Name my book!

I can’t wait to share my upcoming historical novel with you! It’s Book Two of the Dauntless Series, but don’t worry—it stands on its own. If all goes well, it will go to press this October.

Before that can happen, I need your help choosing the perfect title.

About the novel:

Daniel and Annie thought love would be enough. They were wrong.

Newly married and settling into life in Leavenworth, Kansas, Annie Anthony quickly realizes that her husband, Daniel, is both more and less of a hero than she once believed. As Daniel fights to keep his post as mayor, they navigate the growing tensions of a changing nation, working together to aid formerly enslaved refugees while struggling to uphold their family’s reputation.

But when Susan B. Anthony arrives for an extended visit, Annie is introduced to bold ideas about women’s voices, power, and partnership—ideas that may be the key to surviving marriage to a man as ambitious as Daniel.

Through political battles, personal betrayals, and the shifting expectations of marriage, Annie must decide: will she stand beside her husband—or forge her own path?

How you can help:

Vote on one of my top title choices. OR suggest your own, based on the description above. (If I choose your title, you’ll get a special shoutout + a surprise gift!)

Vote by: April 7 (short deadline because we need the title to start the cover)

Your input means the world to me.

>>Vote Here

Thanks for being part of this journey—I can’t wait for you to meet the newlyweds!

New video

March was full of exciting moments, as I mentioned in my mid-month update. Here’s a new video that reveals the overarching theme of my Dauntless Series. Catch a glimpse of what Annie’s getting into.

I can see clearly now

When I made the video above, I was missing one last piece of my costume. But not anymore! Just in time for my April 11 appearance as Annie in Leavenworth, Kansas, I’ve got the perfect finishing touch.

Say hello to these beauties—authentic 1850s spectacles that actually belonged to someone in my husband’s family. Believe it or not, he and his brothers used to play with them.  When they surfaced 25 years ago, I claimed them on the spot and had the lenses swapped out for my nearsighted eyes.

They were ideal when I dressed as Susan B. Anthony years ago—just look at this photo of her in her own spectacles.

Courtesy of the Library of Congress

But eyes change, and I needed a new prescription. Like last time, the optician was intrigued and asked, “Where did you get these?” The truth is, my beloved geek found them stuffed under our bed. (Sometimes cleaning there is like an archaeological dig.)

A couple Victorian details:

One earpiece longer than the other. Photo by Jeanne Gehret

The earpieces expand and retract—a clever feature when I want to tuck them in a pocket.No nose cushions! Which means not so comfy for long stretches, but I guess they hadn’t been invented yet.

These quirky old glasses, along with the rest of my costume, help me truly step into character when I perform. It’s just one of the many ways I bring the Anthonys’ world to life. If you missed my post about approximating period hairstyles, look here.

By the way…if you’re not subscribed to my monthly newsletter, you’re missing out! (See the box to the left.)This month is the perfect time to sign up because, in addition to the prequel mentioned,  once you open the newsletter you’ll get the special short story available only to subscribers. It’s a fun, somewhat snarky story that happens between Books One and Two. Subscribe now!

Watch this space for the results of the “Name my book” poll. Don’t forget to vote!

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