The Wylder West

       To manage my sensory processing disorder, I have a few tricks to quiet my distracting senses while I write. One is to light a scented candle which corresponds to the character narrating the scene I am writing. Nartan Sagebrush’s candle scent is “Tobacco” while Olive Muegge’s scent is “Orange Clove”. Another trick is to play the couple’s song on repeat while writing. It drowns out the birds outside my kitchen window and helps my mind focus on the core issues of the story. The core issue of Dance to a Wylder Beat is the need for community. Nartan’s secret Shamanic dancing and Olive’s paranormal secret keep them on the outskirts of Wylder society.                     Listen to this haunting song here - https://youtu.be/k750IIdKq08                 In the late 1870s, the Arapaho nation’s way of life was being destroyed by the Us Go...

  Women who populated the wild west were strong, smart, and capable of doing just about anything —which makes me believe they should have had clothing suited to that way of life. And I suppose they did, to an extent. But every time I think of a woman walking beside a wagon on a dusty trail or sitting for days in a cramped stagecoach wearing layers of fabric, my head reels! I can't imagine doing that!  It is lots of fun to research women's clothing of the time. In A Wylder Christmas , the heroine Violet goes to the mercantile for some "unmentionables" for her unexpected houseguest. It was entertaining (and informative!) to learn about undergarments of the time.  Wondering about fashions of the day? Fashion History Timeline is filled with some interesting facts and photos! 

  When I write a western historical romance I do a lot of research. I mean, I have no firsthand knowledge of living in the west in the 1800s so Google is my friend!  I love every minute of poking around in the old-time facts and fancies. Just so much to learn — and it gives me such an overwhelming sense of respect for how things were done back in the day.  A Wylder Christmas features Violet Bloom, Wylder's schoolteacher. Researching one-room western schools, curriculum of the time, and even the yearly school calendar was enlightening. So much has changed, but the dedication of teachers has remained the same. Truly inspiring!   I'm currently writing the story of one of Violet's sisters (she has three!) and am learning about homesteading. Again, I'm amazed by the trials homesteaders faced and the way they lived while building. They were hardy, brave people who withstood a ton to carve a living from an unforgiving landscape.  Curious about the time and condit...

The Scout, by Frederic Remington This morning as I sit down to write, I'm thinking about those who rode into the wild west looking for places to settle and this painting by one of my favorite artists comes to mind.  Thought I'd share it with you. Want to learn more about the artist? Frederic Remington  is still wildly popular so a quick search will lead you to many fine paintings and sculptures. Happy "scouting"!  Hope you're having a great day!        

I can’t vouch for the historical accuracy of some of these, but they certainly are fun! I found these several years ago in a book called Uncle John's Bathroom Reader: He’s crooked enough to sleep on a corkscrew (refers to a dishonest person). Raised on prunes and proverbs (a religious person) Coffin varnish (whiskey) Fat as a well-fed needle (poor) Deceitful beans (meaning they’ll talk behind your back—as in give you gas) Got a pill in his stomach that he can’t digest (shot dead). She’s like a turkey gobbler in a hen pen (proud He’s like a breedin’ jackass in a tin barn (noisy) Fryin’ size but plumb salty (a senior citizen) Quicker ‘n’ you can spit and holler howdy (fast) Studying to be a half wit (stupid or crazy) Built like a snake on stilts (tall) She’s on melody but strong on noise (a bad singer) Weasel-smart (very crafty) Scarce as bird dung in a cuckoo clock (hard to find) Dry as the dust in a mummy’s pocket (very dry) In the lead when tongues was handed out (talks too much) ...