
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The party will be on my author page/event, Susan F. Craft, at this link: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/323605987833539/">https://www.facebook.com/events/323605987833539/</a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3N2wwf6lHZVzR3C0wlH9KCa0ZpCdB2LBWjFRYZT1ZlKDV9RVc2aywzfXLuUQJXk5BCo7OGUhYYjNMR1AC-J0rgGnmXo1ArlV2OGuknRNq2wjD4lplVm9YqzCJEc9gkY5z6ebMk9rlLNc/s1600/meme,+learn+to+laugh+again.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3N2wwf6lHZVzR3C0wlH9KCa0ZpCdB2LBWjFRYZT1ZlKDV9RVc2aywzfXLuUQJXk5BCo7OGUhYYjNMR1AC-J0rgGnmXo1ArlV2OGuknRNq2wjD4lplVm9YqzCJEc9gkY5z6ebMk9rlLNc/s1600/meme,+learn+to+laugh+again.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
Susan Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00922171469364860239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166810370325037029.post-90625720553592188812015-01-05T16:02:00.000-05:002015-01-05T16:02:11.975-05:00Laurel, a post-Revolutionary War Suspense<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>My novel, <em>Laurel</em>, will be released January 12 by </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas.</strong></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MNAd_RwyZ2SK3H3QVZE5QN3vGV7WXL85lFFUWsbsjNnU4D8isZ7iaH6Db27yn_f-GEYCW9dQAaVN1L3lrB9kamWTcb7rGoZ3v8dTqsHOA-7V0s-2FsBT7_9K2r7q_4RhGJ40a667m4o/s1600/meme,+dark+soon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MNAd_RwyZ2SK3H3QVZE5QN3vGV7WXL85lFFUWsbsjNnU4D8isZ7iaH6Db27yn_f-GEYCW9dQAaVN1L3lrB9kamWTcb7rGoZ3v8dTqsHOA-7V0s-2FsBT7_9K2r7q_4RhGJ40a667m4o/s1600/meme,+dark+soon.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
Susan Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00922171469364860239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166810370325037029.post-27359364422743875362014-12-23T18:24:00.000-05:002014-12-23T18:24:46.142-05:00Christmas Card Keepsakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigRU0LJINiJoQLUzqOqRGVT3JKQgf9-JEfLLWO4z6W8oCCV5UIQ5BflN3oYocFoehO9h3sjADlC_1_s88IT7QNvuH4OirN2utjHlOPsgyzrrx8-fi10555Q6IxiE2W4WTRsJOaeU5JpY/s1600/Christmas+card,+kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigRU0LJINiJoQLUzqOqRGVT3JKQgf9-JEfLLWO4z6W8oCCV5UIQ5BflN3oYocFoehO9h3sjADlC_1_s88IT7QNvuH4OirN2utjHlOPsgyzrrx8-fi10555Q6IxiE2W4WTRsJOaeU5JpY/s1600/Christmas+card,+kitchen.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red;">One of our Christmas traditions involves Christmas cards. For many years, each year we choose our favorite one -- it can be because it's the prettiest, the funniest, or because it has a special meaning coming from the person sending it.</span> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxXUNDx6dxwDBbfaLW9CiEkMY_9d-KH01bd4ni6DTS1WOy-S3X7650KC0ET4GUsbrq9Ny7VmIVIQpfwQwS7CCoYU0fHMywlWjuloGfaU9h9jx02mF41Vg_Z7K6O8jOhadrZwOk_M56cw/s1600/Christmas+cards,+organ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxXUNDx6dxwDBbfaLW9CiEkMY_9d-KH01bd4ni6DTS1WOy-S3X7650KC0ET4GUsbrq9Ny7VmIVIQpfwQwS7CCoYU0fHMywlWjuloGfaU9h9jx02mF41Vg_Z7K6O8jOhadrZwOk_M56cw/s1600/Christmas+cards,+organ.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiui3zJh4Vg926Y9qBWB1iQjrJLTj9wNazqIv47ge87aQauiaSZkjZ0e0whmot90FeyHmfZVprtBUwyCI0MCt3B4u8CfNoDBKCikFa4itWPFpMVPgndeqecBRbOtCbqCMhhcDUGlI1jSw/s1600/Christmas+card+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiui3zJh4Vg926Y9qBWB1iQjrJLTj9wNazqIv47ge87aQauiaSZkjZ0e0whmot90FeyHmfZVprtBUwyCI0MCt3B4u8CfNoDBKCikFa4itWPFpMVPgndeqecBRbOtCbqCMhhcDUGlI1jSw/s1600/Christmas+card+1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: red;">Once the choice is made, I frame it and add it among the others that I've placed all over the house. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoy5saYCjEtBGW2OzeC7GcP5rQPxHrHnm5mHbU44Yhf3wt06i6BuQ2qpKsE7_j_0VogndnGxBRDfHk3dLPKgmsubVWGnGkNYkZUbBkbQ-Dqu-iHVX7UF-UIz2cfDrI_P4IJhrrPKfCEsQ/s1600/Christmas+card,+end+table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoy5saYCjEtBGW2OzeC7GcP5rQPxHrHnm5mHbU44Yhf3wt06i6BuQ2qpKsE7_j_0VogndnGxBRDfHk3dLPKgmsubVWGnGkNYkZUbBkbQ-Dqu-iHVX7UF-UIz2cfDrI_P4IJhrrPKfCEsQ/s1600/Christmas+card,+end+table.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
