Mary Hamilton
Forty years ago last month, I arrived in Texas. I never intended to stay more than a year, but time flies when you’re having fun. Two of my children were born here, and the one born elsewhere is probably more loyal to the state than the rest of us. If there’s any other state …
I know you’d rather be at the beach or watching fireworks or eating watermelon than reading a blog. So here are a few quick quotes to celebrate our nation’s Independence Day. “Where liberty dwells, there is my country.” – Benjamin Franklin “If our country is worth dying for in time of war, let …
Do you listen to audiobooks? While I still prefer actually reading a book, I’ve come to appreciate the convenience of audiobooks when I’m out walking or when I drive long distances. And the narrators amaze me, the way they come up with all those different voices! So, to celebrate the release of Pendant as an audiobook …
Today, I have the privilege of introducing my fellow author, Peg Blann Phifer. A retired executive assistant after twenty-one years in the Electrical Wholesale Industry, she lives in the ‘boonies’ of NW Wisconsin. A late bloomer, Peg didn’t start taking writing seriously until age fifty. Her debut novel, To See the Sun, a contemporary romantic suspense, …
The Stuff We Keep Shortly after our parents passed away and we went through the process of disposing of their belongings, my husband and I watched many of our friends go through the experience. We’re at That Age. It’s never easy to sift through someone else’s lifetime collection of Stuff and decide what’s worth keeping, …
One big reason for our tour of the Civil War battlefields was a painting that has been handed down from Great-grampa Hamilton. It depicted a place called Champion’s Hill, but no one in the family knew the significance of it, or even its location. Once we started reading the letters from Great-uncle Robert, we discovered …
Memorial Day I’m jumping out of sequence here on my Civil War travelogue, partly because of Memorial Day and partly because of a recent trip to Gettysburg. Did you know that Memorial Day was first observed (not celebrated) in 1868, just three years after the Civil War ended? It was intended as a day to …
With a nod to Mother’s Day this past Sunday, I’m recycling a post I wrote six years ago. I’ll Never Say that to My Kids Remember that line your mother always said that you vowed never to repeat to your children? “Eat your vegetables. There are starving children in Africa who would love …
During our tour of some of the western Civil War battlefields, I came to suspect that God was working “behind the scenes” to keep the United States together. There seemed to be too many coincidences. Confederate Mistakes Sometimes, it was a matter of poor decisions on the part of the Confederate generals. For example …
Our tour of Civil War battlegrounds where my husband’s great-grandfather and uncle fought under General Grant’s army continued from Belmont, Kentucky to Ft. Donelson, Tennessee. The Confederate fort was built to defend the Cumberland River against Union attacks. Twelve miles away in a low area that often flooded, Fort Henry defended the Tennessee River. …
Pic of the Month It’s Bluebonnet season in Texas! If you’ve never taken a road trip through Texas, this is the best time of year. The wildflowers along the roads are stunning. In some spots, they cover whole fields. So while our neighbors to the north are digging their way out of snow, we’re enjoying …
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Glenn Haggerty for several years, since we were both in an online critique group with ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). It’s been fun to exchange tips and woes with him as we each progressed in our journey toward publication and beyond. So I’m excited to interview him now as …
