#HistoricalFiction #HistoricalRomance Going on right now, over 70 stories are being given away in this promotion! Cowboys and Vikings and Dukes and Highlanders—you'll find them all here, as well as Samurai and even twins along with much, much more. The list of freebies includes THE WINDS OF MORNING, the prequel to the Donovan Family Saga … Continue reading Great Historical Fiction Giveaway Jan 15 to Feb 15, 2023
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What Is It About Old Books?
The lure of my guilty pleasure #amwriting #amreading I've been preparing to paint and rearrange my office. I bought a new desk—my current one is over 40 years old and, truth be told, is falling apart. I also bought an actual file cabinet, as opposed to another (ninth?) small bin to keep my records in. … Continue reading What Is It About Old Books?
D-Day classic: The most amazing lie in history
A long, amazing story & well worth the read.
The Allies’ top-secret weapon.
How a chicken farmer, a pair of princesses, and 27 imaginary spies helped the Allies win World War II
Only one man in history was both awarded the Iron Cross for his service to Nazi Germany AND also made a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by King George VI. That man was Juan Pujol Garcia, a draft-dodging chicken farmer and failed businessman from Barcelona who decided during World War II to become a double agent in order to help the Allies defeat Hitler. Here is his amazing story, as recounted by Lucas Reilly in Mental Floss:
In the weeks leading up to D-day, Allied commanders had their best game faces on. “This operation is not being planned with any alternatives,” barked General Dwight D. Eisenhower. “This operation is planned as a victory, and that’s the way it’s going to be!” Indeed, more than 6,000 ships were ready to cruise…
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TRIVIA: Native American Right to Vote
#trivia #NativeAmerican #boardingschool #votingrights The U. S. Department of the Interior just released a study of the almost 500 "Indian Boarding Schools" that operated from 1819 to 1969, including the Carlisle Indian Industry School here in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Over 7,000 children attended this school; its most famous student was Jim Thorpe, a member of the … Continue reading TRIVIA: Native American Right to Vote
3 Easy Ways to Write a Book Review
So you’ve accepted a free copy of a book in return for a review. Or maybe you've finished a book you want to tell everyone about. But now that you’ve read it, that next step seems daunting. So here are some tips to help you decide how to write your review. Though I’ll concentrate on … Continue reading 3 Easy Ways to Write a Book Review
Western Trivia: Mark Twain
Mark Twain, whose real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens, is an American icon. But in his time, he wasn't the only one in his family with name recognition. Twain's older brother, Orion Clemens, was a newspaper publisher and had studied law under Edward Bates, who later became President Abraham Lincoln's Attorney General. Orion was appointed … Continue reading Western Trivia: Mark Twain
Western Trivia: African-Americans in the Old West
History tells us that at least 15%, and possibly up to 33%, of cowboys in The Old West were African-American. Among them was William Pickett, who invented the trick we now call bull-dogging—catching and throwing a steer—though Bill’s habit of biting the cow’s lip to control it is no longer practiced. (Not too surprising, IMHO.) … Continue reading Western Trivia: African-Americans in the Old West
Western Trivia: A Cowboy and his Outfit
“I see by your outfit that you are a cowboy …” These words from Streets of Laredo are not as transparent as they may seem to be. Our modern interpretation of “outfit” refers basically to the clothes we wear, and can be stretched to include belt, shoes, hat, and handbag. But would clothes distinguish a … Continue reading Western Trivia: A Cowboy and his Outfit
Irish Trivia: The Land of Saints and Scholars
Ireland is often referred to as The Land of Saints and Scholars. During the Dark Ages in Europe, much of the continent was overrun by barbarian tribes. Irish priests and scholars were responsible for keeping many ancient texts intact, and for creating new art and literature. Of primary note is the Book of Kells, an … Continue reading Irish Trivia: The Land of Saints and Scholars
Western Trivia: The Wackiest Gun In The West
Anyone who's a fan of the Old West is familiar with the Colt .45 and the Buntline Special. Like most old & new revolvers, both of these have a rotating 6-chamber cylinder. But did you know there was also a gun with six rotating barrels? That's right. Ethan Allen (no relation to the Revolutionary War … Continue reading Western Trivia: The Wackiest Gun In The West
Gifford MacShane, Author 