It’s Thanksgiving Weekend here in the states, which is the only four-day weekend this work-obsessed nation permits itself annually. Not much is going on, which is a perfect time for my pooch to step in with a couple of festive messages…
We Gather Together Tea is Back!
Back in 2021, a lovely company here in town crafted a special tea linked to my wife’s book, We Gather Together. The tea is back as a limited edition this fall. If you never got a chance to try it, you ought to jump on the opportunity now. I have no idea how much tea is available, or how long this short run will last.
On the surface, the book is the surprising story of Sarah Josepha Hale, a woman magazine editor who lobbied several presidents before Lincoln finally acceded to her request to make Turkey Day a national holiday. But the deeper story is one of gratitude, and gives Americans a blueprint for a more inclusive Thanksgiving, sans the mythical, problematic Pilgrim-Wampanoag encounter of 1621.
The earliest celebrations of Thanksgiving in New England were distinctly regional affairs. This tea has a South Appalachian ingredient, yaupon, that has a fascinating history in its own right…
Denise's Second Interview on WRNR
My wife, Denise Kiernan, did a somewhat last-minute interview this AM with Eastern Panhandle Talk, the morning talk radio and TV show for WRNR in Martinsburg, WV. It was a full 30-minute chat, mostly on the topic of We Gather Together, her 2020 book about the creation of the Thanksgiving holiday through the efforts of a crusading magazine editor named Sarah Josepha Hale.
This is the second time she’s appeared on this program. The last time was back in…
Denise Kiernan Book Tour Continues!
Three books events in the bag, more to go! My wife, Denise Kiernan, hits the road this week for another book event to promote her trio of titles about the creation of the Thanksgiving holiday. This time, her conversation partner in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, tomorrow, will be none other than yours truly. Yes, I know you’re excited. But do try to keep your cool. The interview portion will be brief. It’s billed as a family event, which means that after we talk, she’ll be showing some folks and their kids how to construct a gratitude wreath. Should be a fun event. The dates and times are all listed below…
Denise Kiernan Book Tour
My wife, Denise Kiernan, hits the road tomorrow for what will be the first of a couple of trips to promote her trio of books about the creation of the Thanksgiving holiday. As I’ve said before, these three books—one read for three different ages, kids, little kids, and adults—are NOT the story of Pilgrims and Native Americans. It’s a way better story than that. It touches on the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, and the crusading woman editor who lobbied for a national day of gratitude…
We Gather Together Tea! A Gratitude Blend
My wife’s most recent book, We Gather Together, now has a tasty tea blend to go with the remarkable story.
Her latest nonfiction book is about the history of Thanksgiving, and the surprising story of Sarah Hale, a woman magazine editor who lobbied several presidents before Lincoln finally acceded to her request to make Turkey Day a national holiday. The book delves into the more profound story of gratitude, and gives Americans a recipe, so to speak, for a modern, more inclusive Thanksgiving, sans the mythical, problematic Pilgrim-Wampanoag encounter of 1621. There’s a chapter in Denise’s book that quotes Hale’s hilariously long description of an early 19th-century Thanksgiving meal, and it’s not to be believed. An insane amount of food.
This fall Denise teamed up with Asheville Tea Company in our hometown to create a special blend that links to the book. The earliest celebrations of Thanksgiving in New England were distinctly regional affairs. This tea has a South Appalachian ingredient, yaupon, that has a fascinating history in its own right. It’s the only indigenous plant in the US that produces an appreciable amount of caffeine. It was used by indigenous peoples as a beverage, but never caught on with European newcomers. One theory I’ve heard was that the East India Tea Company wanted to quash the possibility of a local brew catching on in North America, and supplanting its own expensive imported tea. So they orchestrated bestowing upon yaupon the catchy Latin name, ilex vomitoria, a moniker guaranteed to shoo away curious drinkers. Asheville Tea has been trying to revive the plant’s usefulness by using it in their brews.
I tried the tea when it first came out and I found it to be delicious. Full-flavored and fall-flavored, if you know what I mean. And no, it’s not at all like pumpkin spice. It’s way better than that. You can order small bags from the creator’s website. They’re the loose tea variety, and each small bag makes about 10 cups of tea.
I hope you’ll try it. It’s fun and totally worth it. And needless to say, it makes a great gift when paired with the book. Retail orders can be placed here. Wholesale orders are placed here, through Asheville Tea’s website as well.
Denise’s book has racked up some cool media hits this season. We Gather Together was featured on Katie Couric’s blog about the best books for Thanksgiving and Christmas. And it was featured as a great Thanksgiving gift book on this recent segment on Good Day LA this past week.
My wife’s book starts at about the 3:28 mark.
Photo credit: Tea and lavender image at top by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash
Sleuthsayers: Talking About Historical Mysteries...
