Authorpreneur Dashboard – Dorothea Graham Jensen
Dizzy, the Stowaway Elf
Children's Books
2021 Purple Dragonfly Children's Book Awards Winner: Picture Books (Aged 6 and up) Category ****************************************************************Santa's Izzy Elves #3! "A little elf’s clandestine adventure as a stowaway on Santa’s sleigh takes an unexpected turn in an engaging contemporary spin on the classic 19th-century poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas”...The author propels her present-day take on the classic Christmas poem with gentle humor and suspense, smoothly incorporating lines from the original poem into her lively tale about a stowaway elf." –Kirkus Reviews Santa's Izzy Elves stories are not your usual picture books: older kids who enjoy playing with words and reading rhythmical verse will love them, too! One reason for this is that although these stories echo the famous 19th century poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas" Santa's Izzy Elves are definitely 21st century, with electronic devices galore in their North Pole workshop! This "Story Monster Approved" third story in the series tells what happens when Dizzy, eager to have an adventure of his own, sneaks aboard Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve. He literally drops into the bedroom of two little boys, Drake and Stuart, and the three of them share a wild joy ride that might be even more of an adventure than Dizzy was hoping for!
Book Bubbles from Dizzy, the Stowaway Elf
Mini-Vidding Dizzy
I'm having fun creating very short videos with music for Dizzy. Watch them on You Tube here: vimeo.com/dorotheagjensen.
2018 Christmas Countdown #7
CALENDAR MYSTERY; We Izzies can never quite figure out why/The rest of the year seems to just dawdle by/But when we arrive at December the first/The days before Christmas flash by in a burst!
Reading Dizzy Aloud!
I had fun reading the beginning of this story aloud and making a video of it! Check it out at my website, dorotheajensen.com. (There's a link to it somewhere nearby on this very page, cleverly labeled "website".) Once you get to the website it's on the page marked "Videos" (another clever label). Enjoy!
Dizzy's Colleague, Fizzy
Fizzy and Dizzy both make "toys that surprise". Here's how Tizzy described their job in TIZZY, THE CHRISTMAS SHELF ELF: Now, Fizzy and Dizzy—they both specialize/In holiday treats and in toys that surprise/Hand buzzers and squirt guns and magical rings/Jacks in the boxes and those sorts of things. But Fizzy (and probably Dizzy, too) is finding the work rather challenging these days. Here is her Christmas Countdown Verse: Fizzy makes toys that surprise, and it's tough/To build in the secrets that thrill kids enough./ "Kids today," she explains, "know a little too much,/To be truly surprised by hand-buzzers and such!"
Christmas Countdown #3
Here's a bit of Dizzy's story and a Christmas Countdown verse for December 3! Twenty two days til Christmas and at the North Pole/ We Izzies are working away, with one goal/To make the right gifts for each child on the list.(We want to make sure not a one has been missed.)
Christmas Countdown #2
Stuey and Drake are smart, spirited boys/Let's hope their adventure won't forfeit new toys!/We Izzies have made gifts for them specially/Please don't mess this up just to spy on S.C.! * * * Note from Deedy: to learn more about the Izzy Elves and their stories, please visit my website dorotheajensen.com (the link, cleverly labelled WEBSITE) is on this page, so it's easy-peasy to beam over to visit!
Christmas Countdown #1!
We Izzies are pleased to announce that this year/We're counting down days until Christmas is here./As usual, Deedy assists with our rhyme. (It's tricky, but nevertheless a good time.) * * *Note from Deedy: since my IzzyElves website has disappeared (another Mystery of the Internet), to see pix of the elves etc., please visit my website at dorotheajensen.com.
Dizzy-fied Grandboys!
For a peek at the illustration that goes with this part of the story, as well as a "re-enactment" with the REAL Stuart and Drake, check out the post at: http://izzyelfblog.blogspot.com/2017/01/dizzy-fied-grandboys.html
Countdown Verse 12/10
Deedy says she so busy she hasn't had time/To work every day on a counting down rhyme. She hopes to make up with a verse for today/That shows how she boarded a Dizzy-type sleigh./(We Izzies are proud she decided to fix/ Her counting down gap with some Izzy-type pix.)/ TO SEE THE PICTURES, GO HERE! http://izzyelfblog.blogspot.com/2016/12/deedy-finally-put-her-elf-hat-back-on.html
Christmas Countdown #1
So I've decided to continue publishing couplets for you to read every day in a sort of poetic Advent Calendar. Here's the one for today, DECEMBER 1: We Izzies are in an advanced state of shock/The calendar tells us (and so does the clock)/That Christmas is coming: we'd better get busy/To do all the tasks S. C. asks of Elves Izzy.
Christmas Countdown # 12! (Yikes)
We Izzy Elves are sorry, but time is getting so short until Christmas Eve that we are once again forced to use an old verse from our book trailer for grownups. (If you want to watch the whole thing, follow the link to my website and click on the "book trailers" tab.) Here is the verse: Our antics are funny and all in a rhyme/We guarantee you will all have a good time!/We’re twenty-first century elves, you will see,/Including our boss, whom we all call S.C.
CC#11: A Bit of Bragging
So the Izzy Elves are quite proud of all their stories in verse. Here's how they put it: Jingle bells, jingle bells jingle all the way./ Oh what fun it is to read our Izzy books each day./ How you'll smile! How you'll laugh! Every girl and boy!/ You will find our stories overflow with Christmas joy!
#7: Dizzy's Friend, Whizzy
Here's a verse for dear Whizzy. He is the elf who accidentally trapped his friend inside a bookcase that was delivered by Santa Claus in TIZZY, THE CHRISTMAS SHELF ELF. BTW, we Izzy Elves hope you are enjoying our little poetic countdown to Christmas Eve. Only six more days (and nights, actually) to get all our work done! Whizzy, who rushes around, must keep hurrying/To "keep up" for him means unending elf-scurrying/ For he paper-wraps toys that the other elves make/And bow-ties the presents that Santa will take.
Countdown Verse #4
OK, so Tizzy is Dizzy's best friend and they work next to each other all year. But even Dizzy has to admit that Tizzy might just have more work to do than anyone else. (Tizzy's selects gift books for Santa to deliver to children.) Anyway, here is today's Countdown Verse: Only nine days remain until we are all done/ And Tizzy is surely the busiest one./ For he has to do all his work in his head:/ With thousands and thousands of books to be read! (But he does love it!)
Dizzy's Counting Down, Too!
The Izzy Elves have decided to write poems counting down to Christmas. Since poetry doesn't show up in Bubbles very well, please go to the IzzyElfBlog to read the first one. Here is how it begins: ‘Tis twelve days til Christmas and at the North Pole We Izzies are working away, with one goal: To make the right gifts for each child on the list. (We want to make sure not a one has been missed.) Read the rest at: http://izzyelfblog.blogspot.com/2015/12/counting-down-to-christmas-in-rhyme.html
Real Life Stuart
To watch the real-life Stuart talk about taking a ride in Santa's sleigh, check out this little video! https://youtu.be/d73cYdnb-qo
Santa's Older-Type Brain
I figured that Santa would have as much trouble dealing with modern technology as most of us grandparents do these days. I often resort to consulting someone with a "younger-type brain" about technical mysteries. Even my five year old grandson (who is the younger boy in this story) has more self-confidence and know how with tablets, smart phones, and the like than I do. In the story, his older brother is the one who figures out how to work the Virtual Reins, but he could certainly have done it, too!
No Frills Flight
I had fun thinking about what it would be like for one of Santa's Izzy Elves to stow away by hiding in the back of his sleigh. It seemed to me that it would definitely NOT be a comfortable ride!
Dizzy Audiobook Excerpt
I recorded audio versions of all the Izzy Elf stories at Rocking Horse Studios, here in NH. I just pretended I was reading to my grandsons. It was great fun. If you want to hear a sample, go to https://youtu.be/-ANGVh5qBQQ. (Links also available on my website, dorotheajensen.com.)
Inspiration from more than a half century ago!
My inspiration for writing the Izzy Elf books came from when I was in Kindergarten. My dad, a family doctor, went on a home call very early Christmas morning. When he came home, he decided to turn on the Christmas tree lights for the family to see when we came downstairs. When he crawled underneath to plug in the lights, the Christmas tree fell over on top of him. We kids heard the crash, and figured that Santa had been trapped in our living room. So exciting! My older brother, Paul, refused to let us go downstairs. I was hugely frustrated by missing this chance. So I made up for it by putting it into a story!
Watch Dizzy's Trailer!
I finally made a trailer for Dizzy's story. There is a link to it on the home page of my website, www.dorotheajensen.com. Enjoy!
Grandsons Galore!
My first of these stories, TIZZY, THE CHRISTMAS SHELF ELF, featured two of my grandsons, Owen and Alex. (They help get an elf stranded in their living room back to the Pole.) I wrote this third book, DIZZY, THE STOWAWAY ELF, about two more grandsons, Stuart and Drake. Soon afterwards, twin grandboys arrived, so I am in the process of writing BIZZY, THE KNOW-IT-ALL ELF starring them. (Note that there are NO granddaughters.) Here's where you can hear me reading this excerpt: https://youtu.be/-ANGVh5qBQQ
Liberty-Loving Lafayette
Teens
FIND OUT WHAT HAMILTON LEFT OUT ABOUT "THE LANCELOT OF THE REVOLUTIONARY SET"
Inspired by the Broadway hit, HAMILTON, and by Longfellow's "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere," author Dorothea Jensen wrote this rhyming narrative about the Marquis de Lafayette and his crucial role in our Revolutionary War. Twenty-seven color illustrations, a glossary, study questions, and extensive endnotes enhance information about the historical figures and events mentioned in the poem. Honored by the Eric Hoffer Book Awards, which called it "A great resource for teachers of older elementary, middle, and high school students; and by the Readers' Favorite site as ". . .wonderfully conceived and magnificently presented," this playful rhyming history entertains and informs readers of all ages.
Book Bubbles from Liberty-Loving Lafayette
A Gold Medal!
I'm happy to announce that Liberty-Loving Lafayette just won the Gold Medal in the Teen-Historic category of the 2023 Global Book Awards! (I think I forgot to mention that it was named "Best Book for Young Adults" in the Pencraft Spring Book Awards as well!) It is so satisfying when award programs choose to honor this unique book.
