New Mexico Petroglyphs

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I just returned from the Romance Writers of America conference, held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. During my first days there, I viewed the petroglyphs or rock carvings found in Boca Negra Canyon (Black Mouth Canyon). I found them fascinating—some looked like spacemen!—and would like to share some information about them with you.

The basaltic rock on which the petroglyphs are carved.

Most of the petroglyphs were made by the ancestors of the modern Pueblo people. The petroglyphs are carved into basalt (lava) rocks. When the rock formed from volcanic fissures, it was light gray in color. As it aged, it developed a dark patina called desert varnish. The people would carve through this patina to the lighter gray rock below to make their patterns and symbols.

The ancestors of the Pueblo people lived in the Rio Grande Valley since 500 AD. A drought in 1300 AD caused many people to move closer to the river. Most of these petroglyphs are thought to be made between 1300 and 1700 in a style called the Rio Grande style. The early Pueblo people did not have a written language, so these symbols may have sacred meaning, mark trade routes, record an event or simply be a means of communication.

While the images are located in this area, the people did not live here, rather living in adobe buildings along the Rio Grande.

Many of the petroglyphs are on the sides of boulders facing south or southeast. One theory is that these were made in the winter when that side of the boulder was warmer and had less snow accumulation.

The images show patterns, animals and humans. Archeologists have found over 21,000 petroglyphs along 17 miles of escarpment. Some petroglyphs date from later ages, including some carved in the 1700s by early Spanish explorers.

Poverty Parties and a Giveaway

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Around the turn of the century, the wealthy folk here in America began having what they called “Poverty Parties.” They mostly provided entertainment for the snooty rich where they could poke fun of the poor and say that it was all in good fun. I seriously doubt the poor saw it that way.

One such party was at the home of D.W. Tripp in Athens, Pennsylvania. Guests were instructed to wear flour sack clothing, no jewelry, and speak in dialect.

Here’s a portion of Mr. Tripp’s invitation and it’s very difficult to read: “Every womin what kums must ware a Poverty dress and apern, er something ekelly erpropriate, an leave her poodle dog to hum.”

Fines were assessed for dressing too richly, such as having cigars in a man’s pocket, slicking his hair down, walking with a cane, etc. The party was a fundraiser and the money went toward building a new church. Not one cent to help the poor people they ridiculed.

The food consisted of corn meal mush served with an abundance of cream and sugar, brown and white bread sandwiches, apple and pumpkin pie, donuts and cookies. The table was bare of a cloth or napkins and the guests ate from tin plates and drank coffee from tin cups.

Such parties established even a greater divide between the classes. They parties came at a time of great inequality. Immigrants were suffering as well as black Americans. I’m sure they had a totally different view of these parties.

One snooty woman wrote an article in the 1905 copy of Bright Ideas for Entertaining that stressed that the tinware was always borrowed for the party. She wanted to make sure no one thought the entitled would actually “own” any.

Yet, later on into the 1920s, one brave woman wrote that Poverty Parties should be used to shine a light on the less fortunate instead of making fun of them and that the guests should do some real service to help the poor. Southern fraternities and sororities carried over this form of entertainment well into the 1950s. When they tired of that, they added unemployment parties where they stood in a bread line to get coffee and donuts.

Give me a break!

My parents were very poor with little to their name. They married in 1934, my dad in coveralls and mom in a borrowed dress. A government migrant camp was their home. They crisscrossed these United States following the crops. They saw little to laugh about in their situation. And when I came along, fourth in the lineup of five kids, our family lived in a tent that a kind farmer let them stretch on his land and pick cotton for him. So poverty parties? No thank you. Each day was a reminder of how little they had.

I had never heard of these Poverty Parties until I ran across an article about them. Have you? What do you think about this? Leave a comment to enter a drawing for a $10.00 Amazon gift card.

I have a promotion going on called Heartfelt and Wholesome with my two Hangman’s Daughters books. Winning Maura’s Heart is a mere $.99! Courting Miss Emma is $2.99! However, there are tons more from other authors and rest assured all are sweet romance. Maybe you’ll find some new reads that will suit your fancy. To check them out, click on the graphic.

