· Henry Hartford in Two Worlds · If you’ve heard of Talking Tombstones then you probably know that real people, now deceased, have their stories brought to life in an abbreviated forum. In Hutchinson, Reno County, Kansas, contemporary actors, often affiliated with Stage 9 (run by the Hutchinson Theater Guild), transform into dearly departed residents from a distant era. Thanks to Talking Tombstones, the attendees who visit Hutchinson’s Eastside Cemetery each October, learn a great deal in a … [Read more...] about Talking Tombstones
Archives for October 2018
My Weekend
· Postcards, Poetry, and Food · This past weekend in Wichita, Kansas, was all about postcards, poetry, and eating. When you hear the word “postcards” you may recall a slower time than today’s world of instant communication. Were you traveling on a family vacation when you stopped at a service (gas) station and purchased a postcard while you waited for the rest of the family to get a bathroom break? Who did you send postcards to? In just a few sentences—like today’s tweets and … [Read more...] about My Weekend
Historical Research and Writing
· "King of Hypnotists and Mind Readers" · Do you enjoy historical research? I love it! As I've mentioned before, I collect "Reward" postcards because they are an enjoyable slice of history. The cards describe people who are wanted for various crimes. My high-visibility favorites are jail escapees and murderers. A majority of these postcards are from the the time period 1880 to 1920. When I examine "Reward" cards, the descriptions make it easy for me to imagine the person wanted by the … [Read more...] about Historical Research and Writing
Writing a Novel
· Immediately Engage the Reader · Discovery of a person’s body is a great way to begin a mystery or crime novel. This single event requires readers to use their imagination and ask so many questions. Also, the resulting death investigation is naturally structured to periodically reveal answers to those questions. Who is the dead person? What was he or she doing at that location? How and why did the person die? Was the death natural, an accident, suicide, or a homicide? Here’s a recent … [Read more...] about Writing a Novel
Crazy Writing Ideas
· Listen to the Muse · I wake up. It's 3:30 a.m. I’ve been dreaming. I have an idea for writing a story or novel. It’s titled, The Vice President’s Daughter. Quick! I’ve got to write this down! I can sleep later. This is a Young Adult (YA) story. There’s a teenage boy who breaks into the VP’s daughter’s car and steals the air conditioner. What? The air conditioner? The crime takes place on federal property in Washington D.C. protected by the Secret Service. The offenses include … [Read more...] about Crazy Writing Ideas
