Thanksgiving Bride 1948

Happy Thanksgiving Readers,

In 1948, a bride embraces a Thanksgiving theme for her wedding. Feathers abound.

Click here for a fun Thanksgiving wedding.

Enjoy the holiday and may our thankfulness be an every day thing.

Donna

Day Twenty-Two Writing Challenge

Dear Readers,

Today is the twenty-second day of our writing challenge.

November 22: It’s Thanksgiving Day. Maybe you hadn’t planned to write today. But just think: after the big meal, most folks are either going to be asleep or watching a football game or three. Bring your laptop or notepad into the TV room, and write while the game is going on. If you miss a great play, you’ll see it again on the replays or the eleven o’clock news. Postpone your nap for thirty minutes. Get the words done, and then the rest of the day is yours.

Happy writing,

Donna

Day Twenty-One Writing Challenge

Dear Readers,

Today is day twenty-one of our writing challenge.

November 21: Falling behind? Look at your schedule for ways to increase the time available. Maybe you need to write on a day you hadn’t planned. Spending a lot of time with the kids at the pool or football or other sports? Even if you can’t type on a laptop, you can write the story longhand. Look for reasons to succeed, not reasons to fail.

Happy writing,

Donna

Day Twenty Writing Challenge

Dear Readers,

Today is day twenty of our writing challenge.

November 20: You should be past 30,000 words now. If not, you’ll need to adjust your daily word count so you can meet your 50,000 word goal within the next ten days. That’s okay. I once started NaNoWriMo on the 11th of November and had my 50,000 words by the end of the day on the 30th. My word count was like 4500 a day, and I didn’t write on Sundays at that time.

Happy writing,

Donna

Day Nineteen Writing Challenge

Dear Readers,

Today is day nineteen of our writing challenge.

November 19: Feel like you’re running out of words? Maybe you are. Just as an athlete has to refuel when in training and competition, a writer needs to refuel the words. Take an extra 15 minutes today and read some of that novel you’ve had at your bedside all month and been too tired to read. Read a newspaper. Take a glance at some research books on your bookshelf. But just 15 minutes. Any more than that and you’ll get so involved you won’t have time to write. Now go and write those words.

Happy Writing,

Donna

Day Eighteen Writing Challenge

Dear Readers,

Today is day eighteen in our writing challenge.

November 18: Today I give you permission to read your first chapter, but you must keep your hands in your pockets while you do that, because you aren’t allowed to change even word one. But I want to remind yourself of the excitement you first had when you started writing this story. Then write new words.

Happy writing,

Donna

Day Seventeen Writing Challenge

Dear Readers,

Today is day seventeen in our writing challenge.

November 17: Take a few minutes today to jot down some of your main characters’ history. Where they were born, what they liked in school, when they gave their first boy-girl kiss, who broke their heart. All the good stuff that will never make it in your book but is important for you to know. And then write those 1666 words.

Happy writing,

Donna

Day Sixteen Writing Challenge

Dear Readers,

Today is day sixteen of our writing challenge.

November 16: Find somewhere different to write today, just to break the monotony. Go to the library, a coffee shop, the bus station, a park. If you’ve been writing in your bedroom, write in the living room. Sit in the hallway of your apartment building.

Happy writing,

Donna

Day Fifteen Writing Challenge

Dear Readers,

Today is day fifteen of our writing challenge.

November 15: Staying the course can be easy at first and then other things call for your attention, like laundry, cleaning, friends who miss you, family who want to take a picture of you because they forget what you look like. Ignore them all while you’re writing, but know that this month will soon be over and you’ll return to your regular life, so be nice to them. Smile when they stick their head in your writing area.

Happy writing,

Donna

Day Fourteen Writing Challenge

Dear Readers,

Today is day fourteen of our writing challenge.

November 14: End of week two. Halfway there!  Take a moment to tweak your plotline a little. For you pantsers—those who don’t outline but write by the seat of their pants—revel in the progress you’re making while the outliners tweak.

Happy writing,

Donna

How to Start a 1924 Model T

Hello,

Have you ever wondered how to start a Model T?  One of my characters would do well to watch this movie.

This video "shows steps required to safely start any Model T Ford built between 1908 and 1927 using hand crank or electric starter" Click here to watch how it is done.


You never know when you might need this knowledge.

Donna

Day Thirteen Writing Challenge

Dear Readers,

Today is day thirteen in our writing challenge.

November 13: As you bring your characters through one disaster after another, be sure to show us how the character is growing. What the character once thought was their goal may be changing now as the character changes. So in our romance, perhaps the heroine wanted to get married because all her friends are getting married and she feels left out. However, as she goes through the struggle to meet a man, perhaps she realizes that marriage is not going to make her feel like she belongs unless she does belong. So, she needs to undergo some changes within herself if she’s going to accomplish her goals.

Happy writing,

Donna

Day Twelve Writing Challenge

Dear Readers,

Today is day twelve in our writing challenge.

November 12: Today you may well pass 20,000 words. You’re 40% of the way there. What else can you throw at your characters to create tension between them and within themselves? I’ve heard this process described as: get your character up a tree, out on a limb, then saw off the limb. Timber!

Happy writing,

Donna

Day Eleven Writing Challenge

Dear Readers,

Today is day eleven in our writing challenge.

