Events in the Wild West of the Washington Territory

Photo is not the actual accident

     While doing some re - writes of the manuscript this week, I questioned the time line of one of the events.  As a good researcher will do, I went to the mass of my research papers in order to verify the date.

     Not finding the information I knew I had, I went to the Chronicling America website, to do a search in The Lewiston Teller newspaper pages from the 1880's.  Searching for the name Myers gave me a hit I never expected and one I had not seen before.  Aunt May (Maryette Myers) was involved in a stage coach accident on Alpowai Ridge. The stage driver lost control and the stage went off the road tipping over.  Aunt May along with two other passengers, jumped from the stage to safety. One of the passengers later died from his injuries.

    Scenes right out of the movies.

What happen to the book I promised?

      Here it is September and Grass Widow Wives is not off to the printers.  How could that be?  Well, I do have excuses.

1 -  My dog ate the manuscript.

2 -  My computer crashed and I didn't save my work.

3 -  I have been busy with extra-curricular activities and volunteering for friends.

4 -  I was reading the manuscript on the way home and the wind blew it away.

5 -  The FBI needed it for evidence.

6 -  I sent it to my friend for review and he/she lost it.

    You know what people say about excuses.......and no one likes to hear them.  The honest truth is among the preceding list, so  you can take your choice and you may be right.

   

    But now it is time to throw the excuses out the window, while it is still warm enough to open it, and finish all of the re-writes.  

     

     My critiques have been hard on me, which is a good thing.  Criticism makes for a better book.  As the author, it is sometimes hard to rethink what is already on paper and find a way to say it better.  I am doing my best to correct what needs to be improved and I am sure the end product will be worth it.  Bear with me as a struggle through this stage of the process.

Editing, Printing and Marketing Grass Widow Wives

    Completing the writing of Grass Widow Wives, is just the beginning of this journey to become an author.  Now the work really begins!

     Waiting to receive the previews back from the individuals that have consented to read, edit and make suggestions on the manuscript, is a nail biter.  Will I be elated, or will my feelings be damaged at the comments and suggestions.  I have no way to know.  I guess this is the time to develop a  thick skin. This step in the process is actually much easier than the step that awaits my attention.

     I must contact an individual that is recognizable to my readers, or a respected figure in the field of Washington State history.  A person with powerful credentials in writing might also be a worthwhile choice.  The question remains.  Where do I find this person?  Will they respond to my request?  How do I make contact with this qualified person.

     After I make a decision on one of several choices, the fear sets in.  Will they delete the request?  Will they laugh at my qualifications as an author?  Will they decide, after reading my preview of the story, that the request is a waste of their time?  All the proceeding thoughts run through my head.

    Once I have dealt with all of these issues, there remains the task of making the correct choice of a publishing company.  The internet is full of possibilities.  Along with the possibilities, is the worry that my choice will be reputable.

    The next issue requiring my attention, is the cost involved.  Unless I submit my manuscript to a publisher which requires a royalty contract, I will be expected to pay for publication.  I do not wish to relinquish the control involved in that process.  That means I must pay the costs for printing of the hard copies. I will be making Ebooks available so those readers that use electronic devices will be able to purchase a copy of Grass Widow Wives online.

    Lastly I will need to market my book.  I must schedule speaking engagements across Washington, and Idaho to push the book in the areas my historic novel takes place.  That is an exciting process and I do not fear doing the required work.  I have confidence I will be accepted with open arms.

     If you have been following the process of Maryette, Charles and Anna, rest assured, their lives are coming into yours very soon. I hope you enjoy the journey of these people as they walked the long road of life.

   

Editing Process

Asotin Washington 1889

 
I have had a productive morning. My time has been filled with editing the manuscript of Grass Widow Wives. I am on the final chapter and the excitement grows with each word. Next will come the introduction and credits. I am also waiting for my son Eric Snider to complete the creation of a map outlining the towns and areas reflected in the book. I would be lost without the assistance I am receiving. Jon is editing photos which will be featured at the start of each chapter. I am closer to the finish.
Are my friends ready to get a copy in their hands? I sure do hope so.

Leaving Nebraska

The Cowshed

     At the beginning of my book, the Swikert family moves from Nebraska to Asotin Washington Territory.  The year is 1877 and Maryette is 11 years old.  I pondered for some time on how Maryette would see the world outside her little ranch in Nebraska. 

     Since I did not want to waste time in the novel having the family travel by wagon all the way to Washington Territory, I chose to have them make their journey via the train from Omaha to Boise, Idaho. 

     Much research was required to determine the route and decide if this means of travel was the most logical for the time period.  After making my decision I then researched the Omaha Union Pacific train station, built in 1870 and called the “Cowshed.”   The station is a long, shed-like structure with brick walls, peaked roof and open ends to accommodate six railroad tracks running from end to end. Maryette has never seen or heard anything like it. 

     Close your eyes and take yourself back to the age of eleven and I am sure you will see yourself covering your ears to block out the noise, while holding your breath in an attempt to stop the odor of burning coal coming from the multiple giant engines passing through. 

     As difficult as it is to develop the dialogue and possible interactions of my characters, I find it very rewarding when I am able to step back into the time they lived.

Love and Romance in the Historic Novel

     Romance stories are something I am not used to sharing in writing.  To be honest, I have never shared romantic interludes with anyone other than a husband or in my dreams.  Since the female characters have love interests, writing Grass Widow Wives required me to attempt to convey those feelings and desires on paper.  In addition, since the book is being written to appeal to both male and female readers, it is imperative that the male reader not be repelled with my depictions of loving interaction. 

     The time period of the story takes place when morality and modesty were subjects hidden behind the skirts and the doors of the bedroom.  That does not mean dalliances did not occur.  Men and women were still driven by human feelings.  When the story requires an explanation of those intimate moments, I have chosen to keep it in the reader’s imagination.    

     Love still flourishes and affairs occur.  I hope you will think I have handled those events with decorum and yet retained your interest.  

Character Enhancement

One of the freedoms of authoring a historical novel, is the luxury of drawing from stories that occurred in my life and those of my ancestors.  I have used multiple stories in Grass Widow Wives which are true, but not necessarily occurrences in the lives of my characters.  This does not take away from the truthfulness of the story line, but are used to enlighten the dialogue and interaction between individuals as needed.  It also allows me to enhance the everyday happenings to prevent the reader from becoming bored with the account being offered.   My characters may not  have experienced  the story but it is relevant to the time of the occurrence. .

Many of these stories are hidden within the book and are there for you to enjoy without ever knowing that they did not occur with this individual.   

Check the right side of this Blog to read about each of the main characters in Grass Widow Wives.