<span style="color: red;">The remaining cards go into a basket that I bring out every year so that we can read them. I especially like the ones with pictures of the senders' babies and children. It's fun to see how they've grown.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5YYqOFneykF8OR1pLiS1Shmshgz7ScfyVlAsoucOZjSyb3ZYDv_1ST6IY0nNp8jtGa4KaOFQToZjcKTmiSXGDfO0-pxjLpbr9gD_3CnqnRvjM8jm1yGnsW9PyIqd58uqxFTS00FJYJFM/s1600/Christmas+card+basket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5YYqOFneykF8OR1pLiS1Shmshgz7ScfyVlAsoucOZjSyb3ZYDv_1ST6IY0nNp8jtGa4KaOFQToZjcKTmiSXGDfO0-pxjLpbr9gD_3CnqnRvjM8jm1yGnsW9PyIqd58uqxFTS00FJYJFM/s1600/Christmas+card+basket.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red;">I wonder how long we're going to be able to keep this tradition, since fewer and fewer people are sending cards. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">What are some of your Christmas traditions?</span></div>
Susan Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00922171469364860239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166810370325037029.post-69619984650779628332014-12-22T21:34:00.000-05:002014-12-22T21:34:31.782-05:00A Colonial Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: red;">Congratulations, Carol Antley, on winning a copy of Christmas Treasures for participating in the punctuation contest. </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: red;">You were correct - the comma in "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" comes after Merry.</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIYyBjckwiZQaa573EXp2A9oGfkpkdYGa_pEApL9d5Aco8-lqj8uvpLkU7zVkBNiwpkjJ3BgRUg3lkbRNIl3OrwoojSuogdUckuZ8ZhR0tBq5oLMTy4zNxJsoi_nDJ_4F28r9Cst_Pik/s1600/Colonial+Christmas,+church,+best.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfIYyBjckwiZQaa573EXp2A9oGfkpkdYGa_pEApL9d5Aco8-lqj8uvpLkU7zVkBNiwpkjJ3BgRUg3lkbRNIl3OrwoojSuogdUckuZ8ZhR0tBq5oLMTy4zNxJsoi_nDJ_4F28r9Cst_Pik/s1600/Colonial+Christmas,+church,+best.jpg" /></a></div>
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Christmas customs of the late eighteen-century America included going to church (except for Presbyterians who considered going to church on Christmas day – if it fell on any day but Sunday – “too Anglican”), dinner, dancing, and visiting. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHeF8QbI1ynH7PfdZO6mTWFJD8Riif1ZmAaNILJHlDb9N9BN8VAaFilhwqEP84VVyhZjvipbRtjsud9w2xibJb9ovBkqNaZotZg-qVLm2p3xEXzOTODMlqwl2ZqwNYjSWBC2S4YcLl03M/s1600/Colonial+Christmas,+evergreen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHeF8QbI1ynH7PfdZO6mTWFJD8Riif1ZmAaNILJHlDb9N9BN8VAaFilhwqEP84VVyhZjvipbRtjsud9w2xibJb9ovBkqNaZotZg-qVLm2p3xEXzOTODMlqwl2ZqwNYjSWBC2S4YcLl03M/s1600/Colonial+Christmas,+evergreen.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>Homes were decorated simply with whatever evergreens were available—pine, boxwood, Fraser fir, magnolia leaves, holly, mountain laurel, and ivy, as well as lavender, rose petals, and pungent herbs. <br />
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Christmas celebrations were for adults and weren’t centered on children. For example, Philip Vickers Fithian's December 18, 1773, diary entry about exciting holiday events mentions: "the Balls, the Fox-hunts, the fine entertainments..."
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At many parties, revelers would sing hymns and beloved songs such as “Joy to the World” and “The First Noel.” <br />
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Gift giving wasn’t as common as today. Masters gave their slaves, servants, apprentices, or children cash, little books, and sweets.
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Christmas dinners consisted of fresh meat of all sorts, since December was the best time for slaughtering. Besides beef, ham, turkey and goose, some people served fish, oysters, mincemeat pies, and brandied fruit.
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The affluent would also serve wine, brandy, rum punches, and other alcoholic beverages.