November 11: Okay, so technically today is a holiday. Take a few minutes to thank a veteran and remember those who have given their lives for our country. Then get on with the writing.

Happy Writing,

Donna

Model T's

Hello,

Today's feature is that of the Model T's. This car was designed to drive over dirt trails, ford creeks, and drive on city streets. Henry Ford manufactured this car in Detroit. It changed the face of American transportation.

I loved this video, absolutely fascinating.

Click here to watch the video. It is so worth the trip.

Donna

Writing Challenge Day Ten

Dear Readers,

Today is day ten in our writing challenge.

November 10: Today should take you to about 17,000 words. That’s a huge milestone. If you hadn’t committed to NaNoWriMo, you’d have probably spent three months getting this far. Give yourself a pat on the back—after you meet your word count for the day.

Happy writing,

Donna

Writing Challenge Day Nine

Dear Readers,

Today is Day Nine of our writing challenge.

November 9: By now you should be getting ready for another incident that pushes your hero/heroine forward in the quest to accomplish their goal. Let’s say you’re writing a romance, and the first incident was the hero and heroine meet and she overhears him ridiculing her best friend. She confronts him, tells him what a jerk he is, and huffs off. Since then, all he can think about is this spirited woman who’ll have nothing to do with him, and all she thinks about is the way his eyes captivated her. Your second incident could be she meets her brother and kisses him on the cheek, and our hero sees this and thinks they are a couple. He huffs off and she doesn’t know why.

Happy writing,

Donna

Day Eight Writing Challenge

Dear Readers,

Today is day eight of our writing challenge.

November 8: So take a deep breath and look over the past week. What has worked for you? What hasn’t worked? Amplify what worked and toss out what didn’t work. Perhaps you’ve written yourself into a corner? Don’t worry. Make a note to yourself to go back and fix that later, and keep going from here.

Happy writing,

Donna

Not Just the Facts, Ma'am or Sir

Hi,

I am featured on ACFW Colorado's site today.


Not so very long ago, I didn’t think I could write historical fiction. My excuse? I didn’t know enough ‘history’ to write a story set in bygone times.
Then I saw a photo in the newspaper of the police officer who accompanied Lee Harvey Oswald from the courtroom when Jack Ruby shot him.
And I was hooked.

Click here to read more.

I list several tips on how to write historical fiction.

Hope it gives my fellow writers some ideas for their own writing journey.


Donna

Day Seven Writing Challenge

Dear Readers,

Today is day seven of our writing challenge.

November 7: Okay, so you’re ready to pull your hair out by the roots. No matter. You’re settling into a routine of thinking about your story and your characters. Even if you’re not actually typing words, you are actually writing. The more you think about your story, the easier you’ll find the writing will be when you do sit down.

Happy writing,

Donna

Day Six Writing Challenge

Dear Readers,

Today is day six of our writing challenge.

November 6: Nearing the end of week one, and you’re doing great. Falling behind? No matter. Squeeze a few extra minutes out of your day. Get up a few minutes early. Write on your lunch break. Delay turning on the television for thirty minutes. Stay up until you finish this chapter.

Happy writing,

Donna

A Model T Tractor

Dear Readers,

I love historical research, especially things with motors.

"Model T Ford 1927 Model T Ford home made tractor. It has two additional 3-speed transmissions and has a Model TT rear end (Truck). The plow is a John Deere walking plow modified with linkage to raise and lower the plow. My dad purchased this tractor in 1941 for $15.00 "My older brother is running the tractor" (This homemade tractor was used to plow Victory Gardens during the depression)"  Click here to watch

Many a farmer made his own equipment and used what he had on hand.

Enjoy,

Donna

Day Five Writing Challenge

Dear Readers,

Today is day five of our writing challenge.

November 5: As you arrive at the point where you not only dangle the goal but actually slap your character up the side of his/her face to get their attention, get ready for them to try to convince you to give up this foolish notion of telling their story. They will try, but you will persevere.

Happy writing,

Donna

Day Four Writing Challenge

Dear Readers,

Today is day four in our writing challenge.

November 4: Regardless of which genre you’re writing, you want to build some tension in the story. Tension is not just people shouting at each other, or people getting shot at. Tension happens when your characters are not getting what they want. Figure out what the character wants then dangle that goal on a stick in front of them, just out of reach.

Happy writing,

Donna

Day Three Writing Challenge

Dear Readers,

Today is day three of our writing challenge.

November 3: Hopefully you’re following the plot outline you’ve done for your book, so about now, you should have at least introduced your characters, let us see their ordinary world, and introduced some flaw they want to change. Good work!

Happy Writing,

Donna

Day Two Writing Challenge

Dear Readers,

Today is day two of our writing challenge.

November 2: Day 2. Now your challenge is to sit and write and not read what you wrote yesterday, which I guarantee you’re going to hate if you do. Did you manage your 1666 words yesterday? Great. If you wrote more, that takes some pressure off for today. If you were short, so what? Write what you can. You will have more productive days as the flow starts and you’ll make up the difference later.

Happy Writing,

Donna

Clinging to Grace

Hello Readers,

Today's featured author is Heidi Chiavaroli.

Clinging To Grace

Call me crazy, but there’s a part of me that loves rules. I’ve always depended on them to create the boundaries that put me on the right side of the track. As a child I rarely found myself in trouble. I knew the rules, and I followed them. My parents and teachers praised me. I praised myself. After all, I was “good.” Not like those other kids who didn’t know when to shut their mouths or do as they were told. Of course I wasn’t perfect—who is? But I was good, certainly better than most.

