Ponce de Leon

On April 2, 1513, explorer Juan Ponce de Leon claimed Florida for Spain. He was the first named European to reach the Florida peninsula. Legend has it that he was looking for the rumored Fountain of Youth at the time. However, many historians believe the search for gold and desire of adding lands to the Spanish Empire may have more to do with it. He named the land Florida and first thought that it was a large island.

The conquistador sailed from Puerto Rico in March and sighted land on April 2nd. When Ponce de Leon returned from exploring some of Florida, he found the Carib Indians reeking havoc on the inhabitants of Puerto Rico. In fact, his own home had been burned, and his family had barely escaped. He eventually decided to return to Spain in order to report his findings to the king. King Ferdinand gave him a warm welcome and knighted him for his service.

Ponce de Leon returned to Puerto Rico in 1515, where he launched campaigns against the Caribs. However, these came to stop in 1516 when King Ferdinand died, and he needed to return to Spain to defend his titles and possessions. In 1521, he attempted to settle Florida for the last time. With around 200 men, livestock, and farming tools, they arrived in Florida to fight skirmishes against the natives, and Ponce de Leon was wounded by what was likely a poisoned arrow. The settlement expedition was abandoned, his men took him to  Cuba where he died, and he was buried in Puerto Rico at San Jose Church. Florida would remain in Spanish hands for more than 250 years.

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Open Bible
 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him (Proverbs 30:5).

It's appalling to me at the number of professed Christians who rarely read their Bibles. If a person wants to be obedient to God, don't they need to know what He expects? If they want a loving relationship with the Creator, they should desire to know Him better. Both of these are best accomplished by reading and studying the Bible. The Word of God encourages us and lifts us closer to heaven. It transforms us to be more Christ-like though the power within its pages.

Man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live (Deuteronomy 8:3b).

I wonder if some think that by not reading the Bible, they won't have to live by it. That's absurd. They will still be held accountable, and I can't imagine someone having Christ in their lives, loving God with all their hearts, and not wanting to read His Word. As Charles H. Spurgeon said in The Greatest Fight, "The Word of the Lord is to the thoughts of men as a garden is to the wilderness." It will bring beauty, grace, and joy to your life. "Some of us have lived for many years in daily conflict, perpetually putting the Word of God to the test, and we can honestly give you this assurance: it is sufficient for every crisis."

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable.... (2 Timothy 3:16a).

Spurgeon goes on to say "...the Word of God has preserved us.... we have felt ourselves strong to act and endure, because the assurances of help which we find in our Bibles have brought us a secret, unconquerable energy." There is no telling what God will do "when the open Book finds open hearts. The Word is like its author: infinite, immeasurable, without end." Won't you open your Bible today with an open heart and mind and let God speak to you? Won't you return to it every day to feast on its nourishment?

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32).

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How to Get Published

One of the questions I'm often asked is how did I get published. It seems to me that getting published by a traditional publisher is getting harder all the time for a little-known writer. Most require submission through an agent, but getting an agent can be as difficult as getting someone at a publishing house to actually read your work. Both have high odds against you. Of course, first and far most, you need to write a quality manuscript.

Then, don't disregard the small publishing houses. I've found that the good ones often give an author more personal attention than the well-known ones and are easier to work with. In fact, some of my author friends have left their big-name publisher because they were losing more control all the time. There's a small, Christian publisher located about two hours from where I live whose authors have won numerous awards because the publisher submitted their books for consideration, and they have systems in place to get their authors plenty of reviews and publicity. 

When you have a manuscript ready for publication go to writers' conferences that offer interviews with publishers, acquisition editors, or agents. This is how I found my traditional publisher and first got published. In fact, I just went to another one a couple of weeks ago to pitch a book to a certain publishing house. Despite the fact that I've published eleven books, I still have twelve unpublished manuscripts. I can actually write them faster than we can publish them, and a third way of publishing is feasible for me. While at the conference, I didn't see or hear of anyone in the interviews that weren't told to submit a proposal or portion of their work for consideration. In my estimation, this is the best way to get published for the first time in today's market.