 

Plus, all three of my McIntyre series books are marked down for a limited time. Only $.99 for Cade’s Quest, Summer’s Heart is $1.99, and Jess’s Reckoning is $3.99. If you missed any of these, snatch them up now at these low, rock-bottom prices.

 

 

 

CHERYL’S WINNERS!

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Ladies, thank you all for coming by the blog today and taking part in our discussion on details about characters! I love a great discussion like this and you all are the heart of our group with your participation and love of reading!

 

I chose two winners today, and they are….RACHEL and DENISE!  If you two will email me at fabkat_edit@yahoo.com and let me know which book you’d like to receive, I’ll get it off to you ASAP! Be sure to include the email address you’d like me to have KINDLE deliver the book to and put WINNER in the subject line so I can find you quickly!

 

Thanks again so much for such a fun day today at the blog–I thoroughly enjoyed it!

 

~Cheryl

THE DEVIL’S IN THE DETAILS #2–MAIN CHARACTERS (AND A GIVEAWAY!) by Cheryl Pierson

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Are you the kind of reader who likes to have a detailed description of the hero or heroine in romance books? What about other secondary characters? And do you feel the same way about characters in books of genres other than western historical romance, or romance in general?

To me, there is a big difference in how much character description is needed in romance novels versus other genres, and here’s why.

When we read romance, we put ourselves in the story, empathizing with both the heroine and the hero. Of course, we need enough description to let us be familiar with them both, but this might be a case of “less” being “more.”

In our personal lives, we have preferences in how our romantic “leading men” look, speak, behave, and so on. If our preferences are toward the tall, dark, and handsome hero, it will be hard for us to be vested in a story with a hero who perhaps doesn’t have those traits. Or one who has habits we personally don’t find attractive. (Just as an aside, I notice from watching the original Perry Mason reruns that EVERYONE has a cigarette in their hand–everyone except Della Street, that is. Seeing this series that was shot during those years soon after the stories were written, you realize what a different time that was in our society.)

 

But back to our character descriptions in the books we read. I knew a woman who didn’t like blond heroes. If he had blond hair on the cover, she’d color it brown or black with a marker. In the book, if “blond” was mentioned, she’d mark through it and write whatever color of hair she’d decided he needed. I asked her about the heroines. “They’re all me,” she answered. “I don’t pay attention to their descriptions.” It made me wonder how many other readers felt this way. By the way, I used this cover pictured below, GOLDEN NIGHTS by Christine Monson, to illustrate the blond hero–those are sometimes hard to find. This story was a fabulous study in character development and how it all contributes to the entire workings of the plot from start to finish. IT’S NOT A SWEET STORY–much grittier, but the writing, descriptions, and plot were unbelievably detailed and worked perfectly to create a very interesting love story.

Stephen King had mentioned at one time in his book ON WRITING that “description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s.”

And in genres other than romance, character description is different–and maybe more important–because the reader doesn’t have any preconceived expectations of the story, such as romance readers do.

When I taught creative writing classes, this description of King’s was one I used to illustrate how so much could be packed in to a short amount of words without being an info dump.

AMAZON LINK FOR ON WRITING BY STEPHEN KING

https://www.amazon.com/Writing-King-Stephen-Paperback/dp/B00NYI71B6/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=on+writing+by+stephen+king&qid=1551361053&s=books&sr=1-2https%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F2BWlIin&tag=pettpist-20

 

 

This is the beginning of St. Agnes’ Stand, by Thomas Eidson, who also wrote The Missing, which was a very successful movie. Take a look:

He was hurt and riding cautiously. Thoughts not quite grasped made him uneasy, and he listened for an errant sound in the hot wind. His eyes were narrowed—searching for a broken leaf, a freshly turned rock, anything from which he could make some sense ofhis vague uneasiness. Nothing. The desert seemed right, but wasn’t somehow. He turned in the saddle and looked behind him. A tumbleweed was bouncing in front of the wild assaults from the wind. But the trail was empty. He turned back and sat, listening.

