A Hard Road to Travel -- Part 4

A Hard Road to Travel -- Part 4

February 22

Indianapolis, Indiana

Got you letter this morning -- Yeah, I see what you mean about improved service.   I ran into the postman and he said the government's back involved with the postal service.    Let's hope they can stick with it.   If the system gets more regular, I will try to write every week.   Let's just hope we can get over this whole mess.

I also have some other good news.   Harry got a letter from IU and they accepted him.  He's going to be studying engineering.   They have re-started the department and have the best profs available.   He also got to see a presentation on the big quake.  He was telling us all about it and brought home a lot of information.   I was amazed about the arch.   I thought for sure it would have fallen, but the way the earth moved, it literally dropped straight down and is now only about 20 feet high out of the water.  I couldn't imagine.

Well, gotta go.

Love, Sal

*****

February 27

Keene, New Hampshire

All is well here.   Great to hear about Harry.  Bert and I sent the applications -- all completed.  Now we just have to wait and hear.   I don't think we will have much of a problem getting there.   Remember when we could just travel, or move for that fact, anywhere in the country.  And now we have to apply to move into a city!  Well, at least, the biggest part of the country still exists.  I wonder if we will get Alaska back from the Chinese?   And then there's Texas or what's left of it.   I hear nobody can get in.   We got a very long letter from Bert's cousins.  They left Amarillo in the middle of the night and made it to Rapid City, South Dakota in about a week.   Apparently, on the other side of the Mississippi lakes, as you call them, life isn't too bad.  The quake damage isn't as bad.    They sent an article from the Rapid City newspaper summing up what's going on there.  I''ve enclosed it for you guys.  

Well, gotta go.   XOXOXO

M

Researching Jack

Jack the Ripper has always fascinated me.  Not because he killed innocent women, but because his true identity was never discovered.  Many theories exist about who he was, but nothing 100%.

So, when Sam came to life, we naturally had something in common -- we both like unsolved mysteries.  And like Sam, I had to read about Jack and his victims.   I found several great books at the library and one incredible website -- Casebook: Jack the Ripper.   For my book, I read a lot about Jack.  More than I really needed to know.   For Sam, he only had to write a two-to-three page report for his history class.  (I think I was luckier.)

Creating the past was the hardest part of writing.   What was London like in 1886?   Did is smell bad?   What were the living conditions like in Whitechapel?  Hopefully, I gave enough flavor to the time and place. 

At this time, I am eagerly waiting for the second half of my book to come back from my volunteer editors.  I also eagerly await their comments and overall thoughts.

Favorite Websites

It seems like I haven't kept up with my blog, but the truth is I have been spending time writing more than blogging.   I've also been searching for some great wbsites out there to help me with my writing and finding sources of classes and groups.

My first recommendation is the website for The Writers' Center of Indiana.   They offer numerous courses you can take.   A great list of websites can be found under "Resources" for writer and teachers.  The Writers' Center began in 1979 and has continued to support writers and their craft here in Indianapolis.  The Writers' Center of Indianapolis

First half of the book...

I have completed the first half of my book... maybe... unless I sit down and start re-reading and decide to change something or add more...  The whole story  and my main characters, Sam and Mrs. Steers, have taken on lives of their own.   When I started, I had no plans for a book.  A short story was all I had in mind. 

How about a brief glimpse of my book?

When Sam Henry and his Mom move into a small apartment which is part of a larger home owned by Mrs. Lottie Steers, local writer and historian.   One day, Sam makes an interesting discovery in the attic -- a newspaper supposedly have the only known fingerprint of London's most famous serial killer.   This one discovery sends Sam and Mrs. Steers into the past... only for Sam to become involved in a larger mystery.

The Fingerprint of Jack

What would you do if you found an old newspaper that supposedly had the fingerprint of history's most notorious serials killers?  Sam Henry found out...

A Hard Road to Travel: The Letters of Two Sisters -- Part 3

A Hard Road to Travel: The Letters of Two Sisters -- Part 3

February 17

Indianapolis, Indiana

Good news, Marianne!   I mentioned to the head of the apartment building that you might be moving here.  She wanted to know what you do for a living.  When she found out you were a former decorator and gardener, she got very excited.  Apparently, there is a need for people with your knowledge in the area.   She said when you fill out the applications to get in, you should put us down as well as the open apartment.  There may be another one opening up soon.   Karen and Jack may be moving to Reno, Nevada.  Jack is a dentist and they are in need of them there.   Karen said if they go, it would take them 2 weeks to get there.   Travel across the Mississippi lakes can be difficult.  Stuff keeps floating up.   I heard the other day that part of the St. Louis arch is now sticking up about 25 feet and that means the water level has gone down.   They'd been tracking it for about four months and the water has stayed down.  I'm amazed it didn't collapse.

