Julie Lence's Blog, page 6

History of the Sewing Machine

I think it’s true what some folks say—authors sometimes incorporate a bit of themselves into their stories. For me, I tend to turn some of my fears or lack of skills into character strengths. One such talent I don’t possess is the ability to sew. In high school, I took a Home Ec. class where we had to make a dress. That was the last time I attempted that, though I can sew a button on a shirt. Most of my heroines can sew, and in one particular scene from No Luck At All, it was the hero who brought up my topic for today’s blog. Creel spent weeks crafting a surprise for his wife, but before he could give it to her, he had to go to Denver for an item the surprise needed. He couldn’t tell her his reason for making the trip without her, so he brought along his father and gave the excuse his father needed to go to Denver to purchase a sewing machine, which made me wonder when the sewing machine was invented.

In 1755, German engineer Charles Fredrick Wisenthal received the first patent for a needle from the British. His design featured a double pointed needle with an eye at one end. In 1790, Englishman Thomas Saint invented the first sewing. His machine used a chain stitch, with a stitching awl piercing the fabric and a forked point rod to carry the thread through the hole where it would hook underneath and move on to the next stitch. Featuring an overhanging arm, a feed mechanism, a vertical needle bar, and a looper, the machine was only meant for canvas and leather to aid in the manufacturing of saddles and bridles, but was also used in the manufacturing of a ship’s sails. Though advanced for the era, Saint’s machine required steady improvement in the decades to follow. William Newton Wilson found Saint’s drawings in 1874 and went on to make adjustments to the looper, building a better machine which is currently owned by the London Science Museum.

Before Wilson, several others designed their own sewing machines. Englishmen Thomas Stone and James Henderson created their own version in 1804. Austrian Josef Madersperger presented his first working sewing machine in 1814, received financial support from his government and unveiled a sewing machine that imitated the weaving process by use of a chain stitch in 1839, but it was Barthelemy Thimonnier who created the first practical and widely used sewing machine in 1829. A French tailor, Thimonnier’s machine sewed straight seams with a chain stitch. He went on to contract Auguste Ferrand to help with the drawings of his machine, which was made of wood and used a barbed needle, and earned a patent in 1830. That same year, he went into partnership with others and opened the first machine based clothing manufacturing company, sewing uniforms for the French Army.

The first American sewing machine was invented in 1832 by Walter Hunt. His machine was equipped with an eye-point needle. The curved needle went through the fabric horizontally, leaving the loop as it withdrew. The shuttle passed through the loop and the feed let the machine down, requiring the sewing machine to be stopped frequently and reset. Hunt lost interest in his invention and sold individual machines without securing a patent. It was John Greenough who secured the first American patent for a sewing machine in 1842.

The first sewing machine to incorporate all of the elements from past inventors was built by Englishman John Fisher in 1844. American Elias Howe came next in 1845. His machine was similar to Fisher’s, only his fabric was held vertically and not horizontally. Howe traveled to England to gain interest in his invention and later returned to the states to find some folks had infringed on his patent, one of whom was Isaac Merritt Singer.

Singer’s machine, which featured elements of Hunt’s and Howe’s machines, was awarded an American patent in 1851. He’d seen a rotary sewing machine in a Boston repair shop and elaborated a better design. Instead of a rotary shuttle, his had falling shuttle. The needle was mounted vertically and included a presser foot to hold the fabric in place, and since Fisher botched the filing for his patent, he didn’t receive recognition for the modern sewing machine. That honor went to Singer. However, Howe sued Singer for using his ideas and won the case. Later, Singer took out a license under Howe’s patent, paid Howe for each of his machines then partnered with Edward Clark to create the first hire-purchase agreement, which allowed people to buy a sewing machine and pay for it in timely installments.

In 1856, Singer, Howe and a few others formed the Sewing Machine Combination; four companies pooling their patents, with a result that all other manufacturers had to obtain a license and pay $15 per machine. This lasted until 1877 when the last patent expired. In 1885, Singer patented the Singer Vibrating Shuttle sewing machine, which some suggest was the first practical sewing machine for domestic use worldwide. Millions of these machines were made until the rotary shuffle came along in the early 20th century. Singer Sewing Co. developed the first electric sewing machine in 1889, and by the end of World War I, these machines were being sold to the public.

Currently, Singer is still one of the top selling sewing machines.

