Talkshow Thursday: Meet Allison

Do you ever get so involved in a book's character that you wonder about their backstory? I do, so I thought I take a few minutes and sit down with Allison White, the main character my upcoming post-WWII novelette being released by Celebrate Lit Publishing this spring. For those of you who read Love's Harvest, you may remember Allison. She was the young woman who befriended Rosa Hirsch, the German widow who fled to England in 1940 with her mother-in-law Noreen.

Inspiration for
Allison's character

Linda: Allison, it's a delight to have to stop by the blog today. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Allison: Sure. It's a pleasure to be here. I was born on December 25, 1920 in Cotswold, England. I don't have any siblings, and unfortunately I lost my mum and dad in the Blitz, but I have a wonderful circle of friends, and Rosa's mother-in-law, Noreen treats me like a daughter.

Linda: Noreen is a basket-weaver and makes gorgeous willow baskets. What sort of creative activities do you like to do?

Allison: (laughing) Noreen tried to teach me to weave, but it was a disaster from the start. The only basket I made had a definite lean to it. Not unusable, but not my finest work. Then Rosa tried to teach me needlepoint and sewing, but those didn't work out well either. I finally found my niche in the kitchen. Apparently the chemistry of baking is a fit for me. I don't want to toot my own horn too loudly, but my bread and biscuits are lovely. Smooth texture and good taste. Rose usually has me make all the sweets.

Member of the WLA

Linda: I love to bake also. During the war, you worked for the Women's Land Army What was that like?

Allison: Brilliant. I loved it. I didn't want to be trapped inside a factory. Dark, dank, and dangerous. Sure, those girls made more money, but in the Land Army I didn't have to fear for my life. The days were long, especially during planting and harvesting seasons. We sometimes worked fourteen or sixteen hours days. But the weather was lovely, and we were making a real difference. Feeding the masses, you know. I learned to love farming thanks to the Land Army.

Linda: Is that why you chose to stay on at the Quincey's farm after the war? What sort of work are you involved in there?

Allison: With my parents gone, I have no family to speak of. There are a few cousins in Scotland, but I haven't seen them since I was a youngster. Rosa and Basil have been my family. It only made sense to stay with them. They still need help on the farm. Mr. Sullivan oversees the animals, and I handle the produce side of things. Although I must say I've seen enough potatoes to last a lifetime!

Linda:  Many young women your age don't go to university, yet you attended University of Manchester. Can you share about your experience?

Allison: My parents were keen on education, and they didn't care that I was a girl. They wanted me to get a degree, so I could be whatever I wanted. There were lots of rules, more so it seemed for the girls. Curfew and the like. But meals and laundry services were provided for us, and classes were wonderful. Lots of debate and discussion. I learned to think for myself at university. And I met lovely people, but the war changed all that. I had to do my bit, so I dropped out and joined the WLA.

Linda: How has your life changed since the war?

Allison: In many ways it hasn't. Many items are still rationed, although not as many on the farm. And even if something is available it's difficult to find. Shoes for example. I've patched my oxfords countless times. I'll be glad when I can find a new pair. But the country is moving on. We survived, so nothing seems so bad, although it's sad to see the families who have lost their boys and men. Some women lost husbands and sons. Before the war I never would have been promoted to manage anything, even part of a farm. Basil has given me a opportunity I probably would never have had. And Mr. Sullivan is coming round to working with a woman.

Linda: Thanks for stopping by and sharing a bit about yourself.

Allison: Thanks for hosting me. Folks should keep an eye on your blog and your Facebook page for information about our book coming out in the Spring. The publication date will be set soon, and a title will be forthcoming.

Happy Boxing Day

Happy Boxing Day! 

Never heard of it, you say? The origins of the holiday and its name are a vague, but several websites I looked at indicate that it began in England sometime in the Middle Ages. In the countries (most of which are or were part of the UK) where it’s celebrated, it’s a “bank holiday” – a day when banks, government offices and the postal service are closed.

Some historians believe the holiday developed because servants were required to work on Christmas Day, but given the following day off and presented with gifts [boxes]. Others think it started because the alms boxes in churches were opened and the contents distributed to the poor. Regardless of how the day started, over the years it has developed into a time of charity, a time when service and tradespeople are typically given tips and bonuses for their work during the past year. It has been expanded to include giving to non-profit and needy organizations.

