Fare Thee Well, Sweet Margaret

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On April 3rd, we lost my mum. Margaret Lindsay (Klock) Chase. Wife. Mother. Aunt. Friend. My family and I appreciate everyone who has commented about their experiences with her or shared their condolences. Here is our tribute for her, along with some of our favorite images. We’re sure they will make you smile. You may want to grab a tissue… We’ve certainly gone through our fair share.

Margaret Chase: 1940 – 2024

She was just so sweet. This phrase has been the one most spoken this week about Margaret Lindsay (Klock) Chase, age 84, after her passing on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Medicine Hat, Alberta. She was a girl from Saskatchewan. Simple in needs and wants. One might even say she was ordinary. And yet, for those who never met Margaret, you’ll soon understand why it’s a shame you did not know this extraordinary person.

The Early Years

Life, for Margaret, began Naicam, Saskatchewan on March 26, 1940. A town with a population of just 267—it’s only 670 or so now. She was born to Margaret Catherine (Floss) Klock, who had come to Canada from Chicago, and Erie Klock, who farmed land he’d acquired through the Canadian Homestead Act of the 1930s. The third and accidental child, Margaret was just two months old when her father died of Leukemia.

Suddenly, what might have been a harvest life, was now hardscrabble. Aside from affection from a stray cat named Toby, she and two siblings (Catherine and Frank) endured crushing winters and windy prairie summers. Home was troubled by a grieving and often difficult mother. Margaret recalled an embarrassingly dirty house, albeit one also littered with books. She was always thankful for the gift of reading, but also recalled a year she was thankful for shoes. They’d been given to her by a friend who had outgrown a pair. Those hand-me-downs saved her from being among a handful of students who went to the one room schoolhouse barefoot.

Through such gifts in her tiny post-depression town, she learned gratefulness. That trait helped her make friends—like Donna (Brodt) Fleming—who enabled her to make the most of her growing up years. With them, she played hockey. Learned to figure skate. Joined the basketball team. Truly non-denominational, she often accompanied her friends to their respective churches on weekends—relishing in the shared meals and a joy of music that would only grow and deepen over time.

Soon after high school, she headed to the big city of Moosejaw, Saskatchewan to find work.

“I remember staring up at the tall buildings with my mouth hanging open,” she once told her daughter, Karen. “And those buildings were just three or four floors. It was silly to think they were big after seeing Chicago and New York years later.”

In Moosejaw, she began working for the Saskatchewan Power Corporation in 1960, as a clerk for engineers. With only two skirts, and a couple tops to wear, she worried she wasn’t looking smart enough for such a job. She recalled her boss pish-poshing it as nonsense. She was just what they needed. Presentable, clean, and always willing to work and lend a hand to others.

It was that smart simplicity that she exuded when Cecil Chase of Limerick, Saskatchewan strolled into the office. In his RCAF uniform, he came to pick up a friend—Margaret’s coworker and friend, Mabel—who needed a ride. That first look is all it took. After a little colluding with Mabel, soon they were on their first date to a baseball game. They were engaged a year later, and Margaret and Cecil married on June 23rd, 1962.

Engagement Day
Wedding Day, 1962
Getting a sunburn on the honeymoon

 

She continued to work with the Power Corporation in Regina as Cecil went back to school, and by the late 1960s, they’d moved to the even bigger city of Calgary, Alberta. Following a teaching opportunity at SAIT for Cecil, the move enabled Margaret to finally realize the career she’d deeply craved. Motherhood.

Years later, when women were said to have it all, she was asked about why she stayed home. “Let me make it clear,” she said, “I could have worked, and I chose motherhood. I can’t say everyone did, but I really chose it. And I loved it—every moment of it.”

A son, Raymond Bruce, came first in 1968—just before the move to Calgary, and a year before man landed on the moon. Three years later, in 1971, a girl, Karen Alison, was the last to join the small family. Shortly before that, Margaret and Cecil bought their first home in Calgary, in Highwood, a relatively new neighborhood north of downtown. It would be their home for the next 18 years.

There on Hendon Drive, Margaret was industrious, a partner any working woman today would love to have by their side. She made every penny of Cecil’s teaching income go further by contributing on the home front, despite having no experience. At first she couldn’t cook a thing—her first attempt at biscuits would be forever called bullets. Enter Cecil’s mother, Effe (Marples) Chase, an affectionate mother-in-law who lovingly taught Margaret to bake and cook.

From then on, Margaret made every loaf of bread the family ate for 16 years. She pickled. Made jam. Filled three boxes with handwritten recipes. Planted a garden and raspberry bushes. Learned to oil-paint and make Belgian chocolates. Sewed Halloween costumes. Worked out to Jane Fonda. And created a tidy, warm house so welcoming, as one relative commented, “anybody could drop in, sit at the table, and right away feel at home.”

