MY NEW NOVEL: Where Legends Die, A Historical Mystery

I have always loved mystery novels and old legends. After completing my last novel, I decided I wanted to try writing an Agatha Christie type mystery. I had ideas cycling through my head, but it was on hike past the supposedly haunted Felt Mansion in Saugatuck, MI that a plot formed in my mind…

The people of Saugerties won’t go near the old Whitaker estate. They know the legend. In 1901, Irena Krall, servant to bluestone millionaire Charles Whitaker, mysteriously drowned in the creek behind the mansion. Following her demise, most of the Whitaker family met their untimely deaths. Each perplexing fatality pointed back to the ghost of Irena. Now, eighteen years later, June Flynn, a desperate war widow rolls into town and purchases the ramshackle—and probably haunted—Krall cabin on the Whitaker grounds. When men of the Whitaker lineage start vanishing, the townspeople accuse June of awakening Irena’s ghost. But June doesn’t believe in ghost stories, and she won’t be bullied. She determines to uncover the truth…or die trying.

Folks, I LOVE this book with all its twists and tricks. I think you’ll love it too. BONUS: From now until November 30th, you can catch the Holiday Sale on both the paperback and eBook versions on Amazon.

Dive Into A Summer Book

Click on the title below to see a preview on amazon.com

Ramble and Roar: A 1920’s Novel 

Superhero Levi

What Do You Get When Peaky Blinders Marries Downton Abbey…

What do you get when the television shows Peaky Blinders and Downtown Abbey marry and form a baby?

Peaky Blinders

Downton Abbey

 

I’m glad you asked.

From the love of their union comes a child known as Ramble and Roar.

Ramble and Roar is the combination of high-level mobsters and dream-driven flappers. There’s danger, humor, longing, and a wild array of adventure. With twists around every corner, it’s hard to know who to believe or what is true.

Find out more about this unusual baby today.

It’s now on sale on amazon.com: paperback $9.75 and kindle $2.79

 

The Slogan of the 1920’s: Eat, Drink, and Be Merry…For Tomorrow We Die.

Following World War I, an attitude of cynicism and disillusionment infected the mindsets of most people resulting in a decade where living for self and enjoyment became top priority. It produced a people that lived by this code or slogan: “Eat, Drink and Be Merry…For Tomorrow We Die.”

One of my favorite books on the 1920’s is by Frederick Lewis Allen called Only Yesterday. In this book he says, “Morality was dethroned, the old codes of ethics hung out to dry, replaced with a disillusioned sense of freedom, and the pursuit of this led only to emptiness and futility.”

I painted the picture below to represent the heroine in the first book of my 1920’s series.

Monday Morning Humor: Hairstyles of the 80’s

These pieces of history were not that long ago. I know most of you still remember!

Mullets and Big Hair

 

 

 

Nicole Kidman

 

This is a family photo of my mother, my sister and me on the right. Granted this was early 90’s, but the big hair and big bangs were still very much in!

So how about you? Do you have a photo of yourself sporting the crazy 80’s hairstyle? Share it with us on my Author Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/authorcatiecordero

 

 

References:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/25-photos-of-80s-hairstyles-so-bad-theyre-actually-good#4h9am43

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/pictures/view/270687/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/20/80s-hair-photos_n_4302897.html

 

#hairstylesofthe80’s #history #mondaymorninghumor

 

History in a Hat

I collect hats. But not just any hats. I like hats that are old, used, and have seen life from years past. I want hats with history.

And over time, I’ve collected a lot of them. Some are from the 1800’s and some from the 1900’s. My daughter loves rummaging through my collection and trying them on.

A few hats in my collection

 

Going gangster in my fedora

Howdy partner

I’m so fancy

But one of my most prized hats of all is the one I acquired from my grandfather, Lavern “Pete” Overbeek.

My grandpa wore a blue, wool newsboy hat wherever he went. It was special. When my grandpa passed away in 2008, I asked my grandma if she could part with his hat. I feel honored and privileged that she entrusted his prized possession to me. Every time I wear his hat, I feel like I’m carrying on his legacy. My grandfather enjoyed the simple things in life but most of all, he had a deep love for family and friends. He worked hard and appreciated the many blessings God had given him throughout his life. He was a great man and was always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. I hope to follow in his footsteps. Thanks, Grandpa.

 

 

Monday Morning Humor: The 70’s

If you need a good laugh, look what people used to wear in the 70’s.

 

 

 

 

 

The 1970’s fashion was simply stunning.

 

 

References:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/blackdynamite/25-outrageous-fashion-ads-from-the-1970s-5e97

15 of those Awkward Moments in History

The Tale of the 1970s Fashion Apocalypse

doecdoe.blogspot.com

http://attackoftheuglycrochet.tumblr.com

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com

pinterest.com

TV Free Activities: Boxcars, Potato Heads, and Dino Hunts

Attentions Parents: I have a great book with fun activities for both you and your kids! It’s called, 365 TV-FREE ACTIVITIES YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR CHILD by Steve and Ruth Bennett. This week, my daughter and her cousin picked out a couple of them.

1. Potato Heads

2. Boxcars

We made our boxcars into Autobots!

3. Dino Hunt

I looked up the bone structure for a Brachiosaurus and created it in pieces of pipe cleaners. I hid the “bones” under sheets and pillows. After the kids found all the bones, I constructed the dinosaur.

Monday Morning Humor: Jokes from the 1900’s

From Wit and Humor for Public Speakers, 1916

From A Bunch of Laughs, Gathered from several different Laugh Shops, by Horace Huron, 1904

From The Toaster’s Handbook, 1914

From Caricature: The Wit & Humor of a Nation in Picture, Song & Story, 1911

From Wit and Humor for Public Speakers, 1916

 

Reference: http://someoldjokes.tumblr.com/tagged/1900s+jokes

My Lucky Strike

In book one of my current Roaring Twenties Series, my main character runs to New York City and becomes entangled with a vivacious flapper named Mattie O’Keefe. Mattie introduces her to Lucky Strike cigarettes. I decided on this brand while doing my research for the novel and up until a few weeks ago, I had only seen the tin on the internet. But to my absolute joy, I came across an actual Lucky Strike cigarette tin at Harvest Antique and Collectibles in Holland! I bought it right away. I plan to keep my business cards inside of it.

Owning pieces of history is wonderful.

Lucky Strike Flat Fifties Cigarettes

American Tobacco Company, product made from 1920s-1940s

 

 

 

 

Reference: http://collections.richmondhistorycenter.com