The story behind "...knows how to swing a meat cleaver."

For Tidbit Tuesday, I thought I would share the story behind a segment I recently wrote in my upcoming novella, Her Independent Heart, part of my Eastern Sierra Brides 1884 series.

"Chub"

My dad didn't care for his given name, so he was known throughout most of his life by his nickname, "Chub." He grew up during the Great Depression and finished high school while World War II raged. With money tight, he learned early the practical skills that could earn him extra cash.

After a stint as a navigator on a B-24 towards the end of WWII, he returned home and began his career in building construction. He developed a reputation as an excellent finish carpenter. By the time he was in his late twenties, he was a general building contractor with his own business.

As he came up through the ranks in other companies, often working as a job foreman, he often found himself in the middle of disputes with other construction workers. Sometimes the discussions came to blows. Many of the men were taller than Chub and had a longer reach on their arms.

The house Chub built and where I lived most of my childhood

Dad told me he learned early on to always carry his hammer with him. That hammer was his equalizer. When the shouting matches grew heated, Dad hefted that hammer in his hand. He said that he knew there were times some of the men grew so angry they were tempted to take a swing at him. Then they glanced at that hammer and backed off.   

Because they all knew Chub knew how to swing a hammer.

The character Gus in my upcoming novella, Her Independent Spirit, like my father, is shorter than average, and possesses a stocky build with a lot of strength and coordination in his arms and shoulders. Here is this week's tidbit:     

     When the time had come to close the eatery, Louise had been further surprised. While she and Beth pinned their hats on and wrapped their shawls around their shoulders, her eyes had grown wide with apprehension as she  watched Gus grab his meat cleaver. He hefted it in his hand to get a good grip on the handle, then he motioned the two women out the back door of the kitchen. Beth followed his lead as if it were an everyday occurrence. Cautiously, clasping Sophie Ann tightly to her chest, Louisa tagged behind.

     Later that evening, Beth had explained that except for when Val was in town to walk with her, Gus had developed the habit of seeing her safely home. 

     “I done told him I got my Derringer and my pa’s huntin’ knife strapped to my leg, but he figured he wasn’t takin’ no chances of losin’ his cook. Gus don’t own no gun, but that don't matter none. Word done got around this town right quick Gus knows how to swing a meat cleaver."

Old North American meat cleaver

To learn more about the first two novellas in the Eastern Sierra Brides 1884 series, please visit the following links:

Zina Abbott Author Links:

Website  |  Blog     |  Pinterest  |  Facebook  |  Goodreads

Please visit the Zina Abbott’s Amazon Author Page by clicking HERE.

Purchase Links for Big Meadows Valentine:

Kindle  |  Nook  |  Smashwords

Purchase Links for A Resurrected Heart:

Kindle  |  Nook  |  Smashwords

New SWEET AMERICANA SWEETHEARTS Group Blog

I don't have enough to do with my time.

New SWEET AMERICANA SWEETHEARTS blog - click HERE

Correction!

Now that I am a published author, the reality of also needing to spend time getting the word out about my books that are already available has become part of my writing experience, whether or not I think I have the time.

One of the more effective ways to let readers know about the kinds of books they like to read is to attract them to sign up to follow a group blog. Group blogs feature several authors who band together and take responsibility for providing a post on a regular basis. Also, on a group blog, it is important to offer readers and subscribers information they may find interesting, informative and entertaining. I subscribe to several group blogs and enjoy reading the great posts by published authors.

Since most group blogs I enjoy already have a full slate of contributing writers, I created a new group blog, SWEET AMERICANA SWEETHEARTS. Rather than make it a duplicate of the historical western blogs already out there, I came up with a slightly different focus to appeal to a specific reading audience. SWEET AMERICANA SWEETHEARTS features sweet/clean writers of historical romance novels set in North America during the years of 1820 through 1920.

In a little over 24 hours since I started spreading the word about this new blog, I've had three published writers express an interest in becoming contributing authors. I'm just waiting for their author photo, bio and gmail address so I can get them assigned to a day each month and get them linked up. Read my inaugural post by clicking HERE and the guidelines by clicking HERE if you are a published sweet/clean romance writer interested in contributing to this blog.

SWEET AMERICANA SWEETHEARTS will also feature guest authors, blog tours and "Tidbit Tuesdays." Our first Tidbit Tuesday for works in progress (WIP) excerpts between 100-200 words in length is now active. You can see the post HERE. If you are a sweet/clean historical romance author who writes about North America during the century of 1820 through 1920, please consider leaving your WIP tidbit in the comments section.

At the group blog administrator, I'll get authors signed up and manage the guest authors, Tidbit Tuesdays and blog tours. However, once authors are assigned to a specific day of a specific week, the blog for that day is THEIRS. They add the post. They respond to the reader comments. They promote their blog post on their media sources.

If you are a READER who enjoys sweet/clean historical romance novels set in North America between 1820 and 1920, please sign up to subscribe to the SWEET AMERICANA SWEETHEARTS blog by clicking HERE.