“She just handled everything that needed to be done,” Cecil said. “Things I hadn’t thought about—from birthday cards to homework to cutting coupons to painting the window trim. If it was needed to make our home and family life run efficiently and economically, she did it effortlessly. She made us work. Even when we started camping and traveling.”

On the Road and Meeting Others

By 1978, the Calgary house became what some people now call “Sticks-n-Bricks.” It’s the house you live in when you’re not traveling in an RV. Margaret and Cecil were determined to show their kids more than just the prairies of Canada. That year, they took the first of what would become an every-summer excursion via motorhome to see North America.

Camping at Waterton National Park

The trip was planned in part by Margaret to visit relatives she’d never met before. Paul Chaffee in Kansas City, and in Chicago a half-brother to her own mother named Charles Blanchard. In between were tours of historic places. Custer’s Last Stand. The Lincoln Memorial in D.C. And it was the first time, at 38 years old, that Margaret visited and fell in love with the ocean at Rehoboth Beach.

It’s thanks to Margaret, and her insistence upon keeping a journal, that the joyful experiences of that ten week trip and others were documented. She also tracked every dollar spent on camping, groceries, books, and gas. It amounted to around just $2600—coming in just under the money budgeted from what Cecil had earned teaching night-classes.

“Whether we were on one of those trips or at home,” her son, Bruce, said, “Mom was that person who kept track of details. And she never met a stranger. She’d pop into a grocery store to get a couple things, and leave us sitting in the car for half an hour because she’d ask someone about their day and really wanted to know the answer.”

Sister-in-law, Telva Chase, said , “Sometimes she’d be so busy asking about you, that the conversation would be nearing the end and you’d realize you hadn’t asked her a darn thing.”

That curiosity about others, and Margaret’s love of travel flourished after Cecil retired. The two bought another RV, threw a few things in storage, and for five years lived the nomad/snowbird life. They summered in Alberta, golfed and toured in south Texas in winter, and dropped in on folks—often by surprise—as they traveled full-time in the age before cell phones. She visited Fort Klock at Fort Plains in New York, exploring roots of her father’s family.

She had longed to hear an Irishman say her name (Margaret has a different roll on the tongue over there). And in 2007, thanks a trip with Cecil hosted by her son and daughter-in-law, she finally did. She wanted to, and did, kiss the Blarney stone. She lifted a pint and, despite an in-grown toenail, she hoofed her way without complaint at a swift pace across the cities and country-sides of Ireland, England, and Scotland.

Despite not seeking a career, she did work some. It included being receptionist and human resources assistant at the School Board in downtown Calgary. In the eighties, she sold microwaves at Market Mall—a job that led to her saying “just zap it” when food required reheating. Much later, after retiring from RV life and settled in Medicine Hat, Alberta, she sold barbeques at the local Walmart. She eclipsed previous sales swiftly. There are surely a handful of folks in Medicine Hat staring at a grill they don’t remember buying. But they certainly remember that nice chatty lady who sold it to them.

Before she was 60, she was a dual citizen of Canada and the United States. She’d visited 47 of the United States and nine of the Canadian provinces. Always she drank coffee (and an occasional rum), and wanted bacon and eggs as often as possible, even for dinner. She shared many a meal with family, and with chosen family in Calgary and Medicine Hat.

She could wipe the floor with you in a game of cards. She laughed heartily at a great joke, her head back and showing off her molars, but she couldn’t tell a joke to save her soul. She often told the punchline first, and then laughed even harder after declaring, “Blasted, I said it wrong didn’t I? Damn.”

 

The Other Side of Life

Now, before you go thinking that Margaret’s life was one joyful day, year, and excursion after another, here comes the rest of the story. Margaret’s concern for folks also meant that she often put others ahead of her own needs. And once the purpose of motherhood ended, and menopause crept in, there also came knocking a family inheritance—a depression that plagued her mother, her siblings, and her for decades. And then came a diagnosis that stuck to her like a bad penny. Bipolar.

Symptoms were kept at bay by a few medications for a few years, but once the traveling ceased, the ups and downs increased. Over nearly 30 years, those wide-swinging emotions were regulated by a series of trips to psychiatrists, who ordered an ever-increasing concoction of medications. Some worked for a while. Some did not. Some may have contributed to cancer. And one or two contributed to an eventual failure of her kidneys. Not enough doctors encouraged cognitive behavioral or talk therapy.

