I’ve loved reading novels set in cute beach and lake towns for as long as I can remember. Show me a book set at a lake cottage and I’m one-clicking on it faster than you can imagine. These books serve as a getaway vacation for my mind, body, and spirit as I mentally transport to the town I’m reading about. So when it came to writing another book set in a beach town, this time I decided not to use a town I had visited, like in my Star Series, which is set in Grand Haven, Michigan. Instead, for Summer of Possibility, I decided to create my own lake town with everything in it that would make it my ultimate calming and fun vacation destination.

Welcome to Bloomington Shores, a lake town inspired by the many vacation destinations where I spent my summers over the years. There’s a little of the Great Lakes beach towns I went to in Michigan over the years like Holland, Saugatuck, Grand Haven, South Haven, and Charlevoix. There’s also a bit of Praia da Vitória in Portugal. You have the pier from Grand Haven, and the ice cream shop in Saugatuck and the adorable shops in downtown Holland, Michigan along with everything I need to make a beach town a destination I’d want to go to—like a bookstore!

The bookstore was inspired by a library in Holly, Michigan that had an amazing fish tank as well as lots of cozy nooks to read in, as well as a library in Mackinac Island, Michigan. I remember spending time in both those libraries and knowing one day they’d find their way into a book. I put a fireplace in that I had seen at another bookstore over the years. And Stargazer island, from the writing workshop Cagney goes to in the beginning of the book, that is Mackinac Island.

Aunt Emily’s lake cottage is a mix of all the cottages I’ve fallen in love with reading lake cottage magazines over the years. The wrap-around porch came from an Instagram photo. The cottage was my mental getaway when I was going through a tough time. I’d pull out my notebook and start writing as a way to escape the very scary reality and go someplace calmer at least for a little while. I hope you find solace and calm at Aunt Emily’s lake cottage, too. You can read an excerpt to get that cozy feel below!

Summer of Possibility

Cagney Innes thinks all her dreams are about to come true as she’s accepted into a prestigious summer writing workshop with her boyfriend. It softens the sting of the fact she was wait-listed by almost every college she applied to. Everything seems perfect until the workshop head dashes her dreams during a critique session. Her Aunt Emily invites her to the family lake cottage where she can relax at the beach and think over her plans for the future.

In Bloomington Shores, Cagney finds a tight knit community that supports one another and a bookstore that needs saving. The owner of the bookstore’s grandson, Max Brazil, is a college freshman hockey player who Cagney starts off on the wrong foot with, but ends up becoming the guy she starts falling for. Max is dealing with a reoccurring injury that threatens his playing days. He’s trying to figure out if there’s life without hockey if his injury doesn’t properly heal. The two begin a friendship and become each other’s biggest supporters. Then Max leaves for a summer hockey program and the two continue talking long distance. With her family and Max’s support, Cagney’s got a new lease on life and her writing. However, her ex comes to town just as Max comes back early eager to see Cagney.

Not only does her ex complicate things, but then Max is offered a position covering hockey overseas, which might be the perfect solution for him if he can’t play anymore. Right as Max is making his decision, Cagney gets accepted by two of the colleges she was wait-listed for—her dream school that’s across the country as well as the school Max currently attends and is closer to her aunt and Grandpa in Bloomington Shores. Cagney needs to make the decision to either stay near her family and focus on her writing (and possibly her relationship with Max if he stays), or take the chance to attend a prestigious university that will open doors for her in the big city. Will Cagney follow her head or her heart?

Excerpt:

After dinner, I sat with a cup of mint tea on the enclosed part of the porch. A storm was coming, and I loved listening to the water. There was something beautiful about a storm on the lake with the unpredictable surface of the rough, crashing waves and dark skies. It was magical to watch, and it gave me a good reason to stay indoors and get cozy all day.

Aunt Emily walked over. “Well, it’s a perfect night for some hot chocolate, a bowl of popcorn, and a movie. Tonight we’re watching a classic and one of my favorites. It’s Agatha Christie’s first Miss Marple movie and, fun fact: Agatha wasn’t sure about the casting choice, but she ended up loving the actress in the role.”

