Category Archives: history

My Book Family is Growing

This summer my book family will grow with the edition of Christmas Letters that will be launched on July 29 at The Vineyard and Hillyland in Scotland, CT. If you are new to my writing or have missed a title let me introduce you to the family.

How Far is Safe? was my first novel and is appropriate for ages 8 and up. More adults than kids have been reporting that they read this and enjoyed the tale. The main characters are a boy and his beloved donkey. The time setting is the 1890’s and the setting is rural Pennsylvania. That makes this book historical fiction. I say this book comes right from my heart. It is inspired by rescue donkeys I have met. There are strong strands of the value of kindness and empathy. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BGKHY48

Mystic Girl was my second published book. This one is geared toward girls and horse lovers and any who love Norse Mythology. My main character in this book is Gaia a child living in Mystic Connecticut. She rides horses at the home of her mom’s friend. As she struggles she is befriended by Odin and Thor the Viking gods. (Also Marvel characters but here in their more traditional personas). This was such a fun writing project twisting the mythology through the text. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TDSMVWN

The next book I published is Thirteen Spooky Stories from Mysterious Connecticut. This  collection of short stories is easy to read and not bloody or gory at all. I write spooky as a suggestive text to make the reader wonder if the ghosts and apparitions mentioned could possibly exist. If you live near me these are fun sites to visit. If not, there is enough here to make these stories fit into your local area. In these pages you will find ghost trains and a mysterious lake, a young woman wandering, a story of old friends and more.  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJHFYGBX

My next book Christmas Letters is an adult novel. It takes place in 2017 but there are many letters within that are dated during WWI, 1917. The setting of this upcoming book is a family dairy farm in northern Connecticut. I think you will enjoy this uplifting story of love, hope and family et in the holiday season. Keep following me here on my blog, send an email address to get on my mailing list, and or follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Mastodon.

A link for this book will be available July 29, 2023

Why Spooky Stories

Why Spooky Stories?   I have been asked, why tell spooky stories? I immediately ask the person to define spooky for me. I have found that often the term spooky is closely misaligned with horror, it is not horror,!  I don’t tell, write or read horror, it’s not my thing. I think of spooky as… Continue Reading

Historical Exhibit

Telling and Showing the Stearns Family History in Mansfield 250 Years I am preparing a historical exhibit for the Stearns Family’s 250 years in the town of Mansfield. What a journey as I research and sift the ages. Winnowing down this collection of dates, photos, artifacts, and mementos to what will be displayed is difficult.… Continue Reading

Review The Broken Violin By M.B. Tosi

Review The Broken Violin – Book One The Early Path Series The Revolutionary War  by M.B. Tosi Westbow Press 2017   My sleep was invaded, peace gone. I wrestled with the blankets and couldn’t find comfort. I rose to a state of semi-consciousness in a tangle of blankets. A hint of the scent of straw… Continue Reading

Review of Pirates; The Pursuit and Captivity of Captain Jack Scarfield

It has been a long time since I read this kind of story, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was surprised at the outcome and stayed up late reading to see the characters through their battles. There was no attempt to hide the gruesome nature of the time in history when pirates were the scourge of… Continue Reading

My Roots Are Showing; Collecting and Telling Historical Family Stories

July 21-24, 2016 The National Storytelling Conference will be held in Kansas City MO.  The host organization is the National Storytelling Network. www.storynet.org their twitter handle is @nsnstorycon  There will be a steady update of happenings from the National Conference where storytellers from around the country and even a few from around the world will… Continue Reading

3 Reasons to Attend Connecticut Storytelling Festival

Only three reasons? It is hard for me to choose three reasons to attend the Connecticut Storytelling Festival, but here I go. http://www.connstorycenter.org/festival.htm 1.) 2016 Festival Headliner Tim Lowry; is funny, interesting, educational, and a general character, a historical speaker bringing history to life! http://www.storytellertimlowry.com/ Well that is a mouthful, but you will see Tim… Continue Reading

Prompt July 4 Family Stories

 July 4th and you are planning a picnic. Nothing newsworthy just some family and friends coming over. This year make it special,  collect a few memories from your guests. Ask ahead for a couple of favorite recipes to prepare and share. Be sure everyone gets a copy of the recipe to take home. Then ask for the story behind… Continue Reading

50 Objects 50 Stories, Connecticut Historical Society

  Connecticut Historical Society had a great idea! They have a new exhibit that highlights 50 varied objects from Connecticut, along with the story of the object. The objects themselves are a varied lot, they range from a Space Suit to a Revolutionary period diary of State Hero Nathan Hale and on to a Pepe’s… Continue Reading

Revolutionary Family Stories

From “The British are coming , the British are coming”, to  “We the people”, the time of the American Revolution spun a great many family stories. Some of the names, faces and characters are well known from our history lessons. Many are unknown and buried in  a couple of centuries of dust.      To unearth… Continue Reading

Archaeology and Family Stories

  It was as if I entered a portal to time and crossed over to the American Revolution. Was this a table in the offices of Archaeological and Historical Services, Inc or my great, great, great, great- Grandmothers kitchen table?     http://www.ahs-inc.biz/mainpage.html   While researching a family story online I found an archaeological report… Continue Reading

Simple Pleasures – Christmas Spirits

Simple Pleasures – Christmas Spirits

A few years ago this story fell in my lap. I was hunting for something to share over the holidays and piece by piece this came to me. It was as if the story had been waiting to be found and  left a trail of clues for me to follow. “Christmas Spirits” is historical fiction.… Continue Reading

School Day  and Story Night

School Day and Story Night

A great school day looks like this:                                                                                     For a storyteller a great school day is getting to share stories with eager listeners. Recently I was  fortunate to share my day with the students and staff at my neighborhood school, Annie Vinton Elementary School in Mansfield, CT.   http://www.mansfieldct.gov/content/11140/default.aspx         Pre-K through 4th grade came… Continue Reading