When we were first brainstorming ideas for what would become the Pink Pistol Sisterhood series, it seemed only natural to look to a 19th century woman famous for both her marksmanship and her femininity as inspiration. When we learned of Annie Oakley’s passion for teaching other ladies how to defend themselves, we knew we had a foundation upon which to build.
It is estimated that Annie Oakley taught more that 15,000 women how to shoot over the course of her lifetime!
My heroine, Tessa James, seeks lessons from the great Annie Oakley, and I have to tell you that writing such a legend into my story was both daunting and incredibly fun.
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Since my heroine lives in Caldwell, Texas, I needed to find a way to bring Annie to the Lone Star State. The 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago had just concluded. Annie had performed alongside the World’s Fair with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. This had been a long engagement, so I thought it possible that Annie and her husband Frank Butler might be in the mood for a change of scenery. Why not bring them to the south, and to Texas in particular? I found documentation that Buffalo Bill brought his western extravaganza to Texas in 1900, so perhaps this could have been an early scouting trip by one of his headliners.
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Annie and Frank made their living through their own shooting exhibitions when they weren’t traveling with Buffalo Bill. So as all fiction authors do, I began asking Whatif? What if Annie and Frank decided to visit the Texas state capital and put on an exhibition while there? What if Annie agreed to give shooting lessons to any females who stayed after the performance?
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Now that I had Annie coming to Texas, I needed to find a place for her to perform. My research led me to the perfect place–Hyde Park Pavilion.
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Hyde Park was the first suburban development in Austin. Streetcar service made it possible for people to settle in this quiet, rural area. Before the area was developed with Craftsman houses and shady lanes, though, it was an area famous for recreation. The Texas State Fair used the area as its fairgrounds from 1875-1884. The flat terrain made it ideal for racing, so the Capital Jockey Association set up a racecourse there that became known as “the finest in the South.” The state militia used the area for training and drills during its summer encampments and drew crowds numbering in the thousands.
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The State Lunatic Asylum had been built on these grounds in 1861, and during the 1870’s, they embarked on a beautification project that created 600 yards of scenic drives and a chain of lakes and lily ponds. Following this beautification, the asylum grounds became a favorite place for courting couples. Buggy drives and picturesque strolls became the norm. And when a large pavilion was constructed by Gem Lake in 1892, this became one of the most popular resorts in Austin.
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The pavilion played host to concerts, plays, dances, and hosts of other entertainment. It seemed the perfect location for Annie Oakley to perform. I found a great photograph to help me picture what a turn-of-the-century crowd might have looked like at the Hyde Park Pavilion.
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I had Annie perform inside the pavilion, where a crowd could watch in comfort, but the lessons she gave to Tessa and the other ladies happened on the lawn area that stretched wide on the side opposite the lake.
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Who knew that the grounds of a lunatic asylum would provide the perfect setting for Annie Oakley to meet my heroine?
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Click on cover to preorder.
In Her Sights is now available for preorder and early reviews are coming in. Here is what some readers are saying on Goodreads:
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This book hits all of the right notes. It was sweet, it was funny, it had likeable characters who were easy to root for, and I was grinning like an idiot almost the whole time I was reading it.
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Tessa and Jackson are delightfully perfect for one another . . . Tessa’s plan to catch Jackson’s attention is priceless and I laughed at the whole scene behind the old school.
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I loved Every. Single. Thing. about this novella! As usual, Karen Witemeyer hooks you from the beginning with memorable characters and a enduring storyline.
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Hilarious! What a delightful, comic, and inspirational love story! Ms. Witemeyer has delivered a great story with characters I would like to know. . . Can’t wait for the next book!
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If you lived in Austin, Texas at the turn-of-the-century, would you have wanted to go courting on the grounds of a lunatic asylum?
For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Karen is a firm believer in the power of happy endings. . . and ice cream. She is an avid cross-stitcher, and makes her home in Abilene, TX with her husband and three children. Learn more about Karen and her books at: www.karenwitemeyer.com.
Such an interesting background to the story. Thank you for sharing.
I love uncovering the unexpected during my research. So many fascinating tidbits out there!
Sounds like a beautiful setting. Most places didn’t have public grounds near an asylum, so it’s very unique.
Not sure if I would have visited or gone courting, knowing now what happened at asylums.
I didn’t research the actual asylum, Denise. Like you, I was a little nervous about what I might learn. Hopefully, being at the heart of such a community center, they were on their best behavior.
I probably would. I’ve always been curious about places like that.
