R.L. Geer-Robbins's Blog, page 17

One good idea led to a credit card being maxed out! The joys of being a supportive mom!

Friends,

Isn’t it always a sense of accomplishment when you get through a week without calling into work sick?

It is a constant struggle for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love going into work. It is stress free, easy, and I work with some great people. There isn’t a day that I don’t laugh about something. And every two weeks they pay me without fail.

It’s a good gig.

This week I am happy to report that nothing notable has happened in the Robbins world. Minus the fact that my leg is acting up again. However, that is just pain, and you can get through anything with enough hot showers, ice packs, and medication. And I have convinced myself that if I ride my Harley, it will shake out the nerves and they will stop acting up. It hasn’t happened yet – but I will keep riding until it does.

That is not the news from this week though!

My youngest is an aspiring artist. I hate to put it that way because he is an artist to me. His paintings are good! At least in this mama’s eyes. But he wants to move into the world of commissions for his work. Because of social media, has decided not to attend college. After seeing the interest rates on student loans and repayment plans, I am internally debating whether or not he should.

Isn’t it sad when you have to do a comparison on education vs. survival? But that is not the point.

The point is that for his first week of summer vacation, my son has spent his time building a website. He has also taken photos of his work, created social media content, and designed his brand.

He is only 15.

I am proud!

Learn the difficult lessons now my young grasshopper and you will not struggle like my husband and I have.

But that meant, as two small business owners, my husband and I needed to share with him the reality of being an artist in a digital world.

Rule #1: Sales are made through relationships.

Now for a 15-year-old, this is a daunting task. You should have seen the look on his face when I told him he would have to talk to people. He looked like I had taken away his gym equipment and his X-Box died. It was pitiful. The answer- I signed us up for craft fairs.

Here is what happened because of my ‘fabulous’ idea. I had to purchase the spot. You have to bring your own tent, chairs, and tables- which I need to get. You have to make prints of his work. Since he doesn’t have a car or license, that meant I spent four hours copying, cropping, and finding a company that would print his paintings out for me. You must be able to display your work, which I didn’t have. Since we are doing a craft fair, I might as well bring my books, so I ordered more. I had to get the plastic covering, matting, and cardboard for his copies.

Rule # 2: Be prepared for startup costs.

All this cost money. Money that I didn’t think about when I said, ‘let’s do a craft fair’. Because in my mind, my husband and I do a lot of reptile shows and I thought we would have everything. But this got me thinking about my husband’s table and how we could spruce it up. Everyone knows Amazon Prime is coming up, so it’s time to go shopping!

Remember when I said I had a stress-free job? Well, it’s more stress free when it’s Friday before a 4-day weekend. So, I had PENTLY of time to shop. I changed the whole look of my husband’s table which reminded me that I needed to get him new business cards. Which reminded me that I needed to design my updated business cards with my company name. Which then led to my son asking if he could have business cards.

Business cards for everyone!

Rule #3: Have something to sell.

I have no more wall space in my home. It is covered with photos, pictures I have collected over the years, and my sons’ paintings. I am to the point that I have to water-lock some of his paintings so that they can go into the bathroom.

There is no room.

So, in my mind, he had plenty of paintings to sell. I have only two books, so I wouldn’t take up much room.

But according to my son, that is not true. Nope. My son is doing a new collection of paintings and as of today, he only has two. He needs to create more. Okay, that’s fine. We have a few weeks- paint your heart out my child. But then he asked me what else I was bringing. Will I have bookmarks? Maybe t-shirts? A coffee mug with the book’s logo? Something to entice buyers to buy into the Raven Society fantasy?

Stop being logical kid.

No, I don’t. I don’t have that stuff. But I should have that stuff, shouldn’t I? Famous authors do. Of course, most famous authors have a marketing team, publishing team, editing team, and every other type of team there is.

Me?

I have a subscription to Canva and WordTune.

So now I need to design and order more stuff.

You see the rabbit hole of stress I fell into? I still haven’t advertised the upcoming reptile show (in two weeks). Book 3 is currently in the early stages, and is due out in December. And on top of all this- I am supposed to cook homecooked meals so we stop eating out, so I can afford my families’ side-businesses.

But what about my kid? He is on cloud 9. He is already calculating potential gross vs. profit. He has created his ‘look’ for when he gets famous.

Me? I need Botox and a weekend away.

So, there we have it. I really hope that we have some profitable weekends at the shows. In trying to teach my son the joys of business, taxes, start-up costs, and promotions- I am broke. Way broke. Like do I need to put gas in the truck to go to work broke.

But, then again, I am thrilled. I could be paying for sports equipment… and I saw how much it costs for football or tennis. I might be on the winning side.

Never mind- my kid just walked downstairs and told me he needs more paint and canvas. Shit!

Last pitch- because promotions are a thing! If you haven’t guessed… I am an author! The Writer and the Librarian and The Myth and the Monster – The Raven Society series is available to order- Just click here!

And if you are looking for a new family pet… why not look at a reptile? My husband is passionate, educated, and willing to answer any questions that you may have about snakes, spiders, bearded dragons, and everything in between… click here.

And if you are in the mood to support a young artist in his work- send me a message. I am going to upload his prints in my store front on this page this weekend.

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Today in History: The official beginning and end of World War 1.

The post Today in History: The official beginning and end of World War 1. appeared first on R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author.

Chernobyl- the worse ever civil-nuclear disaster. But the wreckage left behind was more than just land.

There are so many points in history in which the overall plot is well known, but tiny details are often forgotten. My co-worker recently recommended an HBO series to me, Chernobyl, and I quickly jumped on board. For two days I was drawn into the mystery and horror of one of the world’s most devastating nuclear power plant disasters.

True heroes emerged from the story as well. Brave souls that pushed themselves above and beyond the call of duty to save not only their country- but the world. Pilots, firemen, scientists, medical professionals, miners, and more.

