Patricia Meredith's Blog, page 12

Cooking Quotes from 19th Century Cookbooks

While writing Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker, I had such great fun finding ways to incorporate some of the many, many 19th century cookbooks I came across along the way! From Eleanor’s cleaning skills to Mrs. Curry’s menus and cooking tips, all were inspired by or taken from cookbooks of the time period.

Over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing some of the fascinating quotes I came across—not all of which, of course, could be incorporated into this book, but there are more books to come!

When I first discovered Pinterest, what fascinated me most was discovering all the wonderful ideas other people had for creating things, from crafts for kids to recipes. When cookbooks first came into existence, they did much the same thing. Before them, everyone cooked how their mother had taught them. There was no collection, no “common cookbook” way of doing it. No way of knowing how or what someone from a different background or culture cooked. It was a pinch of this, a pinch of that. 

“The first cookbook to be published in British America was The Compleat Housewife …which had first been published in London in 1727.” (Early American Cooking)

I’ll start with some cooking quotes, though you’ll find 19th century cookbooks contained much, much more than just recipes. It was a place to find tips and tricks and recipes for cooking, cleaning, and natural remedies, but also SO much more. Many included dissertations on etiquette, how to run a household, tips for living frugally, etc.

I think you’ll be surprised by how much is still applicable today, or perhaps you’ve even heard of already!

(I’ve shared the quotes below in a slideshow taken from a presentation I used to give at local libraries. Just click on the arrows to either side and you should be taken to the next slide. )

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You can learn more about my historical mystery, Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker, here. Be sure to add the book to your Goodreads Want to Read List so you’ll know when I reveal the cover and the book is available for pre-order! You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or sign up for my newsletter for all the latest updates!

Thank you for reading!

For a wonderful collection of archived cookbooks from throughout the centuries, check out: https://digital.lib.msu.edu/projects/cookbooks/html/browse_date.cfmA Feast of Good Things, Prepared by the Ladies of First Presbyterian Church of Spokane, WA, Published 1895 (Pictures my own, taken with permission by the Ferris Archives.)The American Frugal Housewife, by Mrs. Lydia Maria Child, Published 1841 https://d.lib.msu.edu/fa/33#page/8/mode/2upThe American Weekly’s Cookbook, by Isabel Gordon Curtis, Published 1909 (Pictures my own, taken with permission by the Ferris Archives.)Epicurean Cookbook, Published 1894 https://d.lib.msu.edu/fa/26#page/1/mode/2upFannie Farmer’s Boston Cooking School Cookbook, Published 1896 https://d.lib.msu.edu/fa/8#page/2/mode/2upThe First Presbyterian Cook Book, Prepared by the Ladies of First Presbyterian Church of Spokane, WA, Published 1906 or 1907 (Pictures my own, taken with permission by the Ferris Archives.)The Home Cook Book, Published 1877 (Pictures my own, taken with permission by the Ferris Archives.)Mrs. Rorer’s New Cook Book, Published 1902, Originally published in 1886 https://d.lib.msu.edu/fa/63#page/1/mode/2upPractical American Cookery and Household Management, by Julie Corson, Published 1886 https://d.lib.msu.edu/fa/58#page/1/mode/2upThe Settlement Cookbook, by Mrs. Simon Kander, Published 1901 https://d.lib.msu.edu/fa/66#page/1/mode/2upWoman Suffrage Cook Book, by Hattie A. Burr, Published 1886 https://d.lib.msu.edu/fa/74#page/6/mode/2up

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Wearing Historical Clothing

As an historical mystery author, when it came to picking my “author outfit” I knew immediately I wanted to dress like my characters. Not only is this beneficial for research—is a corset really uncomfortable?—but it gives me the confidence I need as an introvert to go out there and talk about my books.

Photo taken by Angus Meredith on our farm outside Spokane.

For those looking to learn more about wearing historical clothing today, I recommend you visit Recollections, which is where I buy all my author outfits. They have a fabulous blog attached to their site for historical research.