What's a division, anyway??
I found some interesting information about this division at ValleyForgeMusterRolls.org. 1) All of Washington's troops at Valley Forge were organized into 5 divisions just before leaving the encampment in June, 1778. 2) At that time Lafayette's Division, according to this website, had 1891 men fit for duty out of the 3595 men assigned to the three bridgades of the division. Commanding such a large number of troops was certainly more than an honorary rank: clearly Washington believed Lafayette was capable of effectively handling this great responsibility.
Echoing Mr. Longfellow
For those of you who did not have to memorize "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" in the 5th grade, I'd like to point out that the opening of my poetic narrative of a different historic figure is a deliberate echo of Longfellow: ************************************* Listen my children and you shall hear/Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,/ On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy- five;/ Hardly a man is now alive/ Who remembers that famous day and year. ************************* I utilized a different meter and modern slang, but the aim (addressing and engaging a young audience) is the same!
I love to find verifying stuff!
I just found this in ON THE TRAIL OF WASHINGTON: "Lafayette asked Washington to let him see what he could do and rode to the sound of the guns. Near the Birmingham Quaker meetinghouse, he found Sullivan’s men streaming down the road in panic. Leaping off his horse, the marquis threw himself in front of the rattled Americans and in his imperfect English urged them to hold, even to attack. The British were little more than twenty yards away, firing briskly. A bullet smashed into Lafayette’s thigh. He ignored it until someone told him he was bleeding badly. In spite of his desperate efforts, Sullivan’s division retreated and was soon joined by Washington’s main force, falling back before a heavy attack across Chadd’s Ford. Pausing only long enough to get his wound bandaged, Lafayette persisted in trying to rally the fugitives. Eventually, Washington found him twelve miles behind the original battle line, organizing a defense of a bridge near Chester."
Cold Shouldering Lafayette
I was quite surprised to learn just how much Lafayette was "non-welcomed" when he arrived in Philadelphia. I wonder how long it took for the men who "put him off" to realize what a disaster it would have been if they had kept the door slammed in his face!
A Lucky Misalliance!
One reason Geo III's brother Gloucester was in Europe (and Lafayette could meet him there) was that the king was furious he had married a commoner without his (the king's) permission. (He married Maria Walpole, the Dowager Countess of Waldegrave in 1766. I recently found out that Gloucester's brother, Henry, also married without permission. Here is how Geo III reacted: “The more I reflect on his conduct, the more I see it as his inevitable ruin and as a disgrace to the whole family.” The king wrote to Gloucester of his disapproval of Henry's clandestine marriage, not knowing that Gloucester had done the same thing! It's lucky for America that Gloucester was "exiled,." Otherwise he would not have metand inspired Lafayette.
Silas Deane's Paris Assignment
It's always satisfying to find historic bits online that support what I have written. This is a description of Silas Deane's "task." "Instructions were quite specificc on the procurement role that Deane should perform, requesting 'clothing and arms for twenty-ve thousand men with a suitable quantity of ammunition and one hundred field pieces.'.” —by Richard J. Werther (https://allthingsliberty.com/author/richard-j-werther/)
Mixed Messages (to say the least)
More or less on the same day I received two very different reactions of this book. 1) "Even those who do not normally care for history will take delight in reading this book written in honor of Lafayette. . .Not only is this book historically accurate, but it is also very entertaining. She does not use typical text which many young people find is a turn-off to history. She uses delightful verse to keep history interesting. . .Dorothea is truly inspired in her use of verse. . . .As a historian, it is my opinion that this book is a terrific addition to the vast number of books that tell the history of the Revolution." —Daniel D Staats, Readers' Favorite 2) AND THIS ONE: "Important information concerning the Marquis de Lafayette and the American Revolutionary War is contained in the book but I fear may be lost to readers due to the fact that the information contained is written in prose." ********************************** Hmmm. (I am not citing the author of this, because she/he is supposed to be an expert in literature, hence can theoretically tell the difference between poetry and prose.
Mixed Messages (to say the least)
So in the same week, I received two very different reactions to this book. 1) "Even those who do not normally care for history will take delight in reading this book written in honor of Lafayette." "Not only is this book historically accurate, but it is also very entertaining. She does not use typical text which many young people find is a turn-off to history. She uses delightful verse to keep history interesting." "Dorothea is truly inspired in her use of verse." "As a historian, it is my opinion that this book is a terrific addition to the vast number of books that tell the history of the Revolution." —Daniel D Staats, Readers' Favorite 2) AND THIS ONE: Important information concerning the Marquis de Lafayette and the American Revolutionary War is contained in the book but I fear may be lost to readers due to the fact that the information contained is written in prose. Hmmm. (I don't include the source because this was supposedly done by an "expert" who knows the difference between poetry and prose!)
CF with HAMILTON!
It is delightful when a someone "gets" what a writer is aiming to do. It's even better when this "getting" is done by a Kirkus reviewer. This rhyming couplet was used in a Kirkus Review to show that I provide a fresh take on Lafayette similar to that of the smash hit, HAMILTON! Here's the whole thing: "A quotation from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical Hamilton serves this book. . .as a tip of the hat to that production’s engaging, modernized portrayal of Lafayette, “America’s favorite fighting Frenchman.” Jensen, provides a similarly fresh take on . . . Lafayette and his career, beginning when he was a teenager" —KIRKUS REVIEWS
Woo hoo! My rhymes are "deft!"
This bit was spotlighted by Kirkus Reviews to illustrate my rhyming in Liberty-Loving Lafayette: ."Jensen’s deft rhymes and meters generally work well throughout, as when describing Lafayette’s voyage to America" —Kirkus Reviews
Employing Idiomatic Origins
I really revel in the way "drummed into them" works in this stanza. Of course, the phrase has come to mean "forced to learn or remember something by employing persistent, forceful repetition." I suspect, however, that this meaning originated from military training such as the Continentals underwent at Valley Forge under Barobn von Steuben. Of course, that is exactly what I am referring to here. So satifying when something like this pops up in my brain!
Booklife: Praise for LLL
Liberty-Loving Lafayette just received a wonderful review from Booklife, a Publishers Weeks subsidiary. Here are some highlights: "In engaging rhyming verse. . .Jensen etails how the French marquis wound up in the American colonies and got caught up in the war. She peppers the text with modern slang. . .and French phrases. . .while historic paintings, portraits, maps, and engravings. . .bring to life the tale's cast and milieu. The lighthearted storytelling still underscores the subject's significnce. . .This narrative is meant to be read alous- and would be a valuable companion for classrooms and projects - showcasing the enjoyable blend of history and rhythm. Jensen proves scrupulous in keeping the text factual, digging into the political realities. . .her detailed end notes offer concise explanations. . .that will help allevite any audience perplexity., . .Young history buffs will enjoy the rhyming text and historical art in this lively biography of the French hero of the American Revolution."
Midwest Book Review Critique!
Beautifully illustrated throughout, "Liberty-Loving Lafayette: How 'America's Favorite Fighting Frenchman' Helped Win Our Independence" is a unique, informative, and unreservedly recommended addition to middle school, high school, and community library American Revolution history collections for young readers ages 13-18 in general, and Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette supplemental curriculum studies reading lists in particular. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Liberty-Loving Lafayette" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9780990940814, $10.99), and in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).—Midwest Book Review Editorial Note: Dorothea Jensen has previously written "A Buss from Lafayette" and "The Riddle of Penncroft Farm", two award-winning historical novels for young readers (middle graders and young adults) about Lafayette and about the American Revolution. Authtorial Note: Woo. Hoo.
Lafayette: Not such a "boy" after all!
This quote refers to Lafayette's escape at Barren Hill. A number of British officers referred to Lafayette as "the Boy" to make fun of his youth and his initial lack of experience. Here's an example: "Lord Cornwallis followed with zeal and rapidity. . . He was so entirely confident of success against his young antagonist, that he imprudently remarked in a letter, which was intercepted, "the boy cannot escape me."
A Different Image of Washington!
Just before I started looking for potrayals of Washington to use in Liberty-Loving Lafayette, the Smithsonian/National Portrait Gallery released several MILLION pictures into the public domain. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was perfect. It seemed to me that this was how the idealistic teenaged Lafayette saw his hero. Not sure he pictured an angel crowning George with a laurel crown but this IS in the realm of possibiility!
Hamilton Didn't Tell You EVERYTHING!
I have been trying to come up with the perfect phrase to explain what this rhyming history actually offers Hamilton fans. I think I finally found it: FIND OUT WHAT HAMILTON LEFT OUT! Here is an example of what I mean by this. This couplet reveals that this charming young Frenchman who ended up playing a major role in our Revolution was NOT welcomed with open arms. Here is a description of how he and his fellow officers were greeted in Philly. After they were dismissed as adventurers they "were just left open-mouthed on Chestnut Street, fifteen French officers who had risked an ocean crossing and spent the worst three months of their lives for the pleasure of this moment." Gaines, James R. R.. For Liberty and Glory: Washington, Lafayette, and Their Revolutions (Kindle Locations 1178-1180). Norton. Kindle Edition.
Love this guy! (So Did George)
This portrait was painted by Charles Willson Peale at the request of Lafayette's new friend, George Washington. He wanted this "keepsake" when Lafayette was heading back to France in early 1779 to drum up more support. This picture slearly shows that "Our Marquis" was a "pumpkin head" like A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE's protagonist, Clara.
A Victory over Technology!
I finally figured out how to get the entire text (and pix) of Liberty-Loving Lafayette uploaded to Bublish so I could write more bubbles about it. I don't know why I couldn't accomplish this last summer, but NOW IT'S DONE! I'll start by reiterating why I wrote this short, playful history in verse. Here's the gist: rhyming couplets about Lafayette just starting popping up in my head until I couldn't ignore them anymore. This reminded me of the time when I overheard my young grandson explaining to his younger brother about how I wrote my Izzy Elves poems. He said I had elves in my head who told me what to write. He'd probably say I now have Lafayette in my head. I think he's right!
Another Honor for this Unique Book!
I just found out that Liberty-Loving Lafayette earned second place in this year's Royal Dragonfly Book Awards in the category of History Nonfiction. It also won Honorable Mention in the Young Adult Nonfiction category. Since rhyming history is so rare (except for HAMILTON, of course) I did not expect it to score so high in the judging. Hooray!
