THANK YOU VETERANS!

The authors here at Sweet Americana Sweethearts write stories set between 1820 and 1920, so it is appropriate that I mention the start of Veterans Day in 1919--one year after the Armistice of World War I.

FACTS ~  Veteran's Day

The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 was the official signing of the cease-fire of World War I (also known as the Great War; the War to end all Wars.)

1919:   One year later, Armistice Day was celebrated to commemorate that day.

1926:   Congress passed a resolution that Armistice Day would be an annual observance.

1938:   Armistice Day was made a National Holiday.

1954:   Dwight D. Eisenhower changed the name to Veterans Day.

Other countries that commemorate their veterans annually are Britain, France, Australia and Canada. (On a different day than the USA.) In the Commonwealth countries, two minutes of silence are observed at 11a.m. on November 11th is observed.

There are approximately 23 million military veterans in the United States today.

I come from a family of veterans. I'm a daughter of a Navy Flyboy. My grandfather served in World War I and my great great grandfather in the War Between the States. My brothers and my two sons all served in the military. So it is unfathomable for me to consider letting this day go by without saying a huge THANK YOU to all the veterans out there.

And while I'm at it, I'd like to say THANK YOU to those who do their best to keep the people in this country safe -- our police and firefighters as well as our veterans who are currently in the military.

I appreciate you!

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I love patriotic songs and I'll leave you with one of my all-time favorites... What is your favorite patriotic song?

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God Bless the USA

by Lee Greenwood

If tomorrow all the things were gone
I'd worked for all my life
And I had to start again
With just my children and my wife

I'd thank my lucky stars

To be living here today

Cause the flag still stands for freedom

And they can't take that away

And I'm proud to be an American

Where at least I know I'm free

And I won't forget the men who died

Who gave that right to me

And I'll gladly stand up

Next to you and defend her still today

Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land

God bless the USA

From the lakes of Minnesota

To the hills of Tennesee

Across the plains of Texas

From sea to shining sea

From Detroit down to Houston,

And New York to L.A.

Well there's pride in every American heart

And its time we stand and say

And I'm proud to be an American

Where at least I know I'm free

And I won't forget the men who died

Who gave that right to me

And I'll gladly stand up

Next to you and defend her still today

Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land

God bless the USA

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For information on my sweet historical westerns please see

www.KathrynAlbright.com

Guidelines for a Teacher

by Shanna Hatfield

When I was looking for some fun historical tidbits to add to my latest sweet historical romance, I happened upon a book of Victorian morals and manners.

There was a whole section of guidelines, rules, and tips for teachers.

Perfect!

In The Christmas Quandary (which releases today!), Tom Grove returns to the town of Hardman to recuperate after an injury prevents him from doing his job until his broken arm heals. It just so happens the regular schoolteacher has taken quite ill. With nothing better to do, Tom agrees to fill in as the teacher through the holidays.

The regular teacher gives him a booklet that details all the do's and don'ts of teaching.

Here is the list:

Do not lose your head or your temper.

Do not appear meek to your students.

Do enter the classroom with a purposeful gait and gaze lifted with a steady eye.

Do decide exactly what you will and will not allow in your classroom.

Do make your standards perfectly clear from the start.

Do appear to take it for granted that you will get what you want from the students.

Do state your plans in a clear manner and under no circumstances change your mind.

Do not allow a wayward child to escape punishment from kindness of heart.

Do not threaten vaguely or offer general declarations.

Do not grumble or nag.

Do not make exceptions to your rules, once established.

Do not allow a child to argue about a punishment.

While he takes the advice with a grain of salt, he does find some of the suggestions to be helpful.

The Christmas Quandary, book five in the Hardman Holidays series releases today!

 Holiday surprises await two lonely hearts in Hardman…

Tom Grove just needs to survive a month at home while he recovers from a work injury. How bad can it be to return to Hardman for the holiday season?  He arrives to discover his middle-aged parents acting like newlyweds, the school in need of a teacher, and the girl of his dreams already engaged.

After the loss of her parents and her fiancé abandoning her to spend a year abroad, Lila Granger needs a change of scenery. She leaves her home in New York to spend a few months with relatives in Hardman, Oregon. The idea of stepping off the train into a place that gives her a true sense of coming home never entered her mind. Neither did the notion of falling in love with a man who clearly can’t wait to get away from the small town.

The Christmas Quandary is a sweet Victorian romance, full of laughter and heartwarming moments.

And you can order it now on Amazon!

Oh, and you are invited to party with us today, too!

Just come to the Cowboys and Christmas Party at http://tinyurl.com/cowboychristmasFB3 to get in on the fun!

And don't forget to sign up for the chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card! http://tinyurl.com/cowboychristmasform3

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USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield writes character-driven romances with relatable heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”

Convinced everyone deserves a happy ending, this hopeless romantic is out to make it happen one story at a time. When she isn’t writing or indulging in chocolate (dark and decadent, please), Shanna hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.