(I am not related or affiliated with Recollections—I just love their clothes!)

Photo taken by Angus Meredith on our farm outside Spokane.

Many of my descriptions of chatelaines, corsets, mattresses, and everyday life in the Gilded Age were inspired by Sarah A. Chrisman’s This Victorian Life. The Chrismans are modern-day “historical ambassadors” who live their lives as close to an 1889 lifestyle as possible, from clothing to furniture, baking to cleaning. You can learn more about them and their fabulously interesting life at thisvictorianlife.com. You can find many of my favorite videos by Sarah on my YouTube channel.

It is thanks to Sarah Chrisman’s book Victorian Secrets that I tried wearing a corset at all. I’ve always suffered from back problems, and taking on the role of writer hasn’t helped. After reading her book, I ordered a corset, making sure to get one that fit my body type and that would support my back. Now, whenever my back hurts, I pull on my corset—and, lo and behold, it does help!

The support it offers is amazing, and although I have no medical knowledge behind my assertions, I swear it does help my posture, and thereby, my back problems. I should probably wear it more often than I do, in fact.

The key to wearing a corset is wearing it correctly. Let me say that again: the key to wearing a corset is wearing it CORRECTLY.

Tying a corset too tight is NOT healthy, just like wearing the incorrect bra can sorely affect you. For those who are looking for an argument concerning corsets, I recommend you visit Sarah Chrisman’s site. She’s done a far better job than I collecting the facts in support of wearing a corset. I’ve also found some fabulous videos on YouTube by people like Bernadette Banner, Abby Cox, and Sarah Chrisman herself.

Photo taken by Angus Meredith on our farm outside Spokane.

You’ll notice my hat includes peacock feathers, which are actually from the peacocks that grace our beautiful farm! Peacocks molt naturally every summer, so the kids and I collect them and use them to make all sorts of things, from earrings to wreaths.

I’ll share more about the ring, brooch, and diary I’m holding in a later blog, but I will say they’re family heirlooms! Not pictured is also my pocket watch, which I love because it looks like something my clockmaker character, Archie Prescot, might have designed. But more on that later…

For now, I’ll leave you with this thought: dressing in Gilded Age clothing has given me confidence and benefited my health. How do your clothes affect you?

I’ll be back with more about my research for my book, Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker, next month! Thanks for reading!

Photo taken by Angus Meredith on our farm outside Spokane.

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Interview on KREM 2 News!

I was interviewed by KREM 2 News! View the interview here and follow me on YouTube!

This is my debut historical mystery, Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker, the first in the Spokane Clock Tower Mysteries, set in Gilded Age Spokane.

It’s 1901 and Archie Prescot has traveled across the country to Spokane, Washington to design the now iconic clock tower for the new Great Northern Railroad Depot. When his talent for creating unique clock chimes connects him with a local patroness, he is thrilled, until she is found beheaded in the workshop of a fellow inventor. 

I’m a graduate of Whitworth University and my husband is a born-and-raised Spokanite. I’ve always loved wandering through Manito Park, the Davenport, but it was after visiting the Campbell House at the MAC that I realized what better place to set a mystery than our beautiful hometown?

I’ve been able to do hands-on research quite easily with the assistance of many amazing local folks, which has provided me with lots of first-person accounts, from diaries to letters to Spokesman-Review articles. You can view more about my research all across this website, and I’ll be posting more over the next few months! There is so much wonderful history here—plenty for many books to come!

Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker will be available as an audiobook, ebook, and print book wherever books are sold, including at your local library, THIS FALL.

You can sign up for my newsletter here to get a free copy of my short story “Escapades of a Spokane Thief” which based on an actual article I found in the Spokesman-Review.

You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Goodreads as @pmeredithauthor to hear as soon as I reveal the cover and the book becomes available for pre-order! For now, be sure to add Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker to your Want to Read list on Goodreads and tag #BBCTbook on your favorite social media to spread the word!