This attitude lasted through my teens and into my twenties. I served the church with zeal. I married my high school sweetheart. I was sweet. I was nice. I was accommodating.

Then I had children.

Slowly, like the work of a termite gnawing on wood, the outward good I’d so often displayed with little effort began to disappear. My true heart was revealed to me. With two demanding toddlers only sixteen months apart, I began to crumble. I was no longer sweet or nice. And accommodating? Forget it.

I think the parable of the lost son demonstrates my dilemma. I’m convinced the editors who often title that story in our Bibles have it wrong. There’s not just one lost son in the parable, there are two. The elder brother did everything right. He worked hard, obeyed his father, never asked for anything. But the true condition of his heart is revealed at the end of Christ’s story. The older brother is not happy when his little bro comes home. He is angry. Bitter. And at the end of the story, who is in the grand feast—the feast that symbolizes the very joy and fellowship of God’s kingdom? It is the younger son, the rule-breaker. And which son is stubbornly sulking outside? Lost? I can just picture the older son looking through the window at the warm light of this heavenly party, bitterness eating at his insides.

It’s scary how much I see myself in this older son. I am lost. I am dependent on my good works. I am the very person that Jesus scolded the most—a self-righteous Pharisee.

I wonder if I ever would have seen the truth if it weren’t for my children. God showed me my heart, He showed me my hypocrisy. He showed me death.

And then, my Savior showed me glorious life. I am a lost prodigal. Lucky for me, God is in the business of saving that which is lost.

I threw off my cloak of bitterness and ran into the feast. I gave Jesus my heart and He gave me grace. Living this way is pure, wonderful freedom. Surrendering to God is freedom. I don’t have to depend on rules to define my goodness or my worth. All I have to do is depend on Jesus, on His worth.

And so I cling—lovingly, recklessly, doggedly—to grace. To Christ’s righteousness, and not my own. I’m forgetting the rules and what it means to be “good.”

Call me crazy, but a bigger part of me loves grace.

 

Biography

Heidi Chiavaroli writes history woven in grace. Her current manuscript, Tears of the Outcast, finaled in My Book Therapy’s Frasier Contest, semi-finaled in ACFW’s 2012 Genesis contest, and won the 2011 Historical Category of Novel Rocket’s Launch Pad Contest. Heidi lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two sons. You can find her blog at here.

Day One Writing Challenge

Dear Readers,

Today is the first day of the NaNoWriMo Challenge.

November 1: Day 1 of the challenge. The goal today is to simply start. If you’re planning to write every day this month, you’ll need to average 1,666 words per day. That may sound daunting, but here’s the really hard part: write the words, don’t worry about editing them. Who cares if they are garbage? The goal is the word count.

Happy Writing,

Donna

Geared Steam Locomotives

Dear Readers,

Yes, I am still researching the perfect train for my character to ride on. I am having fun looking at different kinds of trains in our country's history.

I love this Shay Geared Locomotive.  It's haunting whistle echoes through the countryside bringing the listener back to an earlier era.  I can just picture this train in one of my novels.

"In the Cass Scenic Railroad in West Virginia, some Shay Geared Locomotives are still in use in excellent condition. Everyone must be impressed by enjoyable train and scenic beauty." Click here to learn more.


It is worth the hop over to the site just to hear the whistle.

Donna

NaNoWriMo Tips

Dear Readers,

In the month of November, I plan on participating in NaNoWriMo for writers.

 

So, you plan to engage in NaNoWriMo this year. Good for you! Might I offer a few tips to lead you to succeed in this noble novel endeavor?

Each day, we’ll post a tip to help you complete the task.

On or before Oct 31: come up with an idea for the book. Figure out who your characters are. You don’t need their entire backstory. Leave yourself some leeway to learn about them. Look at your calendar and honestly decide how much time each day you can give to writing. Just because you can’t sit and write for eight hours or two hours or even one hour is no excuse to not sit and write something.

Happy writing,

Donna

Steam Locomotives in Denver

Good Day,

I have enjoyed watching videos on steam locomotives. I am trying to pinpoint an exact train for one of my characters to ride to a certain destination in one of my novels.

I found this link that shows a historical steam locomotive in Denver.

Click here to view.

Enjoy,
Donna

Union Pacific Steam Locomotive

Hello,

The Union Pacific Railroad used steam locomotives in it rich history. I found this link and video fascinating. I can imagine some of the characters in my novels riding trains like these.

"Departure of Union Pacific Steam Locomotive No. 844 from the Great Overland Station in Topeka, Kansas. Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010. Steam Locomotive No. 844 is the last steam locomotive built for Union Pacific Railroad. It was delivered in 1944. A high-speed passenger engine, it pulled such widely known trains as the Overland Limited, Los Angeles Limited, Portland Rose and Challenger.

Hailed as Union Pacific's "Living Legend," the engine is widely known among railroad enthusiasts for its excursion runs, especially over Union Pacific's fabled crossing of Sherman Hill between Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming."

Click here to read the article and watch the video.

Donna

 

1925 Ford

Good Day to You,

One of my novels is set in the 1920's. In order to write my story better, I needed to research what the cars were like during the mid-twenties. I found this link that shows a beauty of a car that has been preserved in all of its vehicle glory.

