Connecting Branches in the Family Tree

 

Have you traced your ancestry? Discovering our lineage is popular in the U.S. Everyone wants to know where we came from and what our forbears were like. The process is easy. Register with one of the websites or send in a sample of DNA, and in a few weeks, you learn your history.

When I was young, these sites didn’t exist. (Neither did the internet, LOL.) If someone wanted to find out about their predecessors, a genealogy chart was constructed using county records, bibles, and newspaper archives. One of my great uncles developed an interest in researching our clan before I was born. He followed many generations back, compiled all his work into a thick book, made numerous copies, and sent them to all the branches of the family. My mother had one, so I grew up hearing stories about the famous (and infamous) people from our bloodline. When I was old enough, I was allowed to access the book. It’s dry, with fading mimeographed pages and small, arcane symbols, but if read with imagination, the past comes alive.

One of my ancestors was Susannah Martin, who was hanged in Salem in 1692. Another was Cotton Mather, the magistrate who presided over the Salem Witch Trials. When I realized that I am descended from both a woman executed for witchcraft and the judge who sentenced her, my fantasy took flight.

What if this happened to a book protagonist who was a descendant of both accused and accuser? What would she be like? What would make her unique, and what would cause her trouble? What would be the repercussions of the merging of the lines?

The idea became Witch Trial Legacy which releases October 11. The heroine, Sybilla Sanborn, is descended from both the condemned woman and the man who denounced her.

Sybilla has the gift of healing touch from half her heritage. From the other, she receives a curse. She sees visions of future tragedies, but when she tries to warn people, no one will believe her.

Then, she discovers Cassadaga, Florida, home to mediums, psychics, and spiritualists. A medium reveals the source of Sybilla’s problem was transmitted through the generations.

Sybilla must find a way to convince people to heed her warnings.

But when she learns what she will have to do, the cost may be too great.

Everyone has interesting roots. I would love to hear about your antecedents. Respond to this post with a few words about some cool characters from your family tree. Or some terrible ones you wish you weren’t related to.

I’ll pick one person who comments and gift you with a $10.00 Amazon card. C’mon. Brag a little! You know you want to! (Contest closes at midnight July 25, 2021.)

Thank you for joining us on the Pen Dames blog! We appreciate you!

                                                                                                                               

If you would like more info about me or my books, please visit my website at: http://katherineeddingersmits.weebly.com/ Subscribe to my newsletter, and I’ll send you a free short story exclusively for subscribers. Newsletters come out once or twice a month and always include contests, freebies, and fun. Unsubscribe any time by clicking at the bottom of all newsletters.

 

Book Storms and Other Conflicts

 

Greetings, everyone! 

I'm a resident of southwest Florida, and as you probably know, we're in hurricane season. We just experience tropical storm/hurricane Elsa, who is heading up to torment the Carolinas. I'm fervently hoping everyone will be safe and sound. 

Okay,  I hate destruction, but I love rain. Those of you who live up north will think I'm nuts when I say there is such a thing as too much sunshine.  Those of us of a certain age will remember the 1973 movie/musical Lost Horizons.  There's a song called, "The Things I Will Not Miss," by the great Burt Bacharach. 

 A group of people end up in Shangri La, a perfect place like heaven where there is no conflict and only sunshine, etc. One of the women who arrived there is talking to one of the women who lives there, and they want to change places. Here are a few lines:

Shangri La woman: "On the list of the things that I will not miss is too much sunshine."

Visiting woman: "Can there be too much sunshine?"

Yes, in my opinion, there definitely can be. 

My wonderful imaginative childhood friend, Diane Lee, and I used to play the soundtrack from this awesome musical and play the parts in Every. Single. Song. Hours and hours and hours. It probably kept us out of a lot of trouble. That song was one of our favorites. A special thank you to Diane, a friend who helped make me the writer I am today. 