Big Step - Zina Abbott's Facebook Account

I'm taking a big step, here. This may be one of the biggest since my decision to write historical fiction as Zina Abbott.

Zina Abbott is now on Facebook. Yes, I do have a Zina Abbott Books page under Robyn Echols. However, I am unable to link my Zina Abbott Pinterest and Goodreads accounts to Facebook the way things are currently set up.

Also, I am working on the assumption that most people who "Like" or "Follow" Zina Abbott Books are only interested in my books and experiences as a writer. They don't necessarily want to get in on my family and vacation pictures, political and religious views or be bombarded with the goofy sayings and jokes I like to forward on my other Facebook account. After checking around with other authors for their feedback, I decided now is the time to make this change.

So, please! I BEG YOU. If you have already "liked" or are following my existing Zina Abbott page, please send a friend request to me at: ZINA ABBOTT ON FACEBOOK.

And, if you haven't "liked" or "followed" me yet on Facebook, I invite you to do so. Click on the above link or on the banner below.

I will be putting a notice on my prior page stating that I am going to let it go inactive.

Zina Abbott Facebook banner - Keep in mind my portrait goes in the spot on the left.

 
Zina Abbott Author Links:

Website        Blog          Pinterest         Facebook        Goodreads

 

Purchase Links for Big Meadows Valentine:

Kindle                 Nook               Smashwords

Purchase Links for A Resurrected Heart:

Kindle                 Nook               Smashwords

The Sultana Disaster & Abilene Gamble

I found it interesting to read more about the Sultana disaster on my email I get from Fold3. Fold3 is an organization which provides historical documents (annual fee) that have been created since the Colonial times of North America. I have found it a valuable research resource.

Access the Fold3 blog post about the Sultana disaster by clicking HERE.

You can read my Trails & Rails blog post on this incident along with a little of how it relates to a work-in-progress that I have titled Abilene Gamble by clicking HERE.

Cover Reveal: A RESURRECTED HEART

Cover reveal AND a title reveal.

After reviewing all the possibles on the short list for a title for this second book in the EASTERN SIERRA BRIDES 1884 series, I decided on A Resurrected Heart.

Livia at Prairie Rose Publications did it again with a beautiful cover. That picture of Mount Scowden behind the current fishing resort of Lundy is mine, but she combined it with a beautiful blue sky that set off the blue signature banner with the images of my main characters, Val and Beth. (Trust me, that wimpy late winter sky in my original photo was nothing to write home about.) I  also love how she used the clouds as a backdrop for the series title.

Livia must have had the cover pretty much already worked up while we were debating about the title. Cheryl and I no sooner decided on the name, A Resurrected Heart, and within 24 hours I had this in my email inbox.

The tag line is:  A march, a birth, a burial -- and a resurrection of her heart.

I love it! 

This novella is scheduled to be released sometime in April.

The Not So Short List

Thanks for all who helped me come up with ideas for the title for the second novella in the EASTERN SIERRA BRIDES 1884 series. There were a lot of great suggestions. I paid attention to those titles suggested by more than one person. Here are the ones that made the not so short list:

• Resurrection of the Heart
• Love Resurrected
• Resurrection of Love
• Resurrected Heart
• A Resurrected  Heart

Need Help! I'm Stumped On a Title

Lundy Lake in February 2015

Well, this is a mixed blessing! I sold my book but not the title. My publisher wants a title that speaks romance.

HELP!

I need some brainstorming assistance to come up with an effective historical western romance title for my second novella in the EASTERN SIERRA BRIDES 1884 series.

 I came up with my working title because my story is set in the spring in Lundy, a defunct gold mining town in the eastern Sierra-Nevada Mountains. It is about an actual event that took place there in 1884 that was called "Resurrection Day." My logical mind came up with Lundy Resurrection Day. Makes sense, right?

However, I will be the first to admit that the title, Lundy Resurrection Day, does not scream "ROMANCE."

Available on Kindle and Nook.

The first book in the EASTERN SIERRA BRIDES 1884 series is Big Meadows Valentine. For this second book cover, I would like to continue with the heart banner on top and the chicken motif, but that is up to Livia, my cover designer. I also have a few photos of the area for her to consider for a cover background.

Anyway, my publisher and I agree that because of the theme that runs through the story, "resurrection" or possibly "resurrected" or "resurrect" must be included in the title.

Some things to consider regarding the storyline:

• It includes the continuing romance between Beth Dodd and Val Caldwell.
• The story has nothing to do with Easter or the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• Beth has already agreed Val may call her by her first name and officially court her, but she  still is not sure she wants to remarry or she can love enough to be a good wife.
• Val believes her reluctance is based on a lack of trust, not a lack of love.
• This is a sweet romance.
• The tentative tag line for the cover is "A parade, a birth, a burial and a resurrection of her heart."

Whether you respond by leaving a comment on this blog, on Facebook or on a Yahoo group, any and all suggestions for a title for this story that screams "ROMANCE" will be greatly appreciated.

Robyn Echols writing historical romance as Zina Abbott