by Kristin Holt | Nov 4, 2016 | Articles
When Courting Miss Cartwright was published within the Western Historical Romance anthology, Cowboys & Calico, I didn’t include the “Dear Reader” letter, but it appears in the newly available stand-alone title (Courting Miss Cartwright). I share the brief note inside this article, in case you read the anthology, because I’d love to share a bit about why the Yiddish words and phrases, more about the quotes at the beginning of chapters, and how this title connects to two of my series.
by Kristin Holt | Oct 23, 2016 | Articles
It’s no surprise in today’s environment that women (and men) can choose any color hair they desire, piercings and tattoos at will, and permanent makeup (tattooed eyeliner and lip-liner). I shouldn’t have been surprised to learn today’s plastic surgeons offer dimple surgery to create the desirable feature Mother Nature forgot to grant. What shocked me was the inventive Victorian who figured out how to artificially bring about dimples.
by Kristin Holt | Oct 14, 2016 | Articles
Similar in nature to the nineteenth century confidence in Phrenology as an indicator of personality and character, this descriptive (short) chapter from a barber’s manual from turn of the century (circa 1900) illustrates the Victorian-era suggestion that hair color is indicative of character. Did Mr. Bridgeford, Barber College teacher, accurately connect your hair’s nature to your personality traits?
by Kristin Holt | Oct 11, 2016 | Articles
Though women wore their hair (for the most part) very long during the Victorian era, they still “styled” their hair with curls and bangs (false or real), twists, braids, updos of all kinds… Vintage newspaper articles illustrate women’s hair fashions of the late Victorian era.
by Kristin Holt | Sep 20, 2016 | Articles
Marcia A. Zug’s 2016 publication, Buying a Bride (New York University Press) is a timely narrative of the history of mail-order brides, from colonial days in the Americas (French and English) through the growth and westward migration of the United States, and into contemporary times. The nonfiction work is an easy read, informative, amusing, enlightening, and draws heavily from original sources. Ever wondered about the TRUTH behind mail-order brides–whether in today’s news, as a setting for favorite Old West Romances, or even pre-Revolutionary War? This five-star nonfiction book is for you!
