Kathleen Walls's Blog
December 11, 2023
American Music
My new book, American Music: born in the USA will be out in Feb. 2024. When early settlers came to America they often brought few material items, but they brought many customs, traditions, and music of their homeland here. These things, mainly the music took root in America’s soil and grew.
These emigrants came for many different reasons. Some came to escape poverty and find a better life. Many were forced out of their homeland by war. There were many who had no choice but were torn from their families and homes and brought here.
Unlike some versions of history state, this was not a land someone had “discovered.” There were indigenous groups with established cultures who had lived here for thousands of years. In spite of the misconception that all Indians wore feathers, lived in teepees, and had the same culture, Native American music and culture differed regionally and from tribe to tribe. They each had their own music as well.
America really was a melting pot then. The music of Native Americans, white settlers, and the Black enslaved people mingled to create new forms and songs from Delta blues and “hillbilly” music, to rock. My biggest question is does the music reflect the culture, or does the culture reflect the music?
From its birth in the 1700s through the 1970s. As you look at the history of music, you look at American history. It's not always a pretty story. Sometimes labor pains are hard, but in the end, it shouts loud and clear, “I was Born in the USA!”
These emigrants came for many different reasons. Some came to escape poverty and find a better life. Many were forced out of their homeland by war. There were many who had no choice but were torn from their families and homes and brought here.
Unlike some versions of history state, this was not a land someone had “discovered.” There were indigenous groups with established cultures who had lived here for thousands of years. In spite of the misconception that all Indians wore feathers, lived in teepees, and had the same culture, Native American music and culture differed regionally and from tribe to tribe. They each had their own music as well.
America really was a melting pot then. The music of Native Americans, white settlers, and the Black enslaved people mingled to create new forms and songs from Delta blues and “hillbilly” music, to rock. My biggest question is does the music reflect the culture, or does the culture reflect the music?
From its birth in the 1700s through the 1970s. As you look at the history of music, you look at American history. It's not always a pretty story. Sometimes labor pains are hard, but in the end, it shouts loud and clear, “I was Born in the USA!”
February 11, 2021
LitCon
I just discovered LitCon a few days ago but love how it helps promote an author's books. I am now the genre manager for mystery, suspense, and thriller books.
Katy's World Blog
A little about me.
November 10, 2020
For Want of a Ship
Here's a exerpt from my brand new release,
For Want of a Ship www.amazon.com/dp/B08LMMDCH3
A cold wind blew down Crawford Street in Vicksburg, Mississippi on January 17, 1860. A man stepped out from the post office. He pulled the stylish black overcoat tighter around his short compact body and straightened his top hat on his thinning ginger-colored hair then began to walk toward Washington Street at a brisk pace. He had just turned towards Clay Street when he heard the sound of an angry voice shouting “Damn you to hell, William!”
He felt a brief sharp sting as a bullet entered his chest. He saw the sheet of newsprint flung into his face. His last thought as he lay on the ground was, “Elizabeth will miss me.”
Fred Hammett had just stepped outside after sorting mail inside the post office all morning when he heard the shot ring out around the corner. He rushed out from the post office and saw the body sprawled in a pool of blood just steps away
For Want of a Ship www.amazon.com/dp/B08LMMDCH3
A cold wind blew down Crawford Street in Vicksburg, Mississippi on January 17, 1860. A man stepped out from the post office. He pulled the stylish black overcoat tighter around his short compact body and straightened his top hat on his thinning ginger-colored hair then began to walk toward Washington Street at a brisk pace. He had just turned towards Clay Street when he heard the sound of an angry voice shouting “Damn you to hell, William!”
He felt a brief sharp sting as a bullet entered his chest. He saw the sheet of newsprint flung into his face. His last thought as he lay on the ground was, “Elizabeth will miss me.”
Fred Hammett had just stepped outside after sorting mail inside the post office all morning when he heard the shot ring out around the corner. He rushed out from the post office and saw the body sprawled in a pool of blood just steps away
October 14, 2020
Missing and Last Step: A common bond
Looking at similarities between my "Last Step" and my newest book, "Missing--Gone but not Forgotten." Drugs are a big part of both.
Vickie's daughter is dead. Just one more dead druggie among the hundreds that die each year in Jacksonville, Florida's drug-infested slums. The police aren't concerned about her drug-related death.
VICKIE needs to know. Was it an accidental overdose, or murder? To find the answer, she
must leave her safe life behind and plunge into the terrors of the drug culture. Will the
search lead her to love? Or will she end up on a morgue slab, just one more casualty in
the war against drugs?
