Jesse James House & Museum

St. Joseph, Missouri

Robert (Bob) Ford, a member of Jesse James's gang, shot and killed the outlaw in this house on April 3, 1882, in St. Joseph, Missouri, for the reward of ten thousand dollars offered by the governor. Jesse was 34 years old at the time of his death. He had assumed the name of Tom Howard, and his wife and two children lived with him.

The house displays artifacts from the James home as well as information about his time in his life. Because of some controversy, in 1995, a forensic scientist exhumed Jesse's body to do DNA tests. The results revealed a 99.7 % certainty that the body was Jesse James's. Apparently, he had two bullet wounds, one in the right lung and one behind his right ear.

Jesse James was born September 5, 1847, in Clay County Missouri. He married his cousin, Zee on April 24, 1874, and they had two children to survive until adulthood. Jesse Edward James was born in 1875 and became a lawyer in Kansas City, Missouri.  Susan was born in 1879 and married Henry Barr. Twin sons died as infants.

In the house, a frame marks a bullet hole that entered the wall. Souvenir seekers have made the hole larger in the years before the museum took over. My husband and I toured the home on our trip out West in June to attend a book fair in Deadwood and do research for upcoming novels. Jesse has already entered one of my novels, Transplanted to Red Clay. Who knows? He might find his way into another one after this.

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 A Great Awakening

Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of host, and I will turn unto you (Zechariah 1:3a).

I know many Christians today are praying for another Great Awakening to turn people back to God. Historians and theologians identify three or four Great Awakenings in our past where large numbers surrendered to Christ for the first time or renewed their faith and rededicated their lives. 

Ye shall know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:16a).

This kind of revival doesn't take place without Christians getting up from the church pews and moving outside the buildings to give their testimonies, share the gospel message, and demonstrate the love of Christ to others. We must care enough to sacrificially give of our time as well as our other resources. 

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal (Matthew 6:20).

Although this type of lifestyle looks different from what the world defines as success, it is gratifying, satisfying, and has intrinsic rewards. It stores up treasures in heavenly places where values don't fluctuate, thieves cannot steal, and nothing gets old or wears out. What are you seeking? Where are your treasures? Are you willing to be a part of a Great Awakening?

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A Series to Love

I'm sorry to say, the series, The Suffrage Spinsters, is winding down. It has been a fun series with many possible plots of a woman supporting the women's suffrage movement before 1900. She often thinks she never wants to marry, but a special man comes along to change her mind.

Link to the series

My first book in the series, Ingrid's Intention, has some great reviews. Ingrid Palmer's cruel father taught her not to risk the possible misery marriage could bring. After he dies, she helps her mother in her dress shop, volunteers at an orphanage, and does as much as she can to help the women's suffrage movement in Kansas City. However, when a brilliant newspaper reporter wants to write about women's rights, Ingrid's world begins to gradually shift. Can Ryan O'Grady break through the walls she's built to protect herself?

Link to Ingrid's Intention

My next book in the series, Bretta's Business, releases on September 19. As a women’s rights activist with a construction business in Wyoming in 1889, Bretta Shaw’s life isn’t easy. She can’t even find anyone to work for her until Alec Peterson shows up. The newspaper misprinted her name as Brett Stone, and he thinks she’s a man; however, he agrees to take the job. Although Bretta suspects he might be hiding something, she hires him in desperation, but will she live to regret it?

Link to Bretta's Business

Normally, ACX has been taking two weeks or more to approve an Audible book after it's finished and submitted. Imagine my surprise when Bretta's Business was approved in about three days, so it's released and ready for purchase. Since EJ Lavery is now only doing dual narration with Doug Birk for me, I needed a new lead female narrator, and I discovered her in Wendy Arcerga. I think listeners will love her work as much as I do. 

Bretta's Business Audible -

Annette's Assignment will come next. Annette Hunt prefers staying home over going to social events, but her cousin talks her into attending a competition between some of the best minds in Chicago. He needs her to gather information that will help him catch a criminal, and he convinces her by saying that if she does well it will be a big boost to the cause for women’s rights. With trepidation, she agrees, but is she in over her head? I have already done all my work, and Adam Skousen, the audible producer who narrated Simon's Shame and Solomon's Secret is working on Annette's Assignment right now. The ebook is scheduled to publish on October 16.

Link to Annette's Assignment

Tessa's Time will be the last book in the series and publishes on December 26. After his fiancée jilts him for not spending enough time with her, Avery Brown goes to San Francisco as a guest musician. Vowing to avoid such entanglements in the future, he hadn’t expected to meet such a beautiful young lady as Tessa McDonald or be so attracted to her. However, he won’t change his resolve. Astor is the third woman to be jealous of his violin, and he's had enough. So far, Tessa has managed to fend off all the men interested in courting her. She wants to build her writing career and continue to work for women’s rights, and most men are too controlling and narrow-minded to accept either. When she meets the visiting violinist from New York City, she likes him, but she doesn’t expect him to be any different. However, the more she gets to know Avery, the more different he appears. I'm three-fourths finished with the rough draft of this book and am on track to have it ready in plenty of time. It's on preorder now. Browse and buy any of the books that appeal to you. I'm sure you'll love them.