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<strong><em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">One year guests at a Christmas banquet hosted by a wealthy
Virginia planter named George Washington, who later became the first president,
dined sumptuously on the following dishes: turtle soup, oysters, crab, codfish,
roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, venison, boiled mutton, suckling pig, smoked
ham, roast turkey, several dishes of vegetables, biscuits, cornbread, various
relishes, cakes, puddings, fruits, and pies. Wines, cordials, and a special
holiday drink known as eggnog usually rounded out the plantation Christmas
feast. Picture caption found on <a href="http://www.theprogressivesinfluence.com/2013/12/christmas-in-colonial-america.html#sthash.9Jzh7p7v.dpuf"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://www.theprogressivesinfluence.com/2013/12/christmas-in-colonial-america.html#sthash.9Jzh7p7v.dpuf</span></a></span></span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Answer the question below and leave an email address for a chance to win a copy of <em>Christmas Treasures, An Anthology of Short Stories</em>.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">What is the correct punctuation in this song title? </span></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: red; font-family: Times; font-size: large;">God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen</span></em></strong></div>
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Susan Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00922171469364860239noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166810370325037029.post-26993055773546497442014-12-17T12:01:00.001-05:002014-12-17T12:01:20.743-05:00Meet Author Elaine Marie Cooper<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQlSy_2Bi2-msNFsPGuj16fFjB1SRZrBeNi4LcwM3J_jvku7MXioDRJq7ona9DEKjEBh_vt8bMw9ubwYsG8XsJ8e1KxjjI-IcqVL45wNI40hx1O9r2M9-CgJBfQUTIA3KizIQhGCqnY0/s1600/Bethany's%2BCalendar%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQlSy_2Bi2-msNFsPGuj16fFjB1SRZrBeNi4LcwM3J_jvku7MXioDRJq7ona9DEKjEBh_vt8bMw9ubwYsG8XsJ8e1KxjjI-IcqVL45wNI40hx1O9r2M9-CgJBfQUTIA3KizIQhGCqnY0/s1600/Bethany's%2BCalendar%2B2.jpg" height="200" width="132" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> My guest is Elaine Marie Cooper, author of <em>Fields of the Fatherless</em>, a historical fiction based on a true story from the American Revolution. She has also penned three historical romances: <em>The Road to Deer Run</em>, <em>The Promise of Deer Run</em> and <em>The Legacy of Deer Run</em>. Her passions are her family, her faith in Christ and the history of the American Revolution, a frequent subject of her fiction. She grew up in Massachusetts, the setting for many of her novels. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Her new release is <em>Bethany’s Calendar</em>, a memoir of her daughter’s battle with brain cancer.</span>
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<strong><span style="color: blue;">What’s your background, Elaine, and how did you became interested in writing?</span></strong>
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I think most authors confess to a childhood passion for writing. My early attempts at the craft were an assortment of short fiction, poems, and a television manuscript! I’m sure they were quite amusing. I never thought this interest would lead to becoming a writer but the Lord kept leading me onto that path, regardless of my own plans. <br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue;">What gets you in a creative mode and how do you begin your writing process?</span></strong> <br />
With prayer that God will guide my writing. And then lots of coffee. ;-) <br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue;">Many writers utilize a writing group. Where do you get constructive critiques and feedback?</span></strong> <br />
I get lots of feedback from my husband (who is an editor) and other editor and writer friends. I value the opinions of others in the field. About a year ago, I began a writer’s group called Word Weavers so that Christian writers would be able to get constructive feedback on their work. They’ve been an invaluable help to me. <br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue;">What led you to write <em>Bethany’s Calendar</em>?</span></strong>
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I have to say it was the Lord impressing the idea on my heart during praise and worship time at a writer’s conference. I had no intentions of ever writing the painful saga of my daughter’s battle with brain cancer. I thought I would only continue writing historical fiction. But like Bethany’s illness changed her plans, God changed mine. <br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue;">What is <em>Bethany’s Calendar</em> about?</span></strong>
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It’s the story of facing my worst fear: losing a child. It’s also the story of how we helped her through that painful journey and how others in similar situations can be strengthened in their role as caregivers. This memoir is geared toward families dealing with serious illness, cancer sufferers, nurses, and friends of caregivers. I pray that what my husband and I learned during this crisis will give hope and help to others. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="color: blue;">Bethany</span></em></strong></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: blue;">While reading <em>Bethany’s Calendar</em>, my heart ached for you and your family and I wondered how difficult it was to lay open your “mother’s heart” as you did.</span></strong>
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Reliving that painful time was at times excruciating. I had many prayer warriors lifting me up to help me through the writing of the chapters. What a blessing to feel the prayers of others.
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<strong><span style="color: blue;">What's the most important thing readers will learn from <em>Bethany’s Calendar</em>?</span></strong>
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I pray that readers will see how faith in God can help them through the most dire of circumstances. Life is not easy but the Lord has promised us He will never leave us or forsake us. I also pray that caregivers will learn ways to be advocates for their loved ones who are ill. Every patient who is weak from illness, needs a strong supporter who is willing to go to bat for them. <br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue;">Now that <em>Bethany’s Calendar</em> is out in bookstores, do you have any projects you're currently working on?</span></strong>
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I’m working on a historical fiction set in Saratoga, New York in October of 1777. And in October of 1977. And no, it is not a time travel novel. ;)
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<strong><span style="color: blue;">When you're not writing, what do you enjoy doing?</span></strong> <br />
Being with my family. Crocheting. Going to quality movies. Drinking tea and eating scones.
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<strong><span style="color: blue;">Where can readers find your book?</span></strong> <br />
At Amazon. Here is the purchase link: <a href="http://buff.ly/12izRBy">http://buff.ly/12izRBy</a>
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<strong><span style="color: blue;">Elaine’s contact information:</span></strong>
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Blog and Website address: <a href="http://www.elainemariecooper.com/">www.elainemariecooper.com </a>
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Twitter: @elainemcooper
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Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ElaineMarieCooperAuthor">http://www.facebook.com/ElaineMarieCooperAuthor</a>
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Email: <a href="mailto:elainemariecooper@yahoo.com">elainemariecooper@yahoo.com</a><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue;">Here's my review of <em>Bethany's Calendar</em>:</span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Minion Pro";"> <span style="color: blue;">Beautifully crafted … poignant … heartrending, yet full of hope.