When I decided to blog about Boxing Day I recalled an episode of the TV show M*A*S*H during which the 4077 gives medical treatment to a British regiment who talk about the tradition of enlisted personnel and officers trading places on Boxing Day. I did quite a bit of research but found only two references to this custom. The first was in a blog by a man who tells a story about his son’s army regiment participating in the tradition, and the other is an episode of The Nanny during which Mr. Sheffield refers to the custom and suggests that he and Niles switch roles.

The lack of evidence makes me wonder just how “traditional” this tradition is. What do you know about Boxing Day? Do you have traditions of your own?

Wartime Wednesday: Blitzmas

Wartime Wednesday: Blitzmas

By December of 1940, England had been suffering under Hitler’s Blitzkrieg for months. Yet as the British people proved over and over during the WWII, they were a resilient population. Time reported in a December 30 article from that year, that “despite the bombs, life in the big London air-raid shelters, where over 1,000,000 people regularly spend the night, had become so standardized that many shelter Christmas parties were elaborate communal affairs with mass harmony singing, skits and dancing.”

Even the royals exhibited a dark sense of humor about the impact of the war on the holiday when they sent out their annual Christmas card. Rather than using the typical family photo, the pair stood in front of the bombed out section of Buckingham Palace. The Times article referenced above also reported that a new sweet was making the rounds during the Christmas season. Plum pudding, a long held traditional dish of the holiday was replaced by Blitzmas pudding, “the same as the traditional Christmas pudding except that carrots were much used where the receipt

called for certain fruit.”

The Christmas goose was also missing, with Britons settling for mutton or something referred to as “cheap Empire beef.” (I don’t even want to think about what that could be!) Homes were decorated with lots of holly making up for usual mistletoe that could not be imported from France. Toys with a distinctive wartime flavor were all the rage: dolls in contamination suits for girls and war equipment for boys. No one wanted to be accused of being unpatriotic by purchasing peacetime items.

Perhaps the biggest change for the British people was that they were back to work on Boxing Day (December 26) for the first time since the holiday’s inception in 1871. But they knew that letting their guard down for even one day might prove fatal to the cause.

What is your most memorable Christmas?

Mystery Monday: MC Beaton

Mystery Monday: MC Beaton

Ever heard of Marion Chesney? Probably not. How about M.C. Beaton? Probably so.

Author MC Beaton

M.C. Beaton is the pseudonym of Scottish-born writer Marion Chesney who published her first book in 1980 when she was in her mid-40s. Initially writing regency romances as a way to earn a living while staying home to raise her sun, she didn’t start publishing mysteries until five years later. By the 1990s she was so prolific, she was releasing multiple books in both genres every year. She has written novels in seventeen different series, but perhaps her most well-known characters are Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin. (Great character names!)

Hamish is a police constable in the fictional town of Lochdubh in the Scottish Highlands. Somewhat lazy, he manages to elude promotion while still keeping his job. Unsuccessful in love, Hamish is brilliant at solving crimes. Where he is a professional law enforcement officer, Beaton’s Agatha Raisin is the quintessential amateur sleuth. A retired public relations agent, Agatha is 53 years old and a spinster who is thrown into clearing her name when a food judge dies from poisoning after eating some of Agatha’s quiche. Both of these series have been made into TV programs.

Marion Chesney began her career as a bookseller for John Smith & Sons, Ltd. then moved into a Scottish Field magazine. However, her lack of typing and shorthand skills proved this to be a poor choice in jobs, and she was soon made fashion editor. Shortly thereafter she moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she was a crime reporter. Sometime later she moved to the Daily Express in London where she was chief woman reporter (An interesting title, yes? Did the paper have chief man reporter jobs? I doubt it!)

secretarial position at

Marion and her husband moved to the U.S. for a while for her husband’s job, but ultimately returned to Britain. Still writing at the age of 80, Marion published two books this year (one Hamish Macbeth, one Agatha Raisin) with another to be released in 2017.

Who is your favorite M.C. Beaton character?

Forensic Friday: Canine CSI

One of the workshops I attended while at Crimebake last month was given by a member of the Maine Warden Service, an organization that has been operating for over one hundred years. Because most of Maine is rural, the Warden Service regularly relies on canines to help with search and rescue.