The Valentine's Day Card

Repost from 2014:

February is here and romance is in the air. Heart-shaped boxes of chocolate, dinner with your sweetheart and the ever-popular Valentine’s Day card make for an exciting celebration. The day is not just for adults. Children join in on the fun. Some have parties at school, where they feast on cookies and small candies and create their own cards to give to their parents. Teenagers celebrate by sending secret Valentine’s to their friends. The chocolate we enjoy today originated with the cacao bean, which made its way around the world and eventually came to the United States via Europe. Cocoa powder was sold in small tins. Folks used the powder to make a warm, tasty drink before devising methods to make chocolate cakes and candies. As for the Valentine’s Day card that we know today, that originated in Europe, too.

As early as the 1700’s, people gave Valentine’s Day cards to their sweethearts. The cards were handwritten on plain paper. By the 1820’s, paper specifically made for Valentine’s Day cards was marketed. Using this type of paper became fashionable in both Britain and the United States. Britain adopted commercial postal rates in the 1840’s and the use of commercially produced Valentine’s Day cards grew. The cards were constructed of flat sheets of paper, printed with colorful illustrations and embossed borders, folded and sealed with wax. One such card made its way to Esther A. Howland in Worcester, Massachusetts. According to legend, the card Esther received inspired her to create the American Valentine’s Day greeting card.

Esther’s father was a stationer. She approached him with the card and an idea to make her own cards. Her father agreed and she made some sample cards, sent them out with her brother with the notion if she received orders for the cards, the amount ordered would be low, maybe two hundred cards. She was wrong. The order she received was for five thousand cards. Creating an assembly line on the third floor of her home, she hired her friends to help produce and fill the order. Two years later, she went into business for herself, opening the New England Valentine Company.

The sending of commercially produced Valentine’s Day cards grew throughout the 1850’s. During the Civil War, the amount of cards sent declined, but after the war, the amount escalated. Sending Valentine’s Cards was turning into a big business.
Ester kept her company flourishing for forty years. She eventually sold her business to George C. Whitney in 1888. She never married and today some of her cards are still in existence. Collectors are always on the lookout for them. If found and in mint condition, collectors pay anywhere from $300 to $400 for one. (and you thought roses were expensive, lol)

Happy Valentine’s Day! Enjoy your day with the ones you love.

Welcome 2020

Hello & Welcome to Cowboy Kisses 2020. I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas celebration and a joyful New Year’s Eve celebration. Both of mine were quietly spent with hubby, kiddo, and Harley, who enjoyed the treats Santa left in his Christmas stocking. With today marking the beginning of a new year, and decade, it’s time for me to bring you up to date with the Cowboy Kisses team.
First off, you’ll notice our mascot has a new banner. I love the blue hues and think the scenery represents all of the Cowboy Kisses authors stories.
Second, you’ll notice we’ve said goodbye to Maggie Carpenter and Lauri Robinson. The team and I wish them all the best in their future endeavors. Lauri was alternating months with Paty Jager. Danni Roan will now take over Lauri’s shared spot with Paty beginning this month. As soon as Danni’s old slot and Maggie’s slot are filled, I will let you know.
We do have a new author to Cowboy Kisses. Please welcome Sable Hunter to the team. She’ll begin blogging this month. I invite you to get to know more about Sable by visiting her website. The link is located on the right side bar.
In addition to recruiting authors, I’ve updated this page to reflect our Twitter feed, so be sure to see what the Cowgirls are Tweeting each day. Excerpt Sunday has been incorporated into the Facebook group and readers like stepping into the pages of the Cowgirls’ stories. And as always, the Facebook group has prompts for everyone to participate on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday.
This year we will host our 6th annual Round-Up. Time and date will be announced later in the year, but I’m thinking some time in November. To let you know, this past year Facebook was very wonky with allowing folks to post comments to the party. And it just wasn’t the Cowboy Kisses party that had this problems. Others did, too, and I’m hoping Facebook corrects the issue before this year’s round-up.
In closing, I thank the Cowboy Kisses Team for their continued support of the blog and group pages and me. Without them, Cowboy Kisses would’ve ceased to exist a long time ago. I also thank each and every one of You for your continued support of the Cowboy Kisses blog and its authors. Hugs to everyone and all the best in 2020!
Julie

Cranberry Recipes

For most people, Christmas season is a favorite time of year. Shopping, wrapping, tree-trimming and all the rest keep us running on borrowed energy. So does planning the Christmas Day menu. Each year, I cook up something Italian, and very rarely think of slaving in the kitchen preparing a made-from-scratch dessert. Whatever the store has is good enough for me, and for hubby and kiddo. But every year, I also say, ‘we should have something different’. As a child, I wasn’t a fan of cranberries, but the last few years, they’ve grown on me. Below are two recipes I pulled off the internet. They seem simple enough, so maybe this year we will have something different. And if you haven’t tried them, maybe you will, too.
Either way, I’m sending you and your loved ones Christmas Blessings. May your holiday season be fun, healthy, and safe. Hugs!