I wonder if the patients ever roamed the grounds of if they were kept away from society at large. I hope they were able to enjoy the beauty of nature during the quieter times.
Amazing girl power
I agree, JW. Annie Oakley was an amazing woman!
I’m laughing because my husband would have went to the lunatic grounds for a courting trip. He would have tried to talk me out of it though! LOLCan’t wait for your book! This series sounds wonderful!
Thanks so much, Tracy!
It sounds like the grounds were pretty, so sure!
They really were, Trudy. Trees and secluded lanes. Lakes for paddleboats and feeding ducks. By all accounts, it was a beautiful place.
wow thanks for sharing your background research. so interesting. this woman has always fascinated me. her courage, her spunk, her desire to help other women. No I dont think I would like to court on the grounds of an asylum if it was still in use. well not at all really. the thought of what it was/is is depressing and that doesnt mesh well with romance to me personally quilting dash lady at comcast dot net
I think most people of that time didn’t know and didn’t want to know what might be happening. The prevailing thought during that time was that mental illness could be cured with the right environment. Calm, peaceful place to live. Regimented, healthful activity. Oh, and electroshock and other experimental “treatments”.
I love that Annie Oakley was your inspiration for this story. I grew up watching the Annie Oakley tv program on Saturday mornings. Nothing like eating cereal and dreaming of being a cowgirl! Thanks for sharing and I hope to read ‘In Her Sights’ very soon! cps1950atgmaildotcom
How fun, Connie! Cowgirl dreams are sweet indeed. 🙂
Thanks for your history lesson today. In answer to your question, would I have wanted to go the grounds of an asylum to be courted, I would have to say “no”. If one knew what actually went on in one of those places, most would not want to either. I lived fairly close to an asylum and had the opportunity to take a tour of the basement dungeon where less manageable individuals were kept. It was dark, dingy and very cold with bars on the doors of course. Being in isolation down there was much like medieval prisons. So chilling.
I agree with you, Judy. So many cruel treatments in the history of mental illness. It is indeed, chilling. It’s probably the romantic in me, but I’m hoping this particular asylum was more of the restful retreat type.
It does sound interesting!! I wouldn’t mind if the area was pretty and peaceful.
The pictures I’ve seen make the place look to be just that – pretty and peaceful.
It sounds beautiful, but I’m not sure about courting there depending on the asylum (what the people who were there were there for).
It definitely get’s the imagination rolling, doesn’t it?
Congratulations on your new book, it sounds like a great read!! Well, the place looks beautiful, but I don’t know if I would go courting there , I think I would rather find a different place, where it would be more quiet, and where I wouldn’t be listening to poor people that didn’t know why they were there . Thank you so much for sharing your research with us. Have a great day and a great week. I enjoyed reading your post.
Thank you for your kind words, Alicia!
How interesting! I love the history you uncovered & the pics are awesome. Looks like a pretty place for courting!
I love uncovering interesting tidbits while researching!
I love the background information that you gave us. I don’t believe I would have liked to court on the grounds where an insane asylum was located. I’m almost finished with your book. It has definitely held my attention.
Yay! I’m glad to hear that you’ve been enjoying Tessa and Jackson’s story. 🙂
Why not. It was obviously a safe place to visit and the grounds had been improved and were lovely with much to offer. I actually did visit an asylum in the 1960’s. It also had lovely grounds and was a pleasant place to visit with a patient. Many forget that people were placed in asylums for many reasons not just because they were a threat to society or themselves.
Very true, Patricia. Mental illness was very often misunderstood in those days, especially with women’s “hysteria.”
Excellent job Karen, looking forward to reading the book. I’ve read that at the time many public institutions were built with beautiful grounds as part of the treatment plan and one article I read mentioned that the architecture influenced the way the public felt too. The name ‘Lunatic Asylum’ astounds but of course we recognize that was a different time.
Thanks, Rachel! Yes, common thought at the time was that a pleasant, peaceful environment would have a calming effect on the mind.
Congrats on y’all’s new adventure series. I don’t know if I would of wanted to go courting there, but who knows, back then it might have been fun.
I saw pictures of small paddle boats and longer boats where ladies could feed ducks and geese on the water. It was definitely a place of recreation. 🙂
I do not think that is a place I would like to be courted. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
It is estimated that Annie Oakley taught more that 15,000 women how to shoot over the course of her lifetime!
Such an interesting background to the story. Thank you for sharing.
I love uncovering the unexpected during my research. So many fascinating tidbits out there!
Sounds like a beautiful setting. Most places didn’t have public grounds near an asylum, so it’s very unique.