HANK His mistakes caused the death of those he loved most. Drug addiction is his sworn
enemy. His chosen life has no place in it for love until he meets Vickie.
JOE His money and power haven't been able to save his marriage or his son's love. He seeks Vickie's love but what are his secrets...
It's available as a spring, Ebook, audiobook, and had been made into a movie.
Last Step
Vickie's daughter is dead. Just one more dead druggie among the hundreds that die each year in Jacksonville, Florida's drug-infested slums. The police aren't concerned about her drug-related death.
VICKIE needs to know. Was it an accidental overdose, or murder? To find the answer, she
must leave her safe life behind and plunge into the terrors of the drug culture. Will the
search lead her to love? Or will she end up on a morgue slab, just one more casualty in
the war against drugs?
HANK His mistakes caused the death of those he loved most. Drug addiction is his sworn
enemy. His chosen life has no place in it for love until he meets Vickie.
JOE His money and power haven't been able to save his marriage or his son's love. He seeks Vickie's love but what are his secrets...
It's available as a spring, Ebook, audiobook, and had been made into a movie.
Last Step
October 12, 2020
Missing--Gone but not Forgotten
I posted the final version of Missing--Gone but not Forgotten. I am excited to see how it is received. Since I am writing it as fiction but trying to stay true to the actual Haleigh Cummings abduction, it was a challenge. Too many children have gone missing often through the careless behavior of their parents or guardians. I would love comments on this.
October 6, 2020
Georgia's Ghostly Getaways
My Georgia's ghostly Getaways is out at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KFHVB4T
Here's a tiny excerpt about a tiny town I bet you never heard about. It is the home of Brer Rabbit and Alice Walker among other things and has some interesting stories. This is about an ancient mound called Rock Eagle:
Little is known about the origin of two other intriguing creations in the area. The giant Rock Eagle Effigy is a stone mound or tumulus in the shape of a bird with outstretched wings. The wing span is 120 feet. The body stands about ten feet high. Native Americans in the area when the settlers arrived stated they didn’t know who built the mound. It was there when their ancestors arrived. Scientists believe it to be built by a mound-building culture about 3000 BC, which would make it older than the Great Pyramid of Egypt.
Here's a tiny excerpt about a tiny town I bet you never heard about. It is the home of Brer Rabbit and Alice Walker among other things and has some interesting stories. This is about an ancient mound called Rock Eagle:
Little is known about the origin of two other intriguing creations in the area. The giant Rock Eagle Effigy is a stone mound or tumulus in the shape of a bird with outstretched wings. The wing span is 120 feet. The body stands about ten feet high. Native Americans in the area when the settlers arrived stated they didn’t know who built the mound. It was there when their ancestors arrived. Scientists believe it to be built by a mound-building culture about 3000 BC, which would make it older than the Great Pyramid of Egypt.
October 5, 2020
Georgia's Ghostly Getaways
Georgia's Ghostly Getaways 3rd edition [Georgia's Ghostly Getaways_55518534] will release tomorrow. It has been a work in progress for many years and involves many trips to Georgia. Each time I visit I learn something new.
Some of the most interesting sites involve Native Americans like New Echota. Did you know the Cherokees had a form of government much like the US? The Supreme Court ruled in their favor but President Jackson defied that ruling and sent them on the Trail of Tears? Did you know that Major Ridge who signed the Treaty of New Echota predicted correctly right after he signed, "I have just signed my death warrant."
You can learn about these places with their history and ghostly legends in this book.
Some of the most interesting sites involve Native Americans like New Echota. Did you know the Cherokees had a form of government much like the US? The Supreme Court ruled in their favor but President Jackson defied that ruling and sent them on the Trail of Tears? Did you know that Major Ridge who signed the Treaty of New Echota predicted correctly right after he signed, "I have just signed my death warrant."
You can learn about these places with their history and ghostly legends in this book.
August 21, 2020
New Book in the Works
I’m starting on a new book. It’s going to be a fictionalized story based on a true crime. I have lived near and followed the Haleigh Cummings case from day one, Feb 10, 2009. It had never been solved. I have my theory as to what happened to that beautiful star crossed child.
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August 18, 2017
What about that Eclipse?
I’m headed for Dalton, Georgia when the eclipse happens. Here’s where you’ll find an account of what I see and hopefully some photos within a few days after the eclipse.