In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bethany’s Calendar </i>Elaine Marie
Cooper lays open her “mother’s heart.” With grace, love, stunning honesty, and
welcomed moments of humor she introduced me to and made me love and care for her
dear, beautiful, vivacious daughter until her loss became my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Minion Pro";"> <span style="color: blue;"> Throughout <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bethany’s
Calendar</i>, Cooper has delicately woven threads of advice on how to respond and care
for patients and families during end-of-life experiences and grief. What a
journey. What a blessing. Thank you, Elaine.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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Susan Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00922171469364860239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166810370325037029.post-26830267271666921642014-11-27T00:00:00.000-05:002014-11-28T21:15:09.714-05:00"H" is for AJ Hawke<strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;"><em>I am participating in an "A to Z" blog hop. This week's letter is "H." Please, scroll down and click on the links to the other participating blogs. It'll be fun.</em></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;"><em></em></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;"><em>Also, AJ has offered to give away a copy of Colorado Evening Sky to one lucky person who leaves a comment. I'll make the announcement December 3.</em></span></strong><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="color: #990000;">AJ Hawke</span></em></strong></td></tr>
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<strong><span style="color: #990000;">Are experiences in your novel based on someone you know, or on events in your own life?</span></strong>
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The events and characters in my novels are a mixture of all I have read and experienced throughout my life. No specific events or people, all have had an influence. <br />
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Travel always adds a lot to our knowledge and experiences of life and I have been blessed to have traveled to many places in the world.
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<span style="color: #990000;"><strong>Which of your characters is most/least like you, and in what ways?</strong></span>
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I would like to claim I’m like Susana, Emily, or even Elisha for their kindness, patience, and spiritual maturity. Maybe a little like Joe in his making do with what life has brought to him. Jeremiah in his ability to leave the past in the past is possibility a little like me. Now, the mean guys are not anything like me. I would never be like that...well, maybe a little.
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<strong><span style="color: #990000;">What book are you reading now?</span></strong>
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When I interview someone on my blog, I try to read their book.
Since October I have read the following:
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Susan Page Davis - <em>The Christmas Tree Bride, Another Christmas Story, Special Delivery</em>
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Darlene Franklin - <em>An Apple For Christmas</em>
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Carrie Fancett Pagels - <em>The Fruitcake Challenge</em>
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Cynthia Hickey - <em>A Texas Ranger’s Arms, Hand carved Christmas</em>
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Tammy Doherty - <em>Celtic Cross, Claddaugh, Celtic Knot</em>
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On my to-be-read stack are books by:
Lynn A Coleman,
Lena Nelson Dooley,
Martha Rogers,
Debbie Lynn Costa,
Susan F. Craft,
Marilyn Turk.
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<strong><span style="color: #990000;">If you could have dinner with one of your characters, who would it be and why?</span></strong>
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Oh, this is hard. I have so many nice characters. Elisha is in all of the <em>Cedar Ridge Chronicles</em>, starting with <em>Cabin on Pinto Creek</em>. He starts out as a down and out cowpoke. Young, not very worldly, and through growth as a person and as a Christian, he becomes the wise leader of those around him. His patience and steadfastness, along with his caring and reaching out to those who needed his wisdom, makes him a very appealing character that you want to sit and chat with about life. Of course, he wouldn’t come to dinner without bringing his wife, Susana. She is lovely.
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<strong><span style="color: #990000;">Do you have any upcoming events?</span></strong>
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Thanksgiving, ten for lunch that day, Oh the challenge of it.
Then Christmas with all the decisions about gifts, ones I will be requesting, not giving. What? Isn’t that how it works? <br />
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Oh, you mean upcoming events with my novels. Not really, just getting myself to write every day. Now, that is major.
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<strong><span style="color: #990000;">What motivates you to write, and where do you get ideas?</span></strong>
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I write because all these characters and settings keep bouncing around in my head. They won’t go away until I capture them on paper. Reading has been a big part of my life from the time I was in fourth grade and read <em>Betty Zane</em> by Zane Gray. <br />
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Through the years I amused myself on long car rides by telling myself a story. One day I said to myself, “Self, why don’t you just write it out?” And so I did.
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Ideas come from out of the air. I have no idea how I get them. Ask me to add five numbers correctly in my head and I cannot do it. Give me an idea and I’ll write you a novel.
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For example, I was at a writer’s conference in Colorado Springs listening to DiAnn Mills teach about story development. She had an exercise for the class and gave us ten minutes to figure out how two people could meet and connect from different parts of the country. I came up with the first scene of my novel, <em>Caught Between Two Worlds</em>. On the plane ride home I completed the first chapter.
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So ideas are just floating in the air everywhere. You just have to listen for them. <br />
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<strong><span style="color: #990000;">Do you have a life verse?</span></strong>
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<em>Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.</em> 1 Thess. 5:16-18
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That’s for today. Tomorrow it will be different as I study the Bible and find what I need for my life each day.
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<strong><span style="color: #990000;">Who is your greatest encourager?</span></strong>
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My family, including my older sister (she’s kind of dangerous, as she tells me the truth, which is so rare).
Also, my favorite brother-in-law (only have one so he must be my favorite) and my older brothers and their wives.
Then my Monday evening ladies Bible study group all encourage me.
Various writer friends and I will not start naming them because I will leave one out.
Uh, you just wanted one? Sorry about that but I am blessed to have so many. I could go on and on.
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<strong><span style="color: #990000;">Tell us about COLORADO EVENING SKY.</span></strong>
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COLORADO EVENING SKY is Book 4 of the Cedar Ridge Chronicles. It can be read as a Stand Alone, but if you have read the series in order you learn what has been happening in the lives of the characters from the first three books.
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The year is 1890, and Thomas Black battles to survive another day. Convicted of cattle rustling at age 17, he has three years left on a 15-year sentence in the infamous Yuma Territorial Prison. Feeling abandoned even by his God, he must fight on occasion to stay alive. But, most of the time, he fights to forget his mother’s tears and the fact that he has nothing to show for his life except for a prison record, wasted years, and deep regrets. Given the opportunity to finish out his sentence working on Jeremiah Rebourn’s ranch (COLORADO MORNING SKY) outside of Cedar Ridge, Colorado, Thomas must decide whether to be a man of his word or hit the outlaw trail.