“Sounds like the perfect movie for tonight.” I got up and followed her into the living room where she had the popcorn and hot chocolate ready.

Aunt Emily handed me a blanket. “It’s always cool in here at night, but I’ve grown to love the changing temps. Although I admit I’m not always so thrilled when it gets muggy the farther we get into the summer, and the mosquitos make a buffet out of me. For years I’ve wanted to get a dog, but on hot days it wouldn’t be fun having to take a puppy out for walks with the bugs. Although now I have you here for companionship, so no need for a pet.”

I scrunched up my face. “Um, I’m going to take that as the compliment that I assume you meant it as.”

She laughed. “You know what I meant. It’s just that I like solitude, and houseguests have never been my favorite thing, but I love having you here because of how we just mesh so well. We like the same shows, and you take time to yourself so my introvert side never feels tired. In fact, I plan to destroy your suitcase if you ever attempt to leave.”

I laughed. “This is the most comfortable I’ve been in years. Honestly, the only time I ever feel truly at home is when I’m in Bloomington Shores.”

She smiled. “That’s exactly how I felt when I’d come here to visit my parents. There’s something about this cottage, but not everyone appreciates it the way we do. Your mother just sees mismatched furniture, wonky floorboards, things that need fixing, and thinks it all looks old.”

“But that’s part of its charm. How could you not love this place? It’s like a cozy, quiet oasis away from the loud and chaotic world.” I pulled the blanket tighter around me.

She nodded. “I thought the same thing when I came here as a kid. I never wanted to leave.”

Pick up your copy of Summer of Possibility here. It’s free in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FCDYZZLN/
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FCDYZZLN
Amazon AUS: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0FCDYZZLN
Amazon CAN: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0FCDYZZLN
Add it on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/236013030-summer-of-possibility
Website: https://www.krystenlindsay.com/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@krystenlindsay
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krystenlindsay/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/krystenlindsay/

UPDATE: The winner is…Pansy!
*~*~*

Hello, Delilah!  Thank you for inviting me here today to discuss my new short story in a great anthology!

Signed, Sealed…Deceased isn’t the kind of anthology my readers are used to finding me in.  I write romance; therefore, I tend to contribute to romance anthologies — there’s a logic there.  So let me share this story with you.

I’m in a Facebook group where publishers put out calls for authors to submit their works to publications.  I sort of skim the lists now and then.  Truthfully, I’m so busy, I rarely have time to take on any other projects.  I noticed a call from a Canadian publisher for short stories.  I have Canadian friends and shared the link with them.  The first anthology coming up was a cozy, while a romance anthology is coming next year.

Me being me, I left the tab open in my browser for almost a month, intending to note the information about the romance anthology.

As you can probably guess, I have a ton of tabs open in my browser.  When I checked this one, I realized the deadline for the cozy mysteries was just a day away.  Since I didn’t write cozies, I didn’t think much of the date.  And yet…I read the call again, and inspiration struck. I had a story come to me nearly fully formed.  I call moments like those thunderclaps.  Just BOOM.  Here’s what you’re going to write.

The next morning, I sat down and wrote.  I wrote a 5k-word story in five hours.  The words just flowed.  Everything worked.  The ending felt a little rushed, but I had a strict word limit.  I mentioned the story to my freelance editor, and she offered to do a quick pass — if I could get the story to her within the next hour.  I did my self-edit pass and sent it to her.  She returned it less than an hour later. I polished it up, and to my immense pleasure, I had it submitted hours before the deadline.

Phew!

The next morning, I received a conditional acceptance.

I’ll admit, that was a new one.  They said barring any unforeseen issues, I was in.

My first thought was wow, they didn’t have many people submit.  My second was, wow, they must’ve been reading them as they came in.  My third thought was yeah, but writers are notorious procrastinators (see above with my submission going in with only seven hours to spare). Finally, I wondered which time zone the editor lived in.

My last thought was hey, maybe I just wrote a fricking awesome story.

Turns out the anthology had more than thirty submissions from around the world.  I was chosen as one of the twelve.  Six of us are Canadian authors and six are international.

That was it.  For a half day’s work, I was going to be in a cozy mystery anthology.

