Mona Hodgson's Blog, page 24
April 26, 2013
Donkey Derby Days
During my first research trip to Cripple Creek, Colorado, I met a couple of the town’s beloved residents–two donkeys that are a part of a herd of about a dozen that roam the city’s streets. When miners had to leave the area, often their donkeys were let loose. The several donkeys that roam the streets are believed to be descendants of those used to work the mines in the Cripple Creek and Victor gold camps.
Every June Cripple Creek celebrates its rich, historical heritage with Donkey Derby Days. Last summer when my hubby and I set out on a Book Tour Road Trip to celebrate the release of The Bride Wore Blue, Book 3 in The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek Series, we included participation in the annual Donkey Derby Days in our book launch activities.
My participation in the celebration included several book signing events at the Cripple Creek District Museum and The Old Homestead Museum.
The 1890s Parlour featured in The Bride Wore Blue
A parade is part of the Donkey Derby Days festivities, and the Gold Camp Victorian Society invited me to ride their float. So much fun.
That’s me in the second row, far side
April 24, 2013
Castes of Yellow
Where do novelists find a title for a work of fiction? Anywhere, and everywhere.
For Maren Jensen’s story, I drew inspiration for my book title from a favorite poem, Castes of Yellow by Viola Jacobson Berg.
Mrs. Berg’s two books on poetic forms–Pathways for the Poet and Poet’s Treasury: Second Book of All New Patterns have served as resources I used to teach myself how to write various poetry forms. When I first started teaching poetry at writers’ conferences, I had the joy of corresponding with Viola Jacobson Berg. She didn’t expect to teach anymore and sent me some of her teaching materials, along with permission to share her poems.
Here is the poem that inspired the title for Dandelions on the Wind, the first of The Quilted Heart novellas.
Castes of Yellow
by Viola Jacobson Berg
I’m just a humble dandelion
Blooming in the grass,
Beaming cheer to one and all,
Smiling as they pass.
But something happened yesterday
Which made my gold heart bleed;
A buttercup informed me that
I’m really just a weed.
I cried at first, but then I knew
That I was not to blame;
So I’ll enjoy the sun and rain
And blossom, just the same.
When I considered my main character for the first of the three Quilted Heart novellas, the image of a dandelion viewed as a mere weed came to mind. The life Maren knew before she immigrated to America and the life any of her friends in the Saint Charles Quilting Circle knew before the Civil War ended, leaving them all feeling like Dandelions on the Wind.
Do you have a favorite poem that might inspire a book title?
April 15, 2013
Writing Historical Fiction by the Cookbook
You’re not likely to find me flipping channels looking for the Food Network. Fact is, my hubby does most of the cooking and baking at our house. But don’t ask me to write about a new setting without a cookbook from the time period and location.
For The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek Series, I pored over the Church History Cook Book from the First Congregational Church in Cripple Creek, Colorado. A yummy resource for time period dishes and recipes, listings of ingredients, people names from the time and place, and other juicy tidbits.
All four Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek novels, now available!
Here’s a fun tip offered by Mrs. J. S. Bates: “To keep apples from turning dark when peeled, use a silver knife.”
I can hear Ida Sinclair sharing that household hint with her younger sisters in Too Rich for a Bride.
Ginger Snaps with Mrs. Ira Hart and Mrs. Theodore Hartman
1 cup molasses
1 cup sugar
1 cup shortening
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 tablespoon ginger
1 level teaspoon soda
1 egg
Add flour to roll.
Bake in a quick oven.
Yep, I can see one of the Sinclair sisters nibbling a ginger snaps at Miss Hattie’s Boardinghouse in Two Brides Too Many, Too Rich for a Bride, The Bride Wore Blue, or Twice a Bride.
For The Quilted Heart , three eBook novellas, Celebrating Our Heritage from the St. Charles German Heritage Club provided me with tasty recipes and fun tidbits.
