Congratulations, you’ve won a free e-copy of Cowboys & Debutantes Historicals!
Email Kit at authorkitmorgan@gmail.com so she can get your prize to you.

Since I’ve been caregiving for someone in California, I haven’t been able to get out much. But a couple of weekends ago, I managed a day trip to Columbia. The town is a historical area and state park that encompasses the main part of downtown. Everything is still as it was back in the mid 1800s and is a wonderful place to visit.

Columbia is in the heart of the California Mother Lode and the Columbia State Historic Park is a living gold rush town that has the largest collection of existing gold rush-era structures in the state. I’ve blogged about Columbia years ago, but since I hadn’t visited Columbia in such a long time, I thought it would be fun to tell you about it again. 

I love spending time in Columbia. It’s like stepping back in time to a nineteenth century mining town. All the folks working in the shops dress in 1850’s attire, and there are all sorts of fun little shops. You can even take a stage coach ride!

My book, Minnie, Cowboys and Debutantes Book 3 is set in Columbia, inspired by the Columbia Mercantile 1855. The year the building was constructed by French provisioners from Lyon, France after the tent and wood city of Columbia burned to the ground earlier that same year. The new mercantile was built out of brick and iron. The city primarily built their new  buildings out of wood which were very quickly destroyed by fire a second time in 1857.

The hero in my story owns the town mercantile, so when I had the chance to visit the Columbia Mercantile 1855 (yes, that’s its name) and met Teresa Torbett, who runs it, I had to ask a few questions.

The state of California owns the mercantile, and Teresa and her husband were awarded the concession contract after submitting a proposal to operate a grocery store– but for the first time in an 1850’s style. They’ve since transformed it into a lovely establishment that is like a Trader Joe’s wrapped up in an 1850’s mercantile!

The mercantile carries local, organic produce, international and craft beer, foothill wines, sushi making supplies, Indian food, fresh-baked, vegan, gluten-free–even a music supply store, garden tools and gloves, and local fine art original paintings and prints. The better question is, “What don’t they have?”

I remember snapping some pictures of the building years ago. That’s what inspired me to write Minnie’s story. The store was also the inspiration for Ruggles & Son General Store which appears in my Fiddler’s Gap series. There’s just something about an old fashioned general store that touches us and makes us envision simpler times. And visiting the Columbia Mercantile will certainly do that! 

The Columbia Mercantile 1855 doesn’t look like it would be a real grocery store. Folks think it’s a mercantile transformed into a gift shop or something. So when they walk in and find actual groceries, some are taken aback.

The store has baskets of produce here and there, and a tiny shelf-filled cubby that serves as the “Pharmacy”.  There are eggs and other staples and Teresa has meats in the back such as beef, elk, buffalo, and more. All in all it’s a fantastic store for the locals and tourists to shop in, all within an old fashioned mercantile setting. 

Is there an old fashioned general store or mercantile you’ve been to? If so, what was it like? For me, we had the Springwater Store which was much smaller than the Columbia Mercantile 1855, but still fun to go to. We used to ride our horses to the store and buy candy and then eat it on the three and a half mile ride home. I’m giving away a free ebook of my Cowboys and Debutants box set which includes Minnie’s story to one lucky commenter! Here’s a little more about the set:

These riches to rags mail-order bride stories prove that love can be found in the most unexpected places, and that money does not always make the man. But as our debutantes know, it sure helps!

Effie Stout is in her third season and beginning to worry if she’ll ever find a husband. But just when she sets her sights on a good prospect, the unthinkable happens. Her family falls into ruin. Forced to become a mail-order bride by her stepmother, Effie does her best to live like the other half and not get her or her would be groom killed in the process.

Minnie Stout, along with her sisters and cousins, had been forced after a family tragedy, to become mail-order brides. Now here she was, heading west, WAY west, to California, where she’d never find so much as a crumb of her old life. Unfortunately for Minnie, she didn’t allow herself to imagine a new one, either. Add to that a snobby rival, and watch the sparks fly!

Lula Stout, along with her sisters and cousins, had a charmed life. Emphasis on the word “had.” They lived in New York City, the daughters of rich shipping magnates. And in a blink of an eye, they were reduced to nothing, their father and uncle’s business gone. Right along with their reputations. To help fix the mess, Lula’s step-mother forces Lula and her sisters to become mail-order brides, sending each off without informing them where the others are going. Reeling from loss and not knowing if she’ll ever see her sisters again, Lula steps off the stage in a little town called Clear Creek, wondering what the future will bring. What she brought was a whole lot of anger and heartache.

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.