Thank you for reading! I can’t wait to share this book with you!

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Spokesman-Review Women’s Column Newspaper Clippings Circa 1901

For my book, Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker, I loved researching historical clothing circa 1901 in which to clothe my men and women. But let’s be honest: the women are always more fun for the variety!

When it came to first-hand accounts, I was greatly inspired by the Women’s Column of the Spokesman-Review. Below you’ll find some screenshots of clippings found throughout a variety of editions published circa 1901.

For more images of clothing that inspired the descriptions in Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker, check out my Pinterest board.

I’d love to hear from you in the comments! Which is your favorite article above?

The post Spokesman-Review Women’s Column Newspaper Clippings Circa 1901 appeared first on Patricia Meredith, Author.

Historical Characters in Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker

One of my favorite parts of writing historical fiction is getting the chance to set a story where my characters can have chance encounters with real people from history.

In my book Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker, although I’ve invented all the primary characters, I’ve sprinkled the story with cameos from some of the most well-known, and many unknown, names from Spokane’s history.

If you’ve got any interest at all in Spokane’s history, you’ve probably heard of Amasa Campbell, Kirtland Cutter, Dutch Jake, and William Shannon. You may have even heard these names: Walter Lawson, Martin Burns, William Witherspoon, and Patrick Byrne.

But have you ever heard of Coroner Nathan Baker or patent lawyer LL Westfall?

All of these names and more feature in my historical mystery, Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker. I’ve attempted to breathe life into these historical figures by incorporating them into a murder plot that’s complete fiction, though greatly inspired by real events from Spokane’s history.

Over the next couple months, I’ll be sharing more about what characters, locations, and events are real in my book. Although I’ll be introducing the characters I created for the book later, I’d like to take a moment to highlight a few of the real historical figures who play a part in the story.

Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker is set in Spokane 1901. I wanted to stay as true to real history as possible, and after some careful digging, I found wonderful images like this one so that I could describe the people my characters work with accurately, which makes it all the more fun!

Check out this dashing group of gents, many of whom are included in my book:

Screenshot (my own) of an image from the book Life Behind the Badge: The Spokane Police Department’s Founding Years, 1881-1903.

When it comes to the Spokane Police Department, I attempted to only create two new characters: Bernard and Thomas Carew. Everyone else is a real person from history, thanks to the hard work done before me on the book Life Behind the Badge: The Spokane Police Department’s Founding Years, 1881-1903 by Suzanne and Tony Bamonte with the Spokane Police Department History Book Committee.

I am especially grateful to one of my beta readers, Susan Walker, who is the Regional Law Enforcement Museum Secretary. She helped me get hands-on with my research for the police department and helped me ensure I offered an accurate representation of these men in blue.

We’ll begin with William W. Witherspoon, who was the 9th Chief of Police beginning July 12, 1899. Before becoming chief, he had no law enforcement experience and was the line superintendent for the City Water Works Department. He had actually helped launch the volunteer fire department back in 1894. He was married to Isabel Grant of Scotland and had five children (History of Spokane County). Chief Witherspoon is listed in Polk’s City Directory for Spokane 1901 as follows:

Witherspoon Wm W, Chief of Police, 1st Floor City Hall, res 1813 Mallon Av, Tel Main 712.

The other detectives named in the text, Dougald McPhee, Alexander MacDonald, John McDermott, and Martin Burns, are the documented detectives serving Spokane in early 1901. They’re listed in Polk’s City Directory for Spokane 1901 as follows:

McPhee, Dougald D, detective police dept, res 1411 Maxwell

MacDonald, Alexander, detective city police dept, res 1103 4th

McDermott, John F, city detective, res 419 3d ave

Burns, Martin J, policeman, rms Delaware blk [in Life Behind the Badge he’s photographed as a detective in October 1901, but in the City Directory he’s still listed as a Regular Patrolman]

Screenshot (my own) of an image from the book Life Behind the Badge: The Spokane Police Department’s Founding Years, 1881-1903.