Link to Tessa's Time

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Turn from Sin, and Encourage Others to Do Likewise

And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee, I will blow against thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, and skillful to destroy (Ezekiel 21:31).

As part of my morning devotions, I’ve been reading from the Book of Ezekiel. God sent the prophet Ezekiel to warn the Israelites of the destruction that is about to come because of their uncaring, selfishness, sinfulness, and perverse ways. Reading the prophecies is chilling, especially in light of what is happening in our country today. Much of this could apply to the United States.

Thou shalt be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in the midst of the land; thou shalt be no more remembered: for I the Lord have spoken it (Ezekiel 21:32).

The people had turned from God and sought after things of the world. They didn't look to God or follow His commandments. In fact, they defamed the temple and worshipped other things. Israel had long been a great nation, and they didn't think anything could happen to them, yet they were headed down a path of destruction. Is it beginning to happen again?

And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them (Ezekiel 25: 17).

Again and again, God sends Ezekiel to tell the people to change their wicked, sinful ways, or tragedy and destruction would befall them. But the hard-hearted, hard-headed people refused to listen to the prophet. In fact, their evil actions escalated, and their society became more and more perverse. Even the people who didn't take part in the lewdness did nothing to help turn the nation around.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  (2 Chronicles 7:14).

We need to take a good look at where America is headed and make sure we turn toward God while there's still time. We need to take a stand against lying, deceit, fornication, adultery, harmful drugs, and all other sins before it's too late. We can't depend on someone else to do it. Christians must take a stand while there's still enough of us to make a difference because our numbers are dwindling fast. Let's do what it takes to make the United States truly "one nation under God with liberty and justice for all."

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 Upside-Down Cake by Dana

I have a new book coming out tomorrow (Tuesday, August 29, 2023) in the Old-Timey Holiday Kitchen series. You may remember that I've already published Walnut Cake by Wylene, Sauerkraut Cake by Sophie, and Forget-Me-Not Cookies by Fern in the series. Upside-Down Cake by Dana will be my fourth book in the series, but it's part of a multiple-author series, so there are more. They are all standalones, however. The theme ties them together, and they have the recipe in their title at the end.

Amazon Link

When Dana's father dies, leaving her all alone, she turns to the new farmer and his mother for a job to keep her busy. She and her father used to own their farm until he became too sick to work it. However, some of the townspeople don't like the Stokarskis because they're Polish, and they don't think it is appropriate for a single woman to do farm work. When dangerous incidents start, Dana doesn't know what to do. Are they directed toward the Stokarskis, or is it one of the men wanting to court her that she keeps rejecting?

Since I needed someone who could do a Polish accent for the Audible book, I turned to a new narrator this time. LB (Laura)  Neibaur did a wonderful job, and the finished project went through ACX review process in record time, so it's already out. Laura lives in Idaho, and has a broad range of voices and accents. I'm sure listeners will also be impressed with her talents. 

Audible Link

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Glorifying God

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not unto men (Colossians 3:23).

As Christians, our main job is to glorify God. Our witnessing, charity work, church attendance, and everything else we do should be in light of that goal. Anything that's displeasing or dishonors God should be cut from our lives. He is to be our first priority, far above anything and everything else in importance. In fact, all the things of this world fade in comparison to Him and what He means to us.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1).

When glorifying God is mentioned, most Christians think of worship, praise, and music. Those are all good ways to glorify our Maker, but if those are the only ways we glorify Him, we are falling short. Our whole lives should be lived to glorify and honor Him. This is what Christ meant when he talked about our sacrifices. But, as Paul and many others have found, once you live that lifestyle, there's so much joy it doesn't seem like a sacrifice at all. And we need to stay attuned to His calling, so we won't miss the opportunities he sends our way. As Dwight L., Moody said, "... He has given each one of His people some [special] opportunity of glorifying Him."

O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth (Isaiah 25:1).

We glorify God by living out the biblical truths He has given us, by staying close to Him in an intimate, personal relationship, and by trusting in Him above all else. No matter what may come our way or what wiles the devil may throw at us, we keep our focus on Him, knowing that he will see us through anything. We learn to rest in Him, and there find peace and joy.

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 Authors are Readers Too

Usually, authors are also avid readers. This is one reason when I offer giveaways in an event, I always include the authors who are there as well as the readers. Both are readers. I know I read much more than I write. Even though I've already published 60 books and there will be 16 this year, I'll read more than 360 books during 2023. I know because I write a review for each one, and I write at least one a day. I have over 7,000 books in my Kindle library, so I support other authors too. 

I started reading lots of books when I was five years old. I started school that year, learned to read for myself, and Mother also read some of the harder ones to me. Because I had a few signs of mild dyslexia, the teacher suggested I practice reading over the summer before I started second grade, and boy, did I. I was an only child, and books became my companions and friends. They were my gateway to other places and interesting people when I lived on a small farm in an isolated rural environment. They taught me to love history, the language, and learning new things.

All this reading created a firm foundation to become an author. I began writing my own stories in the third grade, and I've been writing ever since. I had published poetry by the time I was in the eighth grade. In high school and college, I always did well on research papers, essays, and discussion questions. When I taught school, I wrote articles in over 40 magazines, because they were shorter projects that didn't take as much time. I published my first novel about nine years ago after I took an early retirement from teaching English and history. I will always be both a reader and a writer.

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