It is sure a beauty.

Click here to view.

Donna

Photo Technology

Good afternoon,

The advancement of photo technology can enhance a writer's research. Today's featured link depicts President Lincoln in three portraits. The first in each series shows the presidential photo with color enhancement. The second photo shows the original.

One thing I noticed is how the style of the clothing had changed. One photo shows the president wearing a narrower lapel on his suit jacket and the last series, President Lincoln is wearing a much wider lapel.

Click here to view the series.

Donna

Tips for Writing Historical Fiction

Dear Readers,

Today's post will feature tips on how to write historical fiction. Some of the ideas included in the linked article include: characters, historical era, fashion, architecture, warfare, economic status, and dialogue. It is worth a hop over to the website to read the full feature.

"The hardest part of writing historical fiction is authenticity. These tips on how to write a book set in the past will help you write a historical novel that readers (and editors!) love.
Before the tips, a quip:
“It’s not a documentary. It’s a historical fiction. But we have attempted to make the world, the background, the detail of that world as authentic as possible.” ~ Jonathan Stamp."

Click here to read more.


Donna

Wallpaper in the 1860's

Hello,

I love researching old houses. Today's post will feature wallpaper found in homes in the 1860's.

"By the 1860's, in America, it may be safe to say that almost all paper used to print newspapers on was machine made. One notable exception is when newspaper editions were printed on wallpaper. Wallpaper, while a percentage was machine made in this period, the majority of it was handmade. The initial steps to produce sheets for wallpaper were much the same as in the making of other paper." Click here to read more of the article.

Making wallpaper in the 1860's was a lengthy process. I hope you enjoyed the article as much as I did.

Donna
 

Public Hospitals from 1860-1930

Hello,

I love research and writing historical fiction. Part of that research entails many hours on the Internet reading and looking at articles that will enable me to write with enough knowledge on a topic so that my readers can picture the story easily.

I needed to verify some facts about medical care for my historical novel. I found this article on the emergence of public hospitals from 1860-1930.

"The American hospital as we know it today emerged over the course of about 60 years, beginning around the time of the Civil War. Physician-staffed hospitals, with professional nursing and specialized departments and services, were products of urbanization and economic expansion during the Second Industrial Revolution—together with massive immigration and rapid strides in medicine itself. About 1880, asepsis (sterilizing) opened broad new horizons for surgeons. As physicians looked to the future with a new sense of hope, hospitals became symbolic of their new optimism and authority."  Click here to read the rest of the article and view a photo of the men's ward in a public hospital during that time period.

Donna

NaNoWriMo

Dear Readers,

Have you ever wanted to write a novel in a month? NaNoWriMo is a tool to help writers write a novel in a month. The challenge starts on November 1 and ends November 30.


"National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing on November 1. The goal is to write a 50,000-word (approximately 175-page) novel by 11:59:59 PM on November 30.
Valuing enthusiasm and perseverance over painstaking craft, NaNoWriMo is a novel-writing program for everyone who has thought fleetingly about writing a novel but has been scared away by the time and effort involved.
As you spend November writing, you can draw comfort from the fact that, all around the world, other National Novel Writing Month participants are going through the same joys and sorrows of producing the Great Frantic Novel." Click here to find out more.

Donna

Victorian Women Cycling a Course

Hello Readers,

Today's clip shows women in the Victorian era riding their bicycles in a slalom course. They are quite good. The gals weave through a course and circle back around. The video features women who are old enough to put their hair up and young ladies who are not old enough to do so.

I love the styles of clothing they wore. Notice the man at the end of the clip who walks in front of the camera. He is dressed to the nines, top hat included.

Click here to watch the 36 second clip.

Donna

Writing Contest Needs Your Vote

I  entered contest recently where the first round will be determined by number of votes, and she needs folks to vote for her entry TODAY.

Click on this link,  and when you come to the contest page, type in SCHLACHTER in the SEARCH box.

You should come to my submission, “Christmas Under the Stars”. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click “Vote for this entry”.

Feel free to read the description and the first chapter, of course, and read the rest of the entries as well, if you like, and vote for the story you like the best. J

You can only vote once per day, and today, October 11th, GMT is the final day of voting.

Remember the deadline is TODAY at 11:59 p.m. Greenwhich Mean Time, which could be 5:00 p.m. or earlier depending on your time zone.
Thanks,
Donna

Historical Wedding Dresses in Australia

Good day to you readers,

While researching for a book that I am writing, I ran across this link that focuses on wedding dresses from Australia. It features dresses worn by brides from the 1800's until 1999. The styles have changed over the years but the brides looked radiant on their special days.

Click here to view.

Donna

Texas and the ACFW Writers Conference 2012

Good Day,

I have a few more photos of my trip to Texas for the ACFW Writers Conference, 2012.

Our group enroute to the Grapevine. It was a fun trip.

Crit Group 14 is my online ACFW Critique Group: in no particular order: Kim Sayer, Margie Vawter, Eileen Key, Connie Stevens, Darlene Wells, and me.
My crit group has challenged me to grow as a writer and encouraged me when the journey was hard.

I had a great time at the conference making new friends, attending workshops, and classes.

Donna

Digging The Past

Readers,

As many of you know, I am a writer and a history buff.  One of the winners of my blog contest has a historical blog that might interest some of you.

