By Eilene Lyon Since my second book launched last fall, I have been working less at writing and more at re-engaging with my home, my other interests, and community. It has involved a fair amount of volunteer time lately, so my blogging has been minimal. Now it’s time for a full break from it all.... Continue Reading →
State of Fear
By Eilene Lyon Note: This is NOT about U.S. politics. This is also not a book review, though inspired by my recent reading of State of Fear by Michael Crichton. I’m not sure how this wound up on my bookshelf; possibly The Putterer picked it up at an airport years ago. While working through my... Continue Reading →
In Flight
By Eilene Lyon I've lately been reading a slim volume published in 2001 by the Quality Paperback Book Club, of which I was a member for many years. It's called The World's Best Shortest Stories (of all time) and features clever 55-word (or less) stories. Most have surprise twists at the end, some subtle, some... Continue Reading →
Family History Blogging Tips
For aspiring (and current) family history writers... Originally published May 13, 2018. EL By Eilene Lyon Some family history writers use their blog as a place to keep in-depth birth-to-death reports on their ancestors, primarily for their own use and for close relatives. This is not for them. If, on the other hand, you are... Continue Reading →
No True History
I still feel the sentiments expressed here. I often wonder just how far off I am when I write about people from earlier centuries, people I never knew. Originally published January 15, 2018. EL By Eilene Lyon We recently watched The Abolitionists, by American Experience. It is an excellent and high-production-value 3-part series about the... Continue Reading →
Gourd Houses Update
By Eilene Lyon Programming note: This will be my last post until November. I need to take a break from blogging for a while to complete some projects and take a vacation. Since I have over 500 posts in my archive, I'm going to schedule some of them for reblogging while I'm away. Feel free... Continue Reading →
Shameless Self-Promotion
By Eilene Lyon (of course) I normally keep all my book-promotion-related material on my author website. But I do have some news to share. I hope (ahem) that you won't be terribly put out. My first book, Fortune's Frenzy, was a finalist for a Spur Award from the Western Writers of America. It has also... Continue Reading →
Researching Found Photos
By Eilene Lyon A Place to Start I shop at antique marts looking for 19th and early-20th century photos. We have only one antique store in Durango, which I’ve thoroughly gleaned, so this usually happens when I travel. I look for images that have a name inscribed somewhere on them, first/last or at least the... Continue Reading →
The Time, She Flies
By Eilene Lyon I often take a break in January and thus miss my blogging anniversary. Last year I bowed out in January and for six weeks in October and November in order to complete a book manuscript. Not surprisingly, I wrote only 41 posts in 2023 (a record low after 2022’s 43 posts). My... Continue Reading →