I wanted to share a story about one of them because as new documentation is revealed and scientists discover new and surprising consequences of the Chornobyl explosion, it is time to share the stories.  

Valery Legasov-

A brilliant man, at 36 he became a Doctor of Chemical Sciences, at 45 – a full member of the Academy of Sciences. For his work on the synthesis of chemical compounds of noble gases, he was awarded the title of Laureate of the State and the Lenin Prize. But he was not a nuclear scientist, and it was by accident that he ended up in Reactor 4 at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Soviet Ukraine at all. Because no one else could be reached because they were on holiday, and a plane was waiting, Legasov was the man for the job. Within 12 hours, he was appointed to the government’s special commission.

First thing first…

It was Legasov, who convinced the government commission chairman, Boris Shcherbina, that the first thing they should do was to evacuate people from Pripyat; unfortunately, the evacuation didn’t begin until 36 hours after the explosion. Buses were brought in and 50 thousand people were removed, saving many lives. After that, officials established a 30-km Chernobyl Exclusion Zone that was determined to be unsafe for human habitation for 20,000 years.

By the time Legasov arrived, the fire was nearly contained; however, a massive amount of radioactive elements were released into the air and what was left of the building proved to be a serious threat. But this did not deter Legasov from his mission and he would fly over Chornobyl a couple of times a day, despite the continual warning from the dosimeter, a device that measured the external ionizing radiation in the area.

Even though it was a rule that no one could spend more than two weeks at the site, Legasov spent four months and was exposed to four times the allowed radiation exposure. By May 5th, the radiation was beginning to play its dangerous game on his body, and by May 15- full symptoms were showing. But this didn’t stop him- he was dedicated to saving as many lives as possible.

Telling the truth…

Legasov’s role as a hero continues as he was selected to speak at the International Atomic Energy Agency, the world’s nuclear watchdog. He presented a report to colleagues that claimed the explosion was caused by structural flaws and human errors. He advocated transparency between what occurred and what was briefed to the public. The report was a success around the world, but back home it was not received well. Legasov pointed out some key errors in the reactor design and safety concerns with shortcuts taken, concerns that had been addressed before but ignored by the government.

In his report, he concluded that the reactor, or RMBK, was faulty and unstable and was banned from use worldwide except in the Soviet Union. The government had been warned that the reactor didn’t have a protective layer to contain radioactive materials in case of a leak or exposure, but it remained unheeded. The plant was operated by untrained personnel, and they had no idea how to handle the equipment on the night of the meltdown. “Neglect by the scientific management and the designers was everywhere with no attention being paid to the condition of instruments or of equipment,” Legasov wrote in his report.

As you can imagine, this didn’t go over well- and Legasov was stripped of his status in the scientific world and his name was removed from the list of those to be awarded the Hero of Socialist Labor for their work because ‘other scientists don’t recommend it’. He was also excluded by a 129-100 vote by his own peers from a chair on the Scientific and Technical Council of the Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy, where he had once served as a Deputy Director.

He couldn’t survive the aftermath…

Unfortunately, Legasov’ story ended in tragedy when he committed suicide on 27 April 1988, just one day after the 2nd anniversary of the disaster. He had been suffering from radiation sickness, and the loss of his job, and probably didn’t want to be a burden on his family as his body further deteriorated. However, prior to his death, he took notes and recorded his own recollection of the events which have proved to be key in learning about Chernobyl’s real devastation.

On 20 September 1996, Boris Yeltsin awarded him the posthumous honorary title of Hero of the Russian Federation.

This is just one story about the people who were instrumental in the aftermath of the nuclear meltdown that affected the world. It was a story hidden in a closet for a long time. However, as the aftermath of the explosion is being studied in its entirety, it is possible for a complete picture to come to light. I want to take a moment to acknowledge Legasov and his family for everything they went through. Hopefully, as his story is shared, we can all agree that heroes come in all shapes, forms, and professions. And in this case, a group of scientists made the conscious decision to rebel against the government. While the immediate repercussions were harsh, they changed the world.

If you are enjoying these stories of history, why not subscribe? I’ll be delving into tales from around the world, sharing book recommendations and providing some exclusive details on the projects I’m currently working on.

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Small business owners are the most resilient people ever.

Friends,

As you may or may not know, my husband and I own two small businesses along with our full-time jobs. They were created out of our excitement for history, writing, and reptiles. Until this past weekend, they were something we were really passionate about. But this weekend was our ‘oh shit’ moment that no business owner wants to experience.

We are losing money faster than I can spend $400.00 at Wal-Mart for a week’s worth of groceries.

And in this current economic climate, losing money is not the most desirable option for anyone. It’s caused so much stress that I am beginning to believe that my migraine is now an annoying BFF that is not going to go away. The peaceful baths that I used to take are now just a few moments to think about everything that I need to do. Sleep has become a distant memory. I have lost my mojo to write or create anything for social media.

The great expectations that we had are becoming a nightmare.

And it really is no one’s fault. It’s just that people don’t have the money to spend. And we wouldn’t want them to spend money on something they couldn’t afford. It does mean that we need to pinch our pennies to survive this downhill turn, which is becoming increasingly challenging when I am paying almost $250.00 a week in gas for both of us just to be able to get to work. I used to spend $170.00 a week on groceries, and now it’s $300.00 at Walmart for the off-brands.

What the hell happened?

So, two nights ago, I revamped my business plan in hopes to promote our two small businesses in a better way. Making reels, designing videos, creating exciting social media posts, tagging other small businesses…

But there lies the main issue. In order to stay relevant as small business owners, we need to spend money in hopes to make money. Promotions, websites, products, advertising… all this comes with a cost and a very small return on our investments if we don’t do it right. And then we have to contend with big businesses who have the money to spend but also keep a tight belt on their own costs.