She willingly shared that realization in recent years with her daughter’s new partner, Ted Petrocci, a psychotherapist. “As inquisitive and thoughtful as she was,” Ted said, “Margaret absolutely would have benefited from it. She would have discovered solutions that would have eliminated so many medications.”

A saving grace for Margaret, was Cecil. He was a loyal and loving sounding board—always eager to help her get better, and to be the rock she clung to. She was grateful he loved her in spite of the issues and illnesses, and told him as much. Through it all, they upheld those vows they’d made 60 years earlier. Through good times and the darkest days, they always kissed each other goodnight. In the last months, they could be found together napping—one in a bed, one in a chair, still holding hands. And when her tired body was finally giving out, surrounded by the love of family and friends, it was to him Margaret looked one last time. On April third, she opened one eye, and held Cecil’s gaze until she left the world.

Would she have wanted anyone to write about how challenging her last three decades and that horrible diagnosis were? No, probably not. She often asked not to let anyone know she suffered from depression and illnesses, and many probably had no idea. The smile was often a mask. And for those old friends who wondered why she stopped calling, many never knew it was because her mind was often too heavy for her hand to pick up the phone. So why share such private details now when we’re celebrating her life?

Why Margaret Matters to Us All

When we write obituaries, we often share useless dates. When we read famous obituaries or hear eulogies, we want to know what the person accomplished. What did they contribute to mankind? The reality is, most of us are trying to just live. And for so many, life doesn’t afford space for grand achievements. At best, it’s ordinary. Simple. But it can also be complicated. Difficult or dark. It’s not always sunny even when the sun is out. And yet…

Margaret is an example of how mental and physical health can either derail a person, or we can choose to spread joy in spite of the hand we’re dealt. No matter how simple or difficult our lives, it’s really our little acts of kindness for others that bring more sunshine than rain.

No matter how much her diagnoses and medications and surgeries impacted her health, she had a smile to share, and her heart was always declared to be strong. Caregivers and younger people quickly called her Mum. She hugged unconditionally. Everyone, no matter their stature or job or race or gender, had a story, and she wanted to know it.

To her, everyone mattered. And therefore, so does she.

Let’s Be More Margaret

In a world troubled by divisiveness, war, and unrest, we all might try to be a little more like Margaret Chase. How?

  • Maybe it’s sharing a bright smile like hers.
  • Maybe you stop in the grocery store to ask a stranger how they are, and it’s such a genuine ask, you both talk next to the tomatoes for half an hour.
  • Maybe it’s not what you wear, or how many things you own, but that you pitch in to help when needed, and without being asked.
  • Maybe you make memories by saving your pennies to travel, by sharing shoes, or by simply singing with or to someone.
  • Plant a garden or at least white daisies (her favorite).
  • Certainly, it’s gathering around the table with friends and family, and laughing even when you feel like crying.
  • Be sure you kiss someone goodnight.
  • Show gratitude and tell them you love them, no matter how hard the day.

And then, as she has, you’ll make it incredibly damn difficult for friends and family to think of a world without you in it. Fare thee well, sweet Margaret. We lift a pint to you and happily say we are all so very glad you were here.

 

Mary House: Recognized as Female Patriot of the American Revolution

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During this Women’s History Month, and ahead of the nation’s 250th celebrations, I have the great fortune of announcing a new Revolutionary female Patriot. I spearheaded an application with the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) to prove a new female American Revolutionary-era Patriot.

Mary House owned and operated a boarding house in Philadelphia, the House Inn. Because she paid taxes on the inn, her support tax directly helped fund the Revolutionary war. Just two blocks from the famous State House, where Revolution was debated and the Declaration of Independence signed, the inn was a respected political hub, frequented by familiar founding fathers.

In this press release issued by NSDAR, Pamela Wright, NSDAR President General and the National Society’s volunteer elected CEO, says, “We are thrilled to add Mary House to our list of verified female Patriots. As we approach our nation’s 250th birthday, DAR members across the country are concentrating on sharing the stories of these amazing Americans, helping contemporary U.S. citizens understand the relevancy of Patriots to our lives today. As a female entrepreneur myself, I am inspired by the story of Mrs. House.”

The star on this map shows the location of the House Inn. To red outline to the left is the State House. The red outline down and to the right, is the Arch Street Quaker Burial ground where Mary House was buried.

The House Inn hosted Thomas Jefferson and Other Founders

Mary House was a wise entrepreneur. After her husband died, the widow established the boarding house, which quickly became known for what was then called “fine entertainments.” It offered quality lodgings, good food and refreshments, and above all an atmosphere that encouraged convivial engagement. It quickly attracted founding fathers familiar to us now. Silas Deane, James Madison, and Thomas Jefferson. Mary recognized that congressmen visits to Philadelphia would increase as Revolution rumbled through the colonies. Consequently, she wisely moved her already established House Inn closer to the action, to Fifth and Market Streets. Like the famed City Tavern, the House Inn was a gathering place for end-of-day political discourse over dinner and drinks.