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Terms from Early History

I've always found language, words, and etymology fascinating. I guess that's part of being a writer. Here are some words that come to us from the Middle Ages:

Floors in Medieval houses were covered with thresh after the grain harvest. To keep it from blowing away when the doors were opened, a ledge was build under the door. The "threshold" was designed to hold in the thresh.

When William the Conqueror decided to gather an army and move into England in 1066, he let it be known that fighting men with no family or household allegiance would be welcome to join him in this adventure. These men were “free lances,” giving us the modern term “freelance” when referring to independent workers.

At a certain time of night, William the Conqueror ordered "couvre-feu" (cover the fire). All candles and lamps were to be extinguished to prevent fires. In Middle English, this term was shortened to "curfeu," which eventually became "curfew," a time when people were curtailed from venturing out for safety reasons.

If at all possible, an archer would carry a spare string for his bow in case the first one broke. The term "second string" came to refer to an alternate of any kind.

A medieval archer needed to keep his bowstring dry so it wouldn't expand and become too loose in the bow. To keep it both dry and easy to reach but out of the elements and out of sight, he would "keep it under his hat." The natural oils in his hair would also help protect it. The phrase came to mean keep a secret or to hide something.

In England, when jousting in a non-aggressive match, one not meant to kill or maim, knights would often aim for the crest on top of the helmet. The defeated knight who lost his crest would then be "crestfallen."
In France, the knight usually wore brightly colored plumes ("panache" in French) atop his helmet. "Panache" has evolved to mean a brave act or something done in style.

Coins, the only form of money in medieval times, were made by gripping a die tightly in one hand and hitting it firmly with a hammer held in the other. Therefore, the money was made "hand over fist," a term that came to mean making a sizable amount of money quickly.

Wooden frames used to transport hunting birds were called "codges." They were lightweight, and the task of taking them to the site of the hunt normally fell to an elderly, trusted servant. This is where we get the term, "old codger."

As you can see, sometimes etymology can become a study of history. That's another reason why I love it.

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Jesus Journeys to Jerusalem through Jericho

Luke tells the account of Jesus' last journey as he went from Galilee to Jerusalem for the last time. This journey would end at the cross. A traveler in Jesus’ day would have two main options in going from Galilee to Jerusalem. Going through Samaria would be the shorter and easier of the two. This route from Nazareth to Jerusalem stretched for about 75 miles and took around three days on foot. However, on at least this one journey, Jesus went the longer route which took Him through Jericho, a distance measuring approximately 97 miles.

Photo of Jordan Valley by צילום: אילנה שקולניק, CC BY 2.5,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11955718

Most of the common people during Bible times walked to get where they needed to go, and Jesus did too. Some scholars have estimated He must have walked over 15,000 miles in His short lifetime. Walking had more than health benefits. It enabled Him and His followers to interact with people along the way. Travelers always risked dangers when they traveled far from home. Wild beasts often attacked, especially in the Jordan Valley area where Jericho was located. Lions and Syrian bears posed serious problems, but bandits could be even worse, despite the fact that the Roman government would crucify the thugs if caught. Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan helping the poor man who had been beaten and robbed on the Jericho Road. Some believe Barabbas, the man the crowds wanted to be freed instead of Jesus, had committed similar crimes.

Jordan River photo by Jean Housen - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11820699

 To get from Galilee to Jerusalem via Jericho, a traveler followed the Jordan River and then climbed the Jericho Road to Jerusalem. This route was only 23 miles longer than going through Samaria, but it was much hotter and required a steep climb. Jericho lies 812 feet below sea level, while Jerusalem sets 2,600 feet above sea level. This difference in altitude happens within a road distance of fifteen miles, so the climb is sharp. It also winds through a barren land of little more than rocks, canyons, and cliffs. The area around Jericho might be barren, but Jericho itself is in a fertile plain. Jericho has long been known as the City of Palms.