So, what are we supposed to do?

I don’t know friends. I really am lost for words. My husband and I both agree that we don’t want to give up…. but have you ever seen how much it costs to start a business? States love to promote ‘support small businesses and then tax us until we are at a loss.

It’s all very frustrating right now.

Couple this with the fact that it’s been raining for over a week and I haven’t been able to ride my motorcycle. The motorcycle I bought to save on gas. So now, I still pay for gas and my Harley.

This weekend I attended a lovely art festival in my area. It was wonderfully put together, with lots of wonderful things to look at, delicious popcorn, and even live music and dancing. These artists were amazing! I was in awe! I wanted to support most of them, but I had to be picky about what I could buy and what was too expensive. It was horrible because my son is an artist and I am a writer. We know what it means to spend a whole weekend outside in the elements, and hope someone wants to buy something we created.

It’s not easy following your dream. So, what can you do to support a small business?

Review, review, review!

If you have had a positive experience with a company, leave a review. Even if it is just clicking on the stars. It generates more business than you know. For books on Amazon, they don’t start ‘recommending’ your book until you have at least 25 reviews. If you know an artist, post a picture of their work in your home and tag them with a link to their website. 5 minutes of your day can mean the difference between profit or loss for most businesses.

Challenge: Did you just buy something? Sustainable coffee or a new book? Did you purchase something unique from Amazon? Take a moment to write a review today.

Sign up for the newsletters.

I know you probably don’t read newsletters…but you really should. Sometimes there are dazzling deals, cool facts, or links to other small businesses you didn’t know about.

Challenge: Do you have a blogger or author you like? Sign up for their newsletter. And when you have a dull moment at work, read it. Every ‘open’ for a newsletter is tracked and helps promote that small business through the algorithm.

Follow on social media.

Most of us are on social media for at least an hour a day. For small businesses, a large following helps us compete with major businesses with marketing budgets. We rely on word of mouth and social media to promote our work, which makes us a small fish swimming next to the Krakens. Did you know that most businesses, like Amazon, Target, and Barnes and Noble, only work with artists with ‘established’ accounts? As an author, most publishing companies won’t even look at our books until we can prove we have over 1,000 followers on EVERY SINGLE media platform.

Challenge: Interact with one social media post and share it with your friends. Out of your 500 friends and family members… there may be 1 or 2 people that would enjoy the same product, and they may buy.

Go to the festivals, conventions, and block parties.

This is where most small businesses do most sales. I understand that most people don’t want to deal with the crowds, parking, and pressure of venturing into the public… but when was the last time you did? In northern Washington, we recently celebrated the annual Tulip Festival. We had a month full of fairs, parades, and amazing gardens… tourists came from all over the world. But did I go? No. Why? Because I didn’t want to deal with crowds and traffic. I missed out on an excellent opportunity to get outside and explore because I didn’t want to sit in the car for an extra 20 minutes. I feel really guilty about that because I am the first to complain that there is nothing to do in my area. I am the first to complain that families are not spending enough quality time together. But it was right there, in front of me. A way to support local gardeners, for free, and I skipped out to watch Netflix.

Challenge: Go on your city website or Facebook and find something happening this month… and commit to one thing!

Now I might be beating a dead horse on this one… but watching other small businesses suffer, like we are, because we haven’t broken the barriers is hard. I know that this process has made me more aware and more appreciative of the hard work and effort that business owners make every single day just to stay afloat.

So, if you are a small business, let me know what I can do to support. I may not be able to buy- but I will get the word out!

Last pitch- because promotions are a thing! If you haven’t guessed… I am an author! The Writer and the Librarian and The Myth and the Monster – The Raven Society series is available to order- Just click here!

And if you are looking for a new family pet… why not look at a reptile? My husband is passionate, educated, and willing to answer any questions that you may have about snakes, spiders, bearded dragons, and everything in between… click here.

The post Small business owners are the most resilient people ever. appeared first on R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author.

Today in History- 1st Father’s Day Celebrated in the U.S. (kind of).

It’s Father’s Day. A time to celebrate the men who helped raise us. A time to honor the men who have helped shape each and every one of us into the person we are now. But how did this holiday become a national celebration? The story might surprise you, along with the controversy surrounding it.

It actually started in 1908.

The first Father’s Day service was held at a church in Fairmont, West Virginia on July 5th, 1908. This was in response to the tragic outcome of an infamous mining disaster that killed hundreds of men. Grace Golden Clayton, daughter of a well-respected minister, proposed that a memorial be formed to commemorate all fathers, including those who had passed away. Surprisingly enough, this observance did not become a regular occurrence and there was hardly any promotion for it; so, nobody outside the local area knew about it. On the other hand, unbeknownst to everyone else in the nation, another woman was inspired to recognize her father and others too…

Inspired by Mother’s Day.

In 1909, Sonora Smart Dodd (Spokane, Washington), was inspired by the Mother’s Day sermon. Her father, William Jackson Smart was a Civil War veteran, farmer, and a single parent to her and her five brothers. Her mother had died giving birth in 1898 and her father stepped up and played the role of both parents.

Originally, Sonora proposed June 5th, but the local ministers asked for it to be celebrated on the 3rd Sunday in June so they would have more time to prepare.

Becoming a National Holiday

The celebration was highly publicized, and word of the event made it to Washington D.C. The first bill was introduced in 1913 but unfortunately, even with President Wilson’s support, it did not pass. 8 years later, President Coolidge signed a resolution in support of Father’s Day, “to establish more intimate relations between fathers and their children and to impress upon fathers the full measure of their obligations.”

In 1966, President Johnson signed an executive order celebrating Father’s Day on the 3rd Sunday of June. And finally, in 1972, under President Nixon, Congress passed the act making Father’s Day a national holiday.