Finding Mary House and Proving Her as Patriot

Although I spearheaded the search and the NSDAR application, the journey to validate Mary House’s Patriot status was a collaborative effort. It took multiple years and involved more than 15 individuals across five NSDAR chapters and three states, along with additional historians and translators. To submit an application for patriot status for Mary House, we found and proved lineage to a living descendant. That descendant is also related to two other significant figures: Jefferson and the subject of what I call my Eliza Project.

Mary House’s Daughter, Eliza Trist, Went West & Kept a Journal

Mary House is significant in her own right as a supporter of the Cause and an entrepreneur. She is also the mother of Eliza House Trist—a woman who traveled west in 1783, two decades before Lewis and Clark. Eliza Trist kept this journal for Thomas Jefferson. Trist met Jefferson when he lodged at the House Inn. The two became significant in each others lives, and long after her westward journey, Eliza Trist’s grandson married Thomas Jefferson’s granddaughter. Consequently, this new NSDAR member on this application, is related to House, Trist, and Jefferson.

To be frank, I feel like we’ve hit the NSDAR’s version of a quadfecta or superfecta. Myself, and this incredible network of genealogists and historians, have correctly proven four positions significant to the NSDAR. New female Patriot. New Female Explorer. New member. And all connected to Thomas Jefferson.

The only known portrait of Eliza House Trist. From the Ledger book of William Bache, National Portrait Gallery.

What will the Patriot Status Achieve?

Mary House was buried in Philadelphia, in the Quaker Arch Street burial ground, which was built over in the late 1800s. Eliza Trist is buried at Monticello. Neither woman has a gravestone, and their contributions have never been granted state historical markers. As I mentioned in the press release, “The goal is to ensure each of these women has a grave marker and historical recognition… In honor of the 250th, we are striving to broaden the narrative we tell about the founding of this country. Eliza and Mary matter. Who we tell our origin stories about matters so more of us can envision ourselves contributing to our future.”

The Permission slip provided by the Quakers to bury Mary House in the Arch Street grounds.

To learn more about Eliza House Trist

I am producing a more comprehensive and widely-accessible narrative for Mary House and Eliza Trist. For now, you can learn more about Eliza House Trist’s journey when you pre-order a copy of The Travel Journal of Eliza House Trist, 1783-84. It’s a brand new transcription, with a brief introduction. For the first time, her journal is replicated as she originally wrote it. In this beautifully hardbound book, is an all new introduction and a map of her journey. The book publishes April 15th.

 

Writing Female Historical Characters that Resonate

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They walked through ancient empires, scaled snowy mountains, and defied societal norms, yet countless women from history remain silent, their stories lost in the shadows of their male counterparts. As I work on documenting the life of Eliza House Trist, I recognize that we writers have the power to resurrect these voices. Fully crafting female historical characters, we can allow them to resonate with readers of all ages, and also illuminate the richness and complexity of the past.

But how do we create these women who leap off the page and touch hearts across generations? Here are three key ingredients:

1. Unveiling the Human Beneath the History

While historical context paints the backdrop, don’t let dates and events overshadow your character’s inner world. Dive into their hopes, fears, vulnerabilities, and passions. Make them laugh, cry, yearn, and rage. Readers connect with characters who feel real, whose triumphs and stumbles mirror our own.

2. Challenging Norms of Female Historical Characters

Don’t shy away from portraying the limitations women faced in their era. Whether it’s societal expectations, legal restrictions, or even the physical realities of life, these constraints often fueled unique forms of resilience, resourcefulness, and rebellion. Show how your character navigates these obstacles, revealing both the external struggle and the internal growth it sparks.

3. Finding the Universal in the Specific

While historical details bring authenticity, the core of your character’s journey should resonate with readers beyond their time period. Is it a fight for justice, a yearning for love, or the quest for self-discovery? Grounding your historical narrative in timeless themes ensures your characters speak to readers across generations, sparking empathy and understanding.

Examples of Writing Female Historical Characters

For further inspiration, dive into the works of authors like E. Carson Williams (Lis), whose newsletters celebrate the bravery of lesser-known women who are deeply inspiring to young girls today. (Her answers to reader questions are worth readings and the Mewsings from her cats are also hilarious.) Or author Linda Sittig, whose books and blog—StrongWomeninHistory.com—illuminate the lives of female pioneers and history-makers.