Cranberry Bundt Cake:

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened (for greasing the pan)
• 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour or more as needed to flour the pan
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 12 ounces fresh cranberries (1 bag)
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 large eggs at room temperature
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar or more as needed
• 1/4 cup orange juice or more as needed
• pinch of kosher salt to taste

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and generously butter and flour a 9" bundt pan.
2. I recommend using 2 tablespoons unsalted butter that is softened to room temperature. Use your fingers to work the butter into the grooves of the pan. It's important to make sure you coat every bit of the pan to ensure the cake releases nicely so it looks purty.
3. Sprinkle with flour and distribute evenly throughout the pan. Discard any excess flour.
4. Combine 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour with 1 teaspoon baking powder and 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt.
5. Whisk to mix well and set aside.
6. Place 12 ounces fresh cranberries (1 bag) in a small bowl and pick through them to weed out any mushy ones.
7. Add 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour and toss gently to coat the cranberries.
8. Set aside until ready to use.
9. In a mixing bowl, combine 2 sticks softened butter with 2 cups sugar.
10. Mix on low to combine and then turn up the speed to mid-high and beat for 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
11. Mix in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
12. Add eggs to the butter mixture one at a time, mixing after each addition until combined.
13. Mix in 1/2 the flour mixture until combined and add 1/2 cup sour cream and mix well.
14. Add in the remaining flour mixture until just combined and scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure all flour is mixed in.
15. Gently fold cranberries into the batter.
16. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and smooth to even out.
17. Bake on the center rack of the preheated oven for 50-55 minutes until the top springs back when pressed gently or a cake tester inserted comes out clean.
18. Remove from oven and allow to cool in pan for 15 minutes.
19. Carefully run a flat edge, such as a butter knife, around the edge of the pan to loosen and also around the center hole.
20. Place a cooling rack over top of the cake pan and carefully flip the cake pan over so the cake slides out onto the cooling rack. The cake pan will be hot, so be sure to protect your hands.
21. Allow cake to cool completely.
22. Prepare the sweet orange glaze by combining 1 cup confectioners' sugar with 1/4 cup orange juice and a pinch of kosher salt.
23. Mix well to combine.
24. Add more sugar to thicken or more orange juice to thin to your desired consistency.
25. When cake is cooled, drizzle the glaze over the cake.
26. Garnish with fresh cranberries and enjoy!

Cranberry Cobbler

Ingredients”
• 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted + more for the pan
• 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries
• 3/4 cup + 4 Tbsp sugar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 tsp baking powder
• Pinch of cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously butter a 10-inch cast iron skillet.
1. In a small bowl, toss together the cranberries and 4 Tbsp of sugar. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together melted butter, milk, sugar, egg and vanilla. Add the milk mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring to combine.
4. Scrape the batter into the prepared cast iron skillet. Scatter the sugared cranberries over the top of the batter evenly.
5. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature (surprisingly awesome at room temp by the way!).

Interview with Rachael Weston from Bring Me Luck

Hello Cowboy Kisses and thank you for having me as your guest. For those who don’t know me, I’m Rachael Weston from Bring Me Luck. The photo to the left is a good likeness of me (or rather, how Julie sees me.) By no means am I a beauty. Even in my younger days, men didn’t crowd around me vying for my attention. Now that I think about that, my father and brothers may have had something to do with that. Being the only girl, they were overly protective and didn’t cotton to anyone paying me more than an ounce of interest. There was one man, though, who didn’t concern himself with my family. To this day, more than twenty years later, he still sets my heart aflutter. But enough about him. I told Julie I’d answer her questions about me. Jess will have to wait his turn.

Where are you from? Coyote, Colorado

How old are you? 40ish

How do you dress? Not in anything fancy. I wear simple, yet comfortable, dresses, skirts and shirts. And sturdy boots. I live on a ranch and cooking and cleaning is best done while wearing gingham or cotton in the summer and wool in the winter. I fashion my hair in a bun or a braid and usually have an apron tied around my waist.