Only 59 years! Not bad for the government.

The decision was based on the economy.

Surprise, surprise- the push to make it a national holiday was not based on appreciation for fathers- but rather on the economic climate. There were two key events that ensured Father’s Day was not left on the backburner:

The Great Depression: It was a hard time for the U.S., not a penny to spare and the stores needed a reason to bring people in. Father’s Day was seen as a viable reason to motivate families to spend money on dad, encouraging families to buy him new clothing or items that he didn’t need but wouldn’t buy for himself. Typical gifts included traditional neckties and socks.

World War II: With so many men away fighting in the trenches, Father’s Day was seen as an opportunity to show support for men and encouraged people to donate to the war to ‘support’ their loved ones.

It was not a popular idea with the masses.

In the 20′ and 30′ there was a movement to get rid of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day and combine them into a collective Patent’s Day. Headed by Robert Spere, a children’s radio entertainer, he saw the two different celebrations as a “division of respect and affection” for parents. “We should all have love for dad and mother every day, but Parents’ Day on the second Sunday in May is a reminder that both parents should be loved and respected together,” Spere told The New York Times in 1931.

The slogan for the new holiday was actually pretty catchy: “A kiss for mother, a hug for dad.”

Father’s Day is big business – but it pales against Mother’s Day.

In 2022, approximately 20 billion dollars were spent on Father’s Day gifts, compared to 31.7 billion spent on Mother’s Day. But… interestingly, it is the 4th most popular day for greeting cards, with over 72 million bought every year. 15% of those being not for dads but husbands.

Traditionally, roses are the traditional gift- wearing a red rose means you have a living father and a white one means your father has passed on.

It’s a worldwide celebration.

Historians agree that a tradition to celebrate and honor fathers began thousands of years ago. A study shows that 4,000 years ago in Babylon, a son carved a special message to his father on a card made of clay. He wished his dad a long and healthy life. It is believed that several countries adopted this custom of celebrating Father’s Day

March 14– IranMarch 19– Bolivia, Honduras, Italy, Lichtenstein, Portugal, SpainMay 8– South KoreaFirst Sunday in June– LithuaniaSecond Sunday in June– Austria, Ecuador, BelgiumThird Sunday in June– Antigua, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saint Vincent, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Trinidad, Turkey, United Kingdom, Venezuela, ZimbabweJune 17– El Salvador, GuatemalaJune 23– Nicaragua, Poland, UgandaSecond Sunday in July– UruguayLast Sunday in July– Dominican RepublicSecond Sunday in August– BrazilAugust 8– Taiwan, ChinaAugust 24– ArgentinaFirst Sunday in September– Australia, New ZealandNew Moon of September– NepalFirst Sunday in October– LuxembourgSecond Sunday in November– Estonia, Finland, Norway, SwedenDecember 5– Thailand

There you have it- a brief look into the history of Father’s Day. Now if you will excuse me, I have to get ready to go take my father out to lunch and give him the card that I got him.

If you are enjoying Today in History, why not subscribe to my newsletter? I’ll be delving into tales from around the world, sharing book recommendations and providing some exclusive details on the projects I’m currently working on.

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Today in History- Dante is named prior of Florence.

Even if you have never read The Divine Comedy, you have most likely heard about it. We have seen it referenced in movies and books, and it has inspired many artists throughout history. But who was the man behind the book?

Dante Alighieri- early life.

Born in Florence, Italy, in 1265, Dante Alighieri—his full name was Durante di Alighiero degli Alighieri to Alaghiero and Bella, but he’s better known simply as Dante. Unfortunately, Bella passed away before Dante turned 10, leaving him with a new stepmother and two siblings. At 12, Dante was promised in marriage to Gemma di Manetto; they would later tie the knot. Not much is known about his educational background, but it is clear that he loved poetry and literature. This passion for culture, politics, and writing inspired him throughout his career.

Inspired by a childhood crush.

At 12 years old, Dante was invited to a party by his father. He saw a young girl there and instantly fell in love with her. Her name was Beatrice di Folco Portinari and she was 9. His family had already arranged for him to marry another woman, so he never spoke to Beatrice properly. Nevertheless, Dante used his love for her to influence his writing and artistry. His most famous work, New Life, is said to be inspired by his feelings towards Beatrice. In his Divine Comedy, she is portrayed as a divine being with qualities that lead Dante away from temptation and towards righteousness.

He was a soldier.

Dante served the Guelphs as a horseman at the Battle of Campaldino on June 11, 1289, against the Ghibellines.

He was in the medical field.

Dante became a pharmacist in order to help further his political career. He could not become a member of public office without holding such a position.

Why was he exiled?

In 1302, Dante found himself the victim of what historians call “trumped-up charges” of embezzlement, opposition to the pope, and more by the Florentine government. When he refused to appear to answer for his crimes and pay a fine, it was decided that should he ever step foot in Florence again, he would be burned alive. As a result, Dante spent his remaining years as a wanderer, a lifestyle that provided him the inspiration to write The Divine Comedy. In 2008 Florence’s city council voted to symbolically revoke Dante’s death sentence in the city and restore his honor.

How he died.

Dante died in Ravenna between 13 and 14 September 1321, probably due to malaria contracted while passing through the Comacchio marshland or in Venice itself. He had gone on an ambassadorial mission on behalf of Guido Novello. His funeral ceremony and the reactions of poets and writers of the time to the news of his death are early evidence of the fame surrounding the man and his work, which soon turned him into a legendary figure.

Dante’s body was buried near the church of San Pier Maggiore (later renamed San Francesco) until a worthy burial monument could be erected for him. Due to Guido Novello’s exile, however, this did not materialize. Dante’s remains, repeatedly requested by the Florentines, were jealously guarded by the Franciscans. After a chance finding in 1865 on Dante’s centenary, his remains were transferred to the small neoclassical temple built in 1782 next to San Francesco church.