Phew!

I had a blast working with the editor to get my story into pristine condition.  I’ve had fun sharing news of my release.  I’ve taken pride in telling a story within the confines of cozy mystery but adding a subtle LGBTQ hint.

Only after I finished the story did I remember I’d seen something similar on the news recently.  Well, a letter being delivered almost 100 years late.  I put my own twist on it — including a murder mystery.

I love this story sooooo much that, I think, when the rights revert next year, I might transform it into a novella or even a novel.  There’s so much I didn’t get to explore.  There’s also a ton in this story that’s close to my heart, including Leonard’s relationship with his grandmother.  Made me miss my “nannies” even more.

I hope readers will snag the anthology and read the twelve very diverse stories!

Thanks, Delilah, for allowing me to share today.

Contest: As a thank you to your readers, I would like to offer a prize!  Either a copy of my latest MM novel Gideon’s Gratitude or a copy of my Love in Cedar Valley novel The Making of Marnie Jones.  Both books are really close to my heart and have parts of me in them — much as If You Read This, I Have Been Murdered does.  Please leave a comment — if an author veers not just into another subgenre, but an entirely new genre, would you consider following them?  Or do you stick to the genre you first found them in?  One commentor, chosen by Random, will win a book.  Good luck!

Signed, Sealed…Deceased Anthology

When the mail arrives, murder follows.

From mislabeled 1940s love letters to rare stamps worth killing for, these twelve mysteries prove that the most dangerous deliveries are the ones you never expected.

What awaits you:

• A mail carrier discovers Prohibition-era treasure and modern murder on a remote island
• A wheelchair-bound historian uncovers deadly stamp fraud in historic Quebec City
• Threatening letters reveal organized crime secrets in New Orleans
• Time capsules, missing packages, and messages from the past—each hiding deadly secrets

Perfect for fans of Louise Penny, Agatha Christie, and Elizabeth Peters.

Twelve international stories spanning Canada to New Orleans, featuring amateur sleuths, postal puzzles, and the cozy mysteries readers crave. Whether it’s a retired teacher’s embroidery circle solving cold cases or a postman’s impossible delivery to a haunted house, each tale delivers murder, mystery, and satisfying solutions.

Your special delivery of murder and mayhem awaits.

Authors:

• Andrea Barton – Death by Memoir
• Melissa Behrend – Lab’s Labours Lost
• Rachel Desiree Felix – The Tiffin-Box Thief of Rue des Jasmins
• Daniel Fox – The Stork Brothers Thing
• Gabbi Grey – If You Read This, I Have Been Murdered
• Albert N. Katz – The Road Trip
• Denise Landry – Stamped, Sealed and Duval
• Daisy Landish – Dead Letter Day
• Iris March – The Mystery of the Missing Merchant
• Flora McGowan – The Postman Always Delivers…Eventually!
• donalee Moulton – Bon Ami
• Andrea Tillmanns – A Letter from the Past

The anthology will only be available for a limited time.

Links:
Universal Link: https://buy.bookfunnel.com/vqvm3dauvh
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FHDSRFH2
Add it to Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/238656419-signed-sealed-deceased

If You Read This, I Have Been Murdered by Gabbi Grey
Inside Signed, Sealed…Deceased!

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.

Personal links:
Website: https://gabbigrey.com/
Newsletter sign-up: https://sendfox.com/gabbigrey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbigrey/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15456297.Gabbi_Grey
Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/Gabbi-Grey/e/B07SJVFX1M
Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGabbiGrey

UPDATE: The winner is…Sara!
*~*~*

I’m going to tell on myself here. If you can believe it, I was a nightmare as a tween/teen for my parents to raise. I was always rebelling.

Well, it started early. I ran away from home for the first time when I was maybe five. I put my most precious toys and my brother into a Radio Flyer wagon and left the house to wander down the road to another family’s house, where I figured I would live. My mother and I had had an argument. I told her I was going to run away from home, and she told me to go ahead. I took that as permission. When she was busy taking care of the younger siblings (there were two others), I packed up and left. Later, when her friends called to say we had arrived at their place, both my mother and father were pretty angry because they’d been looking for us. I got pretty bent out of shape when I was disciplined (spanked!) because she’d told I could go. Yeah, I was that kid.