Woo Hoo! LLL Award!
Liberty-Loving Lafayette was selected as a finalist in the 2020 Independent Author Networkj "Book of the Year" Awards in both Young Adult Non-Fiction and History Non-Fiction categories!
History in Prose AND Poetry!
Actual letter from Deane and Franklin to the Committee of Secret Correspondence: Paris, May 25, 1777"...we hope that his Bravery and ardent Desire to distinguish himself will be a little restrain'd by the Generals prudence; so as not to permit his being hazarded much but on some important Occasion. We are very respectfully, Gentlemen, Your most obedient humble Servants. B. Franklin, Silas Deane
Deane recommends Lafayette
One letter, from Silas Deane to Congress, said this: ". . .the Marquis de la Fayette, a young Nobleman of the first family and connections at Court. . .has equipped a vessel, at his own expense, to transport him and the Baron [de Kalb] with other Officers, to America. . .as we shall write in a few days, we will not detain you more than to recommend this young Nobleman to your particular notice and attention. His family are of the first influence here, and have, for ages, been celebrated in the affairs of this Country, as well in peace as war. His fortune puts him above all pecuniary considerations, and he desires none, but wishes to rank with Gentlemen of the first character in the Army."
No Welcome Mat for the Marquis!
I doubt many people relize that Lafayette's arrival in Philadelphia met an underwhelming response from Congress. It wasn't until letters arrived from Franklin and Deane that told of Lafayette's high connections with the French king and ministers that Congress (and Washington) realized that he would be a huge political asset to their cause. (But more about that in the next stanza!)
Unlikely Inspiration!
Believe it or not, it was George III''s younger brother, Gloucester, who first told Lafayette about the American revolt. Gloucester totally disagreed with his royal brother about how to treat the American colonists. Lafayette himself said that this dinner conversation "enlisted his heart" in the American cause. (By the way, Liberty-Loving Lafayette has been #1 and/ or #2 among Amazon new releases in the Teen/Young Adult American History Colonial/Revolutionary period for more than a week! Woo hoo! It is also on the list of best-selling teen poetry.)
AND NOW: Both #1 and #3!
So today I found that the paperback edition of Liberty-Loving Lafayette is #1 in new releases in the US History in the Colonial and Revotutionary Periods, and the hardcover is #3! Woo hoo!
We're Number 1!!!
Ever since LIBERTY-LOVING LAFAYETTE was released on July 14, it has been the #1 New Release in Teen & Young Adult United States Colonial & Revolutionary Periods History. I keep checking and re-checking its Amazon listing, and I find that it still is in first place. I know Amazon re-calculates these standings every day, maybe even ever hour, so I am thrilled to be sticking to the top so far. So. Exciting. : )
Arriving on Bastille Day!
I think it's appropriate that Liberty-Loving Lafayette will be released to the world on July 14, Bastille Day. After all, Lafayette is the person who sent the key to the main door of the Bastille to his great friend, George Washington. (You can see it on the wall at Mount Verson.) I'll be doing a more or less live virtual launch celebration on the Hopkinton Town Library Facebook page at 4 p.m. (ET) on the 14th. Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/hopkintonnhtownlibrary.
Most Unlikely (Royal) Motivator
On August 8, 1775, Lafayette had dinner in Metz, France, with William Henry, Duke of Gloucester, the younger brother of George III, King of England. Gloucester disagreed with his older brother on his treatment of the American colonies (and many other things). One other major disagreement was the fact that Gloucester had married without the king's permission. Worse yet, his bride was the illegitimate granddaughter of former prime minister, Horace Walpole. At the time Gloucester met Lafayette, the duke was not even living in England because of his royal brother's disapproval of his marriage. Nevertheless, Lafayette later said that hearing about the colonists’ rebellion on this occasion “enlisted his heart” in the American cause. If he hadn't met this disgruntled duke, Lafayette might never have helped us, and we might very well have lost the Revolutionary War. A bit of a quirk or history, to say the least.
Brains can do funny things
So originally I wrote this as "we'd still be lowly subjects of the Brit autocracy." My fact checker took issue with this, saying that the the 18th century British government wasn't really an autocracy. Hmm. I argued that with George III handing out honors so he controlled Parliament, maybe it could be CALLED an autocracy But no. Hmm. Then I thought for days about how to end the line. You would not believe how long it took me to realize the British monarchy scans the same as Brit autocracy. Duh. It finally popped into my head. Go figure.
Washington and Lafayette BFF
Woo hoo! The magicians at Bublish got Liberty-Loving Lafayette into their program so I can write bubbles! This picture was actually painted at the request of Washington when Lafayette was about to go back to France in the middle of the war. (He was seeking more aid for America.) We saw the original of this picture when it was on loan to Mount Vernon in 2019. Lafayette certainy looks young and perhaps naive in this portrait. He also oozes charm! No wonder Washington became so genuinely fond of him.
A Buss from Lafayette
Teens
CAN ONE LITTLE KISS FROM A WORLD FAMOUS HERO OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION CHANGE EVERYTHING? Now available in print, digital, and audio editions. ***************************************************************** 1st Place Winner (Young Adults) Red City Review Book Awards; 1st Place Winner (Historical Fiction) Purple Dragonfly Book Awards; Gold Medalist (Middle School/Historical Fiction) Literary Classics Award; Bronze Medalist (Juvenile/Young Adult Fiction) eLit Awards; Finalist, (Historical Fiction) Red City Book Awards; Quarter Finalist (Middle Grade) Booklife Prize. Also named on the Grateful American Kids website as one of the best history book for kids to read. ***************************************************************** Clever young Clara Hargraves has a couple of big problems: a new stepmother, formerly her old maid schoolteacher aunt, who keeps trying to make Clara behave like a lady; and red hair, which means she is constantly teased, especially by an older boy, Dickon, and her beautiful cousin, Hetty. During the last week of June, 1825, Clara's small New Hampshire town is buzzing about the upcoming visit to the state by the Revolutionary War hero, General Lafayette. Could an unexpected playful kiss from a charming, world-famous Frenchman change Clara's life forever?
Book Bubbles from A Buss from Lafayette
Yup,”riddle" still used. . .
In my first novel for young readers, THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM, I employed several different meanings of the word RIDDLE. The main one was,, of course, the antique farm implement which was a coarse sieve used for winnowing grain in “olden times.” (The main character finds in the barn and it proves to be a vital clue to an important mystery later in the book.). I thought that the only remnant of this meaning was in the verb “riddled” as with bullets, meaning fully of small holes (like a sieve). When I moved into an antique house, however, I discovered that a recent owner had installed a coal fire burner in one of the fireplaces. In order to shake down the ashes, there was actually a built in sieve, called a riddle. (This was after the publishing of my story with Riddle in the title.) I deliberately used it in A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE as a tiny homage to my previous work.
Boomer Minivids
I've been having fun creating VERY short (23 second) videos about my books to post on TikTok, Pinterest, Instagram, Vimeo, YouTube, etc. etc. It's been a bit of a challenge to figure out how to do this, but my Boomer Brain has more or less mastered Canva, InShot, TikTok (etc.) TECHNOLOGY. Woo hoo!
TikTokking etc.
I've been having fun posting teensy videos on TikTok. One of my favorites feature A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE popping out of a magician's hat. I labeled it: "Brings the past to life: that's magic! This is a statement I completely believe in. I first experienced the magic of historical fiction many, many decades ago, and it still works! Visit my TikTok stuff at www.tiktok.com/@dorotheajensen1. Enjoy!
Missing Element! Duh!
It recently occurred to me that when I wrote this scene, I left out an "artifact" that would have been present at most dances in the 19th C. And I should NOT have forgotten it, as this was an artifact that was still around when I started going to dances a century and a half later. What am I talking about? DANCE CARDS. These were printed and handed out to young ladies at the beginning of the evening. All the dances would be listed, with a space opposite where a young man could write in his name, if so permitted and accepted by the young lady. (I can't help wondering how the young men kept track of the dances they had promised.) Anyway, when I went to high school many, many years ago, dance cards were still given to the girls attending a formal dance. By that time, however, she only danced with her date, so one ever wrote in the dance cards! I was still happy to hook one around my wrist and enjoy the link to the past! (I am delighted that I will be able to insert the missing dance card into the dramatization of this scene I am writing for performance during the upcoming Lafayette Farewell Tour Bicentennial!)
Back to School with Buss!
I'm delighted to tell you that Amazon has accepted A Buss From Lafayette as a part of their Back to School promotion that will run 8/1-8/7. The sale price for the eBook is $1.99 at that time. Woo hoo! Of course, you can access this deal through the Bublish link!
Dramatizing the Dance
I am helping to plan the upcoming Bicentennial of Lafayette's Farewell Tour of 1824-25. I am hoping to get middle graders and high school students to participate in the event in many ways. One such possibility would be for them to act out a scene from this story set during Lafayette's Tour. I am in the process of dramatizing this scene, the dance at Perkins Tavern, for a theatrical production. Of course, this will mean figuring out a couple of the dances to teach the young people to perform on stage. Quite the challenge, but it is amazing how many videos showing and teaching such dances are on the internet. In any case, I'm having a great time figuring all this out!
Curious Cornwallis
I just re-read Hsrlow Giles Unger's biography of LAFAYETTE and found something I had forgotten. Apparently, after Cornwallis surrenendered at Yorktown, Lafayette and other generals visited him several times. " Cornwallis had been curious about Lafayette's tactics during the Virginia campaign, and the two men were cordial and respectful, if not friendly." Apparently Lafayette's tactics had been rather guerilla-like (see previous post), something totally foreign to the proper British commander.