I love reading tales in which real-life people are placed in fictional situations. The classic example of this is the novel Ragtime, which featured an ensemble cast of people such as Harry Houdini, JP Morgan, Henry Ford, Emma Goldman, and ton of others.
It’s a tricky thing to get right, and until now I’ve resisted playing in that particular sandbox. But that changes with the publication of my new short story in Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine this month. In that story, two real-life people—Nikola Tesla and Mark Twain—become the detectives in a case of commercial sabotage in 1893 New York.
I hope you’ll take the time to check it out.
You can check out the post here.
If you like my work, kindly consider bookmarking Sleuthsayers. The next post will be in three weeks, when I’ll be talking about Mother’s Day.
If you’re looking for reading material during your pandemic down-time, I hope you’ll consider one of my books or my wife’s. If ever there was a time for escapism, it’s now!
Check out Denise’s book here: We Gather Together.
The e-book versions of both of my two most recent books, Murder on Book Row and the fantasy novel, Sorceress Kringle, are available at almost every online retailer. You can order print copies at the usual suspects online, or autographed copies from Malaprop’s, the bookstore in my nabe. Yes, this wonderful bookstore is still operating, and shipping books all over the world.
Credit: Bookshelf image at top by 🇸🇮 Janko Ferlič on Unsplash
Sleuthsayers: Giving It Away for Free
If you’re a writer, friends inevitably ask for advice on how to get published. It’s a tricky situation, because not everyone has what it takes to go the distance in what has always been a difficult profession.
I’m talking about this over at the Sleuthsayers mystery writers blog today, and I’m finding that the comments alone are fascinating. LOTS of writers go through this in their careers.
I hope you’ll take the time to check it out.
You can check out the post here.
If you like my work, kindly consider bookmarking Sleuthsayers. The next post will be in three weeks, when I’ll be talking about one of my new short stories.
If you’re looking for reading material during your pandemic down-time, I hope you’ll consider one of my books or my wife’s. If ever there was a time for escapism, it’s now!
Check out Denise’s book here: We Gather Together.
The e-book versions of both of my two most recent books, Murder on Book Row and the fantasy novel, Sorceress Kringle, are available at almost every online retailer. You can order print copies at the usual suspects online, or autographed copies from Malaprop’s, the bookstore in my nabe. Yes, this wonderful bookstore is still operating, and shipping books all over the world.
Credit: Bookshelf image at top by 🇸🇮 Janko Ferlič on Unsplash
The Joy of Monotasking
A lot of my daily brain power is spent obsessing about productivity, which inevitably leads to LESS productivity.
Today I’m sharing some advice I’ve picked up over the years from other writers about how to get shit done. My essay touches on everything from Deep Work by Cal Newport, to the wisdom of Henry Miller, John Steinbeck, Carl Jung, and Elmore Leonard.
I also get a chance to show off my new, fancy-ass pencils.
I hope you’ll take the time to check it out.
You can check out the post here.
If you like my work, kindly consider bookmarking Sleuthsayers. The next post will be in three weeks, in April.
If you’re looking for reading material during your pandemic down-time, I hope you’ll consider one of my books or my wife’s. If ever there was a time for escapism, it’s now!
Check out Denise’s book here: We Gather Together.
The e-book versions of both of my two most recent books, Murder on Book Row and the fantasy novel, Sorceress Kringle, are available at almost every online retailer. You can order print copies at the usual suspects online, or autographed copies from Malaprop’s, the bookstore in my nabe. Yes, this wonderful bookstore is still operating, and shipping books all over the world.
Credit: Bookshelf image at top by 🇸🇮 Janko Ferlič on Unsplash
My Short-Lived Adventures as a Detective
Okay, I’m not proud of this, but back when I was a kid, I set up shop as a detective. That exploit lasted maybe a single day, since I had no freaking idea what I was doing.
Of course, I got the idea from reading the greatest series of kids’ books ever, namely the adventures of Encyclopedia Brown.
I share the story today at the Sleuthsayers mystery blog, and I also delve a bit in the history of those books and spotlight its legendary author, Donald J. Sobol.
I hope you’ll take the time to check it out.
You can check out the post here.
If you like my work, kindly consider bookmarking Sleuthsayers. The next post will be in three weeks, in March.
If you’re looking for reading material during your pandemic down-time, I hope you’ll consider one of my books or my wife’s. If ever there was a time for escapism, it’s now!
Check out Denise’s book here: We Gather Together.
The e-book versions of both of my two most recent books, Murder on Book Row and the fantasy novel, Sorceress Kringle, are available at almost every online retailer. You can order print copies at the usual suspects online, or autographed copies from Malaprop’s, the bookstore in my nabe. Yes, this wonderful bookstore is still operating, and shipping books all over the world.
Credit: Bookshelf image at top by 🇸🇮 Janko Ferlič on Unsplash