Anyway, back to the picture.

When I was fourteen, I think, I ran away again, this time with three friends in the dead of winter. After drinking some wine one of the kids took from their parents’ fridge, another one of them “borrowed” his parents’ station wagon and off we went, leaving Abilene, Texas, where our fathers were stationed at the Air Force base, and we headed west. Our plan, if you can call it that, was to head to the Grand Canyon and live in a cave until spring when we would emerge and get jobs and take care of ourselves. I didn’t say we thought this through. It was a whim. We did make it to Flagstaff and got a motel room to hide out in until daylight when we would head to the park. And now, I think back on this and just shake my head, but I always wanted to be somewhere else and independent.

Well, the cops showed up in the early morning hours, due to an APB that went out describing the vehicle, and we had a knock on our door. Two of us decided we weren’t going to be taken so we squeezed out of the bathroom window into a snowdrift behind the motel, only to look up and see a police office, fingers tucked into his belt, standing at the corner of the building and shaking his head at our stupidity.

Did I mention that I left Texas without shoes? Yes, I jumped into a snowbank barefoot.

Well, long story short, we were sent to juvie jail, and our parents had to make the drive from Texas to Arizona to pick us up. While driving back home, my mother told me, “No more running away. If you want to leave home, you can when you go to college.” That was my inspiration to finish up high school early—I dropped out after my junior year because I had sufficient credits to apply for college, took the CLEP examinations and earned 21 hours of credit (I was just three credits shy of being a sophomore!). So, at 16, I was accepted into college and moved out.

Again, back to the picture.

After my trip to Arizona, where I never got to see the Grand Canyon, much less hole up in a cave until Spring, my parents decided I shouldn’t go back to school to be among that “bad crowd.” They drove me up to Spokane, Washington, to stay with my grandparents. It turned out to be the exact thing I needed because they were old and amused by my antics. They were so chill—a balm to my angry spirit. On Sundays, they’d let me have a beer and eat peanuts with them while we watched Lawrence Welk. They got me enrolled in high school for the second semester of my sophomore year. They encouraged me to volunteer at the nursing home down the street with them. I was kept busy, and they never had to raise their voices at me to get me to help around the house. It was a blessed respite.

While there, Spokane hosted the World Expo. They didn’t have much money, but my grandparents got me tickets to see Gordon Lightfoot and Three Dog Night at the Expo. At least, I think I saw Three Dog Night. It’s a little hazy, but I have more vivid memories of Gordon Lightfoot on stage. It was magical.

So, while we were up in Northern Arkansas this past week, we hit flea markets. One afternoon, when I decided to stay home with my sister, my daughter headed out to another antique shop. This morning, she unpacked the bag of items she’d purchased. She’d picked up this little trinket dish because of the artwork. We collect mid-century George Briard dishes. They’re not exactly valuable, but we love the gold artwork. When she looked at the dish today, she vaguely remembered that I’d said I’d been at the ’74 Expo, so she gave it to me.

And oh, the memories. My rebellion, my wild ride to the Grand Canyon, my time spent with my grandparents… Gordon Lightfoot….

I didn’t mean to go on for so long, but that was quite an adventure—one of many in my life. Remember, it was the ’70s. Youthful rebellion was “in.” I wore tapestry headbands, bell-bottom jeans, had long, blond hair, and loved the music of the era. Freedom was ours to take if we were bold enough.

Do you have a story of misspent youth to share? You might win a $5 Amazon gift card if you share your story in the comments! 

UPDATE: The winner is…Debra!
*~*~*

Hello, Delliah!  Thank you for inviting me to visit today and to share my newest release!  Finding Noah is part of Foggy Basin Season 2.  Foggy Basin is a fictional town in Northern California.  Small town, mostly friendly folk, plenty of queer people to go around.

The multi-author series is in its second year, and I was asked to join.  I didn’t hesitate. I love shared worlds and, of course, I write gay romance.  Most specifically, I tend to write small-town gay romance.  I’ve been part of several other series (Gaynor Beach, Deerbourne Inn, The Haunting of Pinedale High, to name a few), so the concept isn’t new to me.  Still, every time I embark upon one of these projects, I worry.