Some dogs track on the ground, while others are “air scent” hounds, and the situation dictates which type of dog is used. Is the search for evidence or a person? Is the person purported to be alive or dead? Is the body on land or in water? The speaker also differentiated between “pointy-eared” dogs and “round-eared” dogs. Pointy-eared dogs such as German Shepherds are prey-driven, and round-eared dogs (such as Labradors) are play driven. His preference is to work with round-eared dogs.

The dogs start training at eight-weeks of age, and can work as long as ten or twelve years. Dogs never lose their ability, but are retired when their strength wanes. About 80% of the dogs who begin training flunk out, whereas fifty percent of the handlers quit or are fired.

Care of the dogs is paramount, and vets are typically on-site during a search because of the possibility of the animal getting injured. The dogs receive water and breaks on a regular basis as they are asked to do a hard job in a difficult environment.

The speaker told many fascinating stories from his career. He performed search and rescue after Katrina and shared that because voodoo is heavily practiced in New Orleans, his dog had many false “hits” due to the countless vials of blood and jars of body parts amid the wreckage.

The job of a Warden is definitely not for the faint of heart.

Blog Tour: Meddlin' Madeline

Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Book

It is my hypothesis that social conventions are created to test our fortitude. 

Rockland circa 1900-

As the mayor’s daughter, Madeline Brown enjoys a rich social life that many might envy. But a sharp mind but a growing talent for observation leaves Madeline torn between avoiding social censure and exploring the world around her.

With an aunt who considers higher education and employment equally unsuitable for the mayor’s daughter, there is little to amuse her save endless committee meetings, evening socials, and her favorite pastime: curling up with an exciting detective novel. The temperance and suffrage movements hold little interest for a young woman who has just endured the rigors of her father’s mayoral campaign.

So when a young man shows interest in her friend, Madeline’s interest piques–until his actions hint that he might not be the upstanding gentleman everyone presumes him to be. Unable to ignore her concerns, Madeline finds herself in the middle of an investigation into his character and discovers a side of Rockland she’s never encountered.

Will her new hobby reduce the tedium of her life, or will her “meddling” create tension for herself and her father?  Will she be forced to squelch this budding skill of hers or has Madeline finally found her calling in life?

Meddlin’ Madeline: Sweet on You.

Welcome to Rockland’s infancy.

Sweet on You is the first book in the Meddlin’ Madeline Mysteries. Watch for the second book in the series, Such a Tease, in winter, 2017  

About the Author

I am fortunate enough to live in the great state of California (in the Mojave Desert) with my husband Kevin and five of my nine children. My eldest is married with five children, so I have the fun of a son-in-law and grandbabies to enjoy. I’ve graduated six out of my nine children from our home school, and they’re all doing quite well in their lives. My younger children keep me from getting too selfish, and someday I’ll be fully retired as their teacher. I have to say, I’m lookin’ forward to it. Teaching about gerunds was fun the first time… not so much anymore. I salute all of those in the education field. You are my heroes.

When I’m not writing (which I admit isn’t often) I enjoy blogging (a totally different kind of writing, trust me), paper crafts, sewing, smocking, photo editing, and old music. No, really, I like OLD stuff… the Beatles are too newfangled for me. Yeah,I know they’re before my time… but I like stuff before my PARENTS time.  

Guest Post from Chautona

The idea for Madeline came while I was searching for photos for another book idea (one I still haven’t fleshed out yet!). I came across an intriguing picture of a girl wearing a bowler and loved it. I wondered who she was and what she was reading. Well… then I turned the page and… wow! Dozens of photos appeared—all in the same general theme. Bowler hat, gloves, late Victorian/early Edwardian clothes…. I could just see her riding through town on a “wheel” and solving crimes. And well, the rest was born. I had to narrow down about twenty pictures to five. I couldn’t do it. So, I did six. I just hope I can limit myself to six.

Fun Facts:

Fact #1:

This is a historical novel, so that meant lots of research. Well, in the sense that it takes place in another period, anyway. Research proved much more difficult than you might imagine. You see, the world was in a state of flux in 1901. Victorian mores gave way way to a new, modern era—a new century! Though an exciting time in history, because everything was in a perpetual state of change, finding truly historically accurate information was almost impossible!

Additionally, the writing style is very different. This is partly due to a quirk of Madeline’s, but it is also because people used broader vocabularies back then. I wrote the book with a style that fit the era. It was difficult not to lapse into modern vernacular or even something a bit more twenties. After all, the series title was inspired by a song from the 1920’s!

