Redcoats in Hillsborough, and a Recap of Kris Neri’s Class

Here’s a fun little slice of history. In early 1781, General Nathanael Greene and his army retreated across the Dan River into Virginia ahead of the pursuing Crown forces in North Carolina commanded by Charles, Lord Cornwallis. The famous “Race … Continue reading

Happy Yule 2008!

Today, 21 December, is Yule, and Lesa Holstine has posted a lovely Yule-related message on her special Sunday Salon blog, along with a review of Camp Follower. Camp Follower includes a depiction of a Yule celebration during the Revolutionary War … Continue reading

Guest Blog on Non-Traditional Women of History

Were women in history always the fragile damsels of fables? Today I’m a guest blogger at Romance Novel TV, where I discuss what our “non-traditional” foremothers were up to during the American War of Independence. Visit me and share your … Continue reading

Food, More Food, and an Interview

 Last Thursday night, I attended a booksigning at Quail Ridge Books for author Krista Davis. Her first book, The Diva Runs Out of Thyme, has recently been released. She talked about writing her “food” cozies. Then she read a couple … Continue reading

Treats (and No Tricks) in Haunted Hillsborough

Seems I’ve driven past the exit for Hillsborough, NC at least a dozen times on my way to appearances in cities such as Boone, Greensboro, and Kernersville. Before yesterday, the only times I’d been in Hillsborough were for a living … Continue reading

First Guest Blog, An Excellent Review, A Stellar Book Blurb

Over the next few weeks, as I continue my physical author tour, I'll be guest blogging on some sites. Here's the link to "The South's Other War," my essay posted today about (what else?) the Revolutionary War in the South, … Continue reading

Colonial North Carolina Family Day

The North Carolina Museum of History presented the community with a taste of colonial times on Saturday 27 September. Over 2400 visitors that day learned period games, dancing, quilting and crafts such as butter churning, wood carving, and corn grinding. … Continue reading

Autumn 2008 Tour into Western North Carolina, Day 2

Friday 12 September didn’t dawn bright and clear in Boone. That nasty fog still socked us in. Around 8:00 a.m., when I was ready to leave, Marcia got in her car and drove out ahead of me, like a pilot … Continue reading

Autumn 2008 Tour into Western North Carolina, Day 3

Lucy Doll and I had decided to cook a breakfast for each other. Saturday morning the 14th, I cooked steel-cut oats with dried cherries and blueberries, allspice, flax seeds, and walnuts. Usually I add some pure maple syrup. We tried … Continue reading

Will the Real Banastre Tarleton Please Stand Up?

In Camp Follower, I wrote one of the most controversial figures from the Revolutionary War, British Lt. Colonel Banastre Tarleton, into the novel as a secondary character. In contrast to creating and sustaining a fictional character, wrestling a reasonable Tarleton … Continue reading