I haven’t been blogging, I’ve been writing. Yesterday I submitted a short story to my first contest.
I’ve also been writing my first historical novel. In 1908, my grandmother gave birth to my father in a small Midwestern town. Her story intrigues me, a strong woman, she died before I was born.
I’ve been researching the time period and have discovered a multitude
of interesting facts. I decided to write a story about the women of my family. They are not the leading characters in the story, rather Lydia and Sarah take on that role. A great aunt leaves Michigan for Wyoming in 1905. I want to write her story next.
I also added a few more characters to this one. I was inspired when I visited the town's genealogical library and learned of a horrific scandal taking place that year. A woman, dressed as a man, was going about with all the rights and privileges of a man. As if she had those rights too! How dare she?
My protagonist is Lydia. She has a fiery hot temper rivaled only by her blazing red hair. Her piercing green eyes take no prisoners. She is sick and tired of the social and economic injustice and is ready to do something about it.
Lydia's best friend is Sarah. The town librarian takes on the role of amateur sleuth when a murdered man dies on the steps of the postal station right after she gave him a stamp. Sticking her nose in where it doesn’t belong is just up her alley.
