Month: October 2017

As October draws to a close, let’s look back and see what happened in history. The Louisiana Rebellion of 1768, which I referenced earlier in Governor O’Reilly’s Twelve Taverns from October 8, was in full swing 249 years ago. Creole and German settlers rioted in New Orleans and forced the newly arrived Governor, Antonio de Ulloa, to leave. Spain’s response was sending in Governor Alejandro Count O’Reilly the next year and restoring order. In today’s terms, this wouldn’t fall under a quick response label, but perhaps two and a half centuries ago, it would. History doesn’t write itself, but I guess allowances have to be made when traveling by a wind-powered boat.

Also on this day, in 1929, the stock market crashed and brought the roaring twenties to a drastic halt. Although not specifically mentioned in my forthcoming book, the crash led to the Great Depression. My story of a young Bill Valencourt begins near the end of that financial crisis. His uncle’s house of ill repute, in a dilapidated shotgun house in the swamps of Louisiana, struggled just like any other business of the time. Washing sheets for his uncle didn’t make Bill a rich young man, but he learned how to make money from his uncle’s strong-arm tactics.

Lastly, Saturday, November 4, the Springdale Public Library is hosting an Indie Author Day. The events start at 2 p.m. I’ll be reading an excerpt from my book, Bill’s Cajun House of Pleasure. It’ll be available in May 2018. Come see me, and the other local authors. Get your first-hand experience of the romp in the swamp!

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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what book I have my nose in. I may not be a published author yet, but I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read. I’m still reading Mourner’s Bench by Sanderia Faye and should wrap it up this week. I encourage you to read a variety of topics.

Whoever wrote history didn’t write much for this past week. Sure, things happened as Governor O’Reilly restored order to the Louisiana territory, recent deaths of political figures and unnamed storms battered the low coastline. However, I couldn’t find something historically unique to write about for today’s blog. Maybe it is a good thing history doesn’t write itself. It gives me something else to talk about.

November is National Novel Writing Month, NaNoWriMo. You are challenged to write fifty thousand words in 30 days. That averages to a little over 1,666 words a day. Although I am not participating in NaNoWriMo, my goal for November is to add another night of writing. This will help me finish my second manuscript by the end of the year. Even if you don’t participate in NaNoWriMo, strive to write more in November. Get in the habit of writing instead of binge-watching Netflix. Your imaginary friends will open up to you the more time you spend with them.

If you can’t find more time to write in November, attend writing workshops and events. Tuesday, October 24, 2017, I’ll be at True Lit at the Fayetteville Public Library for Anthony Wappel and J. B. Hogan’s talk about their book The Square Book. There’s a good chance I’ll be there Wednesday night as well. Saturday, October 28 I’ll be back at True Lit in the morning. In the afternoon I head north to the Village Writing School in Rogers for the “Improving Your Author Website and Media Kit” workshop by Jamie Smith. The first Saturday in November I’ll be back at the Village Writing School for Nancy Hartney’s “Writing the Short Story.” Later in November, I’m planning on heading north to Branson, Missouri for the Ozark Writer’s League Conference. I hope to see you a few, or all, of these events. If you want to be a successful writer, immerse yourself in the writing world, you’ll be glad you did.

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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what book I have my nose in. I may not be a published author yet, but I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read. Currently, I’m reading Mourner’s Bench by Sanderia Faye. I encourage you to read a variety of topics.

If you are not a historian of the Great War, then you may be unaware today is the one-hundredth anniversary of the execution of Mata Hari. She was born August 7, 1876, in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. Her father, mother, step-mother, and son all died before her execution. Her daughter Louise Jeanne outlived her by two years. After separating from her husband, she moved to Paris in 1903. Her early jobs in the City of Lights included a circus horse rider and artist model. Two years later, she was a well-known exotic dancer.

By Unknown – http://bp3.blogger.com/_mgyYTW2w19c/Rv0AhyRdE8I/AAAAAAAAA_Q/D0S94e8k8lI/s1600-h/mata11zi.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3379372

Although she maintained her innocence, she stood before a French firing squad with her eyes unobstructed by a blindfold. She was 41 at the time of her death. Her story is told from many perspectives, but history doesn’t write itself.