It is called Digging The Past by writer Wesley Harris.

Here is an excerpt from one of his posts.

By Wesley Harris

Near noon on January 8, 1874, five masked men swooped down on an eastbound stagecoach about three miles west of Arcadia. While the robbers searched for valuables among the mail bags and the passengers’ pockets, the westbound coach of the Monroe & Shreveport Stage Line approached. Forcing it to stop as well, the robbers added to their bounty. The evidence points to members of the infamous James-Younger gang as the likely culprits.

Click here to read the rest of the story and to see who hid in the trees.

Digging The Past has some great historical accounts. Be prepared to spend some time over there reading. It's worth the stop.

Donna



 

 

More Conference Photos

Hello,

The ACFW Conference in Texas was one of my writing highlights this year.

Mingling at the conference.

My writer pals, Bonnie and Megan before the banquet.

Table setting at the banquet.

 Beverly Varnado and Christen Morris were my roommates. Christen was a finalist in the Genesis Contest.

Anita Mae Draper, Mary Davis, and me -- 3/4 of our Pony Express group.

May your weekend be blessed,

Donna

Winners of the Blog Contest

Hello,

The winners of my blog give away were Wesley Harris and Diane E. Tatum.  If both of you would please leave email me your mailing information, I'll make sure I get your prizes out as soon as possible.

Thank you to all who entered.

Donna

 

Feature Photos of the Writers Conference

Dear Readers,

I recently attended the ACFW Conference for writers. Today I would like to feature some photos of my time in Texas.

This is the view of the hotel.

The crowd at the conference. I love writers.

The Texas sunrise at the airport.

I hope your day is blessed.

Donna

Tomorrow Is The Last Day Of My Blog Contest

Good evening,

Tomorrow is the last day of my blog contest. You can read the rules below at your convenience.

I am hosting a giveaway here at HiStory Thru The Ages. The prize awarded to the winner will be a $10 gift card to Starbucks.

Here are the rules.

1. You can link this contest to your own blog. Please leave a comment here with your link back to your blog so I can validate that you did so. That will get you an entry into the contest. You may link my site to yours once a day and come back and leave a comment and link. One entry per day, please.

2. You can "Like" my author Facebook page. Login to Facebook and go to my page and click on the like button. All new friends on my author Facebook page will be added into the contest. My Facebook author page is at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Donna-SchlachterAuthor/222781831141129?ref=hl
or you can find me under Donna Schlachter/Author using the search feature on Facebook. One entry per new follower on Facebook.

3. You can sign up to follow this blog by using the button in the right column on the side bar. Use the "FOLLOW BY EMAIL" feature. That will get you one entry into the contest.

The contest will run from Thursday, September 20, 2012 until Wednesday, September 26 at 11:59 p.m. The winner will be announced here on Thursday, September 27, 2012.

Thank you so much,

Donna

100 Answers to 100 Questions About Loving Your Husband

Dear Readers,

Today I'm featuring the book 100 Answers to 100 Questions About Loving Your Husband.




100 Answers to 100 Questions About Loving Your Husband, Strang Communications

You've said, "I do." Now, how do you love your husband in a way that brings honor to him, to yourself, and to the God who gave you the gift of marriage? 100 Answers to 100 Questions about Loving Your Husband provides the insights you need in the areas that matter most to you.

Available at your local Book stores, Christianbooks.com, Amazon.com, Borders, and Barnes and Noble.

Click here to learn more. or here.

Donna

Blog Giveaway Notice

Hello Readers,

I had a great time at the conference. As usual, it is good to be home but I am tired.

I noticed that the system for those who "subscribe by email" will not allow me to see who is following my blog. I think there is a glitch in the system. So for this contest, if you subscribe via email, would you please leave a message or contact me by email so I know that you subscribed. I want you to have an entry in the contest.

The contest ends at midnight on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012.

Thanks,

Donna

Blog Giveaway Reminder

Good evening,

Just a quick reminder about my giveaway.

I am hosting a giveaway here at HiStory Thru The Ages. The prize awarded to the winner will be a $10 gift card to Starbucks.

Here are the rules.

1. You can link this contest to your own blog. Please leave a comment here with your link back to your blog so I can validate that you did so. That will get you an entry into the contest. You may link my site to yours once a day and come back and leave a comment and link. One entry per day, please.

2. You can "Like" my author Facebook page. Login to Facebook and go to my page and click on the like button. All new friends on my author Facebook page will be added into the contest. My Facebook author page is at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Donna-SchlachterAuthor/222781831141129?ref=hl
or you can find me under Donna Schlachter/Author using the search feature on Facebook. One entry per new follower on Facebook.

3. You can sign up to follow this blog by using the button in the right column on the side bar. Use the "FOLLOW BY EMAIL" feature. That will get you one entry into the contest.

The contest will run from Thursday, September 20, 2012 until Wednesday, September 26 at 11:59 p.m. The winner will be announced here on Thursday, September 27, 2012.

Thank you so much,

Donna

Conference Update

Hello,

It is Sunday morning, and today the conference ends. At least, the Dallas part of it does. But I know the conference goes on in the heart of each attendee, because we take this experience home with us, incorporating it into our lives, our writing, and our stories.

