Winnie Griggs

Winnie Griggs is the author of Historical (and occasionally Contemporary) romances that focus on Small Towns, Big Hearts, Amazing Grace. She is also a list maker, a lover of dragonflies and holds an advanced degree in the art of procrastination.
Three of Winnie’s books have been nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, and one of those nominations resulted in a win.
Winnie loves to hear from readers. You can connect with her on facebook at www.facebook.com/WinnieGriggs.Author or email her at winnie@winniegriggs.com.

Winnie’s Winners

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Hello folks. I goofed.

I was so focused on getting last minute things done for my release of The Heart of Honor this week that I failed to post the winners from my last blog.

To make it up to y’all, I’ve decided to select a couple of extra winners and expand the prize from one book to two, So, the randomly selected winners are:

Quilt Lady
Joannie Sico
Mary Garback
Molly

Congratulations to each of you!

Please go to my website HERE and select the two books you’d like (paperback only), send me the titles and your mailing info, and I’ll get your signed copies on out to you.

The Heart of Honor

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Hello everyone, Winnie Griggs here.

I’m so excited to announce that my next release, The Heart of Honor, is the sixth book in the Petticoats & Patriots series, and it will be released one week from tomorrow.

This book was truly a labor of love. The characters came alive for me in a way that surprised even me, and what a story they had to tell! It grew far beyond what I’d originally imagined, ultimately coming in at nearly twice my planned word count.

Here’s a sneak peek from the opening pages.
Hawthorne, Texas
Late May 1876

Mercy Owens shifted slightly in her chair. Her discomfort wasn’t just the unfamiliar vantage of sitting at a student desk instead of standing at the front of the room. It had more to do with the committee’s current debate that had circled back to its starting point.

“The veterans should lead the procession,” Colonel Briggs said, his tone firm and unyielding. “They’re not representing some ancestor—we’re speaking of men who served with their own lives.”

Mrs. Whitaker’s fan snapped open. “And I have already said, Colonel, that the founding families represent the very beginning of this town. It would be a poor sort of celebration that did not place them in proper precedence.” She inclined her head slightly. “We are, first and foremost, marking the golden anniversary of Hawthorn’s founding—as well as the centennial of our nation.”

Mercy lowered her gaze to the paper before her and let her pencil drift into a small, absent pattern along the margin.

Beside her, Reverend Fields spoke up. “If we are to mark the centennial with proper reverence, then those with Revolutionary patriot lineage ought to be given their due.”

Daniel Carter exhaled and leaned forward, all business. “We’re not arranging a history lecture—we’re organizing a parade. I asked for details so I can do my part. I need numbers and mode—how many mounted, how many in wagons or walking. We can sort the rest once we know what we’re working with.”

Practical. Direct. Necessary. And not wrong. Daniel was well-suited to being head of logistics.

But his point fell on deaf ears. They weren’t listening to one another, only waiting their turn to press the same point again.

Then it came—a brief lull. Not agreement, only the absence of someone speaking. Mercy drew a breath and stepped into the void before it closed again.

“As I noted earlier,” she said, lifting her head, “there are still several families whose records remain incomplete. Particularly those living outside town. Until those are verified, we won’t have a reliable count.”

A few heads turned—some in acknowledgment, others in mild impatience—and Mercy felt the familiar weight of both.

Daniel frowned slightly. “How many are we missing?”

“A small number,” Mercy said. “But not insignificant. Some of the outlying farms have been here since the early days of the settlement. Their contributions simply haven’t been recorded.”

Mrs. Whitaker tilted her head. “And you intend to gather this information?”

Mercy held her expression steady, though a quiet thought pressed forward—no one had shown this much interest when she’d presented her report earlier. “If I’m to vouch for the accuracy of the Roll of Honor, yes.”

There was a brief pause. Not disagreement, exactly. But not full support, either.

It was a familiar space to occupy, that narrow ground between being heard and being set aside. Her reports were accepted readily enough—but their full weight rarely seemed to land all at once.

