Jonathan Walker was an abolitionist known as “The Man With the Branded Hand.” Sid Johnson and the Phantom Slave Stealer, my forthcoming book, owes a debt to the abolitionist for its title. A lot goes into choosing a title for any book. Choosing the title for Sid Johnson’s story was a challenge until I got
Mark Twain was a writer who loved cats, maybe better than he loved many people. When he was on vacation he rented kittens. The Clemens home was one where cats were welcome. 3 min. read, Kid Friendly.
Writers and their cats have a special relationship. Alice Walker sees life-lessons her beloved cats have taught. 3 minute read. Kid Friendly
“A cat has absolute emotional honesty: human beings, for one reason or another, may hide their feelings, but a cat does not,” Ernest Hemingway. Like many writers, famous as well as undiscovered, Hemingway liked having cats around. There is a special relationship between writers and their cats. 3.5 minute read. Kid Friendly
What is it about cats that tugs at the heart of writers? The relationship between writers and their cats is legendary. I’ve been away from my cats for half a year. Do they miss me? What’s a writer to do without her cats? 3 min read. Kid friendly.
Toy mice and treasured family memories are part of our Christmas. Why do we have mouse ornaments on our Christmas Tree? It started for want of a wind-up mouse. 1.5 minute read. Kid friendly.
The Alabaster Caverns near Freedom, OK are one of two places in the world where you can find black alabaster. Not far from the Santa Fe Trail, it is important in The Black Alabaster Box. 3 min. read. Kid Friendly.
The Santa Fe Trail recently celebrated its 200th Anniversary. Who were the people who used the trail? Author, Frances Schoonmaker, discusses a fictional family making the trip west and offers resources for discovering more about the Santa Fe Trail. 6 minute read. Kid Friendly.
2021 marked the 200th Anniversary of the Santa Fe Trail. First and foremost a trade route, it began with a man hard-pressed for cash: William Bucknell. (2 minute read)
The Mad Artist at Work isn’t about being angry, but about how doing chapter illustrations for The Last Crystal helped with the history behind the books. Author, Frances Schoonmaker, talks about her writing, illustrating, and research process. 4 minute read. Kid friendly.
… and receive a free digital PDF copy of The Black Alabaster Box, Book 1, The Last Crystal Trilogy.
You can unsubscribe anytime.