Bringing Water to Virginia City in the 1870s Was No Easy Task August 1, 1871 proved to be a magical day for Virginia City. Newspaperman Alf Doten noted in his diary: “[T]he water came through the new water works from the Sierra mountains this evening – 21 miles.” It […]
Writing Magic: Transporting Your Reader
Ever read a passage so good it gave you goosebumps? What is that word-magic that can transport a reader to another time, another place? Two readers kindly shared favorites from their memoirs with us, as examples. Here’s one I loved, from Dana Quinney’s second memoir, Wildflower Woman (and I bet […]
A Gardnerville House With A Story
If you’ve ever driven through Gardnerville, Nevada, chances are you’ve spotted this humble two-story home on the east side of Highway 395. Turns out it’s a lot older than it looks. And surprisingly, it wasn’t actually built here! Back in the early 1900s, this was the ranch house of Bohlman […]
Passages from a Memoir
Memoir author Candy Mitchell shares a story Candy Mitchell is working on her second family history. Her first book was about her great-grandfather, who traveled from Connecticut to Oklahoma during the land rush, and wound up as a newspaperman in Muskogee. Candy was able to use excerpts […]
The Werrin Building at Virginia City
Today, it’s the home of Virginia City’s popular Cafe del Rio restaurant. But back in the 1870s, this two-story brick building at 170 “C” Street housed the grocery store of John S. Werrin, with rooms for rent above. Even today, you can still make out Werrin’s name painted above the door. So […]
Sharing a Story: from Margaret McCaffrey
This month I put out a call to fellow memoir writers, asking if anyone would like to share a short snippet they’re especially proud of from their memoir-in-progress. Such beautiful responses flowed in! Margaret McCaffrey of Melbourne, Australia shared not only a beautiful story about her dad, but also […]
How I Rescued a Traveler’s Diary from 1835
I stumbled across a small, hand-written diary in an antique store in May, 1988. I’d never run across an old diary for sale before, and had no idea what this one was about. All I knew is what it said on the tag: “1835 handwritten trip journal.” The diary […]
Memoir Tip: What Can You Leave Behind?
Three years ago, I was fortunate enough to be asked to help a Native American woman complete her oral history. This month, I attended her funeral. Funerals aren’t generally happy affairs. But this one left me feeling up-lifted. It was a genuine celebration of a well-lived life. And although […]
1835 Traveler’s Diary
Like a free excerpt? Over thirty years ago, I discovered an old traveler’s diary in an antique shop. Written in 1835, it recorded the travels of a New England gentleman as he explored the “west” (today’s Midwest), searching for land and opportunity. Click here to read a free excerpt! * […]
A Short History of Lebec, CA
A Short History of Lebec (Part 1): Peter Lebec may have lost his battle with a grizzly bear almost 200 years ago. But Lebec’s name still graces the California valley where he died in 1837. Today, the small town of Lebec, California – named after the […]
Baby Face Nelson at Walley’s Hot Springs, NV
Yes, that Baby Face Nelson. . . . What better place for a wanted man to spend a quiet month hiding from the feds than the cabins of an out-of-the-way tourist resort. Walley’s Hot Springs, Nevada, to be precise. On October 1, 1934, Lester Joseph Gillis, aka George […]
Finding Your Writer’s Voice
MEMOIR TIP: You’ve probably heard about “writer’s voice”: that distinctive style that sets you apart from every other writer who’s come before. Part of it’s your tone. Maybe distinguished. Compelling. Funny. Or quirky. But it’s also the feeling your readers get as they read those words you strung together. It’s the way […]