Simply email Kit at authorkitmorgan@gmail.com so she can gift your e-book prize to you!

In my latest book, Miss Verity, (The Brides of Fiddler’s Gap, Book 8) my poor heroine is staying with the hero’s family. She’s been wearing the same dress all week, which back then was common, but she comes from a wealthy family, so not so common. In short, the hero buys her some clothes and wants her to get everything she needs, which back then could be a lot considering the layers of clothes women wore.

This has been one hot summer for a lot of us, so the thought of wearing layers of clothing like they did in the old west makes one shudder. But even though people wore several layers of clothing, they weren’t as heavy or as hot (especially in summer) as one might think. Back then there were no synthetic fabrics, a lot of which don’t breathe very well. But natural fabrics like cotton, linen, and wool could be milled into either light fabric or thick and heavy material. Back then they made clothing according to its use rather than for pure fashion. Winter clothes required heavier fabric, work clothes too. The same thing holds true today for brands like Carhart, Dickies and Levis, who all make their clothes with heavier cotton fabrics. And of course, lighter fabrics are used for hotter months. Today, a lot of clothing is fashion based, not use based. And we don’t run around wearing layers of clothing as part of our fashion ensemble.

On the other hand, a fella in the old west might don long underwear of light cotton – also known as a “union suit” or a pair of drawers. He’d follow this with a cotton or linen shirt and a pair of trousers. These were usually wool trousers or maybe cotton canvas. He’d then top it off with a cotton, linen or wool jacket. Men might also put on a neckcloth with a collar. Some collars were removable. Women wore a lot of removable collars as well. For the men, a removable collar was made of white linen and stiffened to stand tall on the neck. And of course, we mustn’t forget one’s hat!

With the right clothes, (those made of wool, linen or cotton) you could be quite comfortable whether it was hot or cold out. All three types of natural fabrics breathe and are comfortable. Back in the day during the hotter months, they were more concerned about covering up to keep the sun off their bodies. People would often wear cotton undergarments to absorb moisture, and wool or linen as one’s outer clothing, as a breeze could travel through and keep you cool.

So many of our clothes today are a mix of natural fibers with things like polyester and other synthetics. As I mentioned, these synthetic fibers and polyester just don’t breathe the way the natural fibers do, so these fiber mixes aren’t as functional as natural fibers. I don’t think a cowboy would like a polyester windbreaker. I think he’d much rather stick with his duster!

Myself, I do love a nice cotton dress in the summer. I’ve owned clothes made from linen too, and of course wool coats. What’s in your closet? Clothes made of natural fibers or more a mix of natural and synthetic? I’m giving away one free e-copy of choice of my books to one lucky commenter!

Contact Kit at authorkitmorgan@gmail.com so she can get your e-book to you!

Okay, yeah, everyone loves music! But do you play an instrument?
My latest series, The Brides of Fiddler’s Gap centers around a group of orchestra members who head west to start a music school. Half of them make it as far as an area about eight miles south of Baker City, Oregon. Their conductor and his wife die there, and their son and some others decide that’s where they’ll settle. The other half of the orchestra members continue on.
I’m a flute player, I sing, and I’ve been around music all my life. I was an opera major with a flute minor in college. People are surprised I still play. I have a flute with me here in California so I can play between writing scenes. Since discovering a lot of free music on the internet, I’ve been having a ball!

I write to music, and can have a scene locked in my head well before I ever write it, simply by building it to music. Months can go by, and when I want to write that scene, all I have to do is play the music I built it to in my head, and it pops up and starts playing like a movie. It’s like flipping a switch, and you’re watching and listening to the characters, and writing as fast as you can to keep up. I learned this trick back in college when I took some music therapy courses.

I’ve “jammed” with other flute players from the Portland Symphony, I’ve played with the top 1% of musicians on the west coast when I was younger. Why I never thought to write a series of books about musicians after all these years I don’t know. But at least I finally got around to it!

I haven’t been in a choir for a long time and used to sing with one my little hometown has. My little home town also has a band and an orchestra, and you’d be surprised at the caliber of musicians in it. From beginners to virtuosos! There’s one violin player in her eighties that still knocks everyone’s socks off when she plays.
If you have something you love, keep it up, especially if it brings you joy. I remember playing six to eight hours a day sometimes. I’ve attended month long music camps with some of the best conductors in the country. Best of all, I was with so many others whose favorite thing was music, playing, being part of something that created something beautiful.

As I’m caregiving for someone, (in another state no less) I can’t play with a band or orchestra at the moment. But once I get back to Oregon, I’ll be dipping my toes into the orchestra again. In the meantime, I’m having fun writing about men and women in the old west enjoying one of their favorite things. Music! My town of bachelors want virtuous women who are also virtuosos! Unfortunately for some of my bachelors, their brides aren’t very musical, but they make the best of things. There’s some action and adventure in these books, and of course lots of romance. 