For an example of how to make history also wildly entertaining, immerse yourself in podcasts like The History Chicks. Bethany and Mini uncover the extraordinary stories of women hidden in the annals of history, like Mexico’s La Malinche. Don’t have time for a 90-minute podcast? You can check out their minicasts and each podcast begins with a 30-second summary.

Need some practical resources? Check out my own guide on researching women like a historical novelist to help you write beyond the genealogy of a figure. By learning more about their networks and connections, you can weave them into narratives that captivate, educate, and feel more like our own lives.

By bringing female historical characters to life, we not only honor their legacies but also expand our understanding of the past and present. So, pick up your pen, tap your keys, and let the forgotten women sing their stories – the world needs to hear their voices.

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Joel Sartore’s Photo Ark: Animals Near Extinction

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This week we attended a Richmond Forum lecture with Joel Sartore’s Photo Ark project, in collaboration with National Geographic. As someone who cherishes the art of photography, I am inspired by Joel Sartore’s mission. He’s striving capture the essence of 15,000+ insects, creatures and animals near extinction. Why did Joel kick off this incredible project? View some of the photos below, and read on about the impact Joel hopes to make. 📸✨

What is the Photo Ark project?

Sartore initiated the Photo Ark project out of a deep concern for the accelerating loss of species around the world. Too many animals are near extinction. Witnessing the devastating impact of habitat destruction, climate change, and other human-induced threats on wildlife, he felt a compelling need to take action. The project started in 2005, aiming to photograph 15,000 species that are on the brink of extinction—those with the smallest numbers and/or protected in captivity. His goal is not merely to create a stunning visual archive but to raise awareness about the precarious state of these creatures—both great and small.

Joel Sartore’s photo of Kindu, a Schmidt’s red-tailed guenon (Cercopithecus ascanius schmidti). Kindu was hand raised at the Houston Zoo. During bottle feedings, Kindu was given a surrogate stuffed animal that he still loves.

What do Joel Sartore’s Photos capture?

The captivating photos captured by Sartore span a wide array of species, from the tiniest of insects to the most majestic mammals (like this elephant and her baby). His lens doesn’t discriminate, encompassing the beauty and fragility of life in its myriad forms. Each image tells a story of a species fighting for survival, serving as a poignant reminder of our shared responsibility to protect the intricate web of life on Earth. On simple black or white backgrounds, the creature’s eyes are clear and vivid, and if possible, they’re looking directly into the camera. That kind of eye-contact resonates with us humans, and increases our empathy.

A federally endangered three-year-old cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) named Hasari at White Oak Conservation Center.

Why the Photo Ark images are important?

Through the Photo Ark, Joel Sartore hopes to evoke a sense of urgency and empathy among the global audience. By showcasing the incredible diversity of life facing extinction, he aims to kindle a collective commitment to conservation. Sartore’s believes awareness and education will inspire us to take action to safeguard these species and their habitats.

An endangered (IUCN) and federally endangered hatchling green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.

What you can do to help animals near extinction.

We can lend a hand to these awesome creatures, too. Joel’s friendly advice is to begin right in your backyard (or patio or front stoop). Instead of a lawn we douse in chemicals, Joel recommends planting native plants and grasses. It will reduce pollution of the waterways. And pollinators will have more food to thrive. Don’t have a yard? Pick one creature—insect, bird, buffalo—and give them the voice, funding, and support they need.

If you want to delve deeper into the magical world of the Photo Ark, hop on over to his website to run through the gallery of Joel Sartore’s Photo Ark. There, you can immerse yourself in the beauty and fragility of our planet’s incredible biodiversity.

Let’s be the superheroes these creatures need. Support conservation groups, volunteer for wildlife causes, or just spread the word. (Ahem, share this blog.) Let’s make sure that the Photo Ark isn’t just a gallery of memories. Let’s make it a call to action for a better, wilder world.

A brown-throated sloth (Bradypus variegatus) at the PanAmerican Conservation Association in Gamboa, Panama.

 

I share stories like this and more in my author newsletter. I hope you follow along or sign up for my Chasing Histories Newsletter.

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3 Unique Travel Tips for Historic Adventure in 2024

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my cat on my old suitcases
My cat, Leo Linguini, ready to stop me from packing. Guess he thinks I’ll travel with these in 2024 (only to book events).

2024 travel adventure awaits!

Ahhh, the well-worn passport, the dog-eared travel journal, the anticipation buzzing in your bones. Perhaps, like me, your travel bug has bitten, and 2024 promises to be a year of historic exploration.