Floridians are no strangers to storms.  Neither are fiction writers. Here's the thing: All good stories need a storm or two. What do I mean? Conflict. Personalities clash. Bad things (dark moments) happen, and the characters have to figure out how to solve the problem. As my mother was fond of saying, "Life isn't all Guns and Roses." Rainbows and lollipops are great and all, but a steady diet would be a bit boring, wouldn't it? They-and happy endings-are the rewards that we get to receive after accompanying the hero and heroine through their trials.  

I have some good news. I'm currently reviewing the audio files of my 2nd book, Heartbeat of the Moon. It's one of my favorite parts of being an author. It's a combination romance/horror story/historical experience of a book. The narrator is male this time, and his voice is suited for this twist on a popular horror theme.  I'm excited to let this audiobook loose on the world.

My main character, Ian, carries within him a considerable amount of angst. But as he battles his condition, he uses humor and music to buoy himself up and resolve conflict around the town as well. Our characters may carry with them angst that is always there, but they find ways to soften the edges of their trials.

As we battle the storms of life, may we find comfort and distraction in romance and fiction. And please don't forget to leave a review. 

I have a request: Please share in the comment section your favorite movie, musical, or book. I love to hear what inspires others.

Summer Spirits

 

by Jill Wellington, Pixabay

Hello from Flossie Benton Rogers! Here in the south we’re heading into deep summer. My family has been enjoying the pool for a couple of months now. It’s clear they inherited my husband’s hot blood rather than my chilled blood, or maybe it’s a sign of my getting older. Whatever the reason, I’m basically miserable hitting the water until late July and August.  However, I can join them by lounging poolside with my feet in the water, as the girl above is doing, enjoying the spirit of summer while sipping a Summer Spirit.

With our passion to be faithful to a keto eating plan, though, we’ve had to adjust our cocktail recipes. Skinny Syrups has a keto bar collection that includes keto lime juice, keto simple syrup, and keto grenadine. The little ones love cherry cola mocktails: cola or cola zero over ice with keto grenadine added. Several syrup brands have fruit-flavored keto syrups that are on point. We all have different taste buds for cocktails and mocktails. I love a crisp gin concoction such as the iconic gin & tonic. Here is a delicious keto version. Omit the gin, and it makes a refreshing mocktail.

KETO GIN & TONIC

Ingredients

One jigger (1.5 ounces) Nolet’s silver gin or your favorite brand

Cup or more of diet tonic water (my absolute favorite is Publix diet)

Teaspoon of keto lime juice

Directions

Add ingredients to a chilled glass, stir, add plentiful ice, and enjoy.

It’s always interesting to see what beverages book characters go for. In my fantasy romance, Lord of Fire Wytchfae #5, the hero visits an underground club called Slice that deals in selling trafficked beings. Slice stays hidden by situating itself in an alternate dimension, as well as two years into the future. The hero, known as The Hawk, is trying to blend in as he searches frantically for the kidnapped heroine. He knows a Wytchfae would be a prize for an unscrupulous buyer. While waiting to see if Garnet appears, The Hawk imbibes a few cocktails.

 

“What can I get you to drink?”

“Bring me a Scotch Inferno, neat, black not red.”

As the server bobbled off toward the shiny onyx mirrored counter, he lent his intense scrutiny to the cavernous room with its many privacy booths and secluded crannies. His attention fell on the stage area. There appeared to be three platforms, and the curtains were closed. The swirling spotlights told him something special was about to take place. He remembered the shows here, tame compared to some of the other bars in the hotel. There had been music and other things. Usually metal or other forms of rock, designed to stimulate and excite.

 

The server set his drink in front of him on the table. One of the side curtains opened to reveal a group of four young male musicians, fronted by a slick-looking emcee in sharkskin and gooped up hair. The speaker mimicked a Cockney slang. “My name is Levi, and I’m here to welcome you to Slice. Punks and ponies, it’s time for some Nineteen Seventies vintage punk. Give a finger and a whistle for The Crash!”

 

The band’s energetic music blared out in the arrhythmic discord of dissatisfied youth. Hell, they might even be straight from the 1970s if things still worked the same around here. The angst-ridden twang of the lead guitar revved louder and spiraled the room. The vibration thundered through his veins. By the time the set was done, so were two Infernos.