Once I get over that stress and actually settle down to write my book, I do investigations. I read previous books (if there are any), and I ask questions.  I try to find ways to connect my book to previous or future ones.  I did that with Finding Noah.  In particular, there’s a character who will be in a later book this season.  I coordinated with that author, wrote my couple of scenes, and then had them read over what I’d written.  They were thrilled. I did something similar with two other characters, although they were more passing references than in-depth dives.

In the end, I believe I’ve told a story that is both true to the town and the series, as well as the characters I borrowed from. I have, I hope, made connections that will intrigue readers and make them want to pick up other books.  Most of all, I had fun.  That’s what it’s all about, right?

I will continue to sign up for these projects because I want to expose my readers to books beyond just my own. I’m grateful they’re willing to give me a shot, and I’m even more pleased when they branch out.

That’s it!  Pretty simple.  I’m in two more shared worlds coming up — back to Rocktoberfest for my third kick at the can – and I’ve co-written the final Friends of Gaynor Beach Animal Rescue book with a friend.  Details of both of those projects are coming soon!

Thank you, Delilah, for hosting me.  I would love to hear from your fans.

Contest: Do you enjoy shared worlds?  How important is it for authors to make connections between the books? Let me know!  Leave a comment.  Random will pick one winner who will receive a copy of Yorkie to My Heart – my latest contribution to the Friends of Gaynor Beach Animal Rescue series. Good luck!

Finding Noah

Noah

I need a fresh start, and Foggy Basin, California, is the perfect place to begin my new life. The accepting small town is such a contrast to the large town I came from. Making a success of my dog-training business—Tricks, Tips, and Backflips—is important to me, and I totally lucked out when my straight best friend, Christian, decided to move with me. He makes my life easier. I just hope he’ll be as happy here as I am.

Christian

Following my best friend to Foggy Basin was a no-brainer. I’ve been in love with him since we were five years old. Problem is, I’ve never had the guts to say so, and while he’s out and proud, I’m still in the closet. Somehow, I need to find the courage to make a move before he finds someone else in this gay-friendly town, but Noah thinks I’m straight, and I’m not sure what he’ll do when I tell him that’s not exactly true.

Finding Noah is a 44k small-town, friends-to-lovers, interracial, gay romance with fresh starts, well-meaning but nosy neighbors, and some special critters who are along for the ride.

Welcome to Foggy Basin, Season Two. Just passing through? No problem. Here to stay? Well, better find your place. Sit back, relax, and get to know the townsfolk. They love hard and play even harder. Each book is a standalone, but why not stay and get to know us and read them all?

Links:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Noah-Foggy-Basin-Season-ebook/dp/B0DZRZ3XHV
Universal Book Link: https://books2read.com/FindingNoah
Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/229030712-finding-noah

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.

Personal links:
Website: https://gabbigrey.com/
Newsletter sign-up: https://sendfox.com/gabbigrey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbigrey/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15456297.Gabbi_Grey
Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/Gabbi-Grey/e/B07SJVFX1M
Audible Profile: https://www.audible.com/author/Gabbi-Grey/B07SJVFX1M
Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGabbiGrey

I just arrived home after a visit with my sister! I have to unpack and get organized, but I thought I’d go ahead and post something quick about open contests before it’s too late for you to enter! ~DD

Open Contests

Be sure to check out these posts and enter to win the prizes that are still up for grabs:

1. Gabbi Grey: Rucking Yet Again?!?! (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win a FREE book!
2. Sliding Puzzle: A visit to the apothecary… (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. Story Cubes — Tell Me a Story (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
4. Health Update & a Trip News (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
5. Anna Taylor Sweringen/Michal Scott: Jessie Redmon Fauset — Mother of the Harlem Renaissance (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
6. Puzzle-Contest, Report Card & More Open Contests! Tons of prizes to be had! — Win an Amazon gift card!
7. Ava Cuvay: Family Members, Family History (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
8. Word Search: Packing for a Trip (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
9. Tell me a story… (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
10. Puzzle-Contest: Sisters, sisters… — Win an Amazon gift card!
11. July into August (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
12. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Lazy Dog — Win an Amazon gift card!

