Writing

Sanborn Maps, List Links, & Hidden Research Resources

on June 23, 2021

Author C.V. Lee recently interviewed me about my love of Sanborn Maps, List Links, and Hidden Research Resources. It’s all here on the PLW YouTube Channel. And for more info about Sanborn Maps, check out my Unlocking the Secrets of Historic American Cities with Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps.  


Sixty Sensational Online Historical Archives

on June 11, 2021

From Gertrude Käsebier to Buffalo Bill to African Americans in WWII to Abigail Adams’ letters to John, there’s something fascinating for everyone in my Sixty Sensational Online Historical Archives on today’s Paper Lantern Writers’ blog. Come on by for Postcards of Peoria, Heart Mountain Relocation Center Records, King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani photos,  first-person narratives… Read More


Thirteen Book Design Cover Contests!

on May 14, 2021

Think you’ve got a great book cover? How about finding out for sure? Today on Paper Lantern Writers! Ever Judge a Book by its Cover?


It’s time to SHINE with Paper Lantern Writers

on April 24, 2021

As a founding member of the Paper Lantern Writers Historical Fiction Author Collective (whew! what a long title!) I’m excited to invite you to join SHINE, our new Facebook Group. SHINE is for readers and writers, editors and researchers, and anyone else who loves to talk about books, especially our favorite historical fiction. Here’s the… Read More


Bathing Beauties, Anyone?

on April 21, 2021

Here’s an absolutely GREAT PHOTO that I couldn’t fit into my Fifty Fabulous Online Library Historical Collections post. It’s titled “Bathing Beauty Pageant, 1925, Huntington Beach, CA” and it’s courtesy of the Library of Congress.


An’ the Gobble-uns’ll git you

on October 9, 2020

Happy October, the month of ghosties and ghoulies, long-leggetie beasties, And things that go bump in the night. You know, Monster Month! Today at Paper Lantern Writers I’m sharing lively links about some of the 19th century’s scariest monsters. And the woman and men who wrote their stories. Join us!


Killer Ideas for an 1889 New Orleans Christmas Story

on December 16, 2018

Ever wanted to write a short story about New Orleans mischief and mayhem circa 1889 Christmas? Here are a few killer ideas to get your story started! HINT…these ideas might be used for any locale in any era.