After several more acts and performances, including that of a female lamia transforming into a giant snake, the hero finally catches sight of his woman.

The drumbeat accelerated once more, signaling the entrance of another thrall. "Prepare for a delicious treat indeed, gents and ladies. This rare gem comes to us from the human world. She is a Wytchfae extraordinaire. Put your hands together for the luscious Garnet."

Although he had been expecting it, the announcement of Garnet’s name half gutted him. The Hawk knocked back the dregs of his Inferno and squeezed the glass until it broke in his hand. The audience clapped in sync with the drum.

 

The curtain shimmied open once more. Her head held high, her expression stony, Garnet stood in the middle of the center stage. Her luscious body shimmered beneath the sensuous stage lights.  The crowd’s excited roar bounced off the walls. Whistles and catcalls pierced the air.

 

Can Garnet and The Hawk escape from this predicament with their lives intact? I don’t know, but—fingers crossed--I’m trusting in the power of true love and happily ever after!

Dear Friends, relish your summer. Spend lots of time with precious family and friends. Enjoy one or two cocktails, mocktails, or Summer Sprits of your choice along the way.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Flossie Benton Rogers for Pen Dames

Never Squander Your Book's Release

Hi, Loretta C. Rogers here! You’ve written your first novel and whether it’s published through a traditional publisher or indie-published, pre-selling your book is important. So, here’s the question, “How do you pre-sell your book?”

Pre-selling is like training for and running a long marathon; it’s a process that requires planning. When I was a beginning author, my book marketing budget was almost zero. In addition to limited funds, I discovered that many successful authors were not inclined to share their marketing strategies. Trying not to get discouraged, I set about thinking of different ways to market my book without spending a lot of money. I began paying special attention to television ads, newspaper ads, and billboards—what drew me in and what turned me off. This is what works for me. Please note that I make no guarantee that these techniques will bring you success. However, feel free to grab a notepad and jot down these ideas.

One: A social media presence A) build a webpage using free sites such as Weebly, Wix, Wordpress, etc. B) Create pages on FaceBook, Goodreads, Instagram, etc.

Two: Create promotion each week to help build buzz about your book A) do a cover reveal ( use sites such as Canva, or Microsoft Power Point to make books ads.)

Three: Link up. Always include your social media-links with all of your emails and social media updates. (This makes it simple for readers to find your book on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, KOBO, and other web retail sites.

Four: Contests. Hold contests, do chapter reveals, conduct giveaways, and host your own blog tours.

Five: SWAG. People love free stuff. Swag is a good author marketing investment in general. With some smart planning, Swag doesn’t have to be expensive. Once you have it on hand, you’ll be amazed at how many ways you come up to use it, which will enhance your marketing efforts on multiple levels. Set a budget. Google sites such as Vista Prints, Earthly Charms, Ninth Moon, 4imprint and others.

Six: Join book promotion sites. Check FaceBook for book promotion groups. (Always check to see if book promo sites are free or charge a fee i.e. BookBub, Fussy Librarian)

Seven: And most important—BUSINESS CARDS! You need these. They’re small, they’re inexpensive, and they’re savable. You can make them personal and focused, and they will point readers to your author website. Business cards should include your name, contact information i.e. your website, Facebook, Twitter, and other media sites. They should also have your tagline or compelling brand. Keep them with you at all times. You hand business cards out like mad. Everyone gets one. People save them. Writing is a business. Cards are necessary.

There are times when I’ve felt like running out in the middle of the street and yelling buy my book! While you can’t bribe people into buying your books, like I said in my June article, the thing that sells your books is that you’ve written a great book, a terrific book. And now you need to get readers buzzing about it.

Just keep in mind that whether you’ve chosen the traditional or self-publishing route, nobody will be a bigger champion for your book than you. Never squander your book’s release.

And speaking of book releases, I’m excited to share that FATAL PASSION book #1 of my new mystery series makes its debut June 21st.