Golden Gate at Jerusalem

Moving from Jericho toward Jerusalem, the old road allows a good view of a deep gorge thought by many to be the site that inspired the Twenty-Third Psalm. Separate legends also put Elijah being fed by the ravens and Hosea speaking about a “door of hope” in this area. As travelers get closer to Jerusalem, they pass by Gethsemane on a slight rise, where they can look ahead and see the walled city. The road then circles Olivet and winds into the city. The Great North Road, as it was sometimes called, is filled with the history of kings, prophets, and apostles. Jesus would use this route to make His way toward Jerusalem, healing and teaching as He went. His teachings, some of the last he gave, are especially meaningful and important.

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Researching Locally

I'm scheduled to present a session on the research I did for It All Started at the Masquerade, the novel set in Eastern North Carolina in 1795. Research of Southern topics prior to the Civil War often presents challenges because so many of the records were destroyed. However, since I write historical fiction, I do as thorough research as possible and then fill in the blanks with educated guesses. Since history was one of my majors in college and I taught it for years, I have a good sense of the different time periods. This helps immensely.

I began with online research, and this got me started. Next, I went to the library in Winton, the town where Melanie, the heroine, lives. I found some very helpful information in their vertical files. Alice Nickens's papers were apparently written after 1795, although no dates were given, but I knew if she mentioned unpaved roads from her childhood, they would have been unpaved in 1795, too. I also used a couple of old books in their reference section.

Next, I visited the library at Chowan University, which has a good local history section. I checked out several books that proved very helpful. Still, as I wrote the rough draft, I hit questions that I could not find answers for. For example, the hero lives near Colerain, and I needed to know if there was a dock for ships there. I knew Winton had docks but guessed that passengers would need to tender to the ships at Colerain. I never did find a definitive answer, but Frank Stevenson, a local historian, agreed with my theory, so I wrote it that way. With a historical novel, I always have to do additional research, according to what the story needs as I write.

And as always, I looked up every word that might not have been in use in 1795. I normally use Merriam Webster online dictionary first, since it has an etymology that includes the first known date the word came into use. However, it only has the date for the most common definition. If I need another, I consult English Through the Ages by William Brohaugh. This can be time-consuming, but it's important to me to get my novels right.

Researching It All Happened at the Masquerade was actually much easier because it was set in places near where I live now. I not only had access to local libraries, historians, and historical organizations; but I also could walk the streets of Winton and Colerain, view historical houses, and watch the Chowan River as it flows toward Edenton and then on to empty into the Atlantic Ocean. That's why I often choose to set my novels in places where I have lived or been. It gives a sense of place that no amount of research can replace.

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National Poultry Day 

March 19th is National Poultry Day. Have you ever thought of having backyard chickens? Raising chickens is really not complicated, and many people find it interesting and rewarding. The requirements are pretty simple. You'll need a safe place for them to rest overnight, like a coop. And, if you have neighbors, you'll probably want a fenced area.

Begin with at least three birds, a rooster and two hens. Chickens are social animals and will never do well alone. The coop needs to be at least a three-foot cube at the bare minimum for three chickens, and larger would be better. In fact, build it as large as you can, because you'll likely expand your flock, especially if you want to hatch some.

There are about 150 breeds of chickens and around 50 commonly found ones. Choose the breed that fits your needs best. Consider the following:
Eggs - the number they lay per day, color, and size
Temperament - for example how adaptable are they to confinement and are they flyers or not. Also some are friendly with humans and others aren't.
Noise Level - this will be important if you have a low tolerance to noise or if you have close neighbors
Climate - some breeds do better in warm or hot climates, and others like it cooler 
Uses - Some breeds are better layers, others are better for meat, and some are good for both

If you google "chicken breeds" you can find lists of the different breeds and their characteristics. I have fond memories of raising chickens growing up. There's something especially satisfying about going out each day and gathering your own eggs. Happy National Poultry Day!

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