Dandelions on the Wind, Bending Toward the Sun, and Ripples Along the Shore
Hunter’s Schnitzel from the German Club Archives
Pork or veal cutlets
Salt
Pepper
Brown sugar
1 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced
Cream
Cooking sherry (if desired)
Crushed garlic (if desired)
Onions (if desired)
Butter for browning
Make sure the cutlets are thin. Wash the cutlets, dry with a paper towel and rub with pepper, salt and just a little brown sugar. Cook the cutlets on both sides in real butter in an open pan until the meat is done and takes on a nice brown color. Put the schnitzels in a serving dish and keep hot. In the meat juice left in the pan, cook fresh sliced mushrooms (about one pound for 2 schnitzels) until the liquid is mostly gone, adding pepper, salt and a touch of sugar to taste (not too much sugar or the mushrooms will be spoiled). Stir in fresh cream until you get a thick sauce. Pour on top of the schnitzels and serve with potato pancakes. Another variation is to add a little cooking sherry, onions and/or garlic to the mushroom gravy (the onions and garlic are cooked together with the mushrooms; the sherry is added with the cream).
Sounds to me like a “receipt” we could find in Emilie Heinrich’s kitchen in Bending Toward the Sun, a Quilted Heart novella.
Hunger ist der beste Koch. (Hunger is the best cook.) One of the many sayings I found in the German heritage cookbook, along with fascinating bits of history.
I turned to The Oregon Trail Cookbook, A Historical View of Cooking, Traveling, and Surviving on the Trail for culinary inspiration and cultural tidbits for Hearts Seeking Home, my next series. Look for Prairie Song, Book 1, to release on August 6th!
“Originally called ‘The Emigrant Road’ by the early pioneers, the route commonly became known as ‘The Oregon Trail’ and later as ‘The Overland Trail.’ Regardless of its name, emigrants always referred to it as ‘the road’ and not a ‘trail.’”
Sourdough Griddle Cakes
2 c. sourdough starter
4 c. warm water
4 T. oil
1 tsp. salt
4 T. sugar
5 c. flour
2 eggs
½ c. condensed milk
2 tsp. baking soda
Mix starter, flour and warm water the night before. Reserve 2-3 cups to replenish starter. To what is left, add eggs, oil and milk; over dough and gently fold in. Let rise 3-4 minutes. Fry on hot griddle. Serve immediately.
I can almost smell the griddle cakes Caroline Milburn will cook over the coals of a campfire out on the prairie in Prairie Song.
Read the prequel to Prairie Song in Dandelions on the Wind, Bending Toward the Sun, and Ripples Along the Shore.
Do you have a favorite regional cookbook?
© 2013 Mona Hodgson, Author and Speaker
April 11, 2013
An Unruly Dance Partner: Dementia
When the professional dancers on Dancing with the Stars learn which ballroom dance they and their “star” partners will perform the following week, the trained dancer immediately sets a plan in motion. The song choice. The story they’ll tell. Tenor and tone of the dance. Choreography. Costumes. The setting and props. Every miniscule detail is considered and planned.
Unlike a professional dancer who works hard to make their partner look good, Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease are unruly consorts. Both Alzheimer’s Disease and Frontotemporal Dementia showed up on the dance floor and took hold of my beloved mother. In one jerky step after another, dementia is claiming Mom’s memory, verbal commnication, problem solving skills, and cognitive abilities. Dementia, whether diagnosed as Alzheimer’s Disease or one of the other myriad causes, takes the affected person and their family and friends for a dizzying spin.
Soon, the audience dwindles and the affected person is left with the unruly partner in an ever-shrinking world. And there is actually comfort in that. Fewer distractions. And fewer folks on the sidelines to witness and judge the missteps. My three sisters and I are on that dance floor with Mom, but we are not there alone. More than 5,000,000 people are living with Alzheimer’s Disease. Perhaps someone you love is among those.
You and your family aren’t without support…without resources. Below, are links to a few videos I’ve found especially informative and encouraging, offering lots of insight and practical helps:
What is the relationship between Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia? Dr. Denise Compton, a clinical psychologist, differentiates dementia from Alzheimer’s Disease.
What is Alzheimer’s Disease and the stages? AboutAlz.org answers those basic questions in a very visual and practical manner.
Amy Grant Gives Three Care Giving Tips for Caring with Parents with Dementia. I first heard about Amy Grant’s experiences caring for her parents with Dementia through an advertisement for her appearance on the the Katie Couric Show. But I found this video interview on Guideposts TV.