Mayor Caldwell gave a measured nod. “See to it, Miss Owens. We need your findings before we can finalize the procession order.”

Mercy inclined her head. “I’ll begin calls on the outlying properties tomorrow.”

“Good,” Daniel said, already turning back to his notes. “The sooner we have a complete list, the better.”

Voices rose again—quicker this time, words overlapping where before they had waited their turn. Mercy felt a tightening in the room as patience wore thin.

At the front of the room, Mayor Caldwell finally straightened. “We’ll table the question of parade order for now,” he said, tapping the desk lightly to draw their attention. “Until Miss Owens completes her records and we can review the full list, we’ve no grounds for a final decision.”

A few reluctant nods followed. Colonel Briggs didn’t look satisfied, but he didn’t object.

Mercy wasn’t certain how a count would address everyone’s concerns but she held her peace—the discussion had already gone on longer than it should.

“One final report,” the mayor continued. “Colonel?”

Briggs shifted his stance. “I’ve spoken with each of the veterans. They were honored to be asked. David Mulligan can’t ride on account of paralysis, but I told him we’d see him included in a wagon.”

“How many will be riding?” Daniel asked.

“An even dozen.” The colonel glanced her way. “That includes the outlying farms and ranches, so I don’t expect that number to change.”

Mercy nodded.

“Just one more thing you should be aware of.” Colonel Briggs paused as if weighing his words. “One of the veterans, while expressing his thanks for the invitation, declined the honor.”

“Declined?” Daniel repeated.

Mrs. Whitaker’s brows lifted. “I can’t imagine why anyone would do such a thing.”

“He gave no reason,” Briggs said. “And I didn’t feel I should push for one.”

“Then we’ll account for it when we finalize the numbers,” the mayor said, already moving on to old business.

Voices shifted again, turning—almost too easily—to the proposed fireworks display. Mercy listened only in part, aware instead of how quickly the earlier moment was slipping away, thinning between one topic and the next before it could take hold.

But it didn’t sit easily with her.

A man who had served refused to be recognized, honored.

Something in that niggled at her—quiet but insistent—refusing to be shrugged off.

The meeting finally ended. Chairs scraped. Papers were gathered. Conversations broke into smaller threads as people rose to leave, the earlier tension thinning into practical motion.

Mercy’s thoughts circled to her upcoming tasks.

Outlying families. Unfinished histories. And below it all, this reluctant hero.

She waited until Colonel Briggs stepped away from the others before crossing the room.

“Colonel,” she said quietly, “for my records—may I have the name of the gentleman who declined?”

He looked at her for a moment, as though weighing the necessity of the question, then gave a short nod.

“Porter,” he said. “Wilson Porter.”

Mercy repeated the name silently. Porter.

Yes… she knew of him. Not in any personal way—but enough.

Enough to give her an idea of just how to approach him.

The Heart of Honor

She’s fighting to honor the past. He’s haunted by it.

As Hawthorn, Texas prepares for a grand celebration honoring America’s centennial and the town’s own fifty-year history, schoolteacher and archivist Mercy Owens is determined to see that every act of sacrifice and service is properly remembered. So when one local veteran refuses to take part in the festivities, she cannot simply let the matter rest.

Livery stable owner Wilson Porter has spent years quietly rebuilding his life after the Civil War left him carrying wounds no one can see. Respected by the town but haunted by the past, he wants no public recognition—especially not from a committee determined to call him a hero.

But as Mercy’s research draws her deeper into Wilson’s history, and a series of shared journeys begins to chip away at the walls between them, both must confront long-held beliefs about honor, sacrifice, and worth. Because sometimes the bravest thing a person can do is allow themselves to be truly seen.

Set against the backdrop of America’s 1876 centennial celebration, The Heart of Honor is a heartfelt historical romance about quiet courage, second chances, and a love strong enough to heal old wounds.

PREORDER LINK

Leave a comment to be entered in a drawing for a signed copy of any of my backlist paperback books.

