Esther Howland, at age 19, never thought when she received an expensive European paper Valentine from a business associate of her father’s, that she would one day be known as the “Mother of the American Valentine.” Beautifully decorated with ornate cut-out paper flowers, a lace border, and a small envelope in the center containing a … Continue reading Esther Howland – Of Love and Letters
She trained at the Paris Opera Ballet at seven years old, made her professional debut at age eleven, became a fashion icon at sixteen, and was muse to some of the most notable artists and photographers of all time—but who was this woman? Someone destined for greatness from the beginning. Her parents, the Austrian landscape … Continue reading Dancer, Model, Muse – Cléo de Mérode
Born in 1907, Freda Josephine McDonald, Josephine, as she was later called, was destined to be an entertainer. Born to dancer Carrie McDonald and possibly Eddie Carson, (her father’s true identity has never been confirmed) who was also in show business, Josephine made her first appearance on stage at the age of one when the couple brought her … Continue reading Josephine Baker – Entertainer, French Resistance Agent, and Activist
By many historical accounts, Mary Todd Lincoln, the wife of the 16thPresident of the United States, is portrayed as emotional, irrational, difficult, and spoiled. In all fairness, she might have been these things, but the explanations for the reasons behind these behaviors varies. As a teenager, Miss Todd’s contemporaries described her as kind, intelligent, well-educated … Continue reading Mary Todd Lincoln – Judged Unfairly by History?
Watch this video about my upcoming e-book release, Shoot like a Girl, the prequel novella to Girl with a Gun. If you like Annie Oakley, you will love these tales of intrigue in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show! You can purchase Girl with a Gun at these retailers. Spark Press: https://gosparkpress.com/product/girl-with-a-gun/ Amazon: https://amzn.to/2MyCdrs Barnes & Nobel: https://bit.ly/2xTsplN Are you a historical … Continue reading Upcoming Book Release – Shoot like a Girl!
Phoebe Ann Mosey, (or Moses) most commonly known as Annie Oakley, learned self-reliance at a young age. Her family lived in a cabin near Greenville, Ohio, where the winters were often treacherous. When she was six years old, Annie’s father left the home in a snowstorm. He returned frost-bitten and grievously ill. He died a few months … Continue reading The Life and Times of Annie Oakley (Repost from 2012)
Continued from 7/8/18 Read Part One here. In 1879, a fire raged through Deadwood, burning many places to the ground including Mollie’s. The day before the fire, one of Mollie’s girls had died due to either injury from a cat bite, or some other illness. She lay in her coffin in Mollie’s parlor as the … Continue reading Mollie Johnson – Queen of the Blondes (Part Two)
Life was tough in the 1800’s. Especially for women, and especially in the West. While most women married, or worked in service, or took respectable professions like teaching, others took a road less-than-acceptable for survival. Some even prospered on that road. Women like Mollie Johnson, prostitute turned madam, and self-proclaimed “Queen of the Blondes.” Historical … Continue reading Mollie Johnson – Queen of the Blondes (Part One)
(Continued from last week – find Part One here.) Her reasons for closing shop After the stock market crash in 1929, many businesses struggled, including Coco Chanel’s couture house. In 1939, at the outbreak of WWII, she closed down her shops, leaving over 3,000 employees out of work. Some suggest she did this in retaliation … Continue reading Seven Mysteries of Coco Chanel (Part Two)
From inauspicious beginnings to fame and fortune, Coco Chanel, one of the world’s most revered women of fashion, found empowerment in her own way. While she lived most of her time on earth in the public eye, accounts of some facets of her history have been up for debate, as she, the master of her … Continue reading Seven Mysteries of Coco Chanel (Part One)