For history lovers like me, travel isn’t just a journey—it’s a time machine. But in the thrilling (and sometimes overwhelming) world of organizing history-related trips, how do we ensure our journey truly immerses us in the past? How do we put down the phone, the tech gadgets, and travel to the past? Ditch the dog-eared guidebooks and embrace these three unique tools for 2024:

1. Travel and Connect with a Scrapbook

A dear friend has just embarked for Paris, making me long, once again, for my 40 day journey to France—out of which my book Bonjour 40: A Paris Travel Log was born. I realize now, that this collection of travel essays and photos is essentially a scrapbook from my trip. Writing daily, I learned, can help us remember our trip more clearly.

Sometimes I carry a small sketchbook to capture the essence of each historic site through impressions of the five senses. While you can journal every day, you can also go wild with it. Sketch the vibrant colors of a marketplace, or jot down the evocative smells of spices in a bustling bazaar. Paste in ticket stubs, maps, postcards, and other everyday ephemera from each historic site. This creates a tangible record of your journey, a tactile souvenir that transports you back to each place with a touch and a glance.

2. A Travel Capsule Wardrobe for Every Era

Forget the overstuffed suitcase! Embrace the capsule wardrobe concept, packing versatile pieces that mix and match. But let’s take it one step further, and create outfits appropriate for each historic site. Think flowing maxi dresses that transition from Roman villas to medieval markets, or a sleek blazer that elevates street-style in Berlin and museum visits in London.

This not only reduces luggage weight, but also allows you to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of each place, blending in like a time traveler who just stepped off a train from another era. Check out capsule wardrobe and historical outfit ideas posted on my Travel With Adventure Pinterest page. With these tips you can be seeped in history, not loaded down with baggage from home.

3. Historical Fiction and Book Pairings

Immerse yourself in the past through the power of storytelling. Choose a historical novel set in your chosen destination and read it alongside your trip planning—or even on the train or flight to your destination. Imagine wandering the streets of medieval Prague while reliving the adventures of a young alchemist in “The Golem,” or feeling the thrill of the French Revolution as you trace the footsteps of Victor Hugo’s characters in “Les Misérables.” If you’re heading to America’s east coast or New York, I’ll humbly suggest Carrying Independence so you can step back in 1776 before your flight lands. Literary pairings can deepen your understanding of the places you visit, creating a richer and more emotionally resonant experience.

Remember, the most important thing is to find ways to connect with the past in a meaningful way. These non-tech options for your 2024 adventures can enrich your historical exploration and create cherished keepsakes long after you return home.

For more adventurers, travel tips, and bookish news, I hope you’ll also sign up for my monthly insider newsletter, Chasing Histories. Until then, happy travel planning. Where are you going?

Writing Time for Authors is Found Using Math

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If you’re an author, you need writing time. There are gobs of blogs out there loaded with advice about how to squeeze it in. Most of this advice is word-based. Get up earlier and join the #5AMWritingClub! Keep a notebook in your car! Write on weekends or week nights! Set word minimums! Set maximums! Set times! Set days… Geez willikers! Enough already.

What writers need to sort out their writing time, in order to manage writing and business hours, is simple. It’s just math. Plain ol’ simple math.

Why Math Matters to Authors Seeking Writing Time

I can hear you groaning. You didn’t become an author to do math! However, today’s authors have two time-hungry tasks. Writing and Business. Consequently, doing a little number-crunching now to determine how and if you can swing those hours can save you gobs of time and heartache later.

First, the writing time. In order to finish writing a book, or to write the next one, you need good, solid, butt-in-chair time. You need writing hours, not mere minutes, for words to get on pages.

Secondly, for each book completed you need business hours. Those hours are mostly devoted to marketing—newsletters, websites, talks, and more. You know, the things that actually tell readers about books, so you can sell books, so you can write more. Managing those requires a plan, and time to devote to it (read how Elizabeth Carson Williams learned about this author planning business).

As a result of the two tasks required, you need see how much time you really have to devote to writing and business. And that begins with finding out just how open or jammed-packed your life really is.

Examining Your Current Life Hours to find Writing Time

There are 168 hours in a week. Eight hours each day are recommended for sleeping (not sleeping impacts creativity, and that’s a whole other article). That leaves you 112 waking hours for all things required of your current life. Family? Job? Eating? Gardening? Groceries?

It doesn’t matter if you’re pursuing writing as a second career or as a career change, it is time for an honest examination of your life NOW to sort out how writing and marketing/business tasks will fit into that 112. Here’s a simple chart. Fill it in, and add it up to see what’s available.