Coach Frank Broyles talks to Dr. Phil About a playbook for caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s Disease. Some great practical tips from him and his two daughters.
Is someone you love suffering from Dementia? Alzheimer’s Disease? Do you have other resources you can recommend?
© 2013 Mona Hodgson, Author and Speaker
April 8, 2013
My Top Ten: What Energizes You?
Creative energy, like the body’s physical energy when exercised, ebbs and flows.
But characters wait to be developed, stories beg to be told, and deadlines loom.
What are you to do when your energy wanes and your creativity lags fatigued?
When I need a pick-me-up, you can find me . . .
1. Taking a brisk walk.
2. Savoring some dark chocolate, and if it has a little caramel in it, all the better.
3. Holding a baby.
4. Playing a game of Wii Tennis
5. Lunching with a friend. (You know who you are…soon!)
6. Going for a drive through a forest, or along the ocean.
7. Eating a handful of almonds and a scoop of cottage cheese.
8. Cranking up the music. Cue I Can sung by Nicole C. Mullen, and I’m good to go. Click here to watch “I Can” video.
9. Pausing for a nap. Some days just call for a total shutdown and reboot.
10. Meditating on Philippians 4:19. “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.”
Share your suggestions! What energizes you?
© 2013 Mona Hodgson, Author and Speaker
April 5, 2013
5 Reasons to Have a Book on Your Phone
Why download a book into your phone? Here are five compelling reasons:
1. Because you always have your phone with you. Your reader or a paperback, not so much.
2. Having a book on your phone gives you a great alternative to playing Angry Birds.
3. Flipping the smaller pages on a phone screen makes you feel like a fast reader.
4. Getting stuck in an elevator or delayed in a doctor’s office happens.
5. Your wagon is full.
Photo Credit: http.katunedited@tumblr.com
Do you have a reader app on your phone? Can you think of other reasons to have a book on your phone?
© 2013 Mona Hodgson, Author and Speaker
April 3, 2013
Bending Toward the Sun — A Novella, Now Available!
Emilie Heinrich isn’t interested in love—
until she is charmed by a handsome childhood friend.
But will her father’s prejudices prevent her from embracing romance?
An eBook Novella, The Quilted Heart
As spring flowers stretch on their stem to bend toward sunlight, Emilie turns to her God for light in the darkness that is casting shadows on her heart.
“You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.” Psalm 18:28
My prayer is that as you read Bending Toward the Sun, and the other two Quilted Heart novellas, you will witness God’s hand and heart in Emilie and Quaid’s story and experience afresh the warming, peace-filled embrace of the Son, Jesus–the Light of the world.
Meet Quaid McFarland in Bending Toward the Sun
Presenting you with my 6th work of historical fiction with WaterBrook Multnomah is a dream come true! Thank you so much for sharing in this incredible journey I’m on.
If you’re ready to purchase your copy of Bending Toward the Sun for $1.99, Click Here!
Civil War Era Quilt Square Giveaway!
In celebration of Bending Toward the Sun, we’re giving away a Civil War Era Quilt Square, handmade by my sister, Linda! Enter Drawing Here!
© 2013 Mona Hodgson, Author and Speaker
April 1, 2013
Toasted Ravioli, Fife & Drum Corps, and Daniel Boone
My March 2012 research trip for The Quilted Heart novellas returned me to a setting I first discovered in 1999–a charming riverside city that stirred my imagination and captured my heart.
Toured a historical farm that would inspire the farm setting in Dandelions on the Wind.
Bob and I with Bob Sandfort on the Sandfort Family Farm
Savored toasted ravioli (twice) at Little Hills Restaurant and Winery.
Explored the city and the surrounding areas with Carol Felzien, Director of Communication, Greater Saint Charles Convention & Visitor’s Bureau.
Mona and Carol Felzien touring a granery
Nibbled on the sweet treat that is Grandma’s Cookies on Main Street.
Grandma’s Cookies, one of many fun stops on Historic Main Street
Drove out to the Daniel Boone Home.