Over six feet and carrying two hundred pounds, Nat Swanson didn’t disturb easy, but this morning he was edgy. His hat brim was pulled low, casting his face in shadow. The intense heat and the wind were playing with the air, making it warp and shimmer over the land. He forced himself to peer through it, knowing he wouldn’t get a second chance if he missed a sheen off sweating skin or the straight line of a gun barrel among branches.

And then this, a couple of paragraphs down:

He had been running for a week, and he was light on sleep and heavy on dust and too ready for trouble. He’d killed a man in a West Texas town he’d forgotten the name of—over a woman whose name he’d never known. He hadn’t wanted the woman or the killing. Nor had he wanted the hole in his thigh. What he did want was to get to California, and that’s where he was headed. Buttoned in his shirt pocket was a deed for a Santa Barbara ranch. Perhaps a younger man would have run longer and harder before turning to fight and maybe die; but Nat Swanson was thirty-five years that summer, old for the trail, and he had run as far as he was going to run.

I absolutely love this. Can you feel that you’re right there with Nat Swanson as he’s riding? There are no wasted words, and this is just such an eloquent, masterful description of not only Nat, but the situation and the physical place he’s in as well as the dilemma he’s faced with.

AMAZON LINK FOR ST. AGNES’ STAND BY TOM EIDSON

https://www.amazon.com/St-Agnes-Stand-Tom-Eidson/dp/039913915X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=St.+Agnes%27+Stand&qid=1551360200&s=gateway&sr=8-1%22%3E%3C%2Fa%3E&tag=pettpist-20

 

Another excellent way of describing a character and setting the scene at the same time is from another character’s POV. This passage is from Jack Schaefer’s iconic classic, Shane—from the eyes of Bobby Starrett—when Shane first rides into his life.

This is just the very beginning of the book—there is more physical description of Shane a few paragraphs later, but I chose this passage because it lets us know what’s going on in a few short sentences—and that is real talent.

He rode into our valley in the summer of ’89. I was a kid then, barely topping the backboard of father’s old chuck-wagon. I was on the upper rail of our small corral, soaking in the late afternoon sun, when I saw him far down the road where it swung into the valley from the open plain beyond.

In that clear Wyoming air I could see him plainly, though he was still several miles away. There seemed nothing remarkable about him, just another stray horseman riding up the road toward the cluster of frame buildings that was our town. Then I saw a pair of cowhands, loping past him, stop and stare after him with a curious intentness.

He came steadily on, straight through the town without slackening pace, until he reached the fork a half-mile below our place. One branch turned left across the river ford and on to Luke Fletcher’s big spread. The other bore ahead along the right bank where we homesteaders had pegged our claims in a row up the valley. He hesitated briefly, studying the choice, and moved again steadily on our side.

This is tough, because we’re seeing it through two “lenses”—Bobby is nine years old, and this is what he sees, but it’s filtered by the adult Bobby who’s now telling the story of what happened all those years ago.

In writing the story this way, the reader gets the full impact of experiencing the fears, the situation brings, the joy of having Shane there, and the anguish of his leaving all through the eyes of a nine-year-old boy, with the adult overview that lets us know that Shane was not a hero—but he was to Bobby and those small time settlers who needed one so desperately. Yet, leaving was the only thing he could have done and kept Bobby’s view of him untarnished and intact.

Because we don’t know how the story will end, and we don’t know what to expect, we are learning about Shane’s character right along with Bobby so we are actively looking for details and descriptors the author might give us along the way—it will affect our opinion of Shane and let us know if Bobby is a reliable narrator, and it affects the outcome of the story.

I bring this up because in romance, seldom does the description have such a direct effect on the story itself, unless our main characters have scars, afflictions, or disabilities that might have some direct bearing on the story and its outcome.