Grab your copy of FATAL PASSION.

Loretta C. Rogers for Pen Dames

Do You Want to Know the Future?

What if you saw visions of upcoming disasters, but no one believed you when you tried to warn them?

Witch Trial Legacy: The Cassadaga Collection Book 1

Where paranormal romance collides with supernatural suspense

Release Date October 11, 2021

Sybilla Sanborn must break a centuries old curse before everything she cares about goes up in smoke.

Sybilla is a nurse gifted with the ability to heal with her touch but cursed with visions of future tragedies she cannot prevent because no one heeds her warnings. With help from the mediums of the spiritualist town of Cassadaga, Florida, she learns she is descended from both the first person executed for witchcraft in this country and the man who accused her.

Conn Ahern is an Iraq war vet dealing with pain and PTSD while working as a paramedic and struggling to save the ranch his grandmother founded. He’s an atheist who wants nothing to do with the people of the town.

When Conn and Sybilla meet, sparks fly, but not always in a good way, and their relationship fans the flames of jealousy and revenge in someone who doesn’t want them to work things out.

During a séance, her ancestor’s spirit reveals how Sybilla can rid herself of the curse and save Conn, but the price may be too high.

Perfect for fans of Tricia O'Malley and Christine Feehan.

A Note from Katherine Eddinger Smits

I am a direct descendant of Susannah Martin, who was found guilty of witchcraft and executed in Salem, Massachusetts on July 19, 1692.

Witch Trial Legacy was inspired by all who suffered and those who still do because of envy, fear, and hatred from others. 

My ancestor was one. 

Another was a character you will meet in this book as a spirit conjured by a medium. Her name was Alse (pronounced  Alice) Young. Alse was the first person executed for witchcraft in this country. She was hanged in Hartford, Connecticut in 1647, some 50 years before the Salem hysteria.

Little is known about her life. No one knows who accused her, or why, or what evidence was brought against her. She was probably married at the time of her trial. She had a daughter, also named Alse, who was also accused of witchcraft years later. Alse's daughter was not executed.

In my book, I take some liberties with Alse's story. I made her a widow and named her daughter Truth. The reason for making her a widow will be clear when you read the book. I changed her daughter's name because it would be confusing to have two characters, mother and daughter, with the same name, although that was a common practice at the time.

Coming Soon: Witch Trial Legacy Cover Reveal and Preorder Link

Thank you for stopping by today! If you want to be one of the first to hear news about Witch Trial Legacy and my other books, please come on over to my website and subscribe to my newsletter. I send them out once or twice a month and always include contests, freebies, and fun! Subscribers receive a free short story in their first newsletter, and there are lots of chances for free books and prizes. 

http://katherineeddingersmits.weebly.com/

 

Rainy Day Random Thoughts

 

Hi, Linda Tillis here! It has been raining today, off and on, but sometimes very hard. Rain does several wonderful things for us. But, for me, it causes my mind to wander. When that happens, it is often surprising. 

Have you ever read a historical romance and the couple had quick, amazing sex?

Well, let me tell you that did not happen!  Amazing, quite possibly, quick not so much.  Do you have any idea what it took for a woman to get into and out of those many items of clothing they wore? Just saying…

 Oh, and let’s talk about bathing! Just how attractive can that man be after all day spent working in the fields, or competing in those jousts?  Hauling water, even cold water, was quite a chore. And unless he was a “little” person, it took at least fifty gallons of water to fill a good-sized tub.  Unless you had a house full of servants, you know who got to haul all that water? That’s right, the little woman of the house. And he’s going to expect her to have enough energy left for sex? I think not.

 And if we’re hauling water, what about dishes?  Nowadays you load that dishwasher and push that button and walk away.

Can you imagine washing dishes in the old days without a bottle of Dawn?  I don’t remember what my grandmother used (and that was only sixty years ago) but I do remember there being bubbles.  In the really old days, think Saxons and Norsemen, they used vinegar and sand to scrub and polish their armor, so it stands to reason they would have used it to clean any cookware.

