Me in front of Darby Meeting House in 2019. My ancestor was kicked out of Darby Monthly Meeting, as were John Bartram, and John James Pearson. Fornication, disbelief in the Holy Trinity, and fighting in the American Revolution were all big Quaker no-nos over the years. Quaker disownment fascinates me. In the genealogical research I’veContinueContinue reading ““Membership Discontinued” or the 5 Best Ways to Get Kicked out of Quaker Meeting”
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10 popular novels that taught me how to write about Quakers
Hi all and Happy November! When I started writing my first Quaker novel three years ago, I decided to take a look at other fiction featuring Friends. I didn’t want to look at the classics (nope, Moby Dick, don’t think I can write that!), but at popular books. I started by working through the “FictionContinueContinue reading “10 popular novels that taught me how to write about Quakers”
Is Disaffection a Dirty Word?
Nation Makers by Howard Pyle (public domain image via Brandywine Museum) In Chapter 19 of my WIP novel, A Little Rebellion, teen BFF’s Elizabeth and Eben have an argument about pacifism. A few days before the Battle of Brandywine. Elizabeth rides into Darby and tells Eben that British soldiers have camped out on his family’sContinueContinue reading “Is Disaffection a Dirty Word?”
Why would you ever leave?
The road to and from Oxton, Nottinghamshire, UK Oxton Mr. Brooklyn and I are standing at the bar in a pub in Blidworth Bottoms. We’ve hiked by a field of horses and made our way through a part of the Sherwood Forest. “Can we sit in the dining room?” I ask the bartender. “No. We’reContinueContinue reading “Why would you ever leave?”
Betsy Ross was a Badass
Sorry for the language, friends! I suppose I’m finally over losing the Flag Day Poetry Contest in elementary school. As I recall, it was a beautiful June day and we all sat outside looking at the flag. Our principal read the winning poem over the loudspeaker. The poem was haiku-like, breathtaking in its simplicity andContinueContinue reading “Betsy Ross was a Badass”