AMAZON LINK FOR SHANE BY JACK SCHAEFER

https://www.amazon.com/Shane-Jack-Schaefer/dp/0544239474/ref=pd_sbs_14_1/139-0197056-7135558?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0544239474&pd_rd_r=9d5675f9-3b5c-11e9-9aed-c3a00bddb282&pd_rd_w=rNyT6&pd_rd_wg=6hIg6&pf_rd_p=588939de-d3f8-42f1-a3d8-d556eae5797d&pf_rd_r=9AADKSXSE65C5026WN56&psc=1&refRID=9AADKSXSE65C5026WN56%22%3E%3C%2Fa%3Ehttps%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F2T4bXZU&tag=pettpist-20

 

My burning question for today is,  what do YOU  think? Do you like a lot of description and detail about the WHR heroes and heroines you read about, or would you rather “fill in the blanks” for yourself? Who are some of your favorite characters in books you’ve read–any genre! Be sure to leave a comment–I’m giving away a digital copy of any one of my stories! If you live in the USA and love to read, this just might be your lucky day!  

As far as heroines go, most people I’ve talked to are not as concerned with her physical description (maybe because each person sees herself in the heroine?) but are more concerned with her personality traits—is she likable? Is she determined?

If she is not a fierce match for the hero, the story line is doomed.

And what about our hero? Though he can get away with more “questionable” traits, he has to be endowed with almost superhuman strength to overcome everything that’s thrown his way, and that is description that must be thoroughly detailed—not left to the reader’s interpretation.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! 

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE:  https://www.amazon.com/stores/Cheryl-Pierson/author/B002JV8GUE?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1784406438&sr=8-1&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=e567b82c-b83a-4686-9694-d23369e884bf&tag=pettpist-20

 

Bingo Round-Up – Week #5

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Haven’t had a chance to play Bingo to celebrate Jo-Ann Robert’s

Her Rebel Heart?

You still can!

We’ve rounded up our Bingo clues to make it easy for you to play.

Choose your answers, submit your entry for each clue, and you’ll still have a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card!

But hurry!  Only one day left!

Winner will be announced Monday in the Reader Group.  

 

Submit Entry

Submit Entry

Submit Entry

Submit Entry

 

Book #6 in the Petticoats and Patriots Series

Coming Tuesday

 

Order on Amazon

Don’t forget to check out our Series Page to see all the books, too!  

Paulette Marshall Has a Winner!

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Thank you so much for visiting, Miss Paulette! We enjoyed talking about favorite places we’d love to call home.

You know what time it is? DRAWING!!

One commenter will win an ebook copy of Mail Order Freighter!

And the WINNER is……….

PB

Yippee! Congratulations, PB! Now watch for Miss Paulette’s email. Check Spam also.

VERONICA’S SECRET RESCUE (AND A GIVEAWAY!) by Paulette D. Marshall

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Veronica’s Secret Rescue: Building Homes and Hope in Mariposa

While writing Veronica’s Secret Rescue, I enjoyed learning more about the role lumber mills played in California’s growing communities during the late 1800s.

Before modern building supplies were readily available, local lumber mills were essential. They provided the wood needed to build homes, barns, churches, schools, stores, and nearly every other structure a growing town required. In many areas of California, especially near the Sierra Nevada Mountains, abundant pine forests made the lumber industry an important part of daily life.

Many mills were family-owned businesses passed down through generations. Families often worked together, with fathers teaching sons the trade and everyone contributing to the success of the operation. These businesses weren’t simply a source of income; they helped build the surrounding community. The lumber produced at local mills helped new settlers establish homes and create lasting roots.

The town of Mariposa, California, has a rich history dating back to the Gold Rush era. Founded in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Mariposa became an important center for miners, ranchers, merchants, and travelers. Its location near Yosemite made it a gateway for those heading into the mountains. By the late nineteenth century, the town had grown into a close-knit community where neighbors often depended on one another through both hardships and celebrations.

In Veronica’s Secret Rescue, Tucker Harper owns a family lumber mill and ranch near Mariposa. His mill reflects the hardworking spirit that helped shape many California communities during that time. The steady rhythm of the sawmill, the scent of fresh-cut pine, and the importance of honest labor all became part of Tucker’s character and the life he built.

For Veronica, however, the story is about much more than a lumber mill or a ranch. After a difficult journey filled with uncertainty, she discovers something she never expected. She isn’t simply finding a husband. She is finding a home, a family, a community, and a future. Most importantly, she learns that God often provides exactly what we need, even when His plans unfold in ways we never imagined.