I could use a couple of new, light-weight summer blouses.  I might run to Walmart or Target and check out what they have to offer. Not so two-hundred years ago.  Most items were made from linen.  Linen is made from flax fibers. The flax was grown, soaked in water, stripped into fibers, the longest of which can be up to twenty centimeters long. Those fibers are then spun into yarn and eventually woven into fabric. If you wanted a new blouse this Spring, you had better have been working your behind off last year!

 The next time you read a historical novel pay attention to some of these little details and see if the author has given enough thought to just what the everyday life of a woman entailed.

 It has quit raining now. I can hear the thunder becoming distant. Time for me to gather my wandering mind and decide what’s for supper.  Any suggestions? Tell me what you are having.

Thanks for stopping by!

Linda Tillis for Pen Dames

 

 

 

What's an Email? The Art of Letter Writing

Some of us are old enough to remember when the only mail that existed was snail mail. But there was an art to letter writing. Let's bring it back!

Remember penmanship? Learning cursive (what's that, you say?) started around 3rd or 4th grade, if I remember correctly. You were in big trouble if you didn't take it seriously. All the women in my family are right-handed. All the men are left-handed. They did not have an easy time of it. Being lefthanded was frowned upon. Out of my three brothers, only one has readable handwriting. I can't say much for myself these days. My beautiful right-slanted handwriting has devolved into a caveman scrawl that only I can read, because of all the book notes I've taken over the years in my writing cave. Notebooks full. Now, if I wrote a letter without the use of my computer, it would likely be illegible, just like my brothers.

Enough about messy handwriting. Getting a letter in the mail was such a treat. Especially love letters. Keep in mind, folks: prior to the 80's, there were no cell phones, no computers. There was only mail or a landline. Talking on the phone long distance was expensive. Stamps were cheap.

If you wanted to impress a lady (or me), you had to be able to write a good letter: legible, interesting, romantic, but not too gushy. I was a minister's daughter, and would invariably meet boys that lived out of town. If a guy couldn't write a decent letter, I wouldn't have anything to do with him.  It was okay to quote a few lines from a song, but overdoing it showed a lack of originality. It's no wonder I'm a writer. A guy's ability to pen a good note was way more important to me than his muscle-flexing ability. I went for the intellectual guys.   It's kind of like that line from "Seven Days," by Sting.

"IQ is no issue here. We won't be playing Scrabble for her hand, I fear."  This is a song about a guy who has 7 days to win a woman's heart, and he's competing with a musclebound man for her affection. 

How many relationships were formed and deepened because of letter writing? Is emailing and texting the same? There were no emojis, only cartoons or drawing that you could show off if you were artistically inclined. There was something so exciting about waiting for a letter, the tactile pleasure of opening it, hiding away in your room so that you could eat up every word, stowing it away where no one could find it. And then you wrote back, thinking carefully about how you would answer their questions. A smart guy would ask you questions to show he was really interested in your answer. 

In my 2nd book, Heartbeat of the Moon, Ian, my 18th Century hero, had to go on a long journey. Maggie receives his letter and keeps it close to her, even when she's sleeping. 

"The urgency of singing you, possessing you with the words of my soul, grows with each step of the journey. Then, my heart plummets. I can never do you justice, for you are ever-changing like the moon. Oh, Maggie, look down upon me with your cool regard, rise above me with your passion, lie beside me so I might truly know you."

Smart man. Letters have power and the ability to keep a relationship alive despite the distance. Wouldn't it be fun to bring them back? You don't have to write a love letter. Write to a sibling, a child, maybe a friend you haven't kept in touch with. You could write a little note to your significant other. There's no need to be an author to pen something meaningful. You just have to mean it. Something like, "Feelings strong. Words difficult." Four words. 

I would love to hear from you letter writers out there. Do you have memories about writing letters? Did you take great pride in your penmanship? Ever get a Dear John (or Dear Joan) letter? 

I feel suddenly inspired to purchase some fancy paper and a special pen. They don't call us Pen Dames for nothing.