Dancing away from Danger
"While retreating in the face of a far superior force, he burned bridges, tossed felled trees across roads, and dispatched snipers to harass British regiments. He managed to stay one step ahead of his pursuers, proudly recalling later (in the habitual third person of his memoirs), 'The Americans withdrew so that the enemy’s vanguard arrived on the ground just as they had left it, and without compromising themselves, they delayed its progress as much as possible.'” Lafayette also encouraged his men to smear charcoal on their faces and keep up a continuous string of surprise attacks—firing sudden volleys, then disappearing into the forest. 'I have made an army of devils,” Lafayette said, “and have given them plenty of absolution.' As the days stretched into weeks, the morale of Lafayette’s men improved, while British morale inversely deteriorated. The British soldiers suffered from the heat, mosquitoes, and diseases of backwoods Virginia. They became more exhausted and disgruntled with each passing day. By the last week of June 1781, the boy had successfully escaped Cornwallis. The British lines were too far extended, so they broke off pursuit and fell back toward the coast."—Mike Duncan, Hero of Two Worlds
Hamilton's Missing Letter Backs up D'Estaing
A stolen letter from Hamiton to Lafayette was recently recovered. In it, he warns Lafayette that a large British fleet is on the way to Newport. So D'Estaing's departure to intercept this fleet was apparently justified, although General Sullivan certainly didn't see it this way! ************************************* To Marquis de Lafayette1 [Preakness, New Jersey, July 21, 1780]My Dear Marquis We have just received advice from New York through different channels that the enemy are making an embarkation with which they menace the French fleet and army. Fifty transports are said to have gone up the Sound to take in troops and proceed directly to Rhode Island. The General is absent and may not return before evening. Though this may be only a demonstration yet as it may be serious, I think it best to forward it without waiting the Generals return. We have different accounts from New York of an action in the West Indies in which the English lost several ships. I am inclined to credit them.2 I am My Dear Marquis with the truest affection Yr. Most Obedt A Hamilton Aide De Camp Hd. Qrs. July 21st 80
Poetic Version of Brandywine
Here's how I wrote about Lafayette's role at the Battle of Brandywine in my rhyming history, Liberty-Loving Lafayette. ************************************* But just a few weeks later came the fight at Brandywine/ And no one could make Lafayette avoid the battle line./ For when the Brits outflanked us with a most effective trick/He sallied forth into the fight and helped out double quick./ He rallied men (who’d panicked and were trying to run away)/ To stand and fight, and thus he tried his best to save the day.
Salmagundi vs Solomon Gundy
To see pictures of salmagundi and Solomon Gundy, go the Buss picture page on my website: https://www.dorotheajensen.com/Buss_Pix.htm. ****************************************I doubt anyone could ever confuse these two kinds of food in real life!
Baseball in 1825?? YUP!!
When I asked friends to read early versions of A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE, one of them questioned this reference to baseball. This was probably due to the myth that Abner Doubleday invented the game in 1839. I felt jusitified in keeping baseball in my story, however, because I remembered reading that American soldiers played it at Valley Forge during the spring of 1777-8. Moreover, I recently read in a New England HIstorical Society article that a baseball historian named Larry McCray "noted at least 199 other references to ballplaying from 1770 to 1830. Soldiers played it during the American Revolution, and people played it on holidays. And the holiday most strongly associated with ballplaying, he wrote,was Fast Day ." (This was an annual New England holiday in April which didn't end until 1991, the year we moved here). This seasonal date is not that different from the current opening of the baseball season, but I suspect it was originally due to baseball playing fields drying up enough for playing the game at the end of our New England "Mud Season."(II also found references to early baseball being called "The Boston Game.")
Accidental Discovery: Lafayette Posts
A good friend recently happened to notice a sign that read: LAFAYETTE POSTS Between these posts originally in front of the State House General Lafayette entered the Capitol grounds on his visit to Concord, June 22, 1825." I didn't know of these posts or seen this sign. On Lafayette's Farewell Tour, temporary archways etc. were erected in many towns to mark his triumphal entrance! How exciting that a couple of the Concord posts were preserved!
19th C School Corporal Punishment
I just posted a video bubble on Vimeo about this. Find on my dorotheajensen.com website under the Video Bubbles tab! In creating this video bubble, I learned that 19 states still allow corporal punishment in public schools!
Video Bubbling!
I have started making videos based on my Bublish bubbles. These include readaloud video excerpts from my story, followed by a very brief discussion of background information about that part of the book. Most of these vids are only a couple of minutes long. Check 'em out on my account, vimeo.com/dorotheagjensen!
Who had to serve in the militia?
Everything I learned about New Hampshire militia from Lord's LIFE AND TIMES IN HOPKINTON ************************************** "Acting upon this sentiment, in the year 1786, the legislature of New Hampshire passed a law instituting a Training Band of men from sixteen to forty years of age, and an Alarm List of men from forty to sixty." ************************************** The militia law of 1792, with some modifications and amendments, was the essential law until the abolition of ancient military customs. Under this law, the private militia of this town was called out for inspection and exercise in drill at least twice a year—in spring and in fall—dressed in their common garb of citizenship. The officers of militia were attired in a swallow-tailed coat, with bell buttons, and wore a bell-crowned cap and plume." **************************************A body of cavalry, known as " The Troop," belonging to the old 21st regiment, and subsequently mustering with the new 40th regiment, contained members from Hopkinton, who were dressed in a red coat trimmed with yellow facings, white pants, a bell-crowned cap, and a white plume with a red tip. ************************************* The Hopkinton militia mustered very close to where I live, so I'm sure "The Troop" was part of that exercisae!
It makes the peas taste funny. . .
I've been having fun posting bits of text from A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE on my website, along with pictures/ photos/information referring to things in the story. ************************************** For this bit I posted information about 19th century birthdays, 19th century forks and knives, and 19th century table manners. (Including the following poem: I eat my peas with honey/ I've done it all my life/ It makes the peas taste funny/ But it keeps them on my knife.) ************************************ You can find these pix on www.dorotheajensen.com. The link for this page is underneath the BUSS cover pic in the Works column on the right. Or go directly to the page using this web address: www.dorotheajensen.com/Buss_Pix.htm Dorothea
A Rather Circular Inspiration
I must confess that pretty much every time (nearly every day) that I drive on the real road leading to Hopkinton Village where this scene is set, I visualize Clara and Joss in the whisky behind the runaway Fury. (Sometimes fiction can feel more "real" than nonfiction!) I also find it entertaining that if a real Clara and Joss (and Dickon) went to Hopkinton Village today, they'd see a beautiful Lafayette Trail sign commemorating the famous Frenchman's stop across the street from Towne's store. It was my learning of that historical event which inspired me to write this book, which in turn inspired me to make the Lafayette Trail sign in my town a reality. How's THAT for a circle of inspiration!
Salmagundi vs. Solomon Gundy
I have posted pictures of the salad salmagundi and Solomon Gundy on the Pictures and Documents page for this book on my website. https://www.dorotheajensen.com/Buss_Pix.htm. ************************************ Once you see what they look like, you could NEVER confuse the two!
Lafayette Presentation
Before the dedication of the marker about Lafayette's visit to my town, Hopkinton, NH, Julien Icher of The Lafayette Trail, Inc. and I did a Zoom presentation for the local historical society, which is the setting for this book, A technical glitch meant it was not recorded, so I made a "re-creation" video to be posted on the society website. In it I talk about what Lafayette did for America, his Farewell Tour, and his stop in Hopkinton. Here is the link to watch it: https://vimeo.com/552507227
Marking Lafayette's Farewell tour
I recently participated in the dedication of three more New Hampshire Lafayette Trail markers! I'll be posting pictures on my website here: https://www.dorotheajensen.com/Lafayette_Trail.htm. These all commenorate a most exciting time for towns on his route!
Bring Back Mobcaps!
In the 18th and early19th C,, ladies were expected to cover their hair with a mobcap or some other kind of decorative cap. It was a kind of signal that a woman was 1) married, or 2) a confirmed spinster who was not on the hunt for a husband. Wearing a mobcap wasn't much of a hardship: it meant that a woman didn't have to spend a lot of time styling her long hair every day. Furthermore, this was before the invention of modern shampoo, so people had to use soap (sometimes lye soap) to wash their hair. This made it less than "manageable." (I won't even mention the absence of hairdryers.) To avoid washing the hair, therefore, women and girls had to comb or brush their hair 100 plus strokes every night. This was to clean it, in lieu of shampooing. In any case, putting on a cap covered up a variety of ills in the hair department. Sometimes I wish I could just throw on a mobcap!
Hazards of Writing HIstorical Fiction
I happened to stumble across something today that complicates this scene. Apparently, in 1825, pennies were MUCH bigger than today. They were pretty much the size of a a modern half dollar, a fifty cent piece --- something we don't see every day! . I seriously doubt that Clara would have been able to stuff twenty (let alone the thirty Mr. Towne told her the lead comb cost) huge pennies inside her pocket, and they would have weighed something like half a pound! Oops. I will post pix of these coins on my blog.
Honoring French Aid 250 Years Later!
Next month, there will be a ceremony of commemoration and grave marker dedications for two French Navy officers from the frigate Hermione who are interred in the Trinity Church Historic Cemetery in Newport, Rhode Island. Both died as a result of the attempt to dislodge the British from Newport.
Just Add Water
This climactic meeting was based on something I read which showed that Lafayette did actually stop along his journey and chat with random people he encountered along the way. Of course, I embellished the interaction by making my main character sit in a brook crying her eyes out. In this way, I set up a situation which could realistically elicit the world famous man's genuine concern for others. (This is what I believe to be the essence of "charming.")
At last!
I am happy to report another crowd of people gathered in Hopkinton Village in front of where the Wiggins Tavern used to be (and the giant elms). Last Wednesday was the unveiling of the new Lafayette Trail marker. Speakders included Governor Sununu; Julien Icher (President of The Lafayette Trail, Inc.); and me! It was great fun to explain how I got interested in Lafayette (involving a 19th century and a 20th century kiss), wrote a novel about his stop in Hopkinton, and how the old marker with the incorrect date had bugged me for the last 24 years!
Monday, June 27, 1825
This date marks the climax of A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE. And this week two events will mark this date. First, on Sunday, May 2, at 7 p.m. the Hopkinton Historical Society hosts a Zoom call during which Julien Icher (Founder of The Lafayette Trail, Inc.) and I will discuss Lafayette and his Farewell Tour. (Register at: www.HopkintonHistory.org.) Then on Wednesday, May 5 at 2 p.m. the new marker commemorating Lafayette's visit to Hopkinton, NH (where I live) will be unveiled. Hooray!
