Ever heard of “bastardy bonds”? I certainly hadn’t. Not until I was researching my own family history, when TMCC genealogy librarian Sue Malek helped me discover a whole book about North Carolina Bastardy Bonds (with, yes, a few family surnames inside!) Turns out bastardy bonds were an early way […]
Preserving Your Family Photo Collection
Preserving Your Family Photo Collection Are you the keeper of your family photo collection? The one who inherited a giant, jumbled box of pictures, negatives and slides? Deciding what to do with all those family treasures can be a daunting prospect, indeed. But here are a few tips and resources to help! * * * * […]
Twelve Mile House
Twelve Mile House . . . . Back in the day, Twelve Mile House was one of a string of stage stations dotting the roads of Carson Valley. Little wonder it made a popular rest spot. For one thing, the waystation bordered the cool waters of the Carson River. For another, four […]
Adding Visuals to Family History
Let’s face it; a family history packed with bare facts would be pretty boring. (Think page after page of names, dates and marriages.) But sprinkle in some visual details — graphics, or maybe even a picture – and that family history springs to life! So, what if you don’t have a photo from, say, 1835 to add […]
Henry Van Sickle Stories You Never Heard
Two Forgotten Henry Van Sickle Stories . . . . If you’re from Carson Valley, you’ve probably heard the name Henry Van Sickle. After all, he was one of the first settlers in soon-to-be Douglas County, Nevada, arriving in September 1852. And if you live here you’ve probably passed his famous Van Sickle Station, […]
Supercharge Your Writing Productivity
What if I told you there’s a super-easy tool that can amp-up your writing productivity? And best of all, it’s free? I know it’s hard to believe, but that simple secret is making lists – and it can super-charge to your writing efforts. If you’ve been fighting flickering focus, wandering attention, or maybe a bad […]
Feeling Stuck With Your Memoir Writing?
Tips To Break Memoir Writer’s Block: Somebody told me recently they’re feeling stuck with their memoir writing. Is that you, too? If so, don’t beat yourself up. It’s more common than any of us would like. But there are things you can do. Here are four quick tips to get your […]
How Jacks Valley Got Its Name
With as colorful a name as ‘Return Jackson Redden,’ he was destined to leave a mark on Carson Valley history. Leave a mark he did, though few know his story today. But here’s a clue: Redden settled in 1851-52 at the mouth of Jack’s Valley. You guessed it. […]
Forgotten Victoriana: Stickaline
You gotta love forgotten bits of Victoriana. I was scrolling through a Scribner’s Magazine from 1880 when this ad for Stickaline caught my eye. The label graphics are just so Gilded Age. But what was this stuff? Turns out Stickaline was a simple adhesive and it was cheap: just 20 […]
The Gold Hill Hotel – Part 2
The Gold Hill Hotel is Nevada’s oldest hotel (how fun is that?!) We shared its early history a few weeks ago, in Part 1 of this story. Today, new owners Tony and Jill Clough are continuing the tradition . . . and putting their own stamp on the history of this special […]
Tips From An Editor
A Guide to Editing Ever wanted to ask a real editor for the inside scoop? You know. How to find the best editor for your book. What’s the difference between copy editing and developmental editing? What’s a synopsis and how’s that different from a blurb? How you can meet genre expectations without tumbling into the trope-trap? […]
The Story of the Gold Hill Hotel
The Gem of Gold Hill, Nevada Ever felt like you’re stepping inside history? That’s the sensation you get as you cross the threshold of the Gold Hill Hotel! And little wonder. The 160-year-old building predates the formation of Nevada itself – giving it bragging rights as the state’s oldest hotel. None other than Mark Twain […]