by Roseanna White | Dec 1, 2010 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized
I think I was awake more than I was asleep last night, so my brain power is seriously wanting right now. Usually I’d still be able to come up with something fun in the history category, but my historical thoughts are totally occupied, right now, but an upcoming trip.
I’m going to Annapolis on Friday!
I know, I know–this isn’t all that unusual, and not that big a deal.
Annapolis is only 2.5 hours away, we have friends still in that area . . . visiting isn’t exactly abnormal. But this time I’m visiting while writing a book set there. This time, I’m going to head downtown and play tourist. I’m going to going sightseeing, visit all the historical spots I always ignored as a resident.
Yes, I’m going to be armed with a camera and a notebook, and I’m going to have a blast!
I think this is especially exciting for me because it’s the first time I get to visit a place for research like this. Pathetic, huh? 😉 That’s what happens when one writes about Persia, Rome, and even England and Monaco, when one has no travel budget, LOL. Okay, so I’ve visited the Outer Banks while writing about them, but that was more coincidence then design. This is actually planned.
So, that’s my excitement. And all the thought I’m capable of before coffee. And possibly before a nap on this rainy, rainy day. Hope everyone has an excellent Wednesday!
by Roseanna White | Nov 17, 2010 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized
Yeah, I know, I’ve already written about the post before. But that was the Persia version. This is the more familiar U.S. of A. =)
In researching how long it might take someone to travel by horse from Williamsburg to
Annapolis in 1783–in December–I came across some information about the post at the time. And, therefore, the post roads and regulations.
Philadelphia was the main Post Office, the kind of central workings. From there branched roads north and roads south. In the southwardly directly, the next major stop was (thankfully) Annapolis. From
Annapolis things either went over water by ferry or by land to (doo doo doo DOOOOO) Williamsburg. (Thank you, Lord!!!)
Now, the post roads were about the only dependable roads in the country at that point. They had to be–see, there was a rule that a postal rider must cover 100 miles in 24 hours. In those days, that was difficult. Riders often had to go straight through the night to make their deadline. And the pay, you wonder? For the six good-weather months of the year, April through October, they made 8 pence per mile. In October through April, they made 12.
Why was this helpful for me, you wonder? Because it is oh-so-important to realize that she was traveling solely by post road, which means quicker travel. But even they were tougher to get through in winter–another source I found said to take a good-weather estimate on travel and double it for winter travel estimates.
And there we have a lovely formula to figure out the timing necessary for my story. Lark’s letter would make it from
Annapolis to Williamsburg in two days. But it would take about a week for her to travel it by carriage, assuming some rain and mud and cold.
Boy am I glad to have figured THAT out!
by Roseanna White | Nov 10, 2010 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized
I love Annapolis. I love the old-world charm, I love the maritime beauty, I love the ancient facades (or as ancient as facades can get in America) of the buildings. I love that when I walk along City Dock during boating season, I can hear conversations in German and French and Italian as well as Spanish and English. I love seeing the Midshipman bustling along in their pristine whites, I love seeing the Johnnies amble along with a book in front of them–yes, the students from my college sometimes read and walk at the same time. I’ve seen it, LOL.
Annapolis is a city very proud of its colonial heritage, of its importance in the wars that came after, in how it has stood strong even as Baltimore outgrew it. And I love it for that.
One problem . . . at the time I’m writing in, it wasn’t just a tourist spot for the yachting community. The Naval Academy wasn’t there yet. There was no St. John’s College. Which made me ask all knew questions. Like . . . what was College Creek called, then? Or, more importantly, College Avenue?
See, College Avenue slices right through the middle of town, a rather important thoroughfare if you’re dealing at all with the State House–which I am. In fact, one of my primary characters lives on North Street (which connects to College Ave) and teaches at King William’s School, which was (wanna take a guess?) on the other side of College Ave.
I looked everywhere I could think to. I searched through the old book I had on Annapolis. In three more provided by Google Books. I searched for maps from the era. But I couldn’t find the answer to that question. I discovered what Main Street used to be called, I discovered that College Creek used to be Deep Creek (and that Spa Creek used to be Acton’s). I learned any number of other useful facts about what was what back then–but not as concerns College Ave. Aaaaagggghhhh!