Marking THIS History
On May 5 at 2 p.m., I will be taking part in the dedication of a new historical marker in my town, Hopkinton, New Hampshire, commemorating Lafayette's actual visit to our village on June 27, 1825. I figured out that the old marker had the wrong date about 24 years ago, so I'm delighted a beautiful new, CORRECT one is coming. After that, I won't have to wince every time I drive trhough Hopkinton Village!
Looking at the Past!
I have been posting pictures of antique items mentioned in this story on my website www.dorotheajensen.com. (There's an orange link to it labelled "website" nearby on this page.) I include a quote from the story in which the item is mentioned and then show what it looked like below that quote. These pix are on a separate web page called A Buss from Lafayette Pix & Documents. To get there, click on the orange "website" link to: dorotheajensen.com, then add the following to the end of that address in the search bar; /Buss_Pix.htm. Enjoy!
Picturing Historical Fiction
Recently I revamped my website. I decided to add a section devoted to pictures (etc.) of items, people, places, activities etc. mentioned in this story. For example, I quoted this excerpt and illustrated it with pictures of just such a scene in the Old Sturbridge Village (OSV) Asa Knight store. (Old Sturbridge Village is a living history museum in Massachusetts set in the early nineteenth century era.) To visit this page, go to: http://www.dorotheajensen.com/A_Buss_from_Lafayette_Pix.htm.
Greeting Dr. Lerned 200 Years Later!
Nearly every day I pass by the beautiful house in Hopkinton Village which belonged to Dr. Lerned. No one has lived in it for years, for some reason. There is still a granite hitchig post in front of it which I imagined Clara using when she was desperately seeking medical help for her stepmother. Even though I know this didn't really happen, I find myself greeting Dr. Lerned in my head whenever I see his home. At the time Lafayette stopped in Hopkinton (June 27, 1825) there was apparently beautiful French wallpaper in one of the rooms in this house. There is a tradition that Lafayette went to this house (across the street from the reception in front of Wiggins Tavern), perhaps to see this Palais Royal paper. For pictures of the house and this luxurious paper, visit: http://www.dorotheajensen.com/A_Buss_from_Lafayette_Pix.htm.
"Hessians" with Attitude
Very interesting chapter on the Hessians in Fisher's book. Apparently the soldiers from Hesse (and other German regions) were stalwartly professional soldiers. Like their British counterparts, however, they felt very superior to the American forces. "In America they shared a deep contempt for the Rebeller, as they called their opponents. They despised the American language of liberty and freedom as the cant of cowards, traitors, and poltroons. They were skilled professional officers, proud to serve in the Hessian army. Though they hoped to make their fortunes in America, they were not mercenaries in the usual sense." David Hackett Fisher: Washington's Crossing (Pivotal Moments in American History) (p. 59). Oxford University Press. Kindle Edition.
The Oneida at Valley Forge
I recently learned that when the 50 or Oneida warriors arrived at Valley Forge, they brought bushels of corn with them. An Oneida woman named Polly Cooper came along with them to show the troops at Valley Forge how to cook the corn. (I assume it was dried.) The arrival of such foodstuffs was likely a huge boost to troop morale. There is s statue commemorating the Oneida's role in the Revolution at the Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. A picture of this statue is posted on dorotheajensen.com.
Leaving Out William Weeks's Warts
Major William Weeks was a real person whom I found in the history of my town (where I set this story). He had known Lafayette during the Revolution when he was Washington's aide-de-camp. He did have the honor of sitting next to the Nation's Guest at the dinner on the New Hampshire State House grounds on June 22, 1825. There was one thing Major Weeks did that I found in the town history which I did NOT include in BUSS, however. Here it is: ". . .some neighbors, who were at work on the road, on his return, that he had been down to the dinner, and had sat at the right hand of Lafayette; that it was not only an honor to them, but an honor to the town to have such a man in it as he was."(Lord, Charles Chase, Life and times in Hopkinton, N.H) This seemed such a egotistical statement, I just couldn't put it into my book. On the other hand, I like to think that Major Weeks had perhaps imbibed too much alcohol at the Lafayette celebration and thus had blurted out something he normally would NOT have said! I guess we'll never know. : )
Founding Father Red Heads
This is, of course, a most important point in my story, and I must confess where this idea came from. Years ago, I watched a Ron Chernow interview on C-Span. I can't remember if he was talking about his biography of Washington or that of Hamilton, but he said that many of the Founding Fathers had red or reddish hair. At that moment, I envisioned how important learning this fact would be for a reluctantly-redhaired teenaged girl living in post Revolution America. And voilà! Clara took shape in my imagination, and thus in my story.
Zooming about Lafayette
A week ago I had the great fun of participating in a panel discussion on Zoom with three other authors, done under the auspices of the American Friends of Lafayette. All of us have put Lafayette into historical fiction. We talked about why and how we did thisedalked about the challenge of demonstrating that Lafayette was a charming man genuinely interested in and concerned for others. I had to make up a situation in which my main character, Clara, was in a situation (sobbing her heart out and sitting in a brook) that could show this. I think it worked pretty well. Eventually a recording of this Zoom call will be posted on the Americn Friends of Lafayette website. I will let you know when that happens.
Marking a Historic Moment in My Town
I am happy to tell you that all hurdles have been cleared for a beautiful new marker commemorating Lafayette's stop in front of Wiggins Tavern in Hopkinton (NH) Village on June 27, 1825. i've written about this in my blog. Take a look! dorotheajensen.blogspot.com Now even though my main character, Clara, wasn't able to be among the crowd welcoming Lafayette in Hopkinton Village that day, I like to think she would be happy to see such a sign in place. After all, her own private meeting with Lafayette later on that day changes her life.
Hooray! Marking the Spot!
Lafayette actually did stop in Hopkinton Village, New Hampshire on June 27, 1825. Town officials met him at the town boundary and escorted him into the village, where a crowd of residents was waiting to greet the world-famous hero. Recently, in my role as Board Member of The Lafayette Trail, Inc, I made a presentation to the Hopkinton Board of Selectmen. They agreed to have a beautiful new marker placed in the village commemorating this event. Wouldn't my character Clara be pleased!
Demonstrating "Charm"
Lafayette is often descibed as being "charming." My grown son asked me recently to explain what "charming" means. I replied that it usually meant a person who is genuinely interested in other people and their concerns. When I was writing this scene in the book, it occurred to me that I needed to show Lafayette's charm and that demonstrating his genuine concern for others was the way to do this. Do you think this worked?
Markers of History
This week I have had the inestimable pleasure of attending the dedication of three historical markers. These commemorate stops Lafayette made on his extraordinary Farewell Tour of 1824-5. His visit to all 24 (at that time) states was unique in our (and maybe other countries') history. He was mobbed like a rock star wherever he went during the 12 months of his journey. The markers (one in Bolton, MA, and one in Newport, NH, and one in Cornish, NH) were installed by The Lafayette Trail, a nonprofit organization, and donated by the Pomeroy Foundation. There will be 175 of these markers installed in 24 (actually 25 now, since W. VA split away from VA) and D.C. To find out if Lafayette visited your town, visit thelafayettetrail.org!
Pricking Annual Blister. . .
In previous bubbles I wrote about the fact that marriage to a deceased spouse's sibling was illegal in England in the 19th century. (Gilbert and Sullivan's Iolanthe referred to this perennial issue before Parliament thus: "We shall prick that annual blister, marriage with deceased wife's sister.") Recently I came across something in Jane Austen, The Secret Radical, by Helena Kelly. Here she is talking about one of Jane Austen's brothers marrying the sister of his deceased wife. "Frances Palmer died in 1814; Charles later married her sister, Harriet. This was not illegal at the time in England (though it became so in 1835 and continued to be illegal until 1905), but it was frowned upon." So, actually, it was not illegal in England in 1825, as I had thought. It was never illegal in America, however, nor even frowned on, as far as I know!
Bunker Hill Cornerstone Ceremony
Here's a "Massachusetts Moment" from Mass Humanites talking about this huge event: June 17, 1825 Bostonians Lay Cornerstone for Bunker Hill Monument "On this day in 1825, at the laying of the cornerstone of the Bunker Hill Monument, Daniel Webster addressed a crowd of 100,000, including 190 veterans who had survived the first major battle of the Revolution — an encounter between colonial militiamen and a larger number of better-trained and equipped British Regulars."
What Goes Around. . .
Lafayette's father was killed in 1759 by British cannon fire (commanded by General William Phillips) in the battle of Minden during the Seven Years (French and Indian) War. Although Lafayette was only two at the time, the fact that his father had been killed by the British might well have motivated him to fight against them in America. (In an ironic twist of fate, Lafayette commanded the artillery fire flying over the head of the same General Phillips as he lay dying of a fever (probably malaria) in Virginia during the American Revolution. Phillips is reported to have said, "Won't that boy let me die in peace?")
Always Nice to Have Info Verified
I just came across this on the Mount Vernon website: "His father, also known as the Marquis de Lafayette, had been killed in the Battle of Minden fighting the British in 1759, two years after the young Lafayette was born. He was raised to despise the British and to revere his father and other military forbearers."
The Declaration that Hooked Lafayette
Word of the Declaration of Independence did not reach France until October, 1776, but it was what finally spurred the teenaged Marquis de Lafayette into helping us. Celebrate our 4th of July by learning more about the man who "helped us become a country: with this book! Note: Lafayette did not bring France in as an ally, but he made the alliance work and procured more support from France for America.
The Troop: Colorful Militia!
At the time of this story, every man aged 16 and over had to serve in the militia: local troops of civilians who had to supply their own guns and learn the rudiments of marching. Joss obviously wants to serve in this colorful troop, which really existed in Hopkinton, NH. I found a picture on the Old Sturbridge Village website that immediately brought "The Troop" to mind. The colors are a bit different, but the era is the same. (Old Sturbridge Village is a living history museum portraying village life in 1830.) I'm not sure if those are feathers on the hats or not. I am posting this picture on pinterest.com/dgjensen116/ and on my website, wwwdorotheajensen.com on the Pictures and Videos page,.