Fun Fact #2

This book begins a journey of self-discovery for Madeline. One of the things I wanted most to do with this book was to explore the “birth” of a detective—to show what it might be like for someone to realize that he or she notices things that others don’t. Through Madeline, I explored how people would react to having their secrets exposed, and I tried to show just how difficult it would be to investigate suspicious things without becoming deceitful or putting oneself in compromising positions. It’s easy to assume people would appreciate knowing if they were being taken advantage of, but would they really? Would pride not get in the way of things? I suspect it would.

Each book does have a definite “mystery”. But, these aren’t traditional mysteries. There won’t be a murder until the final book, but each one will increase in difficulty for Madeline and the reader to decipher the truth and will add a new element of danger and self-discovery. Addtionally, there’s an overarching story over the entire series that won’t be resolved until the end.

Fun Fact #3

We have five more books to go! We’re just getting started with Madeline’s adventures. A sneak peek into the rest of the series: we’ll get to learn more about her best friend, Amy. I haven’t decided just what kind of girl Amy is, but I suspect she’s quite beautiful. I think that’ll play a part in a future book. She’s also likely to meet someone in her European tour. Will she be the friend with the suspicious letter in book four? Who knows? Not me!

Madeline’s Unofficial Glossary

One of the best parts about writing this series is playing with words that I grew up using and reading, but most people don’t use anymore. I had parents of a literary turn of mind, so I grew up being told to, “Slow down and enunciate.” This began at age 3. So, while other kids were told to “go potty,” I was told to “use the facilities.” I’ll never forget in second grade telling a classmate, “That’s your prerogative,” when she said, “I don’t like you.” She was… confused, I think.

Add to that the fun slang of the day, not to mention a quirk I’m not giving away, and I can honestly say I had a blast writing this book. However, I know not everyone is fond of sesquipedalian words or erudite language. So, with that in mind, I decided to write this glossary of words you will find in the book. Please note: definitions are mine and written with my tongue super-glued to the inside of my cheek.

Diffidence: noun

• Pretending to be reserved in an attempt to hide the truth. Desperate. A misguided notion that pretending not to notice someone will create interest.

  Vicissitude: noun

• The quality of never being able to make up your mind. A woman.

  Multi-eloquent: adjective

• The misguided notion that one must be like Nellie Olson in These Happy Golden Years and allow one’s tongue to go “flippity-flop.” Example: Gossips are often multi-eloquent.

  Jitney: noun

• Slang for a nickel. Also, a horse-drawn “cab.” Because it has fewer syll–nope. Not that. Because people like to confuse one another in speech. “Hey, do you have a jitney?” Gee… let’s see. I’ve got a nickel, but I left my horse and carriage in my other pants at home…

  Copacetic: adjective

• Doesn’t matter, because I had to remove it from the book. I didn’t read the entire dictionary entry when I chose the word, and only saw 1880 mentioned. Alas, the first known use is 1919. Eighteen years after this book takes place. I consider the coiner to be tardy, and would appreciate that in the future, words be coined by the dates I need. Thank you. (Do you see the amount of research I must do. I have to check if words were even IN USE before I use them. And I still almost flubbed it.)

  Recalcitrant: adjective

• Madeline… wait. That’s not quite right. But close enough. Okay. Madeline Brown when she has a bee in her bowler. Resisting authority or convention.

  Dialogue de sourds: noun (French)

• Literally: a worthless conversation where both parties speak to a glass wall, hearing only themselves. Example: political conversations, theological conversations, ideological conversations, Facebook wall “discussions,” and arguments with toddlers.

  Asinine: adjective

• Ridiculous or silly–like the assertion that someone saying the word is using foul language.

  Penurious: adjective

• Marked by an inability to part with money. A lickpenny. (see how I did that?)

  Scintillating: adjective

• A word meaning amusing or extremely interesting that lends itself more to sarcasm than plain speaking.

  Hawkshaw: noun

• A nosy person who gets away with it under the guise of “helping.” Sometimes known as a detective.

  Fustian: noun

• Um… yeah. This glossary. Madeline does lend herself to the fustian.

  There you go. It’s just a taste of what’s ahead. Happy reading!