What is your family like? My birth family consists of Ma and Pa, my older brother Lucas, my younger brother Creel, and my twin brother Royce. Lucas, Royce, and Creel could each be married with families of their own, and Ma and Pa could be enjoying their final years; I don’t know for sure. I haven’t seen them in 2 decades.
My adoptive family consists of my stepson Stephen and ranch hands Blue and Vincent-Bodean. Stephen’s pa took me in when I desperately needed help. Stephen was just a tyke then and motherless, and Blue was already a staple at the ranch. Shortly after I recovered, Stephen’s pa died. Stephen and I formed a mother-son bond, and along with Blue and Vincent-Bodean, we’re family.

Can you keep a secret? Yes. I’ve kept one for twenty years.

If you could make any 1 thing happen, what would it be? I would go back in time 20 years and face the consequences of my actions rather than run away. I wasn’t raised to be a coward… to disrespect my parents… to shun my responsibilities. But Ma was more than difficult back then. And Pa was too distracted by her antics to confide my troubles. Jess was nowhere to be found and my brothers… they hated Jess and his family. Probably still do. But then, if I had stayed in Coyote, what would’ve become of Stephen after his pa passed? Blue couldn’t have raised him. He knew next to nothing about caring for a toddler. He still doesn’t. But he would’ve protected Stephen with his life.

If someone from your past showed up, who would you most want it to be, and why? Pa. He’s the wisest man I know. I’m almost certain were I to confide my past to him, he would take away my heartache and replace it with something good, with something warm and worth cherishing. And with little more effort than a father’s hug.

If someone from your past showed up, who would you most NOT want it to be, and why? That would be a toss up between Ma and Jess. Born and raised in Boston, Ma hailed from a wealthy, prominent family. She had certain rules and conduct she expected my brothers and me to follow and was quick to chastise and point out our faults when we didn’t. Twenty years ago, she never would’ve forgiven my indiscretions or the gossip that was sure to follow had I stayed in Coyote. Today wouldn’t be any different.
My indiscretions have to do with Jess. So does my running away. If he were to learn what my fleeing cost him, he would hate me more than I already hate myself, and that is something I cannot endure.

Speaking of Jess, what did you think of him the first time you met him? I can’t really say for sure. His family’s ranch and my family’s ranch border each other. We grew up together, attended school together, but rarely spoke to each other. He was more interested in fighting with my brothers and I was more interested in helping ma or visiting my friends. It wasn’t until we were older that we took an interest in each other, and snuck off to his pa’s lineshack almost daily. I fell in love with him, believed he loved me, too, and cried endlessly when I discovered he didn’t. The only thing Jess loved was a Jansen triumphing over a Weston. To this day, I ache with that truth, and from the loss of something that should’ve been.

What is the best advice someone gave you? Trust in the Lord. When one door closes, he’ll open another. I believe he did just that when he gave me Stephen.

Thank you for joining me today. I leave you with an excerpt from Bring Me Luck, which can be purchased here: www.amazon.com/dp/B00OP5PT2U