 

Blessings,

Paulette D. Marshall

Today, I’m giving away a digital copy of my book MAIL-ORDER FREIGHTER. Be sure and leave a comment to be entered in the drawing for this story! Here are a couple of questions I’m interested in hearing your answers to:

What makes a place feel like home to you? Is it the people, the location, the memories, or something else?

Or

If you could choose, would you rather live on a ranch, in a small mountain town, or near a bustling city? Why?

Thanks so much for being here today!

 

The Husband Tree–rereleased–and a giveaway

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OK HERE WE GO!

The Husband Tree

Belle Tanner, the meanest woman I’ve ever created.

My book opens in a line I consider among my best–

Belle Tanner threw dirt on Anthony’s handsome, worthless face.

She’s burying him.Yes, burying him along with husband’s #1, and #2 under the over-burdened roots of a tree she’s come to think of as The Husband Tree.

And vowing to never, ever marry again.

Made worse because the second scene in the book is Silas Harden, losing his second ranch due to a scheming woman and vowing to never let himself get mixed up with a woman again.

Oh, yeah, it’s a clash of titanic proportions. I’ll add here that there are three MORE books coming, beyond the six in that banner at the top, and Belle Tanner appears in them, too. Always her usual, easy-going self (kidding). One of my favorite scenes of all time is in Doctor in Petticoats when Belle Tanner appears and despite a terrible situation, somehow, once Belle enters the picture, we know everything’s gonna be okay.

What’s your favorite romantic couple in literature? Leave a comment to get your name in a drawing for an ebook copy of The Husband Tree.

Are you the Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy–Pride and Prejudice type? The Wuthering Heights/Romeo and Juliet tragic type? Think about couples, either iconic, classic books or something you’ve read that’s more contemporary. You’re all readers here at P & P so come up with one. I have a few I’ve written I might like as well as Belle and Silas, but honestly, none were more fun to write.

Possibly my favorite romantic couple is in Mischief by Amanda Quick.  Imogene and Mattias. Those two. I re-read it every once in a while, a regency romance, just to watch those two clash and fall in love. She wants to catch a killer. He wants to keep her from getting killed if there even IS a killer. Mattias the grim, ruthless, powerhouse earl everyone fears. Imogene believes (somehow) that it’s all lies and he’s a delicate, rather sensitive soul. She sets out to protect him and take care of all the dangerous stuff herself.  It’s hilarious.

The Husband Tree

A spirited Western romance filled with danger, determination, and unexpected love—a tale of a fierce widow rancher, a hardworking cowboy, and the family that brings them together. Perfect for fans of historical romance and strong heroines.

Belle Tanner has buried three husbands under the “Husband Tree” and managed her Montana ranch alone while raising four daughters. When she needs help with a dangerous cattle drive, she hires Silas Harden—a man who actually knows his way around cattle and horses. Unlike her previous husbands, Silas isn’t afraid of hard work, but Belle’s not about to let another man take charge of her ranch or her heart.

Silas never planned on falling for a widow with four daughters, especially one as independent as Belle. But as they face treacherous mountain passes, wolf attacks, and winter storms together, he discovers that what he thought was just another job might be his chance at a real family—if he can convince Belle to trust in love one more time.

With winter closing in and dangers mounting, Belle and Silas must learn to work together and trust in God’s plan. But can Belle let go of her iron control and let love lead? And can Silas prove he’s different from the husbands who came before?
A heartwarming story of faith, family, and finding love in the rugged Montana Territory.

http:maryconnealy.com 

 

Paulette D. Marshal Will Arrive Friday!

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My goodness! Look who’s coming. We’re pleased as all get-out to have Paulette Marshal on Friday, July 17, 2026!

Miss Paulette’s blog will talk about lumber mills way back in the day. I don’t know much about these so I’m anxious to see what she says. Bet it’s interesting and will suit your fancy! My mule Jasper is nodding his head.

She’s also giving away a digital version of Mail Order Freighter to one commenter on Friday’s post.

And there’s a brand-spanking new book to tell us about!

Come over and help us welcome her.

Petticoats & Pistols