A lot of people have told me that the characters in The Dance of the White Deer “come alive” and “are well developed.” This, of course, makes me a happy writer. I am a very visual person, and when I am creating characters it helps me to picture them in my mind, sometimes as celebrities,…
Sequel?
A few people have asked me when I am going to release the sequel to The Dance of the White Deer. I completed the sequel several years ago, and there are some revisions I want to make, but I am hoping to release it sometime this year. In 2023 I also plan to release some…
Upcoming Appearance at Pretty Good Books
About a month ago Northeastern Ohio author Chelsea Banning had a book signing and was sorely disappointed when hardly anyone showed up. She tweeted about her disheartening experience and was astonished when wildly popular authors such as Stephen King and Neil Gaiman responded to her and offered their encouragement. Chelsea’s story went viral and was…
Barn in Gustavus
This barn is located in Gustavus, Ohio, just a short distance from the small country cemetery where Frances Maria Buell is buried and also a short distance from the area where Maria lived with her stepfather, mother, and siblings, and also the spot where she was stabbed to death. I have taken many sunset photos…
Riverius Bidwell
Riverius Bidwell (1790-1871) was a well-known, well-respected early citizen of Gustavus, Ohio. He was Ira Gardner’s landlord and a key witness to the 1832-murder of 16-year-old Frances Maria Buel. Born in Connecticut, Riverius came to Gustavus in 1812 along with his family. He was described as a big, strong man, clad in simple but clean…
Excerpt, Chapter Seven
“Aaron had often heard men talk of the white buck, heard them swear it was bad luck to shoot it. He had heard them say there had been generations of white deer around Prosperity Creek, and the Indians thought they carried magical powers. Some of the Indians had claimed if you dared to kill a…
Book Club Meeting
These ladies selected The Dance of the White Deer for their monthly book club. This evening I drove to Willoughby Hills and sat down with them to discuss the novel. We even ate foods that would have been served in the 1800s. It was a lot of fun! Thanks so much!
Why the Name Limery?
Besides asking about the cover art, a few people have also asked how I ended up with the name of Limery as the book’s leading character. Here’s my answer: One of my favorite research resources for this novel was a series of books titled Memorial to the Pioneer Women of the Western Reserve, published in…
Loosely Inspired by the 1832 Murder of Frances Maria Buell
The Dance of the White Deer was loosely inspired by the 1832 murder of Frances Maria Buell, a 16-year-old “brunette beauty” from Gustavus, Ohio. Those who are familiar with her story know that Maria (pronounced Mariah) was murdered by her stepfather, Ira West Gardner, after resisting his sexual advances. What isn’t as well-known is that…
About the Cover
Several people have asked me about the cover of the book. Who is the girl on the cover? The answer is “I don’t know.” Many years ago when I started to write the novel, I found an unidentified tintype on eBay of a young, dark-haired woman who, in my mind’s eye, resembled the character of…