What happened next?

For hundreds of years, writers, painters, musicians, filmmakers, and cartoonists have all drawn upon The Divine Comedy, especially the “Inferno” part. Names like Sandro Botticelli, William Blake, Salvador Dali, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, the people who made X-Men comics, and Dan Brown are just some of them.

Auguste Rodin’s famous sculpture “The Kiss” portrays Paolo and Francesca, two lovers Dante meets in the second circle of the underworld. It was also a significant source of inspiration for movies such as “Se7en” (which has been nominated for an Oscar) or video games like “Dante’s Inferno”.

Also, many famous TV shows reference this work. For example, Bret Easton Ellis’ comedy American Psycho begins with the quote ‘Abandon hope all ye who enter here’, which is one of the most popular passages from the book.

I could have spent hours writing about The Divine Comedy, but I think that it is a dead horse. But Dante the person? He is someone that should be known! But, because I love The Divine Comedy, I leave you with some famous lines….

Famous quotes and Lines from The Divine Comedy:“All hope abandon, ye who enter here.”“The more a thing is perfect, the more it feels pleasure and pain.”“O human race, born to fly upward, wherefore at a little wind dost thou so fall?”“Consider your origin. You were not formed to live like brutes but to follow virtue and knowledge.”“There is no greater sorrow than to recall happiness in times of misery”

If you are enjoying Today in History, why not subscribe to my newsletter? I’ll be delving into tales from around the world, sharing book recommendations and providing some exclusive details on the projects I’m currently working on.

The post appeared first on R.L. Geer-Robbins / Author.

Today in History- First Salem Witch Hanging

In every school across America, we learn about the Salem Witch Trials. Today marks the anniversary of Bridget Bishop’s brutal execution. So, what do we know about what it was like to live during this time?

It wasn’t only in Salem.

Although Salem Village was at the heart of the 1692 witch trials, the alleged witches were from a couple dozen towns. The town of Andover in northeastern Massachusetts, not Salem Village, had the highest number of accused (42 accused in Andover versus 26 accused in Salem Village). However, Salem was where trials were taken to such drastic lengths.

There was no proof.

Many innocent Salem residents were put to death based on spectral evidence. Spectral evidence is courtroom testimony where a witness describes the harm an accused’s spirit has inflicted on them, rather than the accused themselves.

“Witch tests” used in Europe were brought into the Salem witch trials to prove whether the accused were actually guilty of witchcraft. If an accused witch managed to pass one test, the court would try again until he or she eventually failed. The tests included:

Incantation Test – The accused would verbally order the devil to leave the afflicted victim. If the victim became cured, the accused was proven to be a witch.Prayer Test – The accused were made to recite the Lord’s Prayer or a selection of scripture from memory. If they made an error, they were a witch.Pricking Test – The accused were poked and scratched by their alleged victims until they bled. If the victim’s afflictions were relieved, that was proof that the accused was guilty of witchcraft.Skin Test – Any appearance of moles, freckles, birthmarks, scars, and extra nipples were proof of a contract with the devil.Swimming Test (or dunking) – Accused witches were bound at the wrists and ankles and dropped into a body of water. If they floated, they were guilty of witchcraft. If they sank, they were innocent (but often drowned anyway).Touch Test – The accused witch would touch their victims. If the victims felt pain, the witch was proven guilty.Weight Test – Witches were supposedly very light, so courts tried to weigh them against the weight of the Bible. When the accused did weigh more than the book, the court simply issued another test to find their guilt.Witch Cake Test – If a witch made a cake with her urine and fed it to a dog, the dog would supposedly have adverse effects.

These “witch tests” used in both Europe and New England were impossible to pass. Most notable was the case of minister William Burroughs, who attempted to pass the Prayer Test by reciting the Lord’s Prayer on the gallows. His perfect recitation only further proved his supposed guilt, as Cotton Mather declared that “the devil often had been transformed into the Angel of Light.”

It wasn’t just women accused.

Most of the accused men and women were middle-aged or elderly, with one notable exception. Dorothy Good, the four-year-old daughter of Sarah Good, was accused of being deranged and animalistic after consorting with the devil. Dorothy confessed her supposed crimes to the authorities and claimed to have seen her mother with the devil. Dorothy’s confession allowed her to be released on bond after nearly seven months in prison.

Giles Corey refused to stand trial because he believed the court had already decided his fate. He didn’t want his property to be confiscated upon a guilty verdict. Because he refused to comply with the court, he was given the sentence of being pressed to death. He was stripped naked and covered with heavy boards. Large rocks and boulders were then laid on the planks, which slowly crushed him over three days.

Another executed man was John Proctor, a wealthy farmer who spoke out against the witch trials, particularly after his wife Elizabeth was arrested for witchcraft. In response, John was accused as well.

He attempted to save himself by writing to clergy in Boston that mass hysteria had taken over the village. However, they acted too slowly to save him: He was executed on August 19, 1692.

No one was untouchable.

The first accusations during the Salem Witch Trials were against people marginalized by society. But the accusations didn’t stop there. They soon spread to individuals regardless of their gender, class, or power in the community. In late May 1692, Sir William Phillips, the first royal governor of Massachusetts established the criminal court to conduct the Salem witch trials. But in October 1692, his wife Mary was accused of sorcery.

Not even ministers could escape. George Burroughs was named village minister in 1680, but many disapproved of his religious views, and he often wasn’t paid. When he stopped being compensated, he left Salem. The Putnams, a prominent family he’d borrowed money from, sued Burroughs for unpaid debts and later accused him of witchcraft. Burroughs was brought back to Salem, tried, and executed.

It didn’t just affect adults.

John Proctor’s son was born in prison while his wife was imprisoned on witchcraft charges. Sarah Good also gave birth to a daughter, Mercy, while in custody.