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Catherine O’Malley finds herself facing loneliness of another kind. She runs a little café on a dusty main street 800 miles away in Colorado. It is a hard time and place for a pretty, unmarried woman in her twenties to run a business. She longs for a family and a loving husband to protect her. <br />
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Lives that couldn’t be farther apart in social status, miles, and years are set on a collision course in book four of the <em>Cedar Ridge Chronicles</em>. With a prosperous suitor at her door, Catherine must make a decision that will alter the course of her life as well as the lives of others. Thomas must find a way to thwart a plot that threatens Catherine and send him back to prison.
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<br />
<strong><span style="color: #990000;">What comes next?</span></strong>
<br />
I’m presently writing a contemporary western romance the takes place in the Texas Hill Country. No title yet so I am calling it <em>Lance McTavish</em> for now. This will be the first in a series about the McTavish family.
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<br />
At the same time I am writing the fifth book in the <em>Cedar Ridge Chronicles</em>. This will be Jim Finely’s story, one of the cowboys introduced in JOE STORM NO LONGER A COWBOY. Again, no title yet but the story is in my head.
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<br />
I’m also starting research on the first book for a new series that will take place in Texas starting in the 1850s. Calling this one THE SADDLER and you can guess that he will be a saddler maker.
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<br />
As you can see, I can never complain that I have nothing to do. So many words and so little time to put them down on paper.
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<strong><span style="color: #990000;">Where can people get a copy of COLORADO EVENING SKY?</span></strong>
<br />
All of my books are available as e-books or paperbacks only on AMAZON.COM
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<br />
<em>Cedar Ridge Chronicles</em>, Inspirational Historical Western Romances
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<em>Cabin on Pinto Creek</em>, Book 1<br />
<em>Joe Storm No longer a Cowboy</em>, Book 2
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<em>Colorado Morning Sky</em>, Book 3
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<em>Colorado Evening Sky</em>, Book 4
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<br />
Stand Alones:
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<em>Mountain Journey Home</em>, Inspirational Historical Western Romance
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<em>Caught Between Two Worlds Cowboy Boots and High Heels</em>, Contemporary <br />
Inspirational Romance
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<strong><span style="color: #990000;">Where can you be found on the web?</span></strong>
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Facebook.com/AJHawkeBooks
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Twitter.com/AJHawkeAuthor
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Website/Blog: AJHawke.com/Blog
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<em>Thanks to Susan and all the readers for the invitation to be a guest on your blog.</em>
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Susan Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00922171469364860239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166810370325037029.post-85625641307447319702014-11-17T00:00:00.000-05:002014-11-26T10:22:02.781-05:00Meet Author Debbie Lynne Costello<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmaf2FxD-W_3SN3co0kTy0CExNmTMNiHDdHx9qpEBymQKxkSN5Vv-HFzi77zlnfioTqBIcRySlQDxx9ZX_eoMm5pRqPvFSSGeZPwqTCKDdB_kDKxkPl2TdvszQlrkwqnLFwI7AkEXPVo/s1600/Costello,+Debbie+Lynne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmaf2FxD-W_3SN3co0kTy0CExNmTMNiHDdHx9qpEBymQKxkSN5Vv-HFzi77zlnfioTqBIcRySlQDxx9ZX_eoMm5pRqPvFSSGeZPwqTCKDdB_kDKxkPl2TdvszQlrkwqnLFwI7AkEXPVo/s1600/Costello,+Debbie+Lynne.jpg" height="320" width="265" /></a><span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;"><strong></strong></span></div>
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>The winner of Debbie Lynne Costello's book, <em>A Cup of Christmas Cheer</em>, is BONNIE ROOF. Congratulations Bonnie.</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;"><strong><em></em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;"><strong><em></em></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;"><strong><em>Debbie is giving away a copy of her book,</em> A Cup of Christmas Cheer<em>, to one lucky person who leaves a comment. I will announce the winner on November 26. (USA mailing addresses only, please.)</em></strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: red;">Are experiences in your novel based on someone you know, or events in your own life?</span></strong>
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They are to a certain extent. Military is pretty strong in my family. My father served in the Navy reserves, my husband was Air Force, my son was Navy, and I have uncles who served in the Navy, nephews in the Army, and the list goes on. My great-grand father 8 times fought in the Revolutionary war with his 3 brothers. He was wounded and walked with a limp the rest of his life. But the real inspiration came from a great-great uncle who never made it home from WWII. So this story was just begging to be told.
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<strong><span style="color: red;">What book are you reading now?</span></strong> <br />
I’m reading a couple books right now. I’m reading <em>So Long Insecurities</em> by Beth Moore with my ladies small group and my pleasure reading I’m reading Melanie Dickerson’s new release <em>The Princess Spy</em>.
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<strong><span style="color: red;">What are your current projects?</span></strong> <br />
I’m having fun promoting <em>Cup of Christmas Cheer II</em>! And I’ve just finished up my edits on my upcoming release, <em>Sword of Forgiveness</em> book one in the <em>Winds of Change Series</em>. It’s a medieval set during the late 14th century. Now I’m starting the sequel.