UPDATE: The winner is…Pansy!
*~*~*

Yes, I’ve been watching too many crime series lately. My current binge is Jane Seymour’s Harry Wild.

I love a good mystery. Heck, I love a middlin’ one, too. I delight in a chance for our sleuth to wander through a crime scene, pick up details no one else sees, then head off to track down more clues to unravel the mystery. So, let’s have some fun today.

You’re the detective. The body’s already been removed. You have an outline and a few evidence markers around it. How about you tell me a story about who you are, who is with you, and what you see (make up all the details!)? Where’s this taking place? Man or woman? Indoors, outdoors? Is it an establishment? Have fun with it!

Comment with your little story (doesn’t have to be fun or clever!) or list of clues for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card! 

UPDATE: The winner is…Theresa Privette!
*~*~*

Today, I had planned to talk about my newest children’s picture book I released in May… just in time for Summer and all the adorable flamingo goodies that are out there. Here is the Amazon link if you’re interested: https://www.amazon.com/Floria-Finds-Flavor-Tippi-Hickey/dp/B0F7FTR24P/

But what I really want to talk about—what’s been weighing heavily on my mind and heart these past several months—is family, family memories, and family history. And my seeming lack of.

Last December, my unmarried aunt passed away. I had been her POA the last several years as her health declined, taking care of the details so she could enjoy her final years living in the house her mother had built, surrounded by her beloved collections, and out in the quiet solitude of her rural home away from people. Then my task of settling her estate commenced. A huge part of that meant going through her house. The house my grandmother built just before I was born (so, just a few years ago 😜 ), which was large enough to tuck things away and forget about them.

I’ve unearthed three-plus generations’ worth of stuff while going through my aunt’s house. Framed photos, diaries, photo albums, Christmas and birthday and 50^th wedding anniversary cards and letters from people I never heard mentioned. Land deeds dating back to the late 1800s and even as early as 1810. The occasional random “momentos” such as Red Robin coupons from 2015 and canceled checks from the 1980s, in chronological order. But also the sketches of horses my aunt had drawn in high school, her binder of poems she’d written on work stationery, and “while you were out” notepads. My father’s baby clothes. And the Army decorations my grandfather, who passed away when my dad was headed to college, had earned as a Captain during WWII.

I’ve spent the past half year discovering my family and some of its history. And I’m bitter.

I’m going through the keepsakes and memories of people I never really knew. Many I didn’t know because they were long gone by the time I was born and no one talked to me about them. Or maybe I was too immature growing up to listen. But these are all strangers to me, even my aunt to an extent. This is a rich heritage no one ever felt was important enough to ensure the knowledge was passed along to me so I can pass it along to my own children. These are pictures of strangers.

Maybe it stemmed from the pragmatic attitude of being farmers. Maybe it stemmed from my grandmother being widowed and struggling as a single mother in the 1960s. Maybe it’s my own fault for not appreciating history until these past several years, when it was too late to ask anyone.

Whatever the case, I might as well be going through an antique flea market, for the emotional attachment I have with these items. And that’s sad; these treasurers should spark more than a simple “wow, that’s so interesting” from me. These people, their story, the items that were important enough to store for decades (but not important enough to store so that vermin and water wouldn’t ruin them), this heritage… most of it will fade away like a morning mist once I’m gone because I don’t have more than a smattering of family knowledge to pass along.

Fortunately, there are a couple of cousins who have more historical knowledge than me, and they are invested in documenting a lot of it. In fact, I’ve learned more about my own family from a couple days with them than I’d accumulated over a lifetime. Unfortunately, my own children are teens, and not at all interested in learning about family history. Hmmmm, sounds a lot like me when I was their age.

I urge you, if you haven’t already, to document your family history and share the stories and the people. Repeatedly. If we don’t know our roots, how can we truly grow?

Since I didn’t really talk about a book, I’ll give away a $10 Amazon gift card to a randomly-chosen person who comments.