Lafayette met George III and Clinton
Here the rhyming version from my forthcoming book, Liberty-Loving Lafayette: They sent him off to England so that he would change his mind/Where he met King George and Clinton and was richly wined and dined.I included an end note about that: In an effort to change Lafayette’s mind about helping America in its fight for independence, his rich and powerful father-in-law, the Duc d’Ayen, sent him to visit England. As the Duc’s uncle was the French ambassador in London, Lafayette’s participation in the American war could cause personal and political embarrassment for the family. At any rate, while there, the young marquis was presented to King George III himself. He also went to the opera with General Henry Clinton, later the commander-in-chief of all British forces in America (from 1778 until 1782). (Lafayette was also the guest of honor at a ball given by Lord George Germain, British Secretary for the Colonies.)
Rare Interview with Lafayette
During his farewell tour, Lafayette agreed to an interview with Pouson's Daily Advertiser. Here is what he said about the dining table incident: "I was carried into a house in Chester and laid on a table, when my wound received its first dressing. The general officers soon arrived, when I saluted them by begging that they would not eat me up, as they appeared to be very hungry, and I was the only dish upon the table in the house. The good general-in-chief was much gratified on finding me in such spirits.. ."
Living Close to History
Elder Putney lived in the house across the street from me, which was a sort of truck stop in the 18th and 19th century. All the teamsters (and they really drove teams in those days) stayed overnight there. He was truly a veteran of Bunker Hill, and apparently talked of the terrible times of the Revolution. (I LOVE living so close to history!)
Brandywine: Battlefield "Baptism"
This was Lafayette's first time in a battle, and he rose to the occasion most courageously. Here's how I said it in rhyme in Liberty-Loving Lafayette::“He rallied men (who’d panicked and were trying to run away)/To stand and fight, and thus he tried his best to save the day. One famous picture portraying "Lafayette's Baptism of Fare" clearly shows his heroic actions on that day.
Why did the soldiers love Lafayette?
Here's one instance of what endeared Lafayette to the men under his command during the Revolution. He took this humane approach to keep his men from deserting. "Mad" Anthony Wayne, a fellow commander who was fighting alongside Lafayette in the same sweltering heat, simply chose to execute the leading deserters. And he made the comrades of those leaders form the firing squad which killed them. Apart from this episode, I have always liked Wayne, who stayed loyal and dedicat3ed to the American cause, even when he was passed over for promotion. which was one of the factors in Benedict Arnold's treachery. (I also lived in a town in Pennsylvania named for Wayne, so maybe I'm a little prejudiced in this favor.)
Pandemic Productions: Chapters 8 & 9
I have posted author readaloud videos of both chapter 8 and 9 on my websites: abussfromlafyatee.com and dorotheajensen.com. This is all I plan to do from A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE, (Anyone wishing to hear the rest of the story can jolly well just buy the audiobook! Buy links are also on those two websites.) Every time I re-read this part of the story, I remember stumbling across Simeon's lead combs (purporting to turn red hair into a beautiul black) in an Old Sturbridge Village booklet. This was a huge spur to my writing this story the way I did: making Clara an unhappy redhead, etc.
Pandemic Productions: Chapter 7
Yup. I've posted my "author read aloud video" of Chapter 7 on my website: dorotheajensen.com. This chapter was fun to write as it was based on something that really happened. A Revolutionary War veteran from Vermont missed his ride home and hitched a ride with the guys sent to Massachusetts to pick up Lafayette and take him to New Hamphire. (The Mass governor nixed that idea, saying his own escort should take Lafayette to the border.) All along the way crowds cheered, strew roses, etc. for the old veteran thinking he was the famous Frenchman!
Pandemic Productions: Questions 1
As Chapter 4 is the last one taking place on June 21 1825 in this story, I decided to post a video of "pre-reading" questions from A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE TEACHER"S GUIDE. I figure that parents or teachers could play this to alert kids about what to listen for in plot points or era contrasts when watching the actual reading vids of these chapters. (A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE gives kids a pretty good picture of what life was like for young people in the early 19th century. (Of course, it also painlessly conveys lots of information about Lafayette and the American Revolution.) All of these "author reading" videos are posted on my website, dorotheajensen.com.
Pandemic Productions: Chapter 6
Yup. Chapter six of this book is now available as an "author readaloud" video. Check it out on my website, www.dorotheajensen, com. Enjoy!
Pandemic Productions: Chapter 5
I continue to make and post videos of "author readings" of A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE (among other things). Chapter five is now up on my website, www.dorotheajensen.com. Enjoy! Regards, Dorothea
Pandemic Productions: Buss 4
I'm continuing to make "author readaloud" videos of my books during this stressful time. I have posted Chapter 4 of A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE on my Vimeo account and websites. I hope I didn't overdo the facial contortions expressing Clara's feelings toward her Dread Cousin Hetty!
Pandemic Productions
Along with the rest of the world, I have been trapped at home for nearly three weeks. To amuse myself, I've started making "Author Readaloud" videos of A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE. I just posted the first three to the PBS website, and will also be adding therm to YouTube, Vimeo, and my social media, including my website. (dorotheajensen.com) It's kind of fun, except that it forces me to 1) change into real clothes, 2) comb my hair, and 3) put on lipstick. These are all things I have tended NOT to do during The Great Quarantine.
Rhyming the Battle of Newport!
Ok. Here's how I put it in my soon-to-be-released "rhyming history" book, Liberty-Loving Lafayette! When finally ships from France arrived to lend us their support/Their admiral, D'Estaing, was sent to help attack Newport./ But egos came in conflict when the battle was begun,/And the French fleet sailed away before a victory was won.
Ambushing the French Fleet
I just came across an article on History.com about the Culper Ring, Washington's New York spies. Here's what I found out: "They revealed a British plan to ambush the French fleet as it arrived in Rhode Island to support the American cause." Aha! So the Brits WERE trying to ambush D'Estaing's fleet at Newport. He apparently said that's why he left. I do wonder if and how he knew the Brit squadron was on the way. Did he hear about it indirectly from the Culper Ring? Oh well, it's always fun to find what Gilbert and Sullivan called "corroborative detail. Luckily, the storm intervened before the fleets clashed!
Paul, Gilbert, and Queen M. Antoinette
Here's the rhyming version of this information, from my poetic narrative LIBERTY-LOVING LAFAYETTE, to be released soon: “He is both rich and famous, this Marquis de Lafayette./His friends are French aristocrats, and Queen M. Antoinette." FYI: I clearly remember memorizing "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" in about 5th grade (although I only remember the opening now). I thought Lafayette deserved his own poem just as much as Paul Revere!
A Diversion That Didn't Work!
I'm wondering if anybody else out there has written two separate books detailing the career of a major historic figure but told one account in prose and one in poetry. (Sometimes I wonder why I do these things Oh, well.). Anyway, this is how I conveyed this same information in LIBERTY-LOVING LAFAYETTE, which will be released very soon: Lafayette was sent to England so that he would change his mind/ Where he met King George and Clinton and was richly wined and dined.
Saying it in rhyme!
Ever since I started reading about Lafayette (23 years ago), I have had couplets popping up in my head about him. After HAMILTON's huge success (not to mention THE MIDNIGHT RIDE OF PAUL REVERE by Longfellow) the couplets won. I have written a new short history of Lafayette's service in our country in rhyme. I'm hoping it will be out in May, but more about that later. In any case, You can see how this BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE excerpt (from the Afterward) is poetically restated in the beginning of the new book (called Liberty-Loving Lafayette: How "America's Favorite Fighting Frenchman" Helped Win Our Independence): So, listen up, my children, and I'll do my best to tell/ How a teenaged French aristocrat served all of us so well./ Without his help, we might have lost our fight for liberty/ And we’d still be lowly subjects of the British monarchy!
"I WON'T Grow Up"
This aspect of Clara's problematic situation comes straight from a document I found on the Old Sturbridge Village website. It was written by a woman who was dressed up adult'fashion by her older sisters when she was 13 or so (over her own objections). This made her sit down and cry! (This made me think of the song from Peter Pan.) I must confess that I felt like this myself, although I didn't have long hair to turn up or hemlines to lower. I think it was mostly due to my having to start wearing a bra. As I was the oldest of four sisters, I was the first to have to submit to this indignity. It felt especially unfair because our older brother escaped this fate! I must admit that I did sit down a cry a bit myself.
Ok, ok, I admit it's a bit Green Gabled!
Yes, I readily admit that the relationship between Clara and Dickon was SOMEWHAT inspired by that of Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe in ANNE OF GREEN GABLES. I decided that Clara would have red hair because of a factoid I came across: that in the early 19th century, there was a lead comb said to turn red hair into beautiful black hair. Poof, Clara's hair became red. Then, once she was a redhead, it naturally turned out that there was a boy who teased her about this. But that's about all that Clara and Dickon have in common with Anne and Gilbert. Really.
My Aristotelian Moment!
This excerpt describes what happens when my fictional heroine, Clara, meets the non-fictional personage, General Lafayette. Before I continue, I'd like to quote Aristotle ( believe it or not). "The artistic representation of history is a more scientific and serious pursuit than the exact writing of history. For the art of letters goes to the heart of things, whereas the factual report merely collocates details."—Aristotle I believe that this can be read as an explanation of the value of historical fiction. I love it. Some might think that writing a fictional story set in the past is easier than just plain writing about the past. Wrong. We historical novelists must actually do BOTH. And if you think it is easy to put words into the mouths of historical figures, think again. What you write must be plausible, historically accurate, and appropriate to the person speaking. In this part of the story, I had to pack in indications that Lafayette was 1) charming, 2) often joked about himself, 3) spoke slowly and deliberately in English when he visited America in his late 60s, 4) really did have a problem getting rid of the hundreds and hundreds of flowers given to him on his Farewell Tour. I'm not sure this "went to the heart of things," exactly but I think tit worked pretty well. Do you???
Exciting Purchase
I found this account from a local Concord, NH, newspaper on microfiche at the New Hampshire HIstorical Society. Recently I had the good fortune of finding a two volume set of books in which newspaper accounts from Lafayette's entire Farewell Tour can be read! Here's the title: Lafayette, Guest of the Nation: A Contemporary Account of the Triumphal Tour of General Lafayette: Through the United States in 1824-1825 As Reported By the Local Newspapers. Now this might not be something everyone wants to browse through, but for me, this is most thrilling. I'll likely be sharing bits of this as time marches on!
