Carolyn Rogers's Posts - CrimeSpace2024-03-28T10:56:41ZCarolyn Rogershttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/CarolynRhttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/60985099?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://crimespace.ning.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=CarolynR&xn_auth=noHistorical Mysterytag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-03-13:537324:BlogPost:50272007-03-13T20:29:28.000ZCarolyn Rogershttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/CarolynR
<p><font size="2">Just putting a general query here--any historical crime writers out there yet?</font></p>
<p><font size="2">I'm working on my first, set in the late 1890's in Texas. Butch Cassidy will play a small recurring role (I admit, I do crush on that man), and I'm at last shaking the dust off the research I've gathered over the years with this book in mind. I work for an engineering company that does all the mapping for BNSF Rwy., and before that worked at the Railroad itself, and as…</font></p>
<p><font size="2">Just putting a general query here--any historical crime writers out there yet?</font></p>
<p><font size="2">I'm working on my first, set in the late 1890's in Texas. Butch Cassidy will play a small recurring role (I admit, I do crush on that man), and I'm at last shaking the dust off the research I've gathered over the years with this book in mind. I work for an engineering company that does all the mapping for BNSF Rwy., and before that worked at the Railroad itself, and as such had access to some amazing historical documents and photographs. The one thing that truly caught my imagination was the Harvey Houses created by Fred Harvey that were built along the AT&SF Railway lines. They brought a lot of fine culture where it once did not exist. That and excellent food. The young women who worked at the Harvey Houses were adventurous sorts--though being a waitress was frowned upon, the Harvey Girls quickly gained the reputation of being fine young women who were a class above. There were so few options for young women in those days who didn't want to dive straight into marriage--or rather say, acceptable options.</font></p>
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<p><font size="2">Those chosen to be Harvey Girls had to be gentlewomen of good character and comely looks. (I've read that passage sooo many times in different things). So, of course, I am driven to write a story about a young woman who is on the run from the law for murder, has a highly questionable background, is being sought by more than one man who wants her dead, and another who wants to know what she knows. I start her off in jail (enter Butch, who was quite good at jail breaks).</font></p>
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<p><font size="2">This story has plagued me for years. Around six or so I'd say, maybe even longer when I first ran across all the contract files on the Pinkertons and the Harvey Houses and Fred Harvey. I've glanced at it numerous times, and passed it by because I wasn't ready to tackle it. At first it was due to life circumstances--my profile says enough about that--and then it was a genuine doubt that I could pull off what I want to do.</font></p>
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<p><font size="2">Talk about a negative attitude. I've banned those thoughts multiple times but am determined now to make them stick. The amount of research and facts I'll have to make sure are straight is pretty overwhelming, but I can't deny a rabid glee as I read, discovering such gems as the history behind 'red light district.' Railroad related even--as the railroad men who visited the bawdy houses would set their red glass lamps outside while they tended to their pleasure. I imagine there were LOTS of those lamps sitting about, casting a rosy glow over the street. One of my coworkers brought one of those lamps to show us all not too long ago, and the BNSF gallery has several others. It was fun to tell her the history of that lamp, something she didn't know.</font></p>
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<p><font size="2">Anyway, I'm enjoying being seized into this new area of mystery, letting my love of history finally get out and express itself. I'm literally starting this ms this month--don't actually even have my character's name yet.</font></p>
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<p><font size="2">Hope there are some other history mystery types out there--would love to get to know you better.</font></p>
<p><br/><font size="2">Carolyn</font></p>The First Time Is Always the Hardesttag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-03-05:537324:BlogPost:9742007-03-05T04:51:08.000ZCarolyn Rogershttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/CarolynR
<p><font size="2">M. Tarquini sent me. I was supposed to say that. She said to. So now I have. There.</font></p>
<p><font size="2">Glad to be here. I'm going to write just a little post to start out--as I told Mindy, I'm more inclined to stick my toes in cautiously than make a big splash. Less chance of making a fool of myself, right? I was published years ago, with Silver Dagger Mysteries. I wrote a nice traditional mystery that I thought would be the first of a series with SDM. it was a great…</font></p>
<p><font size="2">M. Tarquini sent me. I was supposed to say that. She said to. So now I have. There.</font></p>
<p><font size="2">Glad to be here. I'm going to write just a little post to start out--as I told Mindy, I'm more inclined to stick my toes in cautiously than make a big splash. Less chance of making a fool of myself, right? I was published years ago, with Silver Dagger Mysteries. I wrote a nice traditional mystery that I thought would be the first of a series with SDM. it was a great experience, learned alot from my editor, had good reviews, went to cons and sat on panels and just really enjoyed myself. However, anyone familiar with this publisher knows that what started out as a really good thing has unfortunately taken a different turn. Toss major life changes into the mix--the illness and then subsequent death of my husband at only 40--and writing ended up taking a back seat for quite awhile. The last two years since he died have been devoted to my kids, and remaking my life. Happily, that is all working out beautifully. The kids are great, I'm healthier and happier than I've been in years--and now it is time to return to writing.</font></p>
<p><font size="2">But to WHAT exactly? I really struggled with this. I'd lost touch with just about everyone I knew in the mystery world. Just about. I hung onto the fringes, but... Wasn't sure what I wanted. I dabbled in other areas a bit, attended a few cons in other genres...but...nothing felt right. I missed mystery. I missed the people, I missed the stories, I missed the entire world of it.</font></p>
<p><font size="2">So...I went to Left Coast Crime, saw next to no one I knew, but that was okay. (My picture on here is from Seattle). I felt the buzz again, brought home alot of excitement, and then...stalled again. This time it was over WHAT to write. A traditional mystery again, or was I ready to take the plunge into an area I've long been interested in, but actually feared a bit? Historical mystery. Gulp. LOL. I've gone back and forth on THAT question for awhile. I'll write more about that later here, but that is where I've decided to dig in.</font></p>
<p><font size="2">History mystery, bringing to life a part of the past that I've long been entranced with. Can I do it? I have no idea. I'm rather terrified, but excited too. I told Mindy by writing it down here, that I was setting it in stone. No more wishy-washy, no more fear keeping me from diving into something that I've been gathering research on for years.</font></p>
<p><font size="2">So much for a short first post. This is a nice place. Think I will like using it. Thanks for the welcome!</font></p>
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<p><font size="2">Carolyn</font></p>
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EDIT: Oh my goodness, my picture disappeared from my page! Hmm. Hopefully it hasn't gotten lost and will come back soon.</font></p>
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