Find Shanna’s books at:

Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | Apple | Audible

Shanna loves to hear from readers. Follow her online at:

ShannaHatfield | Facebook | Newsletter | Pinterest | Goodreads | You Tube | Twitter

Shady Ladies of "Old Arizona" - Some Women Just Don't Listen!

Just before the turn of the 20th century, the “ladies of the night,” or “soiled doves,” ran booming businesses in old Arizona boom towns such as Jerome, Morenci, Tombstone and Bisbee.
 

There was a limitless market–selling intimacy to lonely love starved men. These colorful lades bore a litany of picturesque nicknames such as Squirrel-Tooth Alice, Crazy Horse Lil, Frenchy Moustache, Lizette the Flying Nymph, and last but not least, Little Gertie, the Gold Dollar. These aliases weren’t just to camouflage identity but usually referred to some unique characteristic the lady possessed. As long as the town prospered, they stayed, but when the mines played out they were among the first to sense the economic crisis and move on.

Reasons for entering the profession were as varied as the women themselves. Some came from respectable families, while others were escaping from malevolent husbands. Some became prostitutes as a lark or some sense of adventure, while others were forced into it. A few lucky ones married some respectable gent and left the profession. Others went into business for themselves–some even became quite wealthy. Most, however, fell victim to the hazards of the trade, becoming strung out on drugs, booze, or died and were buried in lonely, unmarked graves.

Those notorious shady ladies sold companionship in a variety of settings ranging from ramshackle cribs to opulent mansions. In saloons and burlesque theaters, they were required to mingle with the customers and hustle drinks when they weren’t performing.

On such place was Tombstone’s Bird Cage Theater, located on the south side of Allen Street.

The evening’s entertainment began with a variety of burlesque shows titillating the audiences with risque vaudeville acts. Private booths with drawn curtains in the balcony were reserved for the big spenders. A stairway backstage leading up to the balcony allowed the girls the opportunity to earn an extra few dollars for a few intimate moments behind closed drapes.

This is a picture I took while visiting the Birdcage in Tombstone.  Rooms were 5 X 4.  Couldn't have gotten too rambunctious in those tiny spaces!

Little Gertie – The Gold Dollar

Not too much is known about Little Gertie. But her one night of jealous rage is infamous in Tombstone lore and will forever link her to Tombstone and the Birdcage Theater.


Little Gertie who was also known as “Gold Dollar” had a boyfriend who she had been seeing for some time and he was a gambler named Billy Milgreen. A “Soiled Dove” who worked at the Birdcage Theater named Margarita was very flirtatious and attracted to Milgreen. Gold Dollar had caught wind of this from another “Soiled Dove” that worked at the Birdcage and confronted Margarita.  She warned Margarita to stay away from her man or she would cut her heart out. She had also told Milgreen that she wanted him to stay away from her as well. One night Milgreen went to the Birdcage Theater to play cards, Margarita saw Milgreen and started to flirt with him. The person who was keeping tabs on Margarita for Gold Dollar ran to the Crystal Palace where she worked to informed her of what was going on. Gold Dollar stormed over to the Birdcage to see for herself. She hid out of site and peaked through a door. She saw Margarita with her hand on him whispering in his ear. Gold Dollar could see the Milgreen was trying to focus on his card game when Margarita plopped herself on his lap and starting kissing him. Gold Dollar busted through the door and screamed, “Get away from my man, you Mexican chippy! I warned you before!”

Margarita - the girl who just didn't listen!

Gold Dollar pulled Margarita off Milgreen’s lap by the hair the two started fighting. Pulling hair and scratching. All of a sudden Gold Dollar pulled a double edged stiletto knife from her garter and stabbed Margarita in her chest. Margarita fall on top of a table as someone screamed to get the Doctor but Margarita received a fatal wound and she had fallen to the ground bleeding.

Once Gold Dollar heard the sheriff was on his way, she ran out the back of the Birdcage Theater and hid the knife. The murder weapon was not found so charges were never made against Gold Dollar. She left town shortly after. Milgreen also left town but there is no proof of them meeting up or even leaving together.

In 1982 an old stiletto was found behind the Birdcage Theater and it’s believed that it is the same knife that Gold Dollar stabbed Margarita with. It is now on display at the Birdcage Theater. Margarita was laid to rest at Boothill.


Good morning all!  My new book, Chase's Story, will be out in January of 2017.  It takes place in Arizona, so I'm excited to blog about Old Arizona.Tombstone is a wonderful place to visit, chuck full of history, wonderful shops, restaurants, bars and things to do!

I write historical western romances under P. A. Estelle.  Stop by any time to find out more about my stories or myself!

www.pennystales.com

http://www.amazon.com/Penny-Estelle/e/B006S62XBY