Paper Birds = Behavior Room
This bit is based on something that happened in our family many years ago. My daughter (who now has a PhD in Special Ed) is a behavior specialist for a large school system in California, a college instructor, and the mother of 4 boys) got in trouble at school only once. I realized something was wrong when she rang the front doorbell instead coming in the back door as usual. When I answered the doorbell, there stood Louisa, crying, and proclaiming "I"m NEVER going back to school!" For the first (and only, as it turned out) time, she had been sent to the Dreaded Behavior Room. Her offense? Exactly what I described as Prizzy's childhood episode. I looked at the time on the Pink Slip Louisa had brought home for me to sign. It was ten minutes before the end of the school day. I figured that the teacher had not a good day and when Louisa threw that paper bird, she had just had it. Later when I spoke with her, she said that was what had happened. Louisa is just lucky that she went to school in the 20th and not the 19th century, of she might have faced a ferule!
Visiting a "Sister" Tavern
Recently I had the opportunity to eat dinner at a restaurant in Massachusetts that was moved piecemeal from my New Hampshire town nearly a century ago. This was the Wiggins Tavern, originally built in 1786 in Hopkinton, NH as an inn/restaurant/bar, which were then called "Taverns". The scene selected for this "bubble" describes the interior of the Perkins Tavern, which was across the town common from the Wiggins establishment at the time of Lafayette's visit. I decided to set this midsummer dance in Perkins Tavern only because its owner, Brinsley or Bimsley Perkins was quite a colorful character. It was great fun to step inside an interior that was doubtless quite similar to the one I imagined. Or not. Check out my blog to find out! https://dorotheajensen.blogspot.com/2019/10/i-love-stepping-inside-history.html
Dread Black Fly Season
For those of you who do not live in New England, the reference to black flies might be conjuring up the wrong picture. We have lived all over the US, and have therefore experienced Minnesota mosquitoes (sometimes called the state bird); fleas in the yard in Nashville, and chiggers in Illinois. None of this prepared us for the onslaught of black flies in New Hampshire. Although they are so tiny they can barely be seen, the pain from bites by these little horrors can last for days and days. And days. Ouch. When is the Dread Black Fly Season, you ask? Most people here say they last from Mother's Day to Father's Day. As A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE is set in late June, Clara is pretty safe from their bites out in the berry patch.
Picking Names & Nicknames
Ok, ok. I admit it. The only reason I chose "Priscilla" for the name of Clara's stepmother was because I could then use "Prissy" as her nickname. I decided this was an excellent way to convey exactly how Clara regarded her former old maid schoolteacher aunt. Please watch for the moment in which Clara finally calls Prissy "Mother." I must admit I always feel a bit weepy when I re-read this part myself. : )
Washington & Ike Missed Triumphal Moments
This excerpt doesn't specifically mention the fact that the British commander at Yorktown, General Cornwallis, "called in sick" and sent an officer of lesser rank to the surrender ceremony in his stead. Military protocol prohibited Washington from accepting surrender from a man of lower rank than his so he was thus cheated out of playing the major role in this key historical moment. It wasn't until my recent tour of World War II battlefields, that I learned that this happened to Eisenhower, too, when the Germans unconditionally surrendered to the allies on May 7, 1945 in Reims, France. Representing the German government was General Alfred Yodl (later hanged for war crimes). As he was only the chief of staff for Hitler's successor, Karl Donitz, Eisenhower was obliged to step aside and let General Walter Bedell Smith, his chief of staff, sign for the Allied Expeditionary Force. We visited the room in which this surrender was signed, the walls of which are still covered in the original maps, lists of troop movements and casualties, etc. It was truly thrilling to see where World War II finally came to a close. I don't think any bands were playing at that ceremony, however.
An Invitation to Confusion
I saw this in the Concord (NH) Insider today. It refers to something that happened nearly a year before the events the old veteran is describing here in my story. AUGUST 30 1824: Amos Parker, editor of Concord’s weekly Statesman, goes to Boston to invite the Marquis de Lafayette to visit Concord during the Revolutionary War hero’s U.S. tour. Lafayette agrees to come after the dedication of the Bunker Hill Memorial the following June. Parker describes Lafayette as “a dignified personage, in his 60s, grown portly,” wearing buff-colored cotton pants, a swans’-down vest, a blue broadcloth coat with gilt buttons, a beaver top hat and plain shoes.
Unwelcome Transformation
This chapter, in which Clara's stepmother and aunt dress her up as a "lady", was inspired by a reference I found on the Old Sturbridge Village website. This came from the writings of Lucy Larcom about her own unwelcome sartorial transformation from childhood to womanhood in the early nineteenth century: "I was as tall as a woman at thirteen, and my older sisters insisted upon lengthening my dresses, and putting up my mop of hair in a comb. I felt injured and almost outraged because my protestations against this treatment were unheeded; and when the transformation in my visible appearance was effected, I went away by myself and had a good cry...." I must admit that I had similar feelings myself when I had to start wearing a bra when I was 12ish. Furthermore, I was outraged that I had to wear this rather uncomfortable contraption and my older brother didn't! I thought it was grossly unfair.
I'm B-A-C-K!!
At the end of last year, somehow A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE disappeared from Bublish. So did MANY of the "hits" on bits from the story which about which I had written over the previous several years. My total count for all my books suddenly went from 130,000 to 40,000 hits. I re-posted BUSS and started writing. About 40 of my former "Bubbles" were recovered by Bublish (thank you) and sent to me, but none of the rest of 'em got back to me. I am now happy to tell you that my total of hits on this website is now OVER 130,000 (131,000 as of today). If I add back in the 90,000 +/- that I lost, this means you people out there have clicked on and read what I have written about BUSS et al something like 220,000 times! Thanks to all of you for visiting. (It's great to be back.) Woo hoo! Cheers, Dorothea
Plot Bits, Scraps, and Steak
I have been sorting through my old clothes in an effort to "decrapify" our house. (We used to move every few years, which forced me to do this on a regular basis, but we have been in our antique New Hampshire home for 28+ years now, and things have piled up, to say the least.) Of course, doing this is also a visit to the past, and some things I cannot bring myself to throw away, such as the sundress I wore for "going away" from my wedding and the pink fringed flapper costume I was wearing when I first danced with the guy I ended up marrying. Some things are easier to dispose of, such as a corduroy jacket I have not worn in at least ten years.When I checked the pockets, however, I found a little note written on the back of a coupon from Longhorn restaurant.Clearly this was a plot idea that occurred to me while I was tackling a Flo's Filet, and I grabbed the nearest piece of paper to make sure I remembered it. The note said: "Major Weeks brings fan for Pris (from his wife) and Dickon gives fan to Clara for her birthday." And that's exactly what (eventually) happened in this story. I guess that steak can sometimes be a literary inspiration!
Rhyming History: Queen M. Antoinette
Young Lafayette did not impress Queen Marie Antoinette when he first went to the French court. For one thing, she laughed at his clumsy dancing. However, his relationship with her was one of the reasons the totally inexperienced young Frenchman was given such a high rank in the American army. It is true that Congress and Washington did not particularly want to give Lafayette a role in our Revolution, but were convinced by Deane and Franklin's assertion that this would be a very smart political move!. Here's the rhyming version of this: But just in time a letter came from far across the sea/From Deane himself, and Franklin, who were stationed in "Paree."/"He is both rich and famous, this Marquis de Lafayette./His friends are French aristocrats, and Queen M. Antoinette./So give him a high rank and let him bask in glory's glow,/But keep him safe, for heaven's sake (and never let him know)./A dead marquis won't help us gain much-needed French support,/But this lad's service in our cause will wow King Louis' court!”
Stepping Back to Shop in 19th C NH
We moved to our small New Hampshire town in 1991.At that time, there was still a general store in Contoocook Village, (Of course, the Cracker Barrel, the current iteration of the general store in Hopkinton Village described in this scene, is still going strong today.) Anyway, the one in Contoocook, built on the riverbank right across from the railroad covered bridge (one of the only ones left in the country, I believe) closed its doors soon after our arrival in town. However, in 1991 this antique building definitely gave me the impression that I had stepped back to shop in 19th century (or earlier) NH. I doubt that there were any Simeon's Lead Combs in stock, however!
Separation of Church (Steeple) and State
In many New England towns, it was the village itself that built and owned the first church, which was Congregational. The church building thus functioned as both town offices and church for many years. (It was the town officials who hired the ministers and town funds supported the church.) In the early 19th century New Hampshire passed a law "disestablishing" these First Churches, and passing ownership over to the church congregation. Oddly enough, in our town of Hopkinton, when this happened, the town did grant the church building to the congregation, but retained ownership of the church steeple. Recently the steeple which houses the Paul Revere bell needed repairs, and, since the town owned the steeple, this would require funds from the town. An argument ensued at that point that this would violate the principle of the separation of church and state. An interesting dilemma, don't you think??
Finding the "Last" Strawberry
Joss's finding the "last" strawberry is actually a kind of quote. When we moved to rural New Hampshire, our next door neighbor, Ingy, who was profoundly deaf, had worked in the forestry department of the state. He supervised the planting of trees by the roadside etc. He told us about one stand of trees, that we often pass by. He said that all day long, working in hot weather, the members of his crew were always looking for one thing: the "last" tree to be planted that day. of course, Ingy was the one who decided which tree that was. In this case, however, Joss has made his own such decision, infuriating his sister.
Death Knells & Other Bells
According to the New England Historical Society, in early New England the village church bell had a number of jobs to do.“The gabriel bell woke the people of the parish, the sermon bell announced it was time for the church services; the pardon bell rang before and after the sermon during prayers for the pardoning of sins; the pudding bell, which undoubtedly was the most popular, told the cook to prepare dinner while the church-goers headed for home; the passing bell tolled three times at a man’s death with a ring for each year of his age." In another place, i learned that the English custom was to ring 3 x 3 (9) for a man, 3 x 2 (6) for a woman, and 3 times for a child. Each time, the bell would then ring once for each year of age. Meanwhile, when it is very quiet I can hear the Revere bell in our village church steeple chime the hour.