Blog Stops

December 13: Bigreadersite

December 13: Jeanette’s Thoughts

December 13: History, Mystery & Faith

December 14: Daysong Reflections

December 14: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations

December 14: Baker Kella

December 15: Back Porch Reads

December 15: Moments Dipped in Ink

December 16: Pause for Tales

December 16: Quiet Quilter

December 17: cherylbbookblog

December 17: A Baker’s Perspective

December 18: ASC Book Reviews

December 18: Book Bites, Bee Stings, and Butterfly Kisses

December 19: Reading Is My SuperPower

December 19: A Greater Yes

December 20: Lane Hill House

December 20: A Simple Life, really?!

December 21: Books for Christian Girls

December 21: Reader’s cozy corner

December 22: Two Girls and a Book

December 22: Blogging With Carol

December 23: His Grace is Sufficient

December 23: 1983

December 24: Neverending Stories

December 24: Carpe Diem

December 25: Bibliophile Reviews

December 25: The Scribbler

December 26: History, Hope, Laughter & Happily-ever-after

December 26: For The Love of Books

December 26: Ashley’s Bookshelf

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Chautona are giving away a $25 Amazon gift card! Click the link below to enter. Be sure to comment on this blog post to claim nine extra entries in the giveaway! https://promosimple.com/ps/aa59

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Linda Weaver Clarke

I'm pleased to welcome author and family historian Linda Weaver Clarke to my blog today. Grab a cup of your favorite beverage and hear about her wonderful new series The Rebel.

The Rebel Series–Stories of Love and Liberty

There was a time when swashbuckling men and brave women engaged in daring and romantic adventures, those who fought with bravery and valor. These courageous men and women were looked up to because they defended the people.

“This creative take on a Robin Hood-like story is charming and touching, and teaches some great morals about agency and choice. It reminded me of childhood fairytales of good versus evil, with a nice romance weaved into it.” –Author Charissa Stastny

In The Rebels of Cordovia, a group of men and women who called themselves Robin’s Rebels realize they must help the people survive this oppression. In this battle for freedom, a love story begins to blossom. Daniel, a rogue and a leader of the Freemen, doesn’t realize that the sweet feminine woman he has met and is falling for happens to be the leader of Robin’s Rebels. Realizing the importance of uniting all the rebel groups, Daniel tries to recruit Robin’s Rebels but they refuse. Now he has to find a way to convince them. When he finds out the leader is actually a woman, what will his reaction be?

After reading this story, Susan Ortlieb from Suko’s Notebook Reviews wrote: “Linda Weaver Clarke writes with passion and grace, and the love story in this book is simply wonderful. In fact, this aspect of the story was the strongest draw for me. (Are love stories set in the past more romantic than those set in the present day?) I thought that Robin and Daniel sounded perfect for each other, and I enjoyed the steady development of their relationship. This charming book was a pleasure to read, and I relished it.”

The tales from The Rebel Series have adventure, sweet romance, and delectable kisses. These are stories of love and liberty that takes place between the 18th and 19th Century. In the sequel, The Highwayman of Cordovia, the people enjoy their new-found liberty but all is not well. One year after Cordovia gains its freedom, a group of powerful men plan to take over the small country and replace the leader with a king.

With the help of a bold highwayman and a pastor’s daughter, they try to save their country from being taken over by a power-hungry leader. As they strive to stop the Kingmen and thwart their plans, Christine finds herself falling in love with Austin Knight. The only problem with their relationship is that she thinks he is her knight in shining armor instead of a highwayman. If she finds out his trade, what will her reaction be? As a pastor’s daughter, will love override her values?

“Linda Weaver Clarke has a storyteller's talent for enchanting and mesmerizing the audience. There are also some exciting surprises and twists that will delight the heart. Definitely a must read!” --Cindi Clubbs, Mommasez Reviews

The Highwayman of Cordovia, the second book in The Rebel Series, will be available on Dec 3rd, 2016. Read sample chapters of both books at www.lindaweaverclarke.com

About the Author

Linda Weaver Clarke has traveled throughout the United States, teaching people to write their family history. She is the author of historical romances, mystery/adventure series, a children’s book, and a cozy mystery series. All her books are family friendly. Visit www.lindaweaverclarke.com

Watch the book trailer below!

The Rebels of Cordovia from Linda Weaver Clarke on Vimeo.