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<strong><span style="color: red;">If you could have dinner with one of your characters, who would it be and why?</span></strong> Oh that is so hard! There are several I wouldn’t mind having lunch with. I have a real fun 19th century Scottish hero who makes me laugh. I do love a Scottish accent. ;o) I love my medieval hero and heroine and wouldn’t mind having dinner with either of them. Especially if we could have dinner at their castle!
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<strong><span style="color: red;">What motivates you to write, and where do you get ideas?</span></strong> <br />
Ideas are everywhere I look. God is so awesome and gives me ideas that I nurture and plot and make into stories. But I say this very sincerely, the ideas do come from the Lord. I couldn’t do it without Him. My motivation is twofold. First it is my escape. I love to be able to go where ever my heart desires. It’s a wonderful way to relax and unwind. My second motivation is that I feel a sense of duty to write. God gave me this talent to spread His truths. I owe it to Him to obey and write until He tells me not to. <br />
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<strong><span style="color: red;">Do you have a life verse?</span></strong> <br />
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. This is such a wonderful promise from our Lord.
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<strong><span style="color: red;">Who is your greatest encourager?</span></strong> <br />
My husband. He is behind me all the way! He’s actually the one that got me to start writing. He is always willing to take me places to do research. He puts up with my nose being buried in my computer in the evening. And he cheers me on with every. My wonderful friend and crit partner, Kathy Maher is another person who has talked me out of pitching my computer into the wall when I have been ready to give up. She’s been a friend, a critique partner, and a prayer partner. And also MaryLu Tyndall who has been there for me since before I even knew a writer needed an agent to get anywhere in this industry.
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<strong><span style="color: red;">Tell me about one of your personality traits.</span></strong> <br />
I am a very driven person. I’m super self-motivated. My husband tells me all the time if I had went to work at his company when he did, I’d be the president by now. LOL. He has such great faith in me!
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<strong><span style="color: red;">Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?</span></strong> <br />
I will have my first release in January of 2015. But I’ve decided that I won’t read my reviews. I know many writers have different opinions, but I’m writing what God is telling me to write. I heard of an author who said she didn’t read her reviews because the ones that were bad reviews only made her want to give up and quit and she was writing for the Lord. The good reviews could cause her to become proud and the glory was God’s not hers. I loved her attitude and think she has a good point. So I don’t plan on reading mine.
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<strong><span style="color: red;">Where can people get a copy of your book?</span></strong>
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People can order the book by clicking on this link. <a href="https://www.shopguideposts.org/christmascheerblog">https://www.shopguideposts.org/christmascheerblog</a>Susan Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00922171469364860239noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166810370325037029.post-25280910994023967812014-11-05T16:24:00.001-05:002014-11-06T13:01:18.750-05:00Mousy Eyebrows<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="color: blue;">I'm participating in an A to Z blog hop. This week's letter is "E."</span></em></strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCHAO2kWClwjC1o63UiPax-hnggiX_FI_89J-Bm50IpZp2vnUhQ6wt7-SBOiuSxVAy9_RJBP7Q_N2mVIfcaUUIMNb9xydt0z6JQizBtcDIhiQOGVpF81gj0YAPLUOD81uqQOfcHh0Fg8/s1600/cosmetics,+gainsborough-grace-dalrymple-elliott-1782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCHAO2kWClwjC1o63UiPax-hnggiX_FI_89J-Bm50IpZp2vnUhQ6wt7-SBOiuSxVAy9_RJBP7Q_N2mVIfcaUUIMNb9xydt0z6JQizBtcDIhiQOGVpF81gj0YAPLUOD81uqQOfcHh0Fg8/s1600/cosmetics,+gainsborough-grace-dalrymple-elliott-1782.jpg" height="320" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Gainsborough’s portrait of Grace Dalrymple Elliot </em></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong><em><span style="color: blue;">in 1782 shows the craze
for dark eyebrows.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></span></div>
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During the third quarter of the 18th century, dark eyebrows became all the rage for women. <br />
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Over time, lead-based cosmetics caused hair loss at the forehead and over the brows, resulting in a receding hairline and a bare brow. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="color: blue;">You want my fur for what?!!</span></em></strong></td></tr>
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It became the custom as early as 1703 to trap mice and use their fur for artificial eyebrows, which were glued on. Sometimes, the glue did not adhere well, which I think would make a fabulous scene in a novel. (Hm-m, I'll have to think about that.)<br />
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In 1718, Matthew Prior wrote a poem about eyebrows. Here’s the last stanza:
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">On little things, as sages write,
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Depends our human joy or sorrow;
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">If we don’t catch a mouse to-night,
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Alas! no eyebrows for to-morrow.</span></strong>
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<!-- start LinkyTools script --><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=243718" type="text/javascript"></script><!-- end LinkyTools script --><br />Susan Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00922171469364860239noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166810370325037029.post-55680241762127283342014-10-29T13:33:00.001-04:002014-10-29T13:44:50.442-04:00You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><em><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;">I'm participating in a blog hop called "A to Z." Each week our group will publish a post featuring the letter of the week. This week is the letter "D." Scroll down and make sure to visit the other blogs. It's sure to be fun. Oh, and leave comments, too. They are always appreciated.</span></em></strong>
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">"D" is for Jenny Diver</span></strong></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"><strong><em>Picture was found on – http://john-adcock.blogspot.com</em></strong></span></td></tr>
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One of the characters in my post-Revolutionary War novel, entitled <em>Laurel</em>, is modeled after Jenny Diver, a notorious pickpocket.