Writing Time: Author Life Hours Chart Karen A Chase

If your TOTAL HOURS was zero (or less than)

Oh boy. Your life seems like it’s already squeezed so tight! So, perhaps this isn’t the best time for you to take on a huge project (which a book absolutely is). Better to know this now than tax yourself, or your family, even more. However, even if you have 112+ life hours now, it doesn’t mean giving up the dream of writing. It means you have two choices:
1) Adjust your life to make room for writing (even if it’s for the joy of it and not publishing)
2) Delay writing the book/novel/story until you have more time

If your TOTAL HOURS allow for some writing & business hours

Perhaps this little bit of math enabled you to determine your available hours. Perhaps you’re retired, and you know thirty hours are wide open to you. If it’s just three hours, it will absolutely take you longer to write and publish a book, or you may want to also adjust your life to gain more writing time. Whether it’s a little or a lot of hours, your next equation is to divide (oh no, more math) writing hours and business hours.

How to Divide time between Writing Time and Business Hours

This chart of writing versus business hours will help you determine how to divide those hours based on where you are in the publishing process—from no book, to book launch, to in between launches (maintenance).

Writing Time: Author Business vs Writing Hours Karen A Chase

What do you instantly notice? That’s right, at no time are you only writing. Why? Readers need to hear about your book! And they need to hear about it from you, not just your publisher (if you have one they’ll only do so much). As your publishing date comes around, the marketing simply needs more of your attention.

An Example of the Author’s Math

If your head is swimming from all the above, let’s go through an example. Let’s say your life commitments are 108 hours:

  • 112–108 = 4 hours/week for writing and business tasks

What this means for each week is:

  • No book yet or between publications = 3 hours writing, 1 hour business
  • Pre & Post-launch = 1 hour writing, 3 hours business
  • Launch Month = 0 writing, 4 hours business

It’s up to you to decide when you will spend those hours. At lunch? Evenings? Tuesdays at 5AM? Regardless, consistency usually helps authors stay on track. Define the days and times, and always separate the writing from the business hours. Your creativity needs space away from to-do lists (which is all marketing really is, but that’s also another article).

 

A Final Word on Using Author Math to find Writing Time

No matter how it adds up, being honest now—about your life and the realities of publishing today—can equal less stress. The math can help you get a handle on your time commitments, and help you recognize how (or if) writing can fit with your reality. Okay, that’s enough math today. A+ to you for hanging in through this whole article… it’s time (for those who have it) to become the BOSS of your author business.

……..
This article originally ran in the members-only newsletter for James River Writers, a literary community supporting and inspiring authors through monthly Writing Shows, an annual writing conference every October, and more. Join JRW today! For a deeper dive on the above topic, and managing the business of being an author, pick up my latest Brand the Author (Not the Book): A Workbook for Writing & Launching your Own Author Brand Plan.

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What is author branding?

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What is an author brand?

If you’ve attended a writing conference you’ve probably heard the term “author brand.” What is author branding? And why does it matter to authors? Let’s answer these questions.

What is an author brand?

Simply put, an author brand is your unique collection of fonts, colors, words, and imagery that are consistently applied to your platform tools to authentically convey your message to your readers.

After you’ve read that definition, I can pretty much guarantee you want to run off and pick fonts and colors (don’t!). Let’s first dive into what traditional branding is and isn’t.

What is author branding?

The old cattle brand, the uniquely-shaped iron rod used to identify the cows owned by a rancher, started the whole concept of branding. As marketing folks got a hold of the idea, we began to deepen what branding is, so it’s no longer just a logo. (You can read more about whether you need an author logo here.) Today, branding is about the feeling your customers get when they think about you and your products.

Why does an author brand matter?

For an author, your brand should remind readers about why/what you write, deepen their connection to you via their senses and encourage them to subscribe to your newsletter or order more books from you as you continue to publish.

Think of a brand you love… let’s pick one that has nothing to do with publishing. Chewy! Chewy sells products and food for pets. They have a chew-toy looking logo. The blue and yellow icon is on their site and all over their boxes. They have fun, playful verbiage on their materials. Adorable pet photos. Even their tone is as friendly as a cuddly yellow Lab—when a customer service rep emails me, they tell me, “Pet Leo for us!” All the marketing pieces (platform tools) they create and all the ways I interact with them (through my five senses) work together to make me do three things. It makes me remember them. It deepens how I feel about Chewy. It makes me want to act—I willingly order more stuff Leo does not need.

So, to sum up, a good brand will do three things to your customers: ignite memory, feeling, and action.

Examples of author brands that ignite?

If you visit the sites of authors Austin Kleon or Bradley Harper, very quickly you’ll get a sense of how different these two authors are. You’ll learn who they are, what they write, and they both give you a way to stay connected so you hear more about them. Meg Medina, Latina author, also has a solid brand, and her blog posts continue to deepen the reader’s connections to her making you want to learn more about her bold Newbery award-winning books.