The desk sergeant, George Hollway, the patrol wagon driver, Walter Lawson, officer William Shannon, and Captain James Coverly are also real historical figures mentioned in my book. If you’d like to read more about Lawson, the first black police officer in Spokane, I recommend you read Logan Camporeale’s fabulous article at The Local History.

Walter Lawson—photo courtesy of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.

Outside the police force, I threw a few other real people into the paths of my creations, including Coroner Nathan M. Baker and Patent Lawyer L. L. Westfall. Both of these gentlemen are listed in the wonderful historical resource History of Spokane County by Edwards, which was published in 1900. You can find it online at archive.org or check it out from the Spokane Public Library.

Coroner Baker worked in the Hyde Block of downtown Spokane. He was a Presbyterian from Minnesota, who in 1898 was elected coroner. He was married to Minnie Bloom, and together they had two children, who are described as being “born on the day of the Doctor’s election to the office of coroner” (History of Spokane County).

Picture from History of Spokane County by Edwards, published in 1900.

Westfall was listed in the Polk’s City Directory for Spokane 1901 as “Westfall, LL, patent attorney, 13-14 Fernwell Bldg.” According to History of Spokane, he was also a Presbyterian and was born in Illinois in 1865. He was a “self-made man…earned his own education and worked his own way unaided in the world, until he has gained a rank among the leading lawyers of the city and all lovers of self-reliant industry and courage will glory in his success” (History of Spokane County). He was married to Adelaide Mickel of Iowa in 1890 and had two children, Elbert and Ethel (I couldn’t make this stuff up, haha).

Picture from History of Spokane County by Edwards, published in 1900.

If you enjoy Spokane history, or if you’d never heard of the town until today but enjoy reading historical mysteries with cameos from real characters from history, I hope you’ll keep an eye out for the publication of Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker, coming your way later this year!

Be sure to follow me at Goodreads, Instagram, Facebook, and/or join my newsletter here to stay up to date on the latest announcements! Thanks for reading!

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Why Spokane?

What made me choose Spokane, Washington as the setting of my historical mystery Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker?

Three things: people, locations, and events. Over the next several months leading up to my Big Book Announcement, I’m excited to tell you more about why Spokane, Washington, of all places, really needed a book set in its environs.

The very, very, very, very first draft of Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker was actually set in Wales, of all places. I was pregnant with my first kid, and after I’d nested and prepped till I was put on bed rest, I was left with only one choice: to finally write the novel I’d wanted to write since graduating from college with a BA in Creative Writing (Whitworth University, woot! woot!).

But where to begin?

I’ve always been a fan of mystery books, and an Agatha Christie Poirot or Dorothy L Sayers Lord Peter Wimsey mystery is my go-to comfort read. It finally occurred to me that maybe, just maybe I should try my hand at the mystery genre.

What came out was Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Taker —in Wales. Fast-forward five years, two kids, and three moves. In 2018, I finally returned to my story, and the first thing I realized: it needed a lot of work.

The biggest change that needed to happen was definitely the location.

I first discovered Spokane in college. I graduated from Whitworth University in 2008, and after marrying the man who is still the love of my life vowed we would never live in Spokane.

Well, as Archie Prescot attempts to say in BBCT, “Spokane has all the magnetism of a lodestone.”

My story was always going to take place in 1901, because I was interested in that period where the era switched from Victorian to Edwardian, but I wasn’t certain on location. It was when I learned that Spokane’s iconic Great Northern depot clock tower still located in Riverfront Park was built starting in 1901 that I started to wonder if maybe there was something here…

One day, my husband, who’s a born-and-raised Spokanite—a person from Spokane—suggested I visit the Campbell House, a house built in 1898 and restored to its glory days in 1910. I’ll be honest, I went just to get some time to myself—I’m an introvert with two toddlers at home and one car to share with my working husband. What I found is, well, history.