Not sure if I would have visited or gone courting, knowing now what happened at asylums.
I didn’t research the actual asylum, Denise. Like you, I was a little nervous about what I might learn. Hopefully, being at the heart of such a community center, they were on their best behavior.
I probably would. I’ve always been curious about places like that.
I wonder if the patients ever roamed the grounds of if they were kept away from society at large. I hope they were able to enjoy the beauty of nature during the quieter times.
Amazing girl power
I agree, JW. Annie Oakley was an amazing woman!
I’m laughing because my husband would have went to the lunatic grounds for a courting trip. He would have tried to talk me out of it though! LOLCan’t wait for your book! This series sounds wonderful!
Thanks so much, Tracy!
It sounds like the grounds were pretty, so sure!
They really were, Trudy. Trees and secluded lanes. Lakes for paddleboats and feeding ducks. By all accounts, it was a beautiful place.
wow thanks for sharing your background research. so interesting. this woman has always fascinated me. her courage, her spunk, her desire to help other women. No I dont think I would like to court on the grounds of an asylum if it was still in use. well not at all really. the thought of what it was/is is depressing and that doesnt mesh well with romance to me personally quilting dash lady at comcast dot net
I think most people of that time didn’t know and didn’t want to know what might be happening. The prevailing thought during that time was that mental illness could be cured with the right environment. Calm, peaceful place to live. Regimented, healthful activity. Oh, and electroshock and other experimental “treatments”.
I love that Annie Oakley was your inspiration for this story. I grew up watching the Annie Oakley tv program on Saturday mornings. Nothing like eating cereal and dreaming of being a cowgirl! Thanks for sharing and I hope to read ‘In Her Sights’ very soon! cps1950atgmaildotcom
How fun, Connie! Cowgirl dreams are sweet indeed. 🙂
Thanks for your history lesson today. In answer to your question, would I have wanted to go the grounds of an asylum to be courted, I would have to say “no”. If one knew what actually went on in one of those places, most would not want to either. I lived fairly close to an asylum and had the opportunity to take a tour of the basement dungeon where less manageable individuals were kept. It was dark, dingy and very cold with bars on the doors of course. Being in isolation down there was much like medieval prisons. So chilling.
I agree with you, Judy. So many cruel treatments in the history of mental illness. It is indeed, chilling. It’s probably the romantic in me, but I’m hoping this particular asylum was more of the restful retreat type.
It does sound interesting!! I wouldn’t mind if the area was pretty and peaceful.
The pictures I’ve seen make the place look to be just that – pretty and peaceful.
It sounds beautiful, but I’m not sure about courting there depending on the asylum (what the people who were there were there for).
It definitely get’s the imagination rolling, doesn’t it?
Congratulations on your new book, it sounds like a great read!! Well, the place looks beautiful, but I don’t know if I would go courting there , I think I would rather find a different place, where it would be more quiet, and where I wouldn’t be listening to poor people that didn’t know why they were there . Thank you so much for sharing your research with us. Have a great day and a great week. I enjoyed reading your post.
Thank you for your kind words, Alicia!
How interesting! I love the history you uncovered & the pics are awesome. Looks like a pretty place for courting!
I love uncovering interesting tidbits while researching!
I love the background information that you gave us. I don’t believe I would have liked to court on the grounds where an insane asylum was located. I’m almost finished with your book. It has definitely held my attention.
Yay! I’m glad to hear that you’ve been enjoying Tessa and Jackson’s story. 🙂
Why not. It was obviously a safe place to visit and the grounds had been improved and were lovely with much to offer. I actually did visit an asylum in the 1960’s. It also had lovely grounds and was a pleasant place to visit with a patient. Many forget that people were placed in asylums for many reasons not just because they were a threat to society or themselves.
Very true, Patricia. Mental illness was very often misunderstood in those days, especially with women’s “hysteria.”
Excellent job Karen, looking forward to reading the book. I’ve read that at the time many public institutions were built with beautiful grounds as part of the treatment plan and one article I read mentioned that the architecture influenced the way the public felt too. The name ‘Lunatic Asylum’ astounds but of course we recognize that was a different time.
Thanks, Rachel! Yes, common thought at the time was that a pleasant, peaceful environment would have a calming effect on the mind.
Congrats on y’all’s new adventure series. I don’t know if I would of wanted to go courting there, but who knows, back then it might have been fun.
I saw pictures of small paddle boats and longer boats where ladies could feed ducks and geese on the water. It was definitely a place of recreation. 🙂
I do not think that is a place I would like to be courted. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
Thanks, Debbie!