 In October 1692, a girl in Andover accused a neighbor’s dog of bewitching her. Villagers shot the dog immediately. Around the same time, in Salem Village, village girls accused a man of torturing another dog with his evil spirit. Villagers killed that second dog and sent the man fleeing for his life.

We are still trying to right the wrong.

In 1711, colonial authorities pardoned some accused and compensated their families. But it was only in July 2022 that Elizabeth Johnson Jun’r., the last convicted Salem “witch” whose name had yet to be cleared, was officially exonerated.

Total deaths for Salem.Jun 10 – Bridget BishopJuly 10 – Rebecca NurseJuly 19 – Sarah Good, Elizabeth Howe, Susannah Martin, Rebecca Nurse, Sarah WildesAugust 19 – George Burroughs, Martha Carrier, George Jacobs, John Proctor, John WillardSeptember 19 – Giles CoreySeptember 22 – Martha Corey, Mary Eastey, Alice Parker, Mary Parker, Ann Pudeator, Wilmot Redd, Margaret Scott, Samuel Wardwell

Five more people died in prison as they awaited their trials, either from malnourishment or injuries sustained during torture. One of those people was Sarah Good’s infant daughter Mercy, who was born in prison but died shortly after birth. 

What was the aftermath.

When the United States formed its justice system, the founding fathers were inspired by Salem’s failure. The trials assumed that the victim was guilty and were focused on getting a confession rather than finding the truth. Now, all accused criminals are presumed innocent until proven otherwise. Anyone charged with a crime has the right to a lawyer these days. And the United States government no longer accepts “spectral evidence” in court–– that’s evidence gathered in a vision or a dream.

There you have it. A very brief overview of a horrific time in the United States. One that we have turned into a tourist attraction- but had real consequences for very real people.

RIP Ms. Bishop and others!

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Live life according to you….

Friends,

Raven Society Book 2 is done. The End has been written. Numerous edits and rewrites have caused me gray hair. My coffee pot has broken up with me. Housework has been neglected for too long. And I cried. A lot.

Now comes the difficult part- waiting for people to read it. I hope people read it!

But I wanted to share something that dawned on me while in the shower this morning.

The Writer and the Librarian was good. I was proud of myself and my accomplishment- I published my first book on my own. My name will forever be on a book cover, and maybe fifty years from now people will still read it. But I also made a lot of mistakes during the process that were very costly and very painful to swallow. The biggest one being that I was writing to be published. I rushed through the process. I just wanted to be done with it.

No author wants to admit that, but it’s my truth.

I didn’t want to read it out loud to myself a fourth time. I didn’t want to rewrite scenes. Hell, I left it on a cliffhanger because I couldn’t figure out how to end it.

It just seemed easier to say f**k it and hit the publish button because you can do that when you are self-published.

And I really thought I would get a publishing contract out of it. After all, I am cute and funny- who wouldn’t want me on their team?

But no one called.

I wanted to give up. Yes, I had friends and family that supported me, but I wasn’t feeling 100%. Doubt ran through me. Maybe I wasn’t as good a writer as I thought I was. Why weren’t people leaving reviews? Why wasn’t I tagged on social media as the next great read? Why hasn’t Oprah called me yet?

And while that was annoying and heartbreaking, that wasn’t the only thing on my mind. I would wake up with ideas for plots, world-building, and character development. I could hear conversations and see imaginary rooms and libraries. I could smell the sea and taste coffee.

I was mentally writing The Myth and The Monster.

However, I didn’t discuss it with anyone. I know many writers who have a whole support team and spend hours talking and working on the next epic novel. I applaud anyone who finds that method helpful and productive.

But that isn’t me. I tried with The Writer and the Librarian and it was too tedious. It gave me a headache. I didn’t know what I was writing because I had 15 other voices talking louder than I was.

In other words, I guarded this manuscript like a child hoarding birthday cake.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I have sticky notes of all the not-so-good reviews I have received, and I glance at them daily to make sure I stay on course- but the book itself? Nope. My eyes only.

So my lesson is this… write the story you hear in your head. Sure, you’ll ask someone to edit it. And there may be some changes along the way. But a writer knows the story they want to tell. Tell it.

And this isn’t just for writing. This is for life. I always wanted to ride a motorcycle. I wanted the air on my face and the sense of freedom that came with owning a bike. But for a long time, I was too afraid. Why? Because everyone loves to share gruesome stories about someone’s death as if it is the be-all-do-all. According to them, if I rode a motorcycle, I would die. Tragically. In a blaze of glory.

But I wanted to ride.

So I did. And ironically, within a month of buying my last bike, I was in an accident.

But I got back on it and rode like I didn’t have a care in the world- because it was what I wanted to do.

So if you want to skydive, climb Mount Everest, or go to Disneyland with a toddler – do it! Take a chance. Write your most memorable story whether it is on paper, taking photos, or just making memories.

I am rooting for you!

Anyhoo, in case you missed it, I am an inspiring author. I will include the link to books if you want a copy or need a last-minute gift for a random friend or co-worker.

The Writer and the Librarian The Raven Society Book 1

The Myth and the Monster The Raven Society Book 2

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Today In History- Dracula goes on sale in London!

Everyone knows of or has heard of the story of Dracula. But do you know the man behind the book?

Here are some cool facts about Abraham (Bram) Stroker that I found!

Sick child to star college athlete.

Abraham (“Bram”) Stoker was born in 1847, one of seven children living in Clontarf near Dublin, Ireland. Although his family enjoyed a comfortable middle-class lifestyle, Bram’s early years were plagued by a mysterious and debilitating illness that kept him confined to bed until he was seven. According to Bram’s own account, he had “never known what it was to stand upright” until then.