Patriotism, Parades, and Picnics: The Centennial of 1876

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Hello everyone, Winnie Griggs here. As many of you know, I’ve been hard at work on my upcoming historical romance, The Heart of Honor, my contribution to our Petticoats and Patriots series. The story is set in 1876, a year that held special significance for Americans because it marked the nation’s one hundredth birthday.

 

While doing research for the book, I found myself paying particular attention to how people actually celebrated the Centennial. We all know about fireworks and Fourth of July picnics, but what did the celebration look like for ordinary folks living in small towns and rural communities far from the nation’s largest cities?

The Centennial Exposition held in Philadelphia was one of the most visible parts of the national celebration. It was the first official World’s Fair held in the United States and drew visitors from around the globe. New inventions, technological marvels, and exhibits showcasing America’s progress filled the fairgrounds. For many people, attending the exposition was the opportunity of a lifetime.

But not everyone could travel to Philadelphia.

Across the country, both large and small communities found their own ways to celebrate. Towns organized parades, patriotic speeches, church services, brass band concerts, community picnics, and readings of the Declaration of Independence. Buildings were decorated with flags and bunting, and local newspapers often devoted special coverage to the occasion.

What I found especially interesting was that the celebrations often reflected the region where they took place.

In New England, many communities highlighted their connections to the Revolutionary War and the nation’s earliest history. In the South, the Centennial arrived just eleven years after the end of the Civil War, so the celebrations often carried a different tone as communities continued rebuilding and healing. Meanwhile, in the growing western states and territories, festivities frequently blended patriotic observances with the practical realities and traditions of frontier life.

One detail that especially caught my attention was how the Centennial encouraged Americans to look back as well as forward. While much attention was given to the nation’s progress and future possibilities, there was also a renewed appreciation for the people and events that had shaped the country’s first hundred years. Some communities and families reflected on their own histories, sharing stories and preserving memories of earlier generations.

In fact, this aspect of the Centennial helped inspire a key part of my story. My heroine, Mercy Owens, serves on her town’s Centennial Planning Committee and is responsible for collecting the stories and artifacts of the people who helped build the community. Like me, she believes that family stories are often what bring history to life. Dates and events have their place, but it is the people behind those events—their sacrifices, dreams, struggles, and triumphs—that make the past meaningful.

As I continue working on The Heart of Honor, I find myself thinking about that balance between remembering where we’ve been and looking ahead to where we’re going. Perhaps that’s one reason the Centennial captured the imagination of so many Americans in 1876.

So now I’m curious: If your hometown were celebrating its 100th anniversary, what story, keepsake, or piece of family history would you contribute to a community display? Leave a comment to be entered in a drawing for a signed copy of one of my books.

 

Fun news! The first issue of Petticoats & Patriots Magazine is here! Filled with Revolutionary War features, inspiring articles, patriotic recipes, reader activities, and stories celebrating the courage that built a nation, this special collector’s edition is the perfect way to begin celebrating America’s 250th birthday. Available now! Get your FREE digital copy HERE!

If you haven’t had a chance to check out our Petticoats and Patriots series yet, you can read about the first 5 books on our series page HERE.

And don’t forget, the first book in the series, Shanna’s For Liberty and Love. releases on June 16th and is available now for PREORDER!

 

 

Winnie’s Winners!

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Hello! Thanks to everyone who stopped by this week to join in the conversation about parlor games of yesterday and today. I loved all the personal memories you shared and they brought back so many memories of my own.

I threw the names of all the commenters in a hat and pulled out the following:

Sarah Gunter
Kim Hansen

Congratulations! You have won your choice of a signed copy of any of my 2-in-1 books. To find a list, please visit my BOOKS PAGE and go all the way down to the bottom section. Once you’ve decided which book you want, contact me at winnie @ winniegriggs.com (no spaces) with the title and your mailing info and I’ll get it on out to you.

Evenings Before Electricity – How Families Passed the Time

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Hello everyone, Winnie Griggs here. I hope everyone had as lovely a Mother’s Day weekend as I had.

My family has always been big on board games – really any kind of family game, including more than a few versions of card games and dominoes. But over the past several years, life has gotten in the way, and we haven’t been able to play together as a group.

