First Meetings

I recently attended my first writers’ conference. One of the many firsts I experienced while there was pitching my story idea to an editor, Brenda Copeland. In the midst of my rambling, often incoherent, story pitch, she asked me a question I couldn’t answer; “How did these two characters meet?”

It’s an important question, given the disparity in their social classes, Harold being from what some would call the ‘wrong side of the tracks’ and Rose being significantly higher up on the social ladder. So, I decided it was time that Rose clued me in. We sat down and had a little talk…

TM: Since we’re exploring your former life, do you mind if I ask how you and Harold met? You have to admit, you two aren’t the average farm couple.

ROSE: Hmmm… The day I met Harold… {smiles, nods her head} At the time, I thought it was the worst day of my life. Continue reading “First Meetings”

The benefits of indoor plumbing

2016-10-05-08-39-09I love to start my morning with a steaming cup of coffee, don’t you? I stumble down the stairs, still half asleep, resolutely headed to the kitchen and the carafe of elixir my husband has gloriously brewed earlier in the morning… While I slept.

Poor Rose. Such is not the life for her.

First, it would be her task Continue reading “The benefits of indoor plumbing”

How Writing a Novel is related to Rabbits

White Rabbit2

You know the old adage “write what you know”?

I’ve ignored that.

Instead, I’m delving into unknowns: prohibition, jazz music, 1930s farming… Things about which I know nothing. Which means I have to do a lot of research.

Sometimes, it makes me feel like I’ve gotten lost down a rabbit hole.

Like today. Continue reading “How Writing a Novel is related to Rabbits”

How to be a farm wife

I’m a city girl. Writing a book set on a farm in 1930. There’s a lot I don’t know. Luckily, the main character, Rose, is a city girl, too. “You want me to do what?” she asked, as if he expected her to walk on the moon. “Milk the cows.” A reasonable request of farmer to wife, he thought. “You’re kidding. I don’t know the … Continue reading How to be a farm wife