Excerpt:
“I severed our relationship!” Jess kicked aside the quilts and lunged to his feet. “You ran out on me.”
Anger sprang into her eyes. “I did not. You shunned me on the boardwalk and then you ceased all contact with me.”
“The hell I did.”
“Oh?” She fisted her hands on her hips. “You didn’t shun me?”
Heat crept up his neck, spread to his cheeks. “That I did do, because I didn’t have a choice. Carl was with me. You and I had agreed to not give our families reason to suspect we favored each other until we were ready to tell them.”
“I would’ve accepted your explanation, except…” Her brow furrowed. “What are you doing on your feet? Lie back down before you do more damage to your back.”
“My back’s fine.”
Her gaze rapidly filled with damnation. “You lied about your health?”
“How the hell else was I going to convince you to let me stay?” he groused. “And don’t change the subject. Finish what you were going to say.”
“You know the rest.” She pivoted on her heel and strode toward the kitchen.
“You’re not getting away this time.” He went after her, gently grasped her arm and turned her to face him. “I’ve waited twenty-two years to hear your side of the matter. I’m not waiting any longer. Spill it.”
“My, my, what a tyrant you’ve become.”
Jess rolled his eyes. “I’ve been called worse. Now talk.”
“I’m sure you have.” She wrinkled her nose in distaste before pulling free from his grasp. “I saw Alexandra and Cynthia at the dress shop before I saw you and Carl. Alexandra told Cynthia you didn’t favor relations of any kind. I didn’t believe her, but then, you shunned me and stopped meeting me.” She squared her shoulders. “I waited for you, but you never came.”
“I came,” he spat. “You were nowhere to be found.”
“You’re a liar! I was at your pa’s lineshack every day for a week.” Her gaze narrowed. “Where were you?”
“For a week? What the hell for? Everyone knew Carl and I were in the calaboose.”
“You were not. I would’ve known if Sheriff Crumb had locked you in his jail cell. The gossips would’ve talked about nothing else the whole time you were there.”
“I wasn’t in the Coyote jail. I was in the Pueblo jail.”
“Pueblo?”
At the stunned expression on her face, his blood turned cold. Brawling with his brother. Shattered glass. Ten days of miserable hell. He’d always assumed she’d known. Pa had said everyone knew. But she hadn’t, and he swallowed hard, felt the regret for what should have been burn his gut. “I didn’t abandon you,” he said quietly before taking her hand and leading her to the table. “Sit. Let me explain.”

World Building

World Building. Creating the environment where your characters live and breathe. Where to begin? How to expand into a series? For some, creating a world is easy. A picture or personal experience spark a scene that broadens into a setting. Others struggle for just that initial spark. But creating a world doesn’t have to be stressful. It’s actually fun, and can take you on a journey you never imagined. Here’s a glimpse of how I developed fictional Revolving Point, Texas.

Notorious outlaw Buck Grayson opens the series. Originally a secondary character in 2 earlier novels, I never envisioned Buck having his own story until he returned to San Francisco at the end of Lady Luck for one specific reason-Suzanna. Questions pricked the back of my mind as to why a man who prefers his own company would seek out a soiled dove whose sass rattles him. Does he have feelings for her? Does she return his feelings and welcome him? Or does she send him away? If she welcomes him, what type of life will they have? And where will they live? They can’t stay at the parlor house where Suzanna works. It’s been sold. And do I really think Suzanna is heroine material? Maybe there’s someone better for Buck.

The more I obsessed over another heroine for Buck, (actually it was her name I wasn’t sold on) the more I delved into his background and his reason for becoming an outlaw. I finally realized Suzanna truly was the only woman for him. (And she could have a nickname.) She’s disturbed him in ways he thought dead and buried. Roused to the surface an emotion he refuses to acknowledge, but before I could press on with a setting, I had to delve deeper into Buck and Suzanna, figure out their fears and how those fears would eventually loosen the words lodged in Buck’s throat.

Unraveling a partial plot came easy once I knew my characters. Where to set them was a bit more difficult. The story opens with Buck in prison. I had an actual jail in mind, but research proved that jail was not workable with the timeframe of the story. After more research, I happened upon a prison in Texas that fit perfectly with fictional Revolving Point. In Luck of the Draw, I described the town as having a reputation to rival Buck’s and left the layout and décor to the reader’s mind. But now I needed something more solid.

Prior to the opening of the series, a fire swept through Revolving Point, destroying several businesses and homes. Most people fled with only the clothes on their backs. Who remained? And what did the town look like after the fire? I drew an outline of Revolving Point’s main street, with labeled boxes representing the businesses needed for the story and blank areas along the boardwalk where buildings once stood. From there I added side roads and alleyways connecting to the next street over; a tree-lined lane flanked with mostly empty homes. The back yards to the houses along the west side of the street led to an open grassy area and the banks to the Rio Grande; a landscape used throughout the series.

Having a layout of the town helped greatly when it came to plotting Buck’s route when prowling the streets. The reader knew exactly where he was because I was able to stay true to his surroundings with the map I created. The outline was also detrimental when it came to writing the other stories in the series. Incorporating new characters and where they lived and worked filled in empty boxes and brought Revolving Point to life. From there, I spread east and north to accommodate happy-ever-after endings, filled some of the empty houses with secondary characters, and forged a path deeper into Texas to create a new series. When Revolving Point was originally birthed, I never imagined my sinful little town would become home to future characters; characters who are near and dear to my heart.

