In the age of digital, a book tour doesn’t always require a suitcase, a map, and long hours on the road. Thanks to the wonders of technology, we can embark on a literary journey from the comfort of our homes. I recently embarked on an exciting virtual book tour – first of a kind for […]
Category Archives: Book Lover
Top News Stories of the 19th Century
The delivery of the daily news was quite different in the 19th century than today. Throughout the 1800s, newspaper distributors, or “post riders” would deliver papers to smaller post offices and suburban areas. Over time, young boys called “newsboys” were employed and assigned specific routes to deliver newspapers to people’s homes. It was also commonplace […]
The Rise of Mass Entertainment: Leisure Time and Fun in Pre-Civil War America
In a time of growth and territorial expansion, early 19th Century America saw many changes occur in day-to-day life. Advancements in technology brought a new wave of industrialization, and the population grew exponentially. Due to an economic boom, the American people were living more comfortably and in better conditions. Whereas before only the wealthy could […]
19th Century Culture: The Irish in the Antebellum & Their Impact on American Culture
Our country has persistently been a symbol of freedom and hope for those seeking refuge—from its birth, to the present day, and especially so in the 1800s. The newly prosperous America was seen as the land of opportunity, attracting immigrants from around the world. From the beginning of the century, an overwhelming majority of these […]
The Charm of Loudoun County Virginia and Belmont Manor
Like most grand houses with a past, Belmont Manor had a long trajectory as the place to see and be seen. Built by Ludwell Lee between the years of 1799 and 1802 on land he acquired through marriage to his first cousin Flora Lee, Belmont saw its fair share of luminaries brighten its imposing doorstep. […]
Why My Books are Set in 19th Century America
When I first began this journey as an author, I was single-minded, focused solely on writing Selma’s stories and specifically, Masque of Honor. But, my research on that book introduced me to a number of other historical events that intrigued me. Now it seems wherever I go, I am always on the hunt for a […]
The Timelessness of Little Women
Little Women is back on the big screen! One hundred and fifty years ago, Louisa May Alcott wrote the story based on her early life with her mother and sisters. Interestingly, Louisa May Alcott was anything but what she depicts in the story; she was a radical, an abolitionist and a feminist committed to never […]