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Jenny was born as Mary Young around 1700 in Ireland. She was the illegitimate daughter of a lady’s maid who, after being forced to leave her job, gave birth to Jenny in a brothel. At age 10, Jenny was taken in by a gentlewoman who sent her to school where she learned needlework and to read and write. Once she had mastered needlework, she moved to London to become a seamstress. There she met the leader of a gang of pickpockets and learned the skills of a street criminal so well she soon became their leader. <br />
Though she was caught several times, imprisoned in Newgate, and sent to the American colonies, she managed to return to London under assumed names. Eventually at the age of about 40, her luck ran out, and she was caught and put on trial for street robbery.
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The following description is from <em>The Chronicles of Crime or The New Newgate
Calendar</em>. v. 1/2, by Camden Pelham:
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<em>After conviction she appeared to have a due sense of the awful situation in which she was placed; and employing a great part of her time in devotion, she repented sincerely of the course of iniquity in which she had so long persisted. On the day preceding that of her execution, she sent for the woman who nursed her child, which was then about three years old, and saying that there was a person who would pay for its maintenance, she earnestly entreated that it might be carefully instructed in the duties of religion. On the following morning she appeared to be in a serene state of mind. The preparations in the press-yard for a moment shook her fortitude, but her spirits were soon again tolerably composed. She was conveyed to Tyburn in a mourning-coach, being attended by a clergyman, to whom she declared her firm belief in the principles of the Protestant Church. Her remains were, at her own desire, buried in St. Pancras churchyard.
Her execution took place on the 18th March, 1740, when she was hanged from London's Tyburn Tree.</em> <br />
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My novel,<em>
Laurel</em>, will be released January 12, 2015, by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas.
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<br />Susan Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00922171469364860239noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166810370325037029.post-91305205126199381342014-10-22T11:55:00.000-04:002014-10-22T12:05:32.025-04:00"C" Is for Christmas Novella<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3iXk3D94GFm3MzBSV4DME3QO2QcAV0tgzt5sKF7SxOMf-G8uyFpsNicPYbU3T_T8Rl0vTz-PVk2QshLxq4QBsbdWdbo7FfOyiOlYZqDet_-LYpn9DKGYRh9buX-J83lT-f2pmsShWWA/s1600/A+to+Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3iXk3D94GFm3MzBSV4DME3QO2QcAV0tgzt5sKF7SxOMf-G8uyFpsNicPYbU3T_T8Rl0vTz-PVk2QshLxq4QBsbdWdbo7FfOyiOlYZqDet_-LYpn9DKGYRh9buX-J83lT-f2pmsShWWA/s1600/A+to+Z.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><br />
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<em><b><span style="color: blue;">I'm
participating in a blog hop called "A to Z." Each week our group will
publish a post featuring the letter of the week. This week is the letter
"C." </span></b></em><em><b><span style="color: blue;">Scroll down and make sure to visit the other blogs. It's sure to be fun.
Oh, and leave comments, too. They are always appreciated.</span></b></em><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Meet Author Sandra Ardoin</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #38761d;">Are experiences in <em>The Yuletide Angel</em> based on someone you know, or events in your own life?</span>
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Neither, really. The idea began with the creation of a mood and an event—Violet’s fear over what her brother’s impending marriage means for her and Hugh’s nighttime foray. The story and the characters built from there.
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>Which of your characters is most/least like you, and in what ways?</strong></span>
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I think I’m most like Violet, shy and retiring, at least until I get to know someone. We’ve both learned to be a little more outgoing in public situations, yet neither of us will ever be the life of the party.
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?</strong></span>
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I’ll admit to reading the reviews for <em>The Yuletide Angel</em>. Fortunately, they’ve all been positive so far. As writers, I think we can learn from more than one review or critique that has the same criticism, but we have to be careful not to let everything that’s written, good and bad, go to our heads or dampen our moods. I’ll find out if that easier said than done. <br />
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<strong><span style="color: #38761d;">What book are you reading now?</span></strong>
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Right now, I’m reading Amanda Cabot’s <em>At Bluebonnet Lake</em>. I love her historicals, but this is the first contemporary by her that I’ve read. I have a large stack of books to read and review and have gotten a bit behind with the release of the novella.
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<strong><span style="color: #38761d;">What are your current projects?</span></strong>
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I’m writing a contracted novel for Heritage Beacon, an imprint of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. <em>A Reluctant Melody</em> involves a secondary character in <em>The Yuletide Angel</em>, Hugh’s brother Kit. It’s scheduled to release in January 2016. <br />
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<strong><span style="color: #38761d;">If you could have dinner with one of your characters, who would it be and why?</span></strong>
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Good question. While I love Hugh and Violet, I think I’d like to have dinner with Kit and ask him more about his past mistakes. Ha! Maybe because he’s the hero in my next book!
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<strong><span style="color: #38761d;">Do you have any upcoming events?</span></strong>
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I have two booksignings in my area coming up in November. I’ll be sharing the table with two writer friends. We did something similar in August and it was a lot of fun.
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<strong><span style="color: #38761d;">Can you tell us about some of the milestones you’ve reached as a writer?</span></strong>
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I’ve had several. The first, of course, was receiving that first sale in 1986, a poster quote. After my daughter was born and I became a stay-at-home mom, I began writing short stories for children and adults, so that first sale was encouraging. Then in 2009, I began writing novels fulltime. In 2010, I had my first experience with the royalty system when my short story “Get a Clue” came out in <em>Family Ties: Thirteen Short Stories </em>(for children). Getting my agent in 2012 and my first publishing contract last May were huge milestones.