Then I found a promising link in the Maryland State Archives, which are blessedly online. A map–not quite old enough to help, but there were links to other, older maps. I clicked on the oldest one–still 90 years after my book, but the closest I could get online. And it looked good. It looked promising. That street crossing town definitely did not say College Ave. It said . . . crease?
Aaaaaagggghhhhh! Yes, this scanned map had a terrible crease RIGHT THROUGH THE NAME I NEEDED!!!!! All I could make out was “Tab” and “cle.” But that was enough to ding the bell of memory (an adage not in use in 1783, by the way, ha ha). Tabernacle! It was Tabernacle Street!!!
So, in a way that my middle school math teachers would fully approve of, now that I had my answer, I worked backward to check my work. I searched for Tabernacle Street in Annapolis, and voila! Documents verifying this was indeed what I needed. (Though heaven forbid they come up in my original searches–noooooooo.)
See how exciting historical research can be? 😉
by Roseanna White | Nov 3, 2010 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized
Yes, more from Ben Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Almanack today. Largely because it’s two hours after my usual posting time, and I have no other brilliant ideas. =)
Beware! Beware! He’ll cheat without scruple, who can without fear.
As pride increases, fortune declines.
Ambition often spends foolishly what avarice had wickedly collected.
Creditors have better memories than debtors.
Death takes no bribes.
A good example is the best sermon.
All would live long, but none would be old.
A long life may not be good enough, but a good life is long enough.
Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one.
Beware of him who is slow to anger; he is angry for something, and will not be pleased for nothing.
(In other words, don’t make Roseanna mad! 😉
Danger is sauce for prayers.
Bad commentators spoil the best of books.
Approve not of him who commends all you say.
And my favorite from this batch . . .
Clean your finger, before you point at my spots.
Happy Wednesday, all! Hope ol’ Ben’s wisdom brightens your day. =)
by Roseanna White | Oct 27, 2010 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized
In my historical about Annapolis, I’ve decided to have a secondary character who is a bit obsessed with Poor Richard’s Almanac and all the wisdom Ben Franklin shares within it. So I thought I’d share a few of the gems with you too. Some of these things I hadn’t realized originated with good ol’ Ben–others are just hilarious. =) And some were quoted so frequently that they often get confused with scripture, LOL.
Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
What is serving God?
Tis doing good to man.
God helps those who help themselves.
The poor have little,
Beggars none;
The rich too much,
Enough not one.
After crosses and losses, men grow humbler and wiser.
If you would not be forgotten
As soon as you are dead and rotten,
Either write things worthy reading,
Or do things worth the writing. (My personal favorite.)
Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards. (LOL)
Work as if you were to live a hundred years,
Pray as if you were to die tomorrow.
One good Husband is worth two good Wives; for the scarcer things are, the more they’re valued. (LOL again)
There are tons more of these, and I mean tons. But that should be enough to get you through your Wednesday. =)
by Roseanna White | Oct 20, 2010 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized
So after six months in Ancient Persia, a thought or two spared for the 1920s, and then a week in Regency England, I am yet again shifting gears. Why, you ask? What can she possibly be working on now?
Well, as it happens, it’s time to buckle down and work on my story set in
Annapolis of 1784. This story is penciled into a publisher’s 2012 schedule (this is nothing official, mind you, though promising), and the editor said she would want to see the full (or whatever I have done) in January or so. So . . . time to get something done on it!
I’ve been helping myself out by reading Golden Keyes Parsons’
Where Hearts are Free, which is set in 17th century Philadelphia. Not exactly 18th century
Annapolis, but closer than I’ve been, and it at least gets me in the mood for it. I also just joined a Colonial American writing list, which, again, technically cuts off about five years before my book starts, but that one I deem close enough. =) I think today I might break out my delightful book on the history of
Annapolis that shares hilarious insights like “he, like a proper English gentleman, died of the gout.”
I think I may also call the historical society down there and get them in on the fun of this. I’m really looking forward to diving into history that I’m already acquainted with, in a town whose historic district I’ve lived, schooled, and worked in. I just love
Annapolis.
And, of course, I get to dive back into the minds of my heroine seeking the liberty her brother just fought for, and my hero who needs to realize that this new country is about far more than duty. Yay!
Oh, on a side note, my companion guide for
Jewel of Persia is now complete and ready for your viewing pleasure
on my website.
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.