by Kristin Holt | May 3, 2016 | Articles
Amazon selected ISLAND OF VICEĀ as one of the Top 100 books of 2012; it also selected it as one of the Top Ten history books of the year. I purchased three editions: hardback, audible, and kindle; listened to the audio edition (15 hours, 28 minutes), reread much of the kindle edition and hardback.
From an amateur historian viewpoint–and my fascination with all things late 19th century–this nonfiction title deserves five stars. I learned so very much from every chapter, found myself so ever much better informed about the 1890’s in politics, the Reform Movement (Progressive Era). Review contains two pages of images from the hardback and kindle editions.
by Kristin Holt | Jan 14, 2016 | Articles
Were pencils common in Old West households? How early were pencils invented?
Would you be surprised to learn mechanical pencils were invented and in vogue mid-nineteenth century?
by Kristin Holt | Dec 11, 2015 | Articles
I had the pleasure of reading an ARC (advance review copy) of SODA SPRINGS by the author Carolyn Steele. This article provides my review of this charming western historical novel and an interview with the author. I share insights about this coming-of-age novel, recommend the book to more than one type of reader, and am pleased to be one stop along the new release’s Blog Tour journey.
by Kristin Holt | Aug 3, 2015 | Articles
I share My Personal Top 5 Reasons AUTHORS (especially me) Benefit From (touring and visiting) Historical Residences. I’ve visited many and share highlights as well as personal epiphanies of the value of researching history up close and personal.
by Kristin Holt | Jul 1, 2015 | Articles
Fans of Mail Order Bride historical romances know that many of these marriages of convenience involved letter-writing for a couple to become acquainted and perhaps eventually marry. The curious thing is that writing and love letters between a courting couple wasn’t a phenomenon for those separated by distance. Couples in the Victorian-Era United States often sent love letters to one another as part of their courtship, even when the other party resided nearby.