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<strong><span style="color: #38761d;">What motivates you to write, and where do you get ideas?</span></strong>
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Well, right now, what motivates me to write is a contract I need to fulfill. Actually, I love writing fiction, expanding those imaginary scenes and snippets of dialogue that enter my mind on a frequent basis. My ideas comes from various places. Maybe I’ll read something that sparks a question or idea. Sometimes, it’s as simple as a what I mentioned before—an image or a line or two of dialogue will pop into my head. From there, I investigate who said what, why, and what happened next.
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<strong><span style="color: #38761d;">Do you have a life Bible verse?</span></strong>
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I have favorite verses. I’ve leaned on Jeremiah 29:11 for my writing. God has encouraged me too many times in this endeavor for me not to believe He has some plan for what I write. Another favorite is Isaiah 55:8 (and 9). Those verses always remind me of who God is. Colossians is one of my favorite books of the Bible.
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<strong><span style="color: #38761d;">Tell us about one of your personality traits.</span></strong>
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I can be a little obsessive/compulsive at times—nothing like Monk, though. When getting ready to leave the house, I run through the rooms, checking to be sure everything is off and nothing is plugged in that shouldn’t be (like my curling iron), and that I have my keys and whatever else I need. Then I do it again (and, sometimes, again). My daughter blames me for that same habit. <br />
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<strong><span style="color: #38761d;">Where can people get a copy of your book?</span></strong>
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<em>The Yuletide Angel</em> is available in both print and e-book on Amazon and in e-book on Barnes and Noble.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFpD4A1TdmMAdZPawE2R0MrH8H5XXKGjrjtLWT1Mm0sUzlPJkbhsShwagDxAu30QoUeinQF-ffyjg7kZiDurE2y7LA9Jz7q_mlxLhFEt8SL612Px7JayZJGEBi4PgDNwZnD0X37H2_I4/s1600/Ardoin_Headshot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFpD4A1TdmMAdZPawE2R0MrH8H5XXKGjrjtLWT1Mm0sUzlPJkbhsShwagDxAu30QoUeinQF-ffyjg7kZiDurE2y7LA9Jz7q_mlxLhFEt8SL612Px7JayZJGEBi4PgDNwZnD0X37H2_I4/s1600/Ardoin_Headshot.JPG" height="200" width="196" /></a></div>
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<b>Sandra Ardoin is a multi-published author of short fiction who writes inspirational historical romance. Her Christmas novella, <em>The Yuletide Angel</em>, recently released. She’s the married mother of a young adult and lives in North Carolina.
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<b>Visit her at <a href="http://www.sandraardoin.com/">www.sandraardoin.com</a> </b><b>and on the Seriously Write blog. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Goodreads, and Pinterest. Sign up for her newsletter.</b></div>
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Susan Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00922171469364860239noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166810370325037029.post-16850243406765313312014-10-15T19:20:00.000-04:002014-10-15T19:25:55.270-04:00"B" Is for Brick Books<strong style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><em>I'm participating in a blog hop called "A to Z." Each week our group will publish a post featuring the letter of the week. This week is the letter "B.</em></strong><strong style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><em>"</em></strong><br />
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<strong style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQ26hOpQVqUkwxDrjrBgfSgmPD2_SKy1P0mr65kholFX1SkrDawmZ_xVNg6QjqeLRVEet0hArOQpdvj5oP_ptkDx2V4zte_AdTBgEbiDLD8PmIXd_kS2mi4DoUU2PzWmxNLhNoyaw4zQ/s1600/A+to+Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQ26hOpQVqUkwxDrjrBgfSgmPD2_SKy1P0mr65kholFX1SkrDawmZ_xVNg6QjqeLRVEet0hArOQpdvj5oP_ptkDx2V4zte_AdTBgEbiDLD8PmIXd_kS2mi4DoUU2PzWmxNLhNoyaw4zQ/s1600/A+to+Z.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></em></strong></div>
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<strong style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><em>Scroll down and make sure to visit the other blogs. It's sure to be fun. Oh, and leave comments, too. They are always appreciated.</em></strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-YZ1yQLYicjRRwd94TRJvbyOuSv5F600naoaAmc1Kbo1okaHMs9coFlEVm9Z1n3TvON8L2GBa8ul2uYIvhLUgAEXKYv7SIaIxAPg-oJI2tQ604KLXQuXyWvaWt7FC9Yq8bqBYsRmzlM/s1600/brick+books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-YZ1yQLYicjRRwd94TRJvbyOuSv5F600naoaAmc1Kbo1okaHMs9coFlEVm9Z1n3TvON8L2GBa8ul2uYIvhLUgAEXKYv7SIaIxAPg-oJI2tQ604KLXQuXyWvaWt7FC9Yq8bqBYsRmzlM/s1600/brick+books.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Since my Revolutionary War and Post Revolutionary novels have the names of flowers, I'm growing an author's garden with chamomiles, laurels, and cassias. </b><br />
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<b>When looking for garden art, I came across the idea of painting bricks to look like antique books, which I'll place among the flowers. </b><br />
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<b>My granddaughter and I painted six books, 3 named after my novels, and 3 after our favorite books (<i>Ben Hur</i> and <i>Jane Eyre</i> for me; and <i>Tuesdays with Morrie</i> for Kenzie). </b><br />
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<b>I'm amazed at how much they look like real antique books! </b><br />
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<b>Here's the video my granddaughter and I followed -- <i>How to Make a Brick Book </i>www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8JkAyjNf1Q</b>
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Susan Crafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00922171469364860239noreply@blogger.com19