Last night's banquet and awards ceremony was, as always, first-class. I knew several finalists in different categories, but unfortunately, none of them went across stage to receive the award. But the cool thing is they were recognized for their talent, their commitment to the craft, and their perseverance to pursue the higher calling. They are all winners.

If I had to summarize this evening in one word, it would be "gracious". I sat at the dinner table with Shelly who was awarded her first contract by Barbour Publishing on Thursday evening. I remember Shelly from previous conferences. When I first met her, she had eight children and a husband at home. She told me she began writing about 30 years ago and put that dream on hold while she had a family. She picked the stories up again about 10 years ago. Now she has "5 or 6" children at home -- her children, and it probably depends on the day of the week how many the number is. She still prepares the meals in advance her family will eat while she is at conference, which I recall was one of the conditions of her coming to conference.

Seems to me that many stories I heard from writers this conference was that their "overnight" success took 10 years. That gives me a lot of comfort, since I am in my tenth year of writing seriously, of learning the craft, of submitting and getting rejected. Perhaps, like a good wine, writers need to be aged, the craft needs to be honed like an ax on a grindstone, the desire needs to be tested like precious metal in a fire.

I was asked by one editor why I think it has taken me ten years to get to this point, and I said it was because the Lord knew what I needed. Ten years ago, although I was a believer, success would likely have caused me to fly off on my own. I think it comes down to pride, at least for me. And while I still struggle with that, I do believe the battles I've been through and the victories the Lord has prepared for me have tempered the pride to the point where, while I won't be perfect, at least I'll be manageable.

For every writer out there, I know you've all envisioned walking across the stage at an awards ceremony and giving an acceptance speech. So I want you to share what you would say if your name was called as the winner. Here's mine:
"Stories are all about experiences. So thank you to everyone who rejected me in any way, offended me on purpose, hurt me without compunction, loved me without reservation, gave their time without condition, and hugged me when I cried. Thank you, God, for the gift of writing. Thank you, Patrick, for believing in me and supporting me beyond what seemed reasonable to others, and thank you, Jesus, for yanking me back from myself and forcing me to agree with you that you knew what was best."

I'm sure there will be others I'll mention by name, like my wonderful agent Terrie Wolf, my critique group, ACFW.

After all, they give you two minutes, and I'm not planning on wasting any of it!

Donna

Blog Giveaway Continues

Happy Saturday,

Just a quick reminder about my giveaway.

I am hosting a giveaway here at HiStory Thru The Ages. The prize awarded to the winner will be a $10 gift card to Starbucks.

Here are the rules.

1. You can link this contest to your own blog. Please leave a comment here with your link back to your blog so I can validate that you did so. That will get you an entry into the contest. You may link my site to yours once a day and come back and leave a comment and link. One entry per day, please.

2. You can "Like" my author Facebook page. Login to Facebook and go to my page and click on the like button. All new friends on my author Facebook page will be added into the contest. My Facebook author page is at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Donna-SchlachterAuthor/222781831141129?ref=hl
or you can find me under Donna Schlachter/Author using the search feature on Facebook. One entry per new follower on Facebook.

3. You can sign up to follow this blog by using the button in the right column on the side bar. Use the "FOLLOW BY EMAIL" feature. That will get you one entry into the contest.

The contest will run from Thursday, September 20, 2012 until Wednesday, September 26 at 11:59 p.m. The winner will be announced here on Thursday, September 27, 2012.

Thank you so much,

Donna

ACFW Conference

Dear Readers,

Imagine a cruise without fear of getting seasick. That's what the ACFW conference is like. Luxury hotel, great view, more food than you can eat, and 675 of your closest friends to share this time with you.

And that doesn't even mention the excellent teaching, exciting learning opportunities, editor and agent appointment, and reconnecting from folks you haven't seen since last year.

Yesterday as I came out of the appointment room, a woman was leaving. She mumbled to herself and to everyone around her, "I just got an agent. I just got an agent." I think she was trying to convince herself as much as us. I was so happy for her! I remember conferences where I came out of the appointment room in tears because of a harsh response from an editor who told me my character was boring and nobody would want to read this story. I later learned it wasn't my character or my story that was boring, it was my pitch. It went something like this, when she asked me what my story was about, "Well, it's about this woman who lives in a small town..." and on and on I went about my heroine's backstory. That's NOT what my story was about. I did much better at my next conference, let me tell you.

Today begins the wind-down, although the day is still packed full of praise and worship, teaching, friends, fun, and food. Last night many of us went to historic Grapevine, a small town just up the highway. I took lots of pictures and will try to find a way to download them today and share with you. Tonight is the banquet and awards presentations for the various contests and mentor and editor of the year awards.

Seems like we wait all year for the conference, and before we know it, it's nearly over. But the friendships forged and connection made will last forever.

Donna

ACFW National Conference

Hello Readers,

I am enjoying the ACFW National Conference.  I woke early and took a morning swim in the hotel pool. The temperature outside was a balmy 54 degrees with the water even colder. Great way to start the morning. I am meeting writers, editors, agents, and publishing companies.

In between the business of classes, meetings, and social events, I have managed to squeeze in some time to write on my latest project.

I'll keep you posted of the events at the conference.

Please remember my contest that is running this week. Click here for details.

I hopped on over to my online writer pal's site and she is also having a contest on her blog. You can read about it here.

I need to hurry off to my class.