The Campbell House and its informed docents were inspirational. It’s like a living museum, with full-dress costumes only at Christmas. I wrote down everything they said, took pictures when I was allowed, and spent an hour in the converted carriage house looking at the carriage, electric car, and informational displays, panels, and videos. 

I felt at once that this was just the beginning of something. I went to local bookstores and started asking if there were any historical mystery books set in Spokane around the turn of the century—nope. But everyone thought it was a good idea! “There should be! There’s so much history here! Did you know Bing Crosby lived in Spokane? Or that President Roosevelt visited?”

I had my location.

Next came the research. I had no idea how much research was going to be required for a historical mystery. Originally I was going to change history, but then I realized in order to change history I’d still have to do all the research to decide how I was going to change it. And since most of the world knows nothing about Spokane—no offense—it wouldn’t be like setting a story in New York City, Chicago, or Seattle. 

And so I embarked on a research journey that would wind along avenues and into back alleys I could have never expected. Every day, I’ve fallen more in love with this town, its people, its buildings and parks, and its history. 

The more I researched, the more I came to really appreciate the original history, and I knew I could play in it without changing it, perhaps with an even better outcome. I adore reading historical fiction novels, alternate history novels, and, my favorite, historical mystery novels. My favorite part is when you realize the author is playing with history, introducing cameos from real historical people, or sending their characters to real places you could visit even today. I can hardly stop from flipping to the back to where the author reveals “Here’s the Real History.” 

Since one of the best pieces of advice I ever heard was “write what you want to read” (similar to the age-old advice of “write what you know”), that’s what I decided to do. Quickly I replaced my made-up coroner for the real one in Spokane in 1901, and my lawyer with a real patent lawyer from that time period. I’d already sent my characters to real locations, but I moved a couple of their homes to locations where enthusiastic readers might go for a walk to pass houses similar to theirs. 

The Campbell House will have to wait for its appearance in the sequel, and you’ll have to wait to read about it till then, but I promise you’ll be able to walk the route of the murderer, peer down to where the victim is discovered, and walk through the halls of the Campbell House should you so desire a visit to Spokane.

I am eternally grateful my husband once asked, “What if you moved your murder mystery to Spokane?” I will never forget how I laughed and struggled against the truth, that this story’s main character is and always will be Spokane, Washington. 

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Cyber Monday Sale

I’m having a Cyber Monday sale at my website! Visit www.Patricia-Meredith.com/shop to purchase a signed copy of Christmas Fiction Off the Beaten Path at 20% off!

You’ll find something for everyone in this anthology, with stories from amazing authors like JPC Allen, Laurie Lucking, Sandra Merville Hart, Ronnell Kay Gibson, and Michelle L. Levigne. Support a local Spokane author and check out the first story, “Mary, Did You Know” written by Patricia Meredith. 🙂

Visit Patricia-Meredith.com or click the link in my bio.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Author Giveaway

I’m having a Christmas Giveaway!

I’m giving away a Christmas Gift Basket full of goodies including TWO signed copies of the Christmas Fiction Off the Beaten Path anthology—one for you and one for a friend!

The catch? I’ll only be drawing a name if I reach 500 followers on Instagram and Facebook by Dec 1st! If I reach 1,000 followers I’ll throw in an Amazon gift card for $25!

Gift basket includes:

-TWO Copies of Christmas Fiction Off the Beaten Path, signed
-Christmas Fiction Off the Beaten Path Book Earrings
-Holly Book Earrings
-Keep Calm Black Tea and Shortbread Cookies
-Basilur Vintage Black and Green tea
-Tetley Decaf Black Tea
-Green Tea Cup and Saucer
-Chocolate
-Bird Picture Holder
-Hand-Knitted Reading Blanket

You’ll find something for everyone in this anthology, with stories from amazing authors like Ronnell K Gibson, JPC Allen, Sandra Merville Hart, Laurie Lucking, and Michelle Levigne. Support a local Spokane author and check out the first story, “Mary, Did You Know” written by Patricia Meredith. 🙂 Be sure to add Christmas Fiction Off the Beaten Path to your Want To Read List.