That changed a couple of weeks ago when we decided to revive our monthly game night, and it was sooooo much fun. Eight of us gathered around the dining room table, and there were plenty of challenges, strategy, a fair bit of shifting alliances, and most of all, laughter.

Of course, families have been finding ways to gather and pass the time together for generations. Back in the late nineteenth century, before the internet, before television, before electricity, before all the distractions we take for granted today, those evenings looked a little different.

As daylight faded and the lamps were lit, families drew together, filling the evening with shared tasks, conversation, and quiet entertainment.

For most families, evenings began to settle in right after supper. Once the day’s work was done and the dishes cleared, the household would gather in whatever room offered the best light and warmth – often the kitchen or main living area. Illumination came from candles, oil lamps, or maybe a fireplace, which meant light was limited and precious.

But that didn’t mean evenings were dull – far from it.

Conversation was a central part of daily life. Families talked. They shared news, discussed the events of the day, and caught up on what neighbors might be doing. In small towns, where everyone’s lives were more closely intertwined, this kind of exchange helped keep the community connected.

There were also quiet tasks that filled the hours. Mending clothes, shelling peas, whittling, or other small handwork often took place in the evenings. These weren’t seen as chores so much as part of the natural rhythm of the day, something to be done while visiting and passing the time together.

And of course, there was entertainment.

Games have been around for centuries, and many of them would feel familiar even today. Card games, checkers, dominoes, and simple parlor games were popular ways to pass the time. Storytelling was another favorite – sometimes recounting family history, sometimes sharing humorous tales, and sometimes retelling stories that had been handed down through generations.

Reading aloud was also common, especially in households where books or newspapers were available. One person might read while the others listened, turning it into a shared experience rather than a solitary one.

Music often found its place in the evening as well. A fiddle, a harmonica, or a piano if one was available could turn an ordinary night into something special. Even singing together – be it hymns, folk songs, or favorite tunes – was a way of winding down the day.

 

What stands out to me is how intentional these evenings must have been. With limited light and no outside distractions, people turned naturally toward one another. Time wasn’t something to fill so much as something to share.

It makes our modern “game night” feel a little less like a novelty and a little more like a return to something that’s always been important – simply spending time together.

What about you – do you have a regular game night or another simple tradition that helps you slow down and connect with family or friends? Share here for a chance to be entered in the drawing for an autographed copy of one of my books.

Winnie’s Winners!

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Thanks to everyone who stopped by on Monday to discuss all things spring cleaning – it was fun reading the very varied perspectives on the topic.

I threw all the names in a big cyber-hat and pulled out the following:

Karijean

Julie Bullock

Congratulations ladies! You’ve won a signed copy of your choice of any of my books. (You can find a list of available titles HERE)  Once you’ve made your selection, contact me (email or facebook DM) with the title and your mailing info and I’ll get it on out to you

Spring Cleaning – 19th Century Style

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Hello – Winnie Griggs here. With spring settling in across my corner of Louisiana, I’ve started noticing that familiar urge to open the windows, let in some fresh air, and maybe tackle a few long-postponed chores around the house. It’s something many of us think of as “spring cleaning”.

It got me wondering what that looked like for folks living back in the late 1800s, so of course I had to do a little research. And as it turns out, spring cleaning back then wasn’t just a good idea – it was practically a necessity.

Why Spring Cleaning Mattered

During the winter months, homes were kept tightly closed up against the cold. Wood stoves and fireplaces burned day and night, leaving behind soot and ash that settled on just about every surface. Fresh air was in short supply, and by the time spring arrived, things could feel a bit…stale.

So when the weather finally warmed, it wasn’t just about tidying up – it was about restoring a home to something fresh and livable again.

Not Just on the Surface

And when I say cleaning, I don’t mean a quick once-over.

Rugs were hauled outside and beaten to remove months of dust. Bedding and mattresses were carried into the sunshine to air out. Curtains were taken down and washed, which was no small task when every bit of it had to be done by hand.

