Sandra Merville Hart's Blog, page 30
July 19, 2022
Virginia Waterways and the Underground Railroad
Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart
This book by Cassandra L. Newby-Alexander, PhD gives some historical background of slavery in Virginia. Much of the book gives accounts of folks who escaped slavery and how they accomplished it.
The author shows that many of the freedom seekers escaped on small vessels and steamships on Virginia’s tidal rivers like the James, York, and the Potomac.
I found this book informative, well-organized, and well-researched. Lots of helpful facts were included, such as laws and the years they were passed. For example, free blacks were able to purchase the freedom of relatives after the passage of a 1782 law.
The discussion of the Underground Railroad was helpful as were the charts, photos, maps, and sketches.
The Underground Railroad is a topic in Byway to Danger, Book 3 in my “Spies of the Civil War” series.
Recommended for those desiring to learn more about the history of slavery.
July 18, 2022
Announcing Release of Byway to Danger!
by Sandra Merville Hart
I’m thrilled to announce the release of Byway to Danger, Book 3 of my new “Spies of the Civil War” today, July 19, 2022!
Though the series is about a fictional family, there are actual historical spies who touch the stories.
Byway to Danger is set in the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, in 1862. Because Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy, the Union army was often threatening the city. One might suppose that all of Richmond’s citizens supported the Confederacy, yet there were a lot of Union supporters and Union spies in the capital.
Here’s a bit about the book:
Everyone in Richmond has secrets. Especially the spies.
Meg Brooks, widow, didn’t stop spying for the Union when her job at the Pinkerton National Detective Agency ended, especially now that she lives in the Confederate capital. Her job at the Yancey bakery provides many opportunities to discover vital information about the Confederacy to pass on to her Union contact. She prefers to work alone, yet the strong, silent baker earns her respect and tugs at her heart.
Cade Yancey knows the beautiful widow is a spy when he hires her only because his fellow Unionist spies know of her activities. Meg sure didn’t tell him. He’s glad she knows how to keep her mouth shut, for he has hidden his dangerous activities from even his closest friends. The more his feelings for the courageous woman grow, the greater his determination to protect her by guarding his secrets. Her own investigations place her in enough peril.
As danger escalates, Meg realizes her choice to work alone isn’t a wise one. Can she trust Cade with details from her past not even her family knows?
Order your copy today on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, and Books 2 Read!
July 12, 2022
The Richmond Slave Trade by Jack Trammell
Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart
The Economic Backbone of the Old Dominion
This book deals with a dark part of American history. For that reason, it isn’t an easy read.
The author traces the history of slavery in America. By 1671, there were 6,000 white indentured servants and 2,000 black slaves in Virginia.
I learned a lot in reading this book. For example, a Virginia law passed in 1806 gave newly freed slaves one year to leave the state or risk being automatically placed back into bondage for life.
The author included charts, photos, maps, and sketches to enhance readers’ understanding of information given.
The Underground Railroad is a topic in Byway to Danger, Book 3 in my “Spies of the Civil War” series.
Recommended for those desiring to learn more about the history of slavery.
July 10, 2022
Orange Cake Recipe
by Sandra Merville Hart
One of the fun things I get to do as an author of historical novels is search through old recipe books for the time period that I’m writing. I include those dishes in my novels. “Spies of the Civil War” is my current series. Orange cake is one of the desserts in Byway to Danger, Book 3 in my “Spies of the Civil War” series. The hero is a talented baker and our heroine works as his assistant. 
A recipe for orange cake in an 1877 cookbook, Buckeye Cookery and Practical Housekeeping, was provided by Mrs. D. Buxton.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray 2 round cake pans or 1 13×9 baking pan. (I used a 13×9 pan.)
Separate 2 eggs and set aside the whites for frosting.
Beat in 2 additional eggs to the egg yolks (4 yolks and 2 whole eggs) and stir in 1 cup water. Set aside the egg mixture for the cake.
Sift together 3 cups all purpose flour with 2 teaspoons of baking powder. Set aside.
Combine 2 cups sugar with ½ cup butter until thoroughly mixed. Add egg mixture and stir until blended. Stir in the sifted flour a little at a time.
Add the zest, juice, and pulp of one large orange. (I used about 1/3 of the pulp, which definitely enhances the orange flavor.) Stir together.
Pour the mixture into the prepared 13×9 pan and bake for about 40 minutes or until brown.
Since it’s the middle of a hot summer, I made whipped topping instead of icing. It was a delicious, light topping that the children gobbled up. So did the adults!