Well, gotta go.  Another class at the library -- more on canning and preserving.  Give the kids hugs and kisses from me.

Love, Sal

**** 

February 20

Keene, New Hampshire

Well, this was a surprise.  I just got your letter.  It only took a few days unlike a few weeks ago when it could take up to several weeks.   The postal system has started to come back together and a lot of the individual postmen have organized again.  Plus there's talk about a structured charge system again.  Anyway, I'm writing back asap to see how long it takes for you to get this.  

Interesting about the arch.  I thought they said nothing in that area survived.  Mama still wonders about her cousins there.  We finally had 'the talk' -- they probably never made it since the quake hit so fast.

Write when you can. 

Love, M

Back in the Saddle Again

It's been two since I last looked at my book.   Next week, I hope to return to it.   In the meantime, I did revise my short story, The Piano Teacher.   I see some short story contests in the future with that one.

Let me know what you think of it!   I'm always looking for constructive criticism.

A Hard Road to Travel: The Letters of Two Sisters -- Part 2

A Hard Road to Travel: The Letters of Two Sisters -- Part 2

February 1

Indianapolis, Indiana

Dear Marianne,

Got your last letter and we are excited about the prospect of you all moving here.   I will send you some information about the area.   You may be in luck -- we have an vacant apartment in our building.   I can send you an application.   I think you have good chances with Bert's engineering background.  Some places are completely unsafe for the time being.   I do know over the last two months they executed 5 people for murders, looting, and theft.   The laws here are very strict now.   Most of the downtown is pretty safe now.   We were able to get a pretty good place since Tom is very good at farming and I have my nursing background.   We have the neighborhood farm plot.   We get a lot of fresh produce.    There's a lot of farm land to the west, but you can only go so far. 

Well, have to go.  Off to the library to attend a class on canning and preserving.   I never thought I would have to learn how to do that.

Love ya, Sally

****

February 10

Keene, New Hampshire

Dear Sally,

Got your letter and the information sheets with the applications.  I see you had to pay $22 to send it.  Remind me to pay you back.   Too bad we don't have a regulated postal service anymore.  I hear they are trying to get it back up and running.   Bert says the country got what they wanted -- smaller government.   So small the only thing left is what is in Washington and it is pretty much like getting into Fort Knox anymore.   We talked about taking the kids to the museums there, but the application fees are about $100 each now.  They are talking here about property tax again.    Remember that!  I can't remember the last time we paid taxes -- but of course the roads are impassible, private postal service, the hospital is closed most of the week.  Judy from up the road went there to get a broken wrist set.  The doctors there wouldn't do it -- she didn't have the money.   They wanted to charge her $500 to do it.  She finally bartered it down to $20 and now she has to go and clean the doctor's house every Saturday for the next 2 years.  If you're rich, you're set.   We've saved money, but nothing like that.

Well, must go.  Expect a letter from Mama soon.

Love, Marianne

A Hard Road to Travel: The Letters of Two Sisters --Part 1

A brand new project for a brand new year...   I have been working on a new short story in the form of a series of letters.   So far, I have four letters written and have no idea where it is going.   I will be adding to it over.... while an undefined period of time.   Since there are several short stories in the pipeline, this one may take a while to finish and other completed stories may appear intermittently.  So for now, read on, McDuff!

A Hard Road to Travel: The Letters of Two Sisters -- Part 1

December 29

Indianapolis, Indiana

Dear Marianne,

We are well here.  It was good to hear from you; got your letter just before Christmas.  Indiana is booming again with people.   Tom and the coop bought two more oxen since we had such a lot of good produce last year.   Winter has started and we are ready.  The children are attending the local school.  Just think Harry is a junior and Janet a sophomore.  Harry took a weekend trip to Bloomington to visit Indiana University.  I wish that Mama would come visit.  I wrote and asked her if she wanted to, but have yet to hear.   I finished my third quilt of the year.  Now, I must work on the last one.

Please write when you get a chance.  I know it takes the post office to deliver in several days.  We hope that the New Year will bring better hope.

Love, Sally

****

January 10

Keene, New Hampshire

Dearest sister Sally,

It was good to hear from you.  Mama had a cold for several days and she promises to write. She mentioned coming in the early Spring.  Good news -- we may come with her.   Bert's been talking about moving closer to you.  The winters are unpredictable here.   We also have a hard time farming the land.   Martha and Brian are both ready to start 5th grade.  Sometimes I wonder if they should have been a year apart in school, but some days I'm just happy they lived to go to school.

Well, must close.  I find it so hard to actually write a letter these days with pen and paper.

Love Marianne

****