Take care,
Donna

HiStory Thru The Ages Give Away

Good Evening Readers,

I am hosting a giveaway here at HiStory Thru The Ages. The prize awarded to the winner will be a $10 gift card to Starbucks.

Here are the rules.

1. You can link this contest to your own blog. Please leave a comment here with your link back to your blog so I can validate that you did so. That will get you an entry into the contest. You may link my site to yours once a day and come back and leave a comment and link. One entry per day, please.

2. You can "Like" my author Facebook page. Login to Facebook and go to my page and click on the like button. All new friends on my author Facebook page will be added into the contest. My Facebook author page is at  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Donna-SchlachterAuthor/222781831141129?ref=hl
or you can find me under Donna Schlachter/Author using the search feature on Facebook. One entry per new follower on Facebook.

3. You can sign up to follow this blog by using the button in the right column on the side bar. Use the "FOLLOW BY EMAIL" feature. That will get you one entry into the contest.

The contest will run from Thursday, September 20, 2012 until Wednesday, September 26 at 11:59 p.m. The winner will be announced here on Thursday, September 27, 2012.

Thank you so much,

Donna

The History of Canning

Hello Readers,

I love to garden and can. The fresh produce from my garden has been a pleasant experience rich with fresh veggies for salads and other homemade dishes. My tomatoes have done well. I've put up sauces, jellies, jams, and other goods. Yes, it is hot canning in the kitchen but the high quality food is worth it.

 There is nothing like a fresh tomato pulled straight from the garden. Mouthwatering deliciousness.

Since I have been canning like crazy I decided to feature several articles on the history of canning.

The first link provides the history of commercial canning brought about by a military need for safer easier food for soldiers. Eventually the factories used tin cans and this article discusses the way the cans were made and how the food was preserved. Click here to read more about commercial canning.


The average homemaker in history preserved food from the family farm or garden by salting, curing, drying, or storing food in a cellar. I remember visiting many a cellar and seeing the curing process on farms growing up. The next link provides the history of home canning by homemakers of yesteryear.


"Carrie Hubbard Davis lived on rural Long Island in 1881, and noted in her diary that her mother had only brought her "2 fruit jars." On the other hand, city women who functioned in the cash economy because of their husbands’ salaries bought both the jars and the food to can in them. It would almost seem that American small town women, whose home economy was based on access to funds, were in the best position to get at both. Their backyard gardens and those of their farming cousins were full of seasonal produce for "putting up," and their economics allowed for the jars. Their diaries refer regularly to the "cans" and "jars" with which they provided for winter. In any case, the jar prices came down and women built up their stock of reusable containers, entrenching home canning in rural settings." Click here to read the rest of the story.

Both articles are interesting reads.

Donna

Horse Drawn Buggys

Hi Readers,

Can you picture a family driving down the dirt road or lane? Perhaps they are dressed in their Sunday finest or maybe they went to town to run their weekly errands.

Buggies were an important mode of traveling between 1815 and 1915 in England, Canada, and the U.S. It was a popular form of traveling amongst the lower and middle classes. During the Great Depression, automobiles were converted to a buggies to be drawn by horses. The price of gas would have been a luxury many could not afford. To read more about the history of buggies click here.

Donna

1911 Most Popular Names Versus 2011's Names

Good Morning Readers,

I was reading the news online this morning and came across an article that I found interesting. As an author and history buff, the post from the Social Security Administration about names from 1911 and 2011 is a fun read.

One way a writer can find names for her characters is to go to the Social Security name list. Perhaps my next novel will be set in 1929. The Social Security keeps a list of the most popular baby names for over a century. It is very helpful to see what names were popular during whatever time period I'm researching.

In 1911 John and Mary were the most popular names. How about 2011?

Click here to read more. Make sure you scroll down and look at the picture of the cute kids in 1911. So adorable. Yes, they could have been some of our parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents. Perhaps there was a John or Mary sitting on that step.

Donna

Medicine in the 1890's

Hi,

The link for today provides a glimpse at the ads used by the medical community in the 1890's. Customers could order pills and medicinal cures for a price. One of my favorites is the pink pills for paleness.

Click here to view the site. It's a fun trip.

Donna

Never Enough Time – - or Is There?

Hello Readers,

Today I'm featured on The Inkwell. The post is about time management.



It seems there is never enough time to do all the things I want to do. With seven days in a week, twenty-four hours in a day, seems like I should have lots of spare time. I don’t suppose anyone else finds the same problem? No, I didn’t think so.

My idea of a perfect week would begin with Sunday. Some awesome praise and worship, a soul-stirring message, and a couple of hours of fellowship. Not more than that. I’m an introvert, and more than two hours and I’d be exhausted. For you extroverts, party on until midnight!

On Monday, I’d like to get all those administrative things like paperwork and laundry done by 10:00 so I’d have the rest of the day to write. Doesn’t happen. Could if I got up earlier.

On Tuesday, Write. That’s the day I go to a write out from 10:00 to noon at a coffee shop with friends. No write out in your area? Start one. I did. I went to the write out for a year before anyone else joined me. No shame in that. I got a lot of writing done.

Click here to read the rest of the story.

Donna

London in 1904

Oh Readers,

This video clip shows what life was like in London in 1904. The city was bustling with business, fun, and everyday life for its inhabitants.