This was a delicious summer dessert. The orange flavor was very strong. It’s a refreshing cake, especially with the whipped cream topping. I believe that it was also be good as a lemon cake. (I’d use the zest, juice, and pulp of 2 lemons in place of 1 large orange.)
Sources
Compiled from Original Recipes. Buckeye Cookery and Practical Housekeeping, Applewood Books, 1877.
July 6, 2022
Ohio Canal Ride
by Bettie Boswell
Today’s post is by an author friend, Bettie Boswell. She shares some historical background for her new release. I’m looking forward to reading it. Welcome back, Bettie!
Canals played an important role in United States history, bringing goods to parts of the land where large ships could not pass. The completion of the Ohio Miami Canal took place right before trains began to compete with commercial trade. Before trains took over the majority of that business, people enjoyed pleasant trips on passenger canal boats or shared a smelly ride with livestock, freight, and mail on packet boats traveling the waterway, spanning from the Cincinnati area to Toledo, Ohio.
Though the popularity of doing business on the canal faded in the 1840s, the route provided a physical map for those seeking freedom from slavery. The towpath became a popular guidepost for those following the Underground Railroad. Once escapees made it to the Toledo area, there were people who provided transportation to Detroit, Michigan, where the span between Canada and the United States narrowed enough for a short journey to a safe country. Toledo Metroparks still maintains a short stretch of the canal at lock 44 in Grand Rapids, Ohio. I had the privilege to ride on the Volunteer canal boat recently and was entertained with storytelling re-enactors.
In my latest book, Free to Love, I included several scenes that involve riding a canal boat and using it as a trail for the Underground Railroad. Ohio was a free state but it was not always a safe state so the journey north continued to be hazardous even after people reached states that supported freedom. Slave catchers lived as far north as Maumee, Ohio and would sometimes send people into slavery even if they had papers saying they were not bound in slavery. Helping someone on their way to freedom might mean imprisonment for a good-hearted Ohioan of any race.
About Bettie
Bettie Boswell has always loved to read and write. That interest helped her create musicals for both church and school and eventually she decided to write and illustrate stories to share with the world. Her writing interests extend from children’s to adult and from fiction to nonfiction. Free to Love is a prequel to her first novel, On Cue.
Pitch-As Ginny writes her musical, inspiration comes from journals about Missy and her maid, bound together by slavery and blood, journeying toward freedom and love. Early and her mistress have always been together. When Missy’s family forces Early into an arranged marriage with George, also held in slavery, their relationship will be forever changed. Will Early and George find a love that can survive the trials of a forced marriage and perilous journey?
July 5, 2022
Fort Monroe by Quarstein and Mroczkowski
Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart
Fort Monroe: The Key to the South
The Civil War History Series
This book gives a wonderful history of Fort Monroe during the Civil War and beyond. This important fort was under Union control throughout the war.
I love the photos that really enhance readers’ understanding of information given.
The authors provide details about Camp Hamilton. It was basically a tent city with temporary structures near Fort Monroe.
Runaway slaves escaped to Fort Monroe in May of 1861. General Butler sheltered them as “contraband of war,” an important decision that ultimately affected thousands.
I visited Fort Monroe on a research trip. What a wonderful place, steeped in history. That visit inspired me to use Fort Monroe as a setting in Byway to Danger, Book 2 in my “Spies of the Civil War” series.
Recommended for history lovers and for those who desire to learn more about the Civil War.
June 28, 2022
What is a Family? by Annette Griffin
Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart
This delightful children’s picture book is a sweet read.
The author uses different animals in nature and goes through the alphabet to show what different animal groups are called.
For example, lions have a pride and hawks have a cast.
Beautifully illustrated. A lovely book that tells the story with rhymes that appeal to children.
The book is geared to children 2 – 6.
I will look for more books by this author.
June 26, 2022
Depression Cake Recipe
by Sandra Merville Hart
The family cook in my latest release, Boulevard of Confusion, Book 2 in my “Spies of the Civil War” series, was also a talented baker. She bakes pies, cakes, and cobblers that no one turns down. After writing these scenes, I was ready to bake.
I found some fun recipes in a child’s cookbook, “The U.S. History Cookbook: Delicious Recipes and Exciting Events from the Past” that my three-year-old granddaughter could help me prepare.
Ingredients
1 cup shortening
2 cups water
2 cups raisins
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground allspice
½ teaspoon ground cloves
2 cups sugar
Vegetable oil cooking spray
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray.