Despite his mysterious childhood issues, Bram grew up to be a tall and athletic young adult. In 1864 he joined Trinity College Dublin, and though his academic performance was mediocre, Bram excelled at a host of extracurricular activities – mainly sporting activities. He became part of the college’s rugby team and enjoyed high and long jumping, gymnastics, trapeze, rowing, weight lifting, endurance walking, and other endeavors. His efforts were rewarded in 1867 when he became the “Dublin University Athletic Sports Champion”. Recalling those days later Bram remarked that he had been “physically immensely strong”.

He managed a famous actor, Sir Henry Irving.

When a civil servant, Stoker wrote theater reviews for the Dublin Evening Mail in his spare time. He did this to show dissatisfaction with how other newspapers were giving reviews to untrained writers with no theater expertise. When he offered to work for free, the owner accepted. Through this role, Bram met Sir Henry Irving, the renowned Victorian actor he greatly admired. Bram later described their meeting as “soul looking into soul” and their friendship was “profound, close, and lasting”.

Bram dedicated his life to Irving’s service. He was responsible for managing tours abroad, entertaining guests at dinner parties, and responding to more than half a million of Irving’s letters. He was also responsible for the Lyceum Theatre in London. During his lifetime, Bram experienced some fame as an author, but he was mostly known as Irving’s right-hand man. When he passed away in 1912, The New York Times credited Bram with contributing much to Irving’s success.

Dracula took years to write.

Bram supposedly said that the concept for his vampire novel came to him in a disturbing dream, after he ate too much crab at dinner. The author’s diary sheds light on just how much of the novel was derived from the dream; in addition, he drew inspiration from quite a few other resources: books on legends and superstitions, nature texts, and travel accounts. Plus, a trip to Whitby offered further insight into his character’s background.

Side note: He never visited Transylvania.

Bram toiled away for seven years on his novel, finding it difficult to manage his own creative chaos and battling constant self-doubt. Biographer David J. Skal commented that Stoker “had second, even third thoughts about almost everything” and doubted whether anyone would appreciate it when the book was finished.

He died not enjoying financial success from his writing.

Bram endured illness and hardship in his later years. In 1906, he had a paralytic stroke that left him with vision issues. With Henry Irving’s death a year earlier, he found other sources of income such as managing a musical production, being a journalist, and writing fiction to make ends meet. He asked the Royal Literary Fund for financial help in 1911, citing his “breakdown from overwork” and not knowing if he could continue his literary career. Unfortunately, Stoker passed away at the age of 64 on April 20, 1912.

Only a brief mention of Dracula was made in his obituary.

Now one of the most famous books in English literature, Dracula received no mention when Bram Stoker passed away. His obituaries instead focused on his professional relationship with Henry Irving. The New York Times stated that Bram’s “stories, though they were strange, were not of great significance,” and The Times in London prophesied that his biography of Irving would be his “greatest literary contribution”—only mentioning in passing that Stoker was also a “skilled author of particularly unpleasant and eerie horror stories.”

So today, in support of an author that opened up a world of writing styles to many of us, pick up a copy of Dracula or watch the movie, and remember the man behind the myth.

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Is it hashtags for Facebook and links for Twitter? Reels on Tic-Tok and videos on Instagram? Heaven help us all!

Friends,

I am writing this as I sit at my desk for the third week in a row, trying to get Facebook to undue my partial ban for an unknown offense. I am not in violation of community standards, I haven’t made any offensive comments, and I am not political unless I am arguing with my husband.

I am a picture-perfect social media user.

I even refuse to engage in conversations that are controversial.

Why?

Because anything and everything you say can be used against you in the courtroom of society. After 21 years in the military, I have learned a thing or two about personal opinions.

No one wants to hear them. Kinda of like how my husband doesn’t want to hear that he needs to fix the garbage disposal that’s been broken for a month.

So now, here I sit. Partially banned from a social media platform waiting for a representative to enter the chat room on Meta Business Support to try to figure out what can be done.

But since my banishment from the world of Facebook, I have learned something about social media.

It can be extremely helpful.

And it can be detrimental to your success.

So how do we navigate the world of being a self-published author, or small business owner that relies on social media AND still needs to produce the product that they are promoting?

Hell if I know!

But this is what I have learned…

Focus on one platform at a time.

Social media is aged base, regardless of what anyone says. Facebook is almost old-school now. It’s for us 80’s kids that remembers MySpace. A great way to stay in touch with family members, friends, and great-great aunts from your mother’s brother’s daughter-in-law’s side. It is also a very effective way to spy on your children.

However, it has a huge following of readers because we are at the age where 9 PM is late and books are family.

Then there is Twitter, which to be honest, I am not sure who uses it or why. I think it’s more like a news outlet. Maybe not? I am not sure. I do follow the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and the local newspaper on it. But I haven’t broken the code on how to use it. I see a lot of promotions on it, but I have never gotten a click on my links to Amazon – so I am not sure if it’s great for promotions.

However, it’s always fun to read the next conspiracy theory on the Blue Checkmarks and what celebrity is walking the red carpet.

Instagram is for photos – but you can’t add links to posts. It’s an excellent way to watch reels and I have found some amazing artists on it. I just don’t know how to purchase any of their work. Which could be a good thing because I would be single handily supporting a lot of artists if I could. I know a lot of readers use Instagram to post their latest favorite books…. and I have found some great new books because of it.

Tumblr is something I just started trying out, but it’s linked to Twitter…. so I am not really sure how that works.

And then there is the famous Tic-Toky. An excellent outlet for social justice, pet videos, and music videos. A very easy way to kill the last hour at work, keep your spouse entertained while they are in the bathroom and keep up with the news. But it is videos. So, I am not willing to post anything until my husband lets me get Botox.