Floors were scrubbed, often on hands and knees. Walls might be wiped down, especially in areas where soot had built up. Windows were thrown open and cleaned to let in as much light and fresh air as possible.

It was hard, time-consuming work – the kind that could take days to complete.

There were no shelves of cleaning products to choose from, of course. Most families relied on homemade solutions.

Lye soap was a common staple – effective, but harsh. Scrub brushes, rags, buckets, and a good bit of elbow grease did the rest. And spring cleaning often doubled as a time to take stock – deciding what needed mending, what needed replacing, and what had simply worn out over the winter.

A Town-Wide Effort

In a small town, this wasn’t something happening in isolation.

Chances are, your neighbors were doing the same thing at the same time. Doors and windows would be open, rugs draped over fences, voices carrying from one yard to the next. There may have even been a bit of neighborly helping going on – especially when it came to heavier tasks.

It created a kind of shared rhythm – a sense that the whole town was shaking off winter together and stepping into something new.

Not Just Inside the Home

Of course, it wasn’t just the inside of the house that got attention this time of year.

Barns and stables needed clearing after a long winter, with fresh bedding laid down and repairs made where weather and wear had taken their toll. In a small town, the livery stable would have been especially busy – stalls mucked out, doors and hinges checked, and everything set back in good working order.

Harnesses and saddles were cleaned and oiled, wagon wheels inspected, and tools sharpened in preparation for the months ahead. Fences might be repaired, sheds cleared, and yards straightened up after winter storms.

Spring was also a common time to whitewash fences, outbuildings, or even parts of a home’s exterior.

And for many families, attention also turned to the kitchen garden. Beds were cleared of winter debris, the soil turned and worked, and early plantings set in as soon as the ground allowed. It was another sign of the season shifting – not just putting things back in order, but preparing for what would grow in the months ahead.

All of it was part of the same seasonal shift – a quiet but steady effort to move from the stillness of winter into the activity of spring.

More Than Just Cleaning

And maybe that’s the part I find most interesting.

Spring cleaning wasn’t only about dust and dirt. It marked a turning point. A chance to put winter behind you and look ahead to planting, travel, gatherings, and all the activity that came with warmer days.

In a way, it was as much about clearing out the old as it was about making room for what was to come.

 

 We may have more conveniences today, but that pull toward a fresh start each spring hasn’t really changed. There’s still something satisfying about opening the windows, letting in the breeze, and putting things back in order after a long season.

Maybe that’s why the idea of spring cleaning has lasted this long – because deep down, it’s never really been just about cleaning. It’s about fresh starts, open windows, and the quiet hope that a new season might bring something better with it.

What about you – do you have a spring cleaning routine you follow each year, do you change things up from time to time, or is it something you tend to put off as long as possible? Leave aa comment about this or any aspect of this post to be entered in a drawing for a signed copy of one of my books.

Winnie’s Winners

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Hello everyone. A big thank you to everyone who dropped by to join the conversation on earthquakes earlier this week. Some of your stories were really eye-poppin. I put the names of all those who stopped by in a cyber hat and randomly selected

Danielle B 

Valri Western

Congratulations – you have each one a signed book of your choice from my backlist (You can find a list HERE). Once you’ve selected, send me  the title along with your mailing info and I’ll get the book right on out to you.

A Ground-Breaking Post

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Hello – Winnie Griggs here. Earlier today (Thursday) I heard news that caught my attention – an earthquake had been recorded about eighty miles south of where I live here in NW Louisiana. Even more surprising, it registered as a 4.9, making it the largest earthquake ever recorded inland in the state (There was a 5.2 registered offshore about 20 years ago). Luckily there weren’t any reports of serious injuries or property damage.

While we’re used to hurricanes, tornadoes and the occasional ice storm, earthquakes aren’t one of the natural disasters normally associated with my home state. That got me wondering what earthquakes must have been like for folks living in the Old West, long before modern seismology explained what was happening beneath the ground. Naturally this event sent me down one of my research rabbit holes.