This is an easy recipe to get the children involved in baking. My granddaughter loves to add ingredients and stir them together. She tells me when it’s stirred enough. (She’s usually right but I don’t agree, I can sneak in a few quick stirs. )
Combine the first eight ingredients in a large saucepan. Stir them together but the shortening makes this challenging. Cook over a medium heat for ten minutes. I stirred the raisin mixture as soon the shortening began melting. Then I stirred it a couple more times while it cooked to make sure it didn’t stick.
Remove the raisin mixture from the heat and allow it to cool for ten minutes.
Sift the flour and baking soda together into the cooled batter. Stir it all together just until combined. Pour into the prepared pan.
Bake for 45 minutes.
I thought it looked a little plain so I sprinkled confectioner sugar on top.
You’ll love this moist cake if you like raisins. My picky three-year-old granddaughter doesn’t like raisins, yet loved this cake. She kept coming back for more.
During the Depression, eggs, butter, and milk were expensive ingredients. This recipe doesn’t have any of these—and I didn’t miss them.
Delicious and easy, this is one I’ll make again!
Sources
D’Amico, Joan and Drummond, Ed.D., R.D., Karen Eich. The U.S. History Cookbook: Delicious Recipes and Exciting Events from the Past, Jossey-Bass, A Wiley Imprint, 2003.
June 22, 2022
Announcing Audio Story “Someone on the Inside”
by Sandra Merville Hart
I’m thrilled to announce a project that I’ve been working on with several others this spring. Mark Prasek of PJNET.tv is currently creating a collection of audio stories and I’m so happy my story “Someone on the Inside” is now in his library.
My eleven-minute story is based on my book Avenue of Betrayal, Book 1 in the “Spies of the Civil War” series. The first scene gives background to the story not found in the book. The second scene comes from the book yet is told from another character’s perspective, providing fresh insights.
Here’s a bit about story:
When Lieutenant Christopher Farmer enlists the help of a loyal Irish officer to spy on the wealthy Hiram Swanson at his weekly parties where secrets are passed to Confederate spies, he has no idea the dilemma the Irish man faces.
Mark Prasek is the narrator and the story’s producer. He told me he hasn’t had a day off in years and I believe him! Here’s the goal of PJNET.tv: Our mission is to provide a platform for everyday Christians to share their walk with Christ.
I selected Kevin E. Spencer, Eddie Jones, and Tim Jones (no relation) for my other voice parts.
Kevin Spencer is the author of North Carolina Expatriates, an enlightening and insightful daily look at North Carolina’s history, found here. He’s also a huge Civil War buff. We met at a writers conference where our love for Civil War history made us instant friends. He and his lovely wife, Charlotte, and grandson, Caleb, took my husband and me on a tour of Franklin, Tennessee, and the surroundings, as part of my research of the Battle of Franklin for my novel, A Musket in My Hands. I thought of Kevin immediately for the part of General Winfield Scott. He graciously consented. Thanks, Kevin, for adding your Southern voice to this story!
Eddie Jones was another natural choice for this reading. This publisher at Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas (currently Iron Stream Media) accepted my first Civil War book, A Stranger on My Land. He’s interested in this era of American history, but it hasn’t captured his imagination like the pirates he writes of in his teen novels. He also writes mysteries specifically geared for middle grade/teen boys. Check them out! Thanks for portraying Sergeant-Major John Finn, Eddie!
I’ve been friends with Tim Jones for years. He’s a gifted actor locally in Ohio. I’ve been privileged to participate in church dramas with him, and I’ve marveled that he can redo a scene several times in succession and still put the same emotion and facial expressions to bring the words to life. Thank you, Tim, for sharing your talent with us!
Click on this link to hear the story!
June 14, 2022
The U.S. History Cookbook by D’Amico and Drummond
Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart
Delicious Recipes and Exciting Events From the Past
I love to find books suitable for elementary grade children. This one not only gives some fun facts from U.S. History, it also includes easy recipes for children to make with their parents. I love it!
The first part of the book shows sketches of items used in cooking, such as a pastry blender or a rolling pin, and how they are used.
The next part explains cooking terms with sketches for cutting, measuring, stovetop cooking, and separating eggs. And I love that there’s also a section about safety. The authors put a lot of thought into this cookbook.
After that, each chapter provides historical background, “Fun Food Facts,” and recipes representing the time period.
Included in this book are chapters on Colonial Fare, The First Thanksgiving, A Pioneer Breakfast, and World War II Rations, to name a few.
Really well-done cookbook for children. I love that it also teaches them a bit of history along the way.
Recommend for elementary children and perhaps a year or two into the middle-grade category.