Let’s not forget the reels. To get higher on Instagram and Facebook algorithms, you need reels. They need to be between 5 and 30 seconds long. Have you ever tried to make a 30-second video for a book release? It can take up to 3 hours…

Lets not forget the platforms dedicated to just writers and readers- Goodreads, Reedy’s, AllAuthor, etc…. those all need to be updated periodically too.

But each one takes time and effort to keep social media engagement high and entertaining. When I was focused on Facebook (before the partial ban), I spent 40 minutes every morning responding to messages and comments. I would spend two hours every Sunday preplanning my posts, and then throughout the day, I would jump on to see what my friends were saying. And that was just my author’s page. Not my normal page.

Then there was my website/blog. That needed to be updated. Engaging posts are needed. Newsletters sent out. And the overall appearance tweaked at least once a month.

At one point, I engaged with all the different outlets, usually with the same posts…. but each one had to be written differently. Twitter can only have so many words and should have #’s. Facebook posts can be longer, but no #s. Instagram needs photos, not words, with #hashtags, but no links. In addition, the website posts should include photos and be at least 2-3 minutes long.

So here is my recommendation. Focus on one. At least at the beginning. Once you become a New York Best Seller and quit your job then you will have plenty of time to do all the promotions you want across every platform. But until then…. save yourself the gray hair and find the platform that brings you the most joy and stick to it.

Promotions are helpful, but not the end all be all.

When my first book came out… everything happened at once. I was editing and formatting my book. Trying to get the ISBNs correct. Trying to upload books, only to find that they weren’t large enough or small enough. And attempting to promote my book because I did all of this in a two-week period.

I didn’t pre-plan and because of that, I uploaded promotions and links every day, sometimes twice. And I only rotated three different ones. It wasn’t engaging. There were no videos. The photos were boring.

Everything you should do to gain followers and interest.

I am three weeks from my next book being released and created a month-long calendar to stir up excitement. Of course, the partial ban derailed my plans, but I think it would have worked out perfectly.

How?

I started making photos, videos, and posts months ago. I spent time checking through each one to make sure they flowed well, were engaging, and every word was spelled correctly, and I preplanned how far they would be spaced out between the different social media platforms. I would not post the same thing every day on every platform. I wanted to shake it up. Make people want to engage with my posts because it’s always different.

So, my recommendation is this…. the first time you write The End, start planning your social media posts. So, while you are editing, you don’t have to worry about it as much. And only do 2-3 a week. People want to support you when they know you as a person not just as someone trying to sell them something.

Just a recommendation.

Websites are not required but are recommended.

Let me explain why I recommend a website.

I was told I needed one.

In my case, I have been blogging for years, so I already had a decent website. But on my journey to find a publishing company (before I opened my own), everyone wanted a website. Every time I submitted my book to a competition, a website was required. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and every other place you can sell a book- they want an author’s profile, and you needed to have a website.

Websites can be expensive – I agree. BUT, you can create your own. For a decent price. As long as you are willing to learn and take the time to build it. Will it give you gray hair? Maybe. There are YouTube videos and articles for everything, however. I use WordPress and spent hours reading their free tutorial to create mine.

Have I made mistakes? Oh absolutely. But they have a chat feature that I am good at using. Besides, it’s fun writing blogs about everything you have done wrong.

It takes time to build a following.

When I started my website/blog three years ago, I assumed that within weeks I would have at least a strong following and numerous comments on each of my blogs.

False.

I thought that when I started my author’s page, my coffee memes would be so engaging that I would have hundreds of followers within weeks.

False.

I tweeted funny jokes and hashtagged until my fingers bled.

Still haven’t gotten a following.

I thought that if I followed every author, small business owner, and cousin’s brother’s dog… I would get a following.

I wish.

I made a mistake. I didn’t engage. It wasn’t personal. I wasn’t celebrating wins and comforting fails. I wasn’t an ideal friend.

That’s the thing about social media… it’s going to take a while to get a following because YOU need to prove you are someone to follow. Not everyone is someone you should follow. Stop pushing follow because you want your numbers to increase.

Push the Follow button to gain friends. These are the people who will support you. They are the ones that will share your posts and links.

Don’t forget why you’re doing this.

I am guilty of this. I got so caught up in the various different platforms and being engaging that I forgot to write.

Really.

A writer who wasn’t writing.

I WAS promoting book 2… with only two chapters written and no idea what was going to happen in the book. But I had coffee memes for days.

Social media can be a lot like World of WarCraft…. the world of influencers and drama can suck you in until you forget that there was something that you were supposed to be doing.

Since my partial ban, which I found out I can still do everything, but just in a different way… I have scaled back on my posts. I have put more time into my blog and book. I started really reading what I wrote and fine-tuned it. I remembered why I started writing/blogging in the first place and tapped back into my passion.

I have recreated my calendar and this week I will spend some time creating promotional videos and posts….but not as much as I was. I feel free. I feel in charge.

That’s not true.

But, I assume I will feel that way soon.

Final thoughts….

Hustling is not a sprint. It’s a marathon. Its takes patience, a strong backbone, and the willingness to laugh at yourself.

You are a hustler my friend. That’s not always a bad thing. You have a passion and you want to share it with the world. That is the key term… you want to SHARE. You writing a book is a great start. You editing the book is hitting the first hurtle. But there is so much more to the game.

You need to bring the readers to your book or to your business. You need to decide what your voice is going to be. Is it funny? Or maybe inspirational? Will you post pictures of your fur babies and celebrate everyday success? Or are you going to start a fantasy food bracket where people can vote between mint chocolate chip or cookie dough ice cream?

Whatever you decide – own it. The success and wins and the failures.

Good luck my friends! I am rooting for you!

Last pitch- because promotions are a thing! If you haven’t guessed… I am an author. The Writer and the Librarian is available for purchase, and you can pre-order The Myth and the Monster which is scheduled for release on June 15th. Just click here!

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