historical fiction writer, amateur photographer, retired computer guru and math geek
Yes, Napoleon is a character in Nostalgia. Yes, he was my ancestor. An yes, that was his name. Go figure. In Nostalgia, Napoleon is Jim's cousin (in real life they were not related) The fictional Napoleon lives next door to Jim. His father, Isaac, is a veteran of the Mexican Wars and a raging alcoholic, … Continue reading Napoleon Bonaparte Drown
I am way overdue for a Nostalgia teaser, so let's talk about Peleg. Captain/Major Peleg Anthony is Jim's nemesis, and he represents the larger antagonistic force of the US Military in the Civil War which refused to recognize PTSD--what they called "nostalgia"--as a legitimate disorder. Back then, men who exhibited signs of "battle fatigue", both … Continue reading “Nostalgia” update
Okay, I admit it. I wouldn’t have read The Circle of Ceridwen if I hadn't seen it offered as a freebie. But I downloaded it, and I read it, and now I'm hooked. Only eleven more books in the series! Of course I am an historical fiction freak, and I do especially love British historical … Continue reading Book Review: “The Circle of Ceridwen” by Octavia Randolph
I don't often think about my brother, Al. He was four years younger than I, in high school when I married and moved to Texas. But as I thought about the book review I planned to post this week, I realized that today--Sunday, December 22--would have been Al's 68th birthday. Born Francis Allen Benton, he … Continue reading In Memoriam
It's a typical cold and snowy December in Central New York. Temps in the 20s and 30s during the day. We've been lucky: we've had about 4 inches of snow in the past week, but north and west of us are measuring their snow in feet, thanks to the notorious lake effect snow off Lakes … Continue reading Winter Getaway
I'm a little late, but I'd like to acknowledge some of the war veterans in my world. First and foremost, my partner, Charlie who served in the US Army from 1966-1969 and was in Vietnam for nine months. Sergeant Charles J. Crary Many of you know of my uncle, Allen Benton, the inspiration for my … Continue reading Honoring Veterans Every Day
Lana Granger is hiding a dark past: seven years ago her father murdered her mother, and Lana helped bury the body. She's changed her name, enrolled at an obscure college in upstate New York, a couple thousand miles from her home in Florida. Her father is in prison, on death row for a crime not … Continue reading Book Review: “In the Blood” by Lisa Unger
I’m late again with my blog post, and I blame it on the cold. No, not the temperature—it’s been unseasonably warm for mid-October. But October has brought a different kind of cold season to our house: The stuffy nose, achy sinuses, the “it’s just an annoying cold but I feel crappy” kind of ailment that … Continue reading October Cold
October is a busy month in the sports community. Baseball season is all over but for the playoffs. Football is in full swing, other sports are starting or ending. I do love a good football game. I'm a big Syracuse University fan for both football and basketball. But when it comes to in-person games, the … Continue reading Goodbye, Boys of Summer, Hello Winter Warriors
It started in late winter. We finished the last bit of stockade fencing around the back yard. And suddenly, the rotted timbers for the raised garden looked even more rotten. I'd been bugging Charlie forever to get rid of them and we finally came up with a plan to eliminate most of the timbers without … Continue reading Out in the Yard
Susannah Willey Writes 