Revolving Point, Texas Series:
Zanna’s Outlaw www.amazon.com/dp/B006XJWW08
Lydia’s Gunslinger www.amazon.com/dp/B007873DIE
Debra’s Bandit www.amazon.com/dp/B0095IG390
Be Mine, Valentine www.amazon.com/dp/B01ATV4510

Delia Haskett--1st Female Wells Fargo Driver

Delia Haskett was born on December 7, 1861 in Ukiah, California. Her mother, Miranda, was a schoolteacher and father, Samuel, owned a hotel and a blacksmith plus drove for Wells Fargo. As a young girl, Delia was fascinated with the stagecoach. Her father took her with him on several of his trips, with Delia begging to take a turn at the reins. Samuel indulged her when it was safe to do so, and as the years passed, Delia became proficient in driving a stagecoach. By the time she turned 14, she was making short runs by herself. When one of her father’s employees fell ill, Delia was trusted with his route to deliver the mail, beginning her career as a part-time Wells Fargo driver.
Delia’s first 8-hour trip delivering the mail to Lakeport came with a list of hazards to watch for. Known to be in the area, notorious stagecoach robber Black Bart made the top of that list, followed by lesser know highwaymen and safely passing through the treacherous Blue Lakes area. (The Blue Lakes were so deep and dark that the Pomo Indians wouldn’t go near them. They claimed a monster lurked beneath the water.) Delia left late afternoon, the stage void of passengers, and met her first scare before midnight. Having pulled off the road to water the horses, she suddenly heard horses’ hooves and men’s voices approaching. Fearing Black Bart was upon her, she waged an inner battle of should she run or should she stay. She chose the latter and was rewarded moments later when the band of men proved to be singers returning home from a religious meeting. Delia pressed on and arrived in Lakeport around 3 a.m. in the morning, tired and free of harm.
Over the next 9 years, Delia drove the stage as needed, becoming the first female driver for Wells Fargo. When she wasn’t on a run, she honed her skills with a long-barreled pistol to become a crack shot. She also became an expert with a whip and rode in horse shows where she performed trick riding and won prizes for her shooting skills. One such skill was hitting a nickel in mid-air.
Delia gave up driving the stage when she married in 1885 and became Mrs. Delia Rawson. She moved to southern California with her husband and bore two sons and one daughter. Alongside her husband, she became part owner in a mine, a lady rancher and successful businesswoman. In 1934, the Pioneer Stage Drivers of California Association was founded, with Delia being the only female member and elected Vice President. She spent her final years living and working on a 10-acre orange grove in San Dimas, California with her daughter. In May 1949, at the age of 87, Delia was laid to rest at Forest Lawn in Glendale.

Legendary Gambler Kitty Leroy

The thrill of the wild west didn’t just belong to the men. There were plenty of women who were as skilled in cards and guns as Bat Masterson and Doc Holiday. One such female who thrived on the edge of danger, and died young, was Kitty Leroy.
Kitty was born in Michigan in 1850. She began dancing at the young age of ten and by 14 was a professional in the dance halls and saloons. During this time, dancing wasn’t her only passion. She learned to handle knives and guns, becoming more proficient than most men. Her first husband, whom she married at the age of 15, was the only man in their town willing to let her shoot an apple off his head. But Kitty grew restless with small town life and longed for bigger and better things. Her husband didn’t share her desires, so she left him and headed west in search of fortune.
Kitty landed in Dallas, Texas and continued with her dancing career, but soon gave it up for dealing Faro. She became an accomplished gambler and continued mastering her skills with guns and knives. It was during this time she took to dressing in men’s clothes and married her 2nd husband at the age of 20. They moved to California in the hopes of opening a saloon, but Kitty left him for husband number three. This marriage was extremely short. Legend dictates she challenged him to a fight but he refused to fight a woman. She donned her man’s clothes and challenged him a second time. Again, he refused so she shot him. When he didn’t die instantly, she sent for a preacher and married him while he lay on the ground. He died a few days after.
Kitty left California and made her way to Deadwood in 1876, traveling in a wagon party with Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane. Once in Deadwood, she found work as a prostitute in Mollie Johnson’s brothel. Shortly after gaining employment with Mollie, she opened the Mint Gambling Saloon and married her 4th husband, a German prospector who struck gold. His money dried up fast and so did her interest with him. Arguing became second nature for them until the night she hit him over the head with a bottle and tossed him out, effectively ending their marriage.
Alone again, Kitty continued managing her saloon and her girls, earning a good profit. On June 11, 1877, she married for the last time to prospector and gambler Samuel R. Curley. Kitty’s marriage to Samuel was also steeped in violence. He was extremely jealous of her, and with reason. She continued with her promiscuous ways, including having an affair with her ex-husband and one with Wild Bill, or so rumor suggests. Samuel shot and killed Kitty on the night of December 6, 1877 then killed himself. They were laid to rest together the next day.
Somewhere in Kitty’s colorful 28 years, she had a daughter. At the time of her death, Deadwood newspapers printed her estate was left to her daughter, Kitty Donally.