Without modern scientific explanations, earthquakes could be deeply unsettling events. Many people initially assumed the shaking was caused by thunder, a mine explosion, or even distant artillery fire. It sometimes took time for residents to realize that towns across an entire region had felt the same tremor.

When we think of earthquakes in the USA, most folks usually think of California – events like the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906, the Owens Valley earthquake of 1872, or the Hayward earthquake of 1868.

In 1872, in California’s Owens Valley a particularly powerful and destructive earthquake struck. Often called the Lone Pine earthquake, it’s estimated to have been somewhere between magnitude 7.5 and 7.8. Much of the town of Lone Pine was destroyed as buildings collapsed, chimneys toppled, and the ground itself cracked open in places.   Newspaper accounts from the time give us a vivid sense of what people experienced. One report described the moment this way:

“The shock came with a deep rumbling sound, and the earth rocked so violently that people could scarcely keep their feet. Buildings swayed, chimneys fell, and citizens rushed into the streets in alarm.”

Another observer later wrote that the ground seemed to move “like waves upon the sea.”

Of course, the earthquake most people think of when California is mentioned is the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906. That disaster struck early in the morning on April 18 and devastated the city. The shaking itself caused widespread damage, but the greatest destruction came from the fires that followed. With water mains broken and fire crews struggling to respond, flames swept through neighborhood after neighborhood. By the time the disaster ended, much of San Francisco had been destroyed and hundreds of thousands of residents were left homeless.

But earthquakes aren’t limited to the west coast. Tremors have been recorded in places like Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma—and yes, even Louisiana. The Rocky Mountain states, including Montana and Wyoming, have experienced their share as well.

While California experienced many of the best-known earthquakes, other parts of the American West were not immune. A powerful quake struck along the Arizona–Mexico border in 1887, sending tremors across much of the Southwest. The Rocky Mountain region – including parts of Montana and Wyoming – has also experienced periodic seismic activity caused by geological forces deep beneath the mountains.

Even the Mississippi River Valley has a remarkable earthquake history. A series of massive earthquakes struck near New Madrid, Missouri, in 1811 and 1812. These shocks were so powerful they were felt across much of the young United States, and church bells reportedly rang in Boston more than a thousand miles away. According to the US Geological Survey, the New Madrid earthquake was 10 times large than that of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

During the strongest shocks, witnesses reported that the Mississippi River itself appeared to run backward for a short time as powerful waves surged upstream before the river returned to its normal flow. I blogged about that several years ago – you can find it HERE.

 

A Few Earthquake Tidbits;

  • Large earthquakes could leave dramatic marks on the land. After the 1872 Owens Valley quake, observers reported ground fissures several feet wide and stretches of earth that had shifted dramatically.
  • After major earthquakes, springs sometimes appeared in new places and wells occasionally went dry—changes that could be alarming in communities where water was vital.
  • Animals were often said to behave strangely before earthquakes. Horses and livestock sometimes became restless shortly before the shaking began.
  • Early settlers sometimes mistook earthquakes for mine explosions, thunder, or distant cannon fire.
  • Aftershocks could continue for weeks or even months, which made some residents reluctant to sleep indoors for a time.
  • Much of what we know about earthquakes in the Old West comes from newspaper accounts, letters, and diaries, since modern seismology was still in its infancy.

Hearing about the earthquake near my home today made me grateful it did such minor damage. Still, it’s fascinating to realize that people living in the Old West occasionally faced the same unsettling experience of feeling the ground move beneath their feet.

What about you? Did any of this information surprise you?  Do you have any personal experience with an earthquake you can share with us? Leave a comment to be entered in a drawing for a signed copy of any of my available books.

 

Winnie’s Winners

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Thanks to everyone who stopped by to leave comments on my post about dentistry in the old west – it was fun hearing your stories. I randomly selected two names for my giveaway – they are:

Rhonda McDermitt

Cherie J

Congratulations ladies! You’ve won your choice of a signed copy of any of my books. You can find a list of my books on my website HERE  Once you’ve made your selection, email me with the title and your mailing info and I Ill get the book on out to you.

Petticoats & Pistols