The young boys pulled up their pant legs and waded in the lake, moms danced with their little ones, and everyone seemed to be going somewhere. I love the fashion styles and the hats. Horse draw wagons were the mode of transportation for commercial goods. Very interesting to watch.

Click here to view more.

Donna

New York City 1896

Readers,

Today we are going to view a short clip that depicts what life was life in Herald Square in 1896 in New York City.

Notice the street cars and tracks. The cops are out in force making sure things were running smoothly on the streets.

If you are a history writer, take note of the clothing worn, the architecture of the buildings, and the street cars.

Fascinating.

Click here to watch the clip.

Donna

Courting With A Bicycle

Yes Readers,

Courting with bicycles was a very popular custom over one hundred years ago. Groups of young men and women would bike for miles and pack their lunches. They would stop by a river or a nice spot and have a picnic.

The clip featured today even speaks of one-hundred mile Sunday rides. Now that's a long ride.

Click here to watch more.

Donna

What Are Drugstore Show Globes?

Hello Readers,
I found this post and read through it. I thought it was fascinating. The post features drugstores in the 1800's and a bit of history before a license and a pharmaceutical education was required by the government. It's worth the click and time spent reading the article.

Drugstore Museum Show Globes In the past, apothecary Show Globes were the symbol for pharmacy much like the barber pole was for the barber. From the early 1880's until the 1950's most pharmacies would hang or display a show globe to identify their drugstore.

Inside the show globe the pharmacist would add colored water by mixing chemicals together to give the globe great beauty. Back then, every pharmacist had his own special colaration formula to color the water inside the show globe. they took great pride in creating and showing off their ability to mix the perfect color. Click here to read more.

Donna

H.G. Ferguson Author of New Blood: Book 1 of The Calling of the Blood

Happy Friday Readers,

 

Today is the last day of our series by published author, H.G. Ferguson. It has been a fast week. I hope you have enjoyed his posts as much as I have.

 

 

 

Since I signed, the journey continues. 

          Why a vampire?  And why a Christian vampire?  Isn’t that a contradiction in terms?

          If I were dealing with the supernatural in this mythos, yes, it would be.  But Rebecca is not supernatural.  The only thing supernatural about her is the power of her Lord Jesus Christ in her life.  Rebecca is a human being, albeit a very unique one.  A mutant, if you will.  She is driven to drink human blood because she has to.  It’s her physiology.  It is her affliction.  It is her “infirmity,” as she calls it.  How can a Christian live with this?  Read the book. 

          Today’s vampire lit and movies present vampirism as something cool.  Being a vampire is cool.  Being a vampire makes you powerful. Don’t you want to be a vampire too and embrace the darkness?  In my mythos, there’s nothing exciting about being a vampire.  Rebecca does use her “powers” to help others, but she always pays a price, for when the Blood calls, the Vampire must answer.  Being a vampire is an affliction she must live with every single day of her life.  There’s nothing cool about it.  And it isn’t something she can pass on to another person unless she bears a child and that child is born like her.  In fact, she never wants to bear a child.  She wants this THING to die with her.  She will not get that wish, however…  Nor would she ever desire to make ANYONE what she is, even if she could.

          I’ve taken the traditional vampire mythos and turned it on its ear.  Rebecca doesn’t fear the cross – she loves the cross, and wears one over her heart, because upon it her Savior died.  For her.  I have returned God to His rightful place in all this mythology, i.e., that in ALL things HE may have the pre-eminence.  But, like the “traditional” vampire,  her senses are enhanced, along with her strength.  Sunlight will destroy her because she is extremely PORPHYRIC, that rare allergy to sunlight that can be life-threatening to those suffering from it.  She does regenerate injuries because of her metabolism, but she can drown, be strangled or smothered.  She is not “undead.”  She is not “unholy.”  Her affliction is the source of all vampire folklore in the world.

          As far as influences go, there are five movies and one book.  The movies are the 1992 Last of the Mohicans, The Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy, the 1974 forgotten gem Swashbuckler, Franco Zeffirelli’s masterful 1972 Brother Sun, Sister Moon (the story of St. Francis of Assisi -- because Rebecca is Franciscan in her Christian expression),  and the most original vampire film ever made, Near Dark .  Rebecca is far closer to the vampires in that movie than any other.  The only book that fed into Rebecca’s tale is The Autobiography of Mary Jemison, the 15-year-old farm girl who was taken by the Seneca during the French and Indian War, adopted into the tribe, and lived to be 93 years old as a clan mother revered by both whites and the Seneca alike. 

          Even Rebecca’s Christian heritage and spiritual makeup is as out of the box as possible.  I wanted her to have a connection not so much with the Roman Catholic church as with the Ancient church.  Her faith is what we would call the Protestant, Biblical faith, but her expressions are Ancient and yes, some of those are more Roman Catholic.  But the Gospel is presented twice in the story.  It’s the Gospel of Grace.  Period.

          I stand in awe of what God has done, is doing, and will do.  My desire and prayer is to be a servant and a channel through and of His Grace.

          I am working on the second story now.  More on that later.

          And as Rebecca would chant:  “Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Christus imperat! Soli Deo gloria in excelsis!”

    Here are the links for H.G.'s information.

H.G. Ferguson author page

New Blood YouTube Trailer.

New Blood in paperback.

New Blood on Amazon Kindle

New Blood paperback at Barnes and Noble

Blessings,

Donna