Ariel, one of the main characters in my forthcoming book, Bill’s Cajun House of Pleasure, dresses as Mata Hari for a Halloween party in 1940. She even lets herself get captured by a troop of walnut farm workers dressed as French soldiers. In the dark of night, she returns as Lady Godiva. Originally, this Halloween treat was not part of my manuscript. I only mentioned “Ariel’s incredible trick” at first. My critique group wanted to know what this trick was. So I add a fun Halloween scene where all the women at the pleasure house dress up for the holiday and pass out candy to the local kids. It was a fun chapter to write, and I hope you enjoy it.

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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what book I have my nose in. I may not be a published author yet, but I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read. Currently, I’m reading Mourner’s Bench by Sanderia Faye. I encourage you to read a variety of topics.

Spanish Governor Alejandro Count de O’Reilly was Captain-General of Louisiana after France ceded the territory to Spain. His reign started in April 1769 to December 1769. Actually, it was a bit shorter as he didn’t arrive in New Orleans until August 1769. He held several trials to punish French Creoles who expelled Governor Antonio de Ulloa from the colony. Two months later he executed six prominent French colonists, earning him the name “Bloody O’Reilly.” He restored order and stabilized the new Spanish colony. But it’s the other thing he did, that Wikipedia doesn’t cover, that is the topic of this blog post.

O’Reilly restricted New Orleans to only twelve taverns. I’m unable to find how long this law lasted, but if it would have held until the time of my forthcoming book, Bill’s Cajun House of Pleasure which takes place from 1939 to 1969, think of how different the Big Easy would have been during that time. Twelve taverns in the city of Mardi Gras. As Bill might say, “That’s about as useful as a dirty empty glass in a man’s hands.”

Governor Alejandro O’Reilly

By Francisco José de Goya – MyArtPrints.co.uk, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7280134

History doesn’t write itself, but it is very interesting to research and find what was recorded by those who were there. Governor O’Reilly used a heavy hand to restore order after the Louisiana Rebellion of 1868. How does limiting the Crescent City to twelve taverns factor into his time in office? We may never know. I won’t until I can find some time, and monetary funds, to hit the library’s in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Does anybody want to donate to this cause?

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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what book I have my nose in. I may not be a published author yet, but I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read. Currently, I’m reading Mourner’s Bench by Sanderia Faye. I encourage you to read a variety of topics.

Have you seen the new Star Trek series Discovery? The premiere aired on Sunday, September 24 on CBS. The rest of the episodes will air on CBS All Access. Did you see how sleek and upscale the USS Shenzhou looked? But Star Trek history, it shouldn’t have been. The series takes place a decade before Captain Kirk takes the USS Enterprise on its five-year mission, also known as The Original Series. Do you remember the Enterprise bridge? It had buttons and switches and a few, small round screens all over it. How come the Enterprise didn’t have a sleek and upscale bridge like the Shenzhou, with its touch screens and schematics always visible in a gentle blue light? In my opinion, the Shenzhou is too modern of a ship to be built before the Enterprise in the Star Trek timeline.

Even the Klingons received a makeover in Discovery. They have sharp teeth and larger craniums and darker skin. However, in The Original Series, the Klingons were fashionably dressed with mustaches. Even when the characters from Deep Space Nine went back in time to help Kirk and company with a Tribble trouble, they didn’t recognize the debonair Klingons. The difference in appearance is never fully addressed. But, in the Star Trek universe, the early Klingons are well established to look like humans. Now in Discovery, they look like Klingons from the movies on steroids. How is their appearance going to change in ten years to be what they were, and in such a way that nobody questions the fact? I don’t think it can.

History doesn’t write itself, even if it is a fictitious history, it still needs to be followed. I don’t believe Star Trek Discovery does that. It may end up being a good series, but since it is available only via online and my satellite Internet isn’t the best for streaming video, I won’t be able to make that determination. As Spoke said, “Live long and prosper.”

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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what book I have my nose in. I may not be a published author yet, but I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read. I finished reading If the Creek Don’t Rise by Nancy Hartney. I also read two hilarious short stories by Linda Sartin, Six Bulls, Seve Dogs and a Naked Man. Currently, I’m reading Clear the Decks, the quarterly newsletter from 52 Plus Joker playing card collectors club. I’ll get back to reading books next time. I encourage you to read a variety of topics.