But how can you ensure your author brand will ignite memory, feeling, and action in your readers? To do so, it must have three attributes.

Every author brand must be unique, consistent, and authentic.

An author brand is unique. Now that you’ve seen Austin’s website, if you are an author that does similar creative-drawing-focused books, you can’t mimic him. Why? You aren’t him.

As an example, let’s look at Southern fiction novelists. Don’t they all write fiction set in the south? Yep. However, if we examine just one, like author Leah Weiss, there are aspects about Leah that are inherently her. She was born and stayed in the south. She first published late in life, after retirement. She writes gritty southern fiction set in Appalachia. Very few southern authors own all three aspects at once. When you combine them with Leah’s colorful sense of style and grace, you get a brand that is unique to Leah alone.

An author brand is consistent. If Leah’s website looked as it does, but her Facebook page and bookmarks looked entirely different, you would think something was off. That “off” feeling is what happens when a brand isn’t consistently applied across all the materials your readers see or touch or experience. Consistency is what ignites and solidifies your reader’s memory.

An author brand is authentic. It must be said… your brand cannot be faked. If Lea’s author photos on her website and Facebook pages show how colorful and stylish she is, but she starts showing up to author presentations in a grey t-shirt and faded jeans… inauthentic. If the verbiage on your author site is all cheery and you are really morose or grouchy, it won’t jive. Politicians are experts at being inauthentic, and in today’s transparent world it’s increasingly hard to get away with saying one thing and doing another. (I’m looking at you Boris Johnson—bye-bye).

So, how do you achieve a unique, consistent, and authentic author brand?

Now that you know the answer to “what is author branding,” you’re probably wondering how to create a brand truly all your own.

First, you need a plan. Not one that is willy or nilly. You need a logical brand plan that is written down so you can follow it. There are three ways to get a written author brand plan. Muddle your way through (the worst way). Hire a brand designer (not always the most affordable). Or learn via writing conferences and workbooks. Lucky you… I have the book for you!

I’ve distilled my experience as a branding expert working with authors into a step-by-step workbook to help people structure their own written author brand plan. If that interests you, hop on over to my Brand the Author (Note the Book) page and learn more. Or subscribe to my blog (top, right column of this page) or to my author newsletter.

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Guest Post: Michael L. Ross – Washington’s Drummer Boy

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The Revolutionary War didn’t start in Concord or even Boston—it had its beginnings earlier and more widespread than what appears in your seventh-grade history book. One of those beginnings was the Pine Tree Riot (or White Pine Rebellion) in New Hampshire. And one of its youngest participants would one day meet Washington.

What was the Pine Tree Riot?

The Crown claimed that white pine trees in colonial forests were the property of the Crown because of their use as masts on Royal Navy ships. The sawyers (those who made their living working timber) in New Hampshire disagreed, resulting in one of the first fights in the Colonies.

What started the Pine Tree Riot?

One of the leaders among the sawyers, Ebenezer Mudgett, had been arrested days before for possession of white pine logs without the Crown’s mark.

The sawmills banded together and arrested the local Crown sheriff, surprising him in bed early in the morning. The sheriff grabbed his pistols, but when momentarily distracted he was overcome by the mob, his horse’s tail clipped, and he was run out of the county.

Muggeridge was also a ringleader in the rebellion. He and his adopted son, Billy Simpson, fled the county for a time in fear of redcoat retribution.

The account of the event appeared in the New Hampshire Gazette, on April 24, 1772. The event and Billy will be featured in my upcoming book, A Drummer Boy for Washington.

White Pine Rebellion as reported by the New Hampshire Gazette

Billy Simpson Beyond the Riot

Early in the American Revolution, Billy Simpson became a member of George Washington’s Honor Guard, a group charged with defending Washington in battles. Billy met Washington as a protégé of Nathaniel Folsom, a friend of Mudgett. Simpson was among the youngest of the 180 members of the Guard, serving as a drummer boy. At the time Billy joined, he was only twelve.

Drummer boys did not have a glamorous life. They performed all the drudge work, had to attend school in off-hours, and were in the thick of battle with no weapons (and a rather loud instrument drawing attention to themselves). The Guard, and Billy, were in every battle with Washington until it was disbanded in 1783.

Washington's Drummer Boy
Illustration commissioned from Martins Isaiah Ajogi of Billy and George Washington

About Michael L. Ross

Michael L. Ross is a lover of history and great stories. A retired software engineer turned author. The Search was his second book in the Across the Great Divide series. Find him and his books online at HistoricalNovelsRUs.

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