Trana Mathews's Blog, page 6
November 8, 2020
Michele Ceron Inteview
This week I had the pleasure to interview Michele Ceron who writes soap-opera type drama. Here's a link: http://www.tranamathews.com/interview...
October 11, 2020
Whitney Metz Interview
This week I had the opportunity to interview fantasy novelist Whitney Metz. http://www.tranamathews.com/interview...
October 9, 2020
5 Star Review
I'm so thrilled with the Amazon book review given to The Mathews Family by my local library director that I have to share:
5 Stars: Excellent Historical Novel
I loved this book! Was a fascinating read made even more meaningful by the fact that it was based on the author's own ancestors. She brought the story of her family to life--beautifully blending fiction and fact to create a family legacy that documents family history in a way that dry facts and figures never could. It is an inspiration for amateur genealogists like me who want to tell the stories of our own families. Her characters are realistic and relatable and compelling. Love seeing the historical events of the times through their eyes; it is a whole new perspective. Looking forward to more from this author!
5 Stars: Excellent Historical Novel
I loved this book! Was a fascinating read made even more meaningful by the fact that it was based on the author's own ancestors. She brought the story of her family to life--beautifully blending fiction and fact to create a family legacy that documents family history in a way that dry facts and figures never could. It is an inspiration for amateur genealogists like me who want to tell the stories of our own families. Her characters are realistic and relatable and compelling. Love seeing the historical events of the times through their eyes; it is a whole new perspective. Looking forward to more from this author!
October 4, 2020
W.D. Kilpack III's Interview
This week I interviewed fantasy novelist W.D. Kilpack III. His interview is now available here: http://www.tranamathews.com/interview...
August 23, 2020
Catrin Russell Interview
This week I interviewed fantasy author Catrin Russell. Her interview is available here: http://www.tranamathews.com/interview...
August 16, 2020
Benjamin M. Weilert Interview
This week I interviewed author Benjamin M. Weilert. You may read it at http://www.tranamathews.com/interview...
June 14, 2020
Writing A Family History
I usually post an interview of a self-published author to my blog each Sunday. While I've been contacted by several people, no one has yet sent their response to my questionnaire.
I spent hours this morning and afternoon composing something for my blog because I want fresh content every week. Writing A Family History is my topic for today.
I also included an excerpt from the next novel which will be my opening quotation. It's a letter from John Mathews - an insightful look at the 1794 Whiskey Rebellion. In it, he complains about government's lack of response to the Indian War on the frontier. Sounds like what people are saying today about our government's response to the pandemic, doesn't it?
I spent hours this morning and afternoon composing something for my blog because I want fresh content every week. Writing A Family History is my topic for today.
I also included an excerpt from the next novel which will be my opening quotation. It's a letter from John Mathews - an insightful look at the 1794 Whiskey Rebellion. In it, he complains about government's lack of response to the Indian War on the frontier. Sounds like what people are saying today about our government's response to the pandemic, doesn't it?
June 7, 2020
Cathy Williams-Thrun Interview
This Sunday, I interviewed memoir author Cathy Williams-Thrun. You can read her interview here: http://www.tranamathews.com/interview...
May 31, 2020
Sabine Garvey Campbell Interview
This Sunday, I interviewed contemporary novelist, Sabin Garvey Campbell. You can read her interview here: http://www.tranamathews.com/interview...
May 24, 2020
Memorial Day
Since I didn't receive any interviews from self-published authors for this Sunday's post, I decided to write about my Memorial Day memories.
For as long as I can remember, my parents grew peonies in their yard. Mom always fretted every May that these plants wouldn't be in full flower by the holiday, but they usually bloomed in time because Memorial Day was always celebrated on May 30th back then.
After our early morning breakfast, Mom would take an old towel and spread it on the ground near the peonies. As she snipped the blooms, she carefully shook the blossoms to remove ants. When she finished, my siblings and I were herded into the car. The flowers were placed inside the trunk, then we were on our way to the cemetery.
We stopped to pick up my grandmother who only lived a few miles from us, then our true journey began. At that time, Northwest Indiana did not have a north/south expressway, so our route was back roads until we reached Highway 41 which was termed "The Killer Highway" because of the number of fatal accidents which occurred.
Though our destination was only about 40 miles away, it took a long time to drive there. When we reached the tiny town of Schneider, Dad would point to an old house on the west side of Highway 41 and say, "That's where I was born."
Then we left Lake County behind, crossed the Kankakee River, and entered Newton County. From there, it didn't take long for us to reach Route 10 and just beyond it was Lake Village Cemetery.
My dad's father, grandmother, and older brother were buried here. His mother was also buried here in 1973.
Before I moved 1800 miles away, I took my daughter there on Memorial Day. I wanted her to know where some of her grandfather's ancestors were buried. Our trip was much quicker as we took Interstate 64 to Route 10 then across to Route 41.
Today, I've placed memorial flowers on Find A Grave. Though they are gone, they are not forgotten!
For as long as I can remember, my parents grew peonies in their yard. Mom always fretted every May that these plants wouldn't be in full flower by the holiday, but they usually bloomed in time because Memorial Day was always celebrated on May 30th back then.
After our early morning breakfast, Mom would take an old towel and spread it on the ground near the peonies. As she snipped the blooms, she carefully shook the blossoms to remove ants. When she finished, my siblings and I were herded into the car. The flowers were placed inside the trunk, then we were on our way to the cemetery.
We stopped to pick up my grandmother who only lived a few miles from us, then our true journey began. At that time, Northwest Indiana did not have a north/south expressway, so our route was back roads until we reached Highway 41 which was termed "The Killer Highway" because of the number of fatal accidents which occurred.
Though our destination was only about 40 miles away, it took a long time to drive there. When we reached the tiny town of Schneider, Dad would point to an old house on the west side of Highway 41 and say, "That's where I was born."
Then we left Lake County behind, crossed the Kankakee River, and entered Newton County. From there, it didn't take long for us to reach Route 10 and just beyond it was Lake Village Cemetery.
My dad's father, grandmother, and older brother were buried here. His mother was also buried here in 1973.
Before I moved 1800 miles away, I took my daughter there on Memorial Day. I wanted her to know where some of her grandfather's ancestors were buried. Our trip was much quicker as we took Interstate 64 to Route 10 then across to Route 41.
Today, I've placed memorial flowers on Find A Grave. Though they are gone, they are not forgotten!