It’s simple to enter:

-like and share this post on Instagram or Facebook
-follow @pmeredithauthor on Instagram or Facebook
-and once you’ve done all that, tell me your favorite Christmas carol to enter!

Want multiple entries? Do the following:

-like, share, follow, and tell me your favorite Christmas carol on BOTH Facebook and Instagram (@pmeredithauthor)
-sign up for my newsletter at https://mailchi.mp/7fc1231a151e/spoka...
-follow the other authors in this wonderful anthology, each for another entry!

(Open to U.S. residents only.)

Merry Christmas to all!

Merry Christmas!

UPDATE: It’s not too late to enter! The Giveaway draw date has been extended to December 14!

I’m having a #ChristmasGiveaway! 

I’m giving away a Christmas Gift Basket full of goodies including TWO signed copies of the Christmas Fiction Off the Beaten Path anthology—one for you and one for a friend! 

I’ll be drawing a name on Dec 14th! If I reach 500 followers I’ll throw in an Amazon gift card for $25!

Gift basket includes:

-TWO Copies of Christmas Fiction Off the Beaten Path, signed

-Christmas Fiction Off the Beaten Path Book Earrings 

-Holly Book Earrings

-Keep Calm Black Tea and Shortbread Cookies

-Basilur Vintage Black and Green tea 

-Tetley Decaf Black Tea

-Green Tea Cup and Saucer

-Chocolate 

-Bird Picture Holder

-Hand-Knitted Reading Blanket 

You’ll find something for everyone in this anthology, with stories from amazing authors like Ronnell K Gibson, JPC Allen, Sandra Merville Hart, Laurie Lucking, and Michelle Levigne. Support a local Spokane author and check out the first story, “Mary, Did You Know” written by Patricia Meredith.

Why Historical Fiction?

One of my favorite authors is Alison Weir, and the reason I love her work so much is because she began as a biographical nonfiction writer. When she started writing historical fiction, her research paid off ten-fold by adding an element of realism that you just don’t get with other authors who don’t thoroughly research.

In the back of one of her books, Innocent Traitor, she says, “where the evidence is scanty or missing, I have used my imagination.” In truth, that is why many historical writers turn to historical fiction. When you’re researching and you come across holes, you desperately want to fill them, but you can’t do that when writing non-fiction.Weir also says, “Some parts of the book may seem far-fetched: they are the parts most likely to be based on fact.”

Anna Katharine Green said something very similar: “I have found that the incidents in books which people pick out as improbable are the very ones which are founded on fact. Truth is stranger than fiction” (“Why Human Beings Are Interested in Crime”).

History fascinates me, especially when you find something difficult to believe that turns out to be true.

In my book about Anna Katharine Green, one of the quotes I incorporated was a line about one of the reasons she finally sat down to write her first novel, The Leavenworth Case:

“The other night I had a dream, which has impressed a story on my mind…so passionate, so strong, so subtle, so dread, dark, and heart-rending, it ought to be written with fire and blood. It will require all my enthusiasm, study and power, and then I may fall short, but I believe I shall try. Perhaps it is somewhat sensational, but I hope by characterization and earnestness to lift it to a higher ground.”

As “sensational” and completely Victorian this quote may seem, it is, in fact, a line straight out of one of Anna’s letters written to Mary Hatch, which was then quoted in “An American Gaboriau” by Mary R. P. Hatch (published in 1889). This makes it an example of something that seems difficult to believe, and yet actually happened historically.

It excites me to research and find more and more fun little tidbits about the past that seem difficult to believe, and yet only press upon us how much we can learn from history.

That is why I have chosen to write historical mysteries. Why do you read them?

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