Do you play an instrument or sing? If so, what instrument do you play? Are you an alto, soprano? Do you have a family member that does? I’ve giving away one e-copy of any of my books to one lucky comment!

Crystal, you’ve won one, free e-book of mine of your choice!
Contact me at authorkitmorgan@gmail.com so I can get your ebook to you!

It’s Fair Time!

It’s fair season, and right now, the California State Fair is happening. My son is here for a visit from New York City, and he’d like nothing more than to go to the fair. Me? I’m hoping I don’t melt if we do! It’s going to be in the triple digits most of the week.

That said, you start to think of all the things you’ll miss out on if you don’t go. I love all the exhibits and livestock. My son Troy loves the food! So, I picked a popular fair food and decided to blog about it!

Cotton candy has been a staple of American fairs for over a century, bringing back sweet childhood memories for many. But how did this sugary treat become so popular? It all started in 1897 when dentist William Morrison and confectioner John C. Wharton teamed up to create a machine that could spin heated sugar into a fluffy, cotton-like texture. The fact a dentist that invented cotton candy still floors me. But density back then wasn’t what it’s like today.

Seven years later, the duo unveiled their invention, now known as “cotton candy,” at the St. Louis World Fair in 1904. With attractions like a Ferris wheel and circus, the fair drew in over 20 million visitors who were captivated by the new treat. By the end of the fair, Morrison and Wharton had sold over 68,000 boxes of cotton candy for a quarter each, making just over $17,000 in profit.

Their success led to the formation of the “Electric Candy Company” and a patent for their machine, preventing competitors from entering the market until 1921. In the meantime, dentist Josef Lascaux entered the industry and coined the name “cotton candy.”

In 1949, Gold Medal Products introduced a spring-loaded base for more efficient production. Since then, there have been developments such as fully automated machines and unique flavors. Despite these changes, one thing remains constant: cotton candy’s popularity around the world. There’s even been some books written about cotton candy and its history!

From its humble beginnings as a small-town delight to an international sensation with endless possibilities for flavors and creations, cotton candy is here to stay. And who knows what creative inventions will be   added to its legacy in the future!

Whether you’re a cotton candy fan or not, tell me what your favorite fair good is? Aside from cotton candy, it’s the caramel apples for me! Oh, and don’t forget the elephant ears! I’m giving away a free e-book of mine of choice to one lucky commenter!

You’ve won one free e-book of Kit’s!
Contact her at authorkitmorgan@gmail.com so she can get your book to you.

Ah, the cowboy trope. It’s why we’re all here! We love and write about cowboys in both contemporary times and historical, and you love to read our stories because you love cowboys just as much as we do! And why do we love them so much?

Well, there are a lot of interesting reasons why so many love a cowboy. For one, many of us desire men who are hardworking and rooted in traditional and family values. We love the cowboy’s loyalty and commitment to the land and nature. We love that they love wide open spaces and in many a cowboy romance, the setting can be its own character. For those of us who write a lot of cowboy books, we can sometimes forget that even though we write these fictional heroes, there are quite a few real cowboys out there in the world. I think that’s another part of their allure. They’re real.

My sister, a professional horsewoman, has known quite a few in her line of work. Ranchers, cowpunchers, farriers who also own cattle and have small ranches, rodeo people and on it goes. It’s a fascinating world, and we’re in Oregon!

When I went to Wild Deadwood Reads a few years ago, and stayed in the teeny tiny town of Aladdin, Wyoming, (population 15) I was surrounded by cowboys. They were everywhere! Good grief, you couldn’t fall down without landing on one. They were also quick to lend a helping hand.

There was a little cafe next to the air bnb we were staying. On the morning of our departure, there were two men manning the place. One cooked while the other took orders. Our “waiter” looked like your typical cowboy who’d just dismounted a horse. He was bustling around, unsure of what to do, but very gentlemanly about it. Several of us ordered hash browns, and he brought a platter to the table and set it down. “Family style,” he said and hurried off. Everyone just stared after him. 

Then he brought us the coffee pot, set it down, and let us serve ourselves when the cook called him back to the kitchen area. Come to find out, our cook was the owner of the cafe, and our waiter, was a rancher/cowboy friend and neighbor of his he dragged down to the cafe to help him that morning. Both the cook and waitress that were supposed to be working the a.m. shift had both called in sick. I tipped the cook and our waiter each twenty bucks. Our cowboy waiter had never waited tables before, but that didn’t matter. He did it good naturedly and wearing a pleasant smile even if he didn’t know what he was doing. He was our cowboy hero that day! Hey, we were hungry. It had been a long week.

What do you love about cowboys? Their rugged chivalry? Their love of country living? Their loyalty to family? What traits of the cowboy draw you in? I’m giving away one free-ebook of mine of choice to one lucky commenter.

You’ve won a free e-copy of Miss Hespa (The Brides of Fiddler’s Gap, Book 5)
Contact me at authorkitmorgan@gmail.com so I can get your e-book to you.