Hot Western Nights Anthology

Hi Ya’ll! I’m so excited to announce that tomorrow, July 4th, I’m appearing in my first ever anthology. The fabulous ladies at Prairie Rose Publications have included A Summer to Remember in their Hot Western Nights release. I’m honored to join the following western romance authors:

Karen Michelle Nutt
J. Arlene Culiner
Angela Raines
Elizabeth Clements
Kaye Spencer


Purchase your copy here: www.amazon.com/dp/B07T9F21B5

Sneak peek for A Summer to Remember:

Blurb:
Amy Jansen is known for her high-brow ways and her infatuation with Creel Weston. Truth be told she loves Ryan Jansen and realizes her dream of becoming Ryan’s wife after Creel moves away. But words misspoken during an argument cause a rift between her and Ryan that she’s hard-pressed to mend. Apologies fall on deaf ears, and when Creel returns, even jealousy doesn’t provoke a response from Ryan. She’s finally deduced the best way to prove her love and loyalty to him, only he sends her away, vowing he doesn’t love her.

Though he loves his wife, Ryan Jansen has come to realize he never should’ve married her. Amy has loved Creel Weston since childhood and there’s nothing he can say or do to change that. To keep his sanity, it’s best he and Amy divorce, until a preacher shows up on his doorstep with a startling truth—Amy does love him. But he sent her away, and now he must find her and convince her they’re meant for each other, that this really is A Summer to Remember.

Excerpt:
Ryan rubbed a hand over his jaw and stared blindly at the land passing by the window, recalled every smile Amy bestowed on him, every sweet kiss. Hours later, heart still hammering, the train chugged into another station. His mouth dry, he peered out the window across the aisle for a water barrel and froze. A green dress, holding a carpetbag as she approached the train; he slouched down and tugged his hat low.
Footsteps of passengers boarding reached his ears. The conductor shouted. The whistle blew, and the train inched forward. Ryan waited a long spell before pushing his hat back and stepping into the aisle, his gaze honing in on a blonde braid. She sat in the middle of the car staring out the window. Striding forward, he wondered what she thought, struggled for words and heard himself say, “Mrs. Jansen, a woman as pretty as you shouldn’t travel alone.”
Amy gasped, and jerked her attention his direction. Her surprise over seeing him was expected. So was her unease, but past those emotions, he detected favor―for him—and caught himself before he tumbled face-first into her lap.
“What are you doing here?”
“We need to talk.” He stretched his hand toward her and caressed the curve of her cheek, savored the softness of her skin.
“Why? You made your feelings for me perfectly clear. What more is there to talk about?”
“Plenty,” he thumped, lowering his hand to her elbow. “Join me at the back seat. Please?”
“I don’t think that’s wise.”
He chuckled. “Not many things about us have been wise. That’s about to change.” He tugged her to her feet, lifted her carpetbag. “C’mon.”

Cowboy Slang

Summer officially begins later this month and is the time of year to kick back, relax and have fun. Below are sayings to enrich your Cowboy vocabulary and cartoons to tickle your funny bone. Enjoy!

Advertisin’ a leather shop: a tenderfoot dressed up in exaggerated leather trimmings, such as boots, chaps, and cowhide vest.

Airin’ his lungs: cussin’

Dealing brace: using crooked faro boxes or manipulating the cards so the dealer wins

Flannel mouth: a person who talks muck, a braggart

Grassed him: term used when a horse has thrown his rider

Hard-boiled hat: cowboy’s name fir a derby hat

Jamoka: coffee made from combining Java and Mocha

Kack: slang for saddle

Maniac den: cowboy name for a sheep wagon or camp

Pail fed: a calf raised on skimmed milk

Pimple: cowboy’s contemptuous name for a little eastern saddle

Rolls his own hoop: one attending to his own business

Sea plum: cowboy name for an oyster

Tank: a reservoir made by damming a stream