Daniel Boone’s Last Home
Watched a Fife & Drum Corps practicing at Frontier Park.
The Lewis and Clark Fife & Drum Corps?
Spent lots of time with Dorris Keeven-Franke, the archivist for the St. Charles County Historical Society.
Mona and Dorris Keeven-Franke
Enjoyed sweet sleep in a bed chamber at the historic Boone’s Lick Inn.
Mona at Boone’s Lick Inn
Strolled beside the Missouri River, which plays a key role in Bending Toward the Sun and Ripples Along the Shore.
Met Vicki Erwin, the owner of Main Street Books, and we started plotting a book launch celebration!
More details later, but please plan now to join me in the spring of 2014 for some Book Launch fun in St. Charles, Missouri! In the meantime, I hope you’ll wet your appetite for your visit to St. Charles by reading Dandelions on the Wind, Bending Toward the Sun, and Ripples Along the Shore–my Quilted Heart eBook Novellas, set along the Missouri River in 1865-1866, post Civil War.
Have you ever visited the setting from a favorite book?
© 2013 Mona Hodgson, Author and Speaker
March 15, 2013
God Gave Us Easter Book Giveaway
When I was a child and then as a teenager, Easter meant waking in the dark to attend hilltop Easter Sunrise Services with my Dad. Some of my favorite Easter memories–watching the sun rise and celebrating our Risen Savior, my Dad singing ”Christ the Lord is risen today” and “Alleluia, what a Savior” so offkey, but with a contagious, unbridled gusto.
Lisa Tawn Bergren is celebrating Easter with the release of God Gave Us Easter, the newest book in her fabulous God Gave Us Series. And I have three autographed copies to give away.
God Gave Us Easter by Lisa Tawn Bergren
Do you have a favorite Easter memory? Comment by on this post by Sunday, March 17th at NOON Arizona time to enter the GIVEAWAY drawing! For notification, include your email address!
March 11, 2013
Bending Toward the Sun: A Post Civil War Novella
Bending Toward the Sun picks up where Dandelions in the Wind left off. Book #2, a Quilted Heart novella releases April 2nd!
Bending Toward the Sun, Quilted Heart Series #2
Like the other women in the Saint Charles Quilting Circle, Emilie Heinrich stands at a crossroads.
Torn between the love of her father, and the desires of her heart, Emilie Heinrich must rely on the love and wisdom of the women in her quilting circle for support. Dedicated to her education and to helping her father in his general store, Emilie is convinced she doesn’t have time for love. But when a childhood friend returns to St. Charles, Missouri, after serving in the Civil War, his smile and charm catches Emilie’s eye and her heart.
Quaid McFarland has a gentleness and humor that causes Emilie to question her indifference toward romance. But her German father sees only one thing when he looks at the young man: an Irish teamster. And Johann Heinrich is not about to let such a man court his beloved daughter.
Her father’s prejudices test Emilie’s faith in God’s ability to mend the patchwork pieces of her life. Will she be forced to choose between honoring her father and a future with a husband and family of her own?
The Quilted Heart Novellas
Dandelions on the Wind, Book #1, now available!
Bending Toward the Sun, Book #2, available for Pre-Order!
Ripples Along the Shore, Book #3, available for Pre-Order!
Do you quilt or is someone else in your family a quilter? For me, it’s my Sis Linda.
TWEETABLES
Emilie Heinrich isn’t interested in love until she is charmed by a childhood friend. But will her father’s prejudices prevent her from embracing romance? @waterbrookpress @monahodgson http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?work=221543
An Irishman steals Emilie’s heart. Her German father forbids their romance. Can God mend hearts torn apart by prejudice & restore love? @waterbrookpress @monahodgson http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?work=221543http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?work=221543
A daughter’s heart is torn between her father and the man she loves. @waterbrookpress @monahodgson http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?work=221543
Can a daughter choose love when her father’s forbidden it? @waterbrookpress @monahodgson http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?work=221543
Quilting. Missouri River. Teamsters. German. Irish. Post Civil War. Romance. All in Bending Toward the Sun! @waterbrookpress @monahodgson http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?work=221543
© 2013 Mona Hodgson, Author and Speaker