Hi, Kit Morgan here! In my latest book, Miss Hespa (The Brides of Fiddler’s Gap, Book 5) my heroine wants nothing more than to become a veterinarian. In fact it wasn’t until I was in the middle of the book and had to look a few things up that I discovered there was a woman by the name of Aleen Isabell Cust whose own story was very much like Hespa’s.

For starters, Aleen was born in the grand Cordangan Manor, County Tipperary, Ireland in 1868. She was the fourth child of Sir Leopold and Lady Isabel Cust, and her family was well-connected – her brother even became equerry to King George V. After her father’s death in 1878, the family moved to England where she became a ward of Major Shallcross Fitzherbert Widdrington. Hespa was born into an upper middle class family in Baltimore. So, both were not poor. And, despite her privileged upbringing, Aleen’s true passion, much like Hespa’s, was for veterinary medicine. Both my heroine’s and Aleen’s families disapproved of such a venture. But that didn’t deter either Hespa or Aleen. The latter persisted and used her small private income to attend William Williams’ New Veterinary College in Edinburgh under the alias “Custance” to avoid any scandal. In 1897, she attempted to sit for her first professional examination with the RCVS but was refused by the examination committee. Undeterred, she took legal action against the college but ultimately lost the case.

Despite this setback, Aleen completed the course and received a glowing testimonial from Professor Williams. He also recommended her for a position as assistant to William Byrne MRCVS at his practice in Athleague, Roscommon, Ireland.

Her showing up at Byrne’s practice caused quite a stir among the conservative community, but Aleen quickly earned respect with her competence and professionalism. However, when she was appointed as a part-time official veterinary inspector by Galway County Council, she once again found herself in conflict with the RCVS and had to compromise on being termed an “inspector.”

By this time the college could no longer ignore Aleen’s talents and eventually recognized her as a competent veterinary surgeon – though she still practiced outside of professional law. Known for making a statement, Aleen often rode around on a white Arab stallion while visiting clients or drove one of her horses in a gig. At night, she would dress formally for dinner and be waited on by her servants.

In 1914 she was enlisted in the purchase of remounts for the war effort. In 1915 she left Ireland to go to France (driving her own car) as a volunteer with the YMCA at Abbeville, also the headquarters of the Army Veterinary and Remount Service. The Service was under great pressure with thousands of horses in transit to and from the front: her help would have been welcomed.

In 1917 she was appointed to a position in the veterinary hospital laboratories. While the records of her time there were destroyed in the Second World War, she was in France from 1915 to 1918, being listed as serving with Queen Mary’s Auxiliary Army Corps.

No one could deny that Aleen was a remarkable person. The fact she was also a woman at a time when her sex was prevented, by barriers of prejudice and tradition, from obtaining their full potential, makes her an outstanding individual. My character Hespa is faced with many of the same challenges. Thankfully in a fictional world she can have a better chance than what it was like in real life for Aleen.

It is also clear that she was not only a competent practitioner, in what must have been (for her) a difficult environment, she was also someone of integrity who observed high standards. Above all, the factor in her life that gave her great determination was that she wanted to be a veterinary surgeon.

My character Hespa has the same determination. She’s even willing to give up a man she’s falling in love with to achieve her dream. Will she get her happily ever after?

Those of us who own pets need good veterinarians. While researching this book, it was interesting to find out some of the strange ways they treated animal ailments in the old west. It’s too bad it took so long for women to find their place in this vocation. I’m glad Aleen was able to achieve her dream.

Do you have a pet? Yes or no. And if you do, what’s your pet’s name? I’m giving away a free e-copy of Miss Hespa to one lucky commenter.  Here’s more about the book:

A determined young woman with a dream.
A handsome doctor willing to help her.
And one big, fat obstacle… okay, maybe two.

AMAZON

Hespa Pendergrass dreams of becoming a veterinarian. But if she can’t convince her parents she’s got what it takes, her dream will never become a reality. Lucky for her, a professor at the college she wants to attend, agrees to meet with her. With this man’s backing, she was sure to get in! There was only one problem. Okay, maybe two. Her parents still didn’t think she had what it takes, and they carted her off to Fiddler’s Gap for her best friend’s wedding. So what if she agreed to be the maid of honor! If she didn’t get back in time, she’d miss her one chance of speaking to the professor! How was she going to convince her parents to high tail it back to Baltimore?

Temple Garrett came to Fiddler’s Gap for the peace and quiet. He even sent off for a mail-order bride. But when the Pendergrass family shows up in town for a wedding, his world is turned upside down. Hespa Pendergrass fancies herself a veterinarian in training, and wouldn’t you know, she’s good at it? After she helps with someone’s plow horse and a few other animals, Temple is convinced she has want it takes to survive the training needed to become a veterinarian. Unfortunately, he should have paid closer attention to what his heart was doing while working with her. For once she went back to Baltimore, he’d never see her again. Did he have the strength to let her go and chase her dream? Find out in this sweet, heartwarming historical western full of love and laughter!