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 […]
A Successful Memoir Author Shares Her Tips
Q&A With Memoir Author Leslie Ferguson: It’s been quite a roller-coaster ride for memoir author Leslie Ferguson. Over 15 years in the making, her memoir “When I Was Her Daughter” was finally released in late 2021 — to great acclaim! Think multiple podcasts, signings, great reviews, and a personal appearance at the […]
Historic Circle Drive
Historic Houses on Gardnerville’s Circle Drive Remember our recent story about the V&T line to Minden, and the mystery of what became of the stationmaster’s house? We knew that this special piece of V&T history had been moved to Gardnerville, NV to become a residence. But we didn’t know just where the old […]
Marketing Your Memoir Book
Marketing Your Memoir You’ve probably heard all the standard book marketing advice. There’s speaking, networking, newsletters, podcasts, and of course social media. But how else might you reach folks who would appreciate your memoir’s message? I reached out to ask a group of creative authors for some fresh ideas. One of the […]
Orson Hyde & Pioneer Justice
Pioneer Justice Was Swift: When Snowshoe Thompson skied into Placerville on February 2, 1856, it wasn’t just the Carson Valley mail he brought with him over the mountains. He also carried the latest gossip. Among other news Thompson brought to eager listeners was a report of a crime — some $75 […]
The Dizzying, Dangerous, Delightful Ridge Route
1,200 Twisting Turns in 20 Miles – Oh My! Aficionados still talk about the Ridge Route, the iconic byway linking Los Angeles with Bakersfield. The earliest version of this memorable road – Ridge Route 1.0, if you will – was simply dirt, graded and oiled. That made it a huge improvement over the rough carreta […]
Memoir Tips: Connecting With Your Reader
Memoir Tip: Don’t Forget To Connect! It’s easy to think your memoir is “all about me.” Which it is, in a way. It’s your story, your life, your memories, after all. But for most memoirists, getting their story down on paper is also about inviting someone else to join in the dance. […]
The V&T Comes to Minden NV
“Work Has Started” blazed the over-sized headline of the Record-Courier on September 29, 1905. There were no exclamation points, but you could feel the excitement. Ground had been broken the day before on the V&T rail line destined to link Carson City to Carson Valley. Three crews were hard at work, the article reported, with as […]
Why Your Memoir Matters
Yes, Finishing Your Memoir Really Is Important! It’s natural to question things. Sometimes we even question ourselves. Does it really matter if we finish writing our memoir? Well, here are three good reasons to keep going! First, of course, your memoir matters to you. After all, something stirred you to begin […]
Dutch Nick: Part 2
Tarantula Juice & Other Tales from Empire, NV Dutch Nick’s saloon in early Empire, Nevada was infamous for its ‘tarantula juice’ – a homemade concoction of wood alcohol laced with strychnine, tobacco juice, prussic acid, and other foul ingredients. Some say the name derived from the drink’s after-effects, said to resemble the […]
How To Structure Your Memoir
Structuring a Memoir: Scratching your head over how to structure your memoir? It can seem like such an intimidating puzzle! How do you un-jumble a lifetime of experiences? What’s the best way to tell your unique story? Memoir experts will blithely assure you, of course, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But that’s not […]
Dutch Nick and Empire NV
The Tale of Dutch Nick Ambrose Back in the heady days of the Comstock Lode, timber and quartz mills were fueling the growth of Empire, Nevada. And nobody at Empire was more famous than ‘Dutch Nick’ Ambrose. It was Dutch Nick who first claimed that promising stretch of land […]