Versifying Lafayette à la Hamilton
So, inspired by HAMILTON THE MUSICAL and by "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" by Longfellow, I just finished putting all of Lafayette (AKA "America's Favorite Fighting Frenchman) into rhyming verse. It was great fun to wrestle all the important elements of his help with the American Revolution into couplets. Here's what I wrote about the information in the excerpt: Forbidden by King Louis (and his own wife’s family)/To risk his life and fortune quite so very recklessly/,Gilbert was sent to England so that he would change his mind,/Where he met King George and Clinton and was richly wined and dined. - Liberty-Loving Lafayette © 2019 by Dorothea Jensen
An Amazing Twist of Fate!
First of all, Joss exaggerates here as far as Lafayette hating the British. It is true, however, that in 1759, when Gilbert Lafayette was only 2, his soldier father was killed by a cannon ball during the French and Indian War (called the Seven Years War in Europe) at the battle of Minden. In that battle one of the English officers commanding the artillery was William Phillips. Fast forward to near Petersburg, Virginia, in 1781. Phillips, after having been captured with Burgoyne's army at Saratoga in 1777, had been recently exchanged for the American officer, General Benjamin Lincoln. Thus, Phillips was free to go back to the fight. He was sent to join Benedict Arnold (fighting on the British side) in Virginia. As mentioned later in this novel, Lafayette was trying to capture and hang Arnold in Virginia, but was unable to do so. Meanwhile, Phillips developed typhoid fever. As Phillips lay dying, guess whose artillery was shooting cannon balls over the house where he was? (One even hit the house, killing a maidservant.) I don't know if Lafayette realized that Phillips was there, but it seems that Phillips knew it was Lafayette in command of the cannon. He was reputed to have said, ""Won't that boy let me die in peace?" Quite a twist of fate!
An Inauspicious Beginning for a Noble Quest
Yesterday, June 13, marked the anniversary of the day in 1777 that Lafayette arrived in America on his noble quest. Lafayette and fellow military officers and shipmates, however, did not start out quite as gloriously as they doubtlessly envisioned. Here is how historian James Gaines describes what happened soon after they arrived: "After trekking for three days and two nights through pathless forests and burning sands, they arrived in Charleston looking 'like beggars and brigands,' and they were received accordingly". -Gaines, James R. R.. For Liberty and Glory: Washington, Lafayette, and Their Revolutions
Effective Trilingual Expletives
I have always loved reading about the unorthodox methods von Steuben used to make George Washington's troops into a trained fighting force. Isn't it amazing how a bit of humor can leaven a daunting, demanding task?
Jamming with Brandy
This method of making jam or other preserves by covering a jar with brandy-soaked paper seems a bit chancy to me. However, I did spot a paper-covered jar at Williamsburg that probably looked similar to what Priscilla is talking about here. I've posted a picture of this on pinterest.com/dgjensen116/a-buss-from-lafayette/ and on my website, dorotheajensen.com. This doesn't seem to be quite as germ-free as modern day canning, but apparently it worked well enough in "Olden Times" that Priscilla doesn't seem to be unduly worried about botulism. Or whatever.
Crossing the Marriage Bar
Believe it or not, the practice of discrimination against married women teachers, called the “marriage bar,” persisted to some degree until the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The usual justification for barring married women from teaching was that they were supported by husbands. Because of this they didn't "need" to teach, as opposed to men and/or unmarried women.
Virtual Reality a la 1825
Ms. Meis, Queen of Bublish, suggested that we authors write this week about how we use setting in our stories. In my historical fiction, the setting I use is usually not just limited to a place, but is also rooted in time. What is demanding in the kinds of setting I put to use - THE PAST - is particularly challenging for an author. I always think of it as creating a kind of "virtual reality." This makes it possible for my readers to look around the world of the past and see what was different from today and what was the same. These revelations, however, must come out naturally, not like a lecture or a text book. Here, for instance, I do not directly state how different shopping was in the past. Instead I try to structure a conversation so that these differences are revealed more or less matter-of-factly by the characters themselves. 'This is actually pretty tricky to pull off, but kind of fun.
Dragoons and Dragons
I have always been a bit fuzzy on what a dragoon is, so I finally looked into it. From what I can gather, dragoons were mounted infantry. They carried firearms sometimes called "dragons" because they spewed fire like those mythical beasts. The name DRAGOON obviously comes from the name of this weapon. Wikipedia says that 1) these firearms were originally handgun versions of the blunderbuss and 2) that dragoons often rode their horses into battle, but dismounted in order to fight. I don't know how accurate this is., however. I believe that cavalry, on the other hand, carried sabers, but no guns. And stayed ON their horses - if possible!
Books, Looks, and Brooks
This book is the first one I've set in a place near where I live. (I wrote The Riddle of Penncroft Farm , set in Pennsylvania, after I had moved back to Minnesota many years ago. As for my Izzy Elf books, well, I must admit I don't live at the North Pole.)This means there is an occasional "wow" moment for me when I pass by a place where I've set a fictional scene. Today I happened to pass by Brown's Brook en route to the grocery store. I took a look at the brook and got a jolt of excitement. Whoa! Even though I made it all up, I find passing a spot from one of my books makes it all seem real.
Pots, Kettles, and Cabals
I have been reading a terrific book by Thomas Fleming entitled "The Strategy of Victory," in which I have learned many details about the Revolution that I had not encountered before. One interesting bit was in a letter from one of the plotters in the "Conway Cabal," General Mifflin. In this missive, Mifflin refers to Washington and his top generals as—you guessed it—a CABAL. Of course, I knew that Conway, Gates, et al were bona fide plotters hoping to put Gates in command of all Patriot forces. For them to refer to the legitimate commander-in-chief with this term, however, clearly shows how Washington was being undermined by some of his own officers. Here's the quote from Mifflin's letter: "The list of our disgusted patriots is long and formidable—their resentments keen against the reigning cabal..." Fleming goes on to explain thus: "An explorer of this thicket of words will soon see that the men being trashed were General Washington and his two closest advisors, Generals Nathanael Greene and Henry Knox." - Thomas Fleming, The Strategy of Victory
The Lo Carb/Lo Cal Valley Forge Diet
I once had a huge argument with a guide at Valley Forge about whether the Continentals went hungry the winter of 1777-8. He more or less spouted info like this bit from the New England HIstorical Society article, "Seven Fun Continental Army Facts."Every day they were also supposed to receive a pound of bread, a pound of beef and/or pork, a pint of milk, a gill of peas or beans and six ounces of butter. One day a week they had salt fish instead of meat and a pint of vinegar to ward off scurvy." I believe that the misguided guide never read about how the reality of food supplies seldom matched the official ration, as discussed in the NEHS article: "That, at least, was what they got in theory. In practice, the food had often turned rancid. Soldiers frequently went without bread or meat. Even more frequently, they lacked vinegar and vegetables." Apparently some of the problem developed when unscrupulous wagoners drained off the brine which preserved meat in order to lighten their load. Needless to say, this meant the meat went bad.
A Monument to a Leg
After arguing with General Gates during the Battle of Saratoga, Arnold lost his command and was sent to his tent like a naughty child. He sulked there, Achilles-like, until it became apparent Gates was losing the fight. At that point, he rushed from his tent shouting for random men to join him, rushed into the fight and turned the tide of the battle. His leg was badly injured at Saratoga, and there is a monument to his leg where he fell on the battlefield. Once he turned traitor, of course, no one wanted to honor the rest of him!
The Redcoats Party in Philly
I have always found it fascinating to read about the British occupation of Philadelphia during the winter of 1777-8. Apparently it was traditional for armies at that time to take a recess from battling during the winter months. And what a recess the Redcoats had that winter! Many wealthy loyalist families stayed in town and entertained British officers. One such family, the Shippens, had a pretty blonde daughter, Peggy, who later captivated and married none other than Benedict Arnold. When he turned traitor, no one knew at the time that she had not only influenced his decision to do so, but provided the conduit for him to negotiate with the British. This was done through John Andre, the charming young British officer who was hanged as a spy when caught out of uniform after meeting with Arnold at West Point which was under his command. It was there that "the best general in the Continental Army." explained how the British could easily capture that key fort overlooking the Hudson.
Rhyming History: Chasing Benedict Arnold
Here's my bit of description about why the British went south and Lafayette's assignment, which he himself described thus: “As a result of his treason and desertion, I was to deliver justice swiftly and without delay!” So here's my rhyming versions: Then when the British headed South, which they deemed “loyalist”/(And thought mistakenly that Southerners were “royalist”)/ The traitor Arnold joined them there, ransacking as he went./ To capture him and hang him high, young Lafayette was sent.
Rhyming History: "Guns and Ships"
HAMILTON lovers will know that Lafayette went back to France in the middle of the war, as told in the song "Guns and Ships:. Here's how Lin Manuel tells it: [LAFAYETTE] I go to France for more funds [COMPANY] Lafayette! [LAFAYETTE] I come back with more Guns And ships And so the balance shifts. HERE'S HOW I WROTE ABOUT THIS IN RHYME: This episode, however, showed we needed something more/To fix up the alliance to ensure we'd win the war/.So Lafayette sailed back to France and hounded King and court/To send more soldiers and more ships to beef up French support/.And in the end, France doubled down against the British foe:/It sent more troops and ships and guns, and also Rochambeau.
Baseball at Valley Forge
Someone questioned whether baseball was played in the early 19th century. The answer? Yes, it was. (The whole Abner Doubleday story is apparently a myth.) A version of baseball, sometimes called "The Boston Game" at that time, was certainly played. There is also a possibility that baseball was played in the spring of 1778 at Valley Forge, although this is a bit murky. (The soldier's journal from which this reference came simply said "played at base", which could have meant another game, Prisoners' Base.
Name Genius
I have read numerous accounts of Lafayette remembering many veterans who had served under him BY NAME! (This would be nearly fifty years after the Revolution!) At first, I figured that there must have been some PR guy standing nearby at these events feeding him names, but apparently that was NOT the case. It seems that Lafayette was one of those lucky people who can recall names, even years after meeting someone. (I can't remember a name even MINUTES after meeting someone, so this is a skill I have always hugely envied.)
SMOCKS
In England, 19th century workmen (drovers, drivers, farmers etc.) protected clothing by wearing smocks. In one of the Old Sturbridge publications, I found a smock pictured, so apparently these protective "smock-frocks" were also used in New England at that time. (OSV is a living history museum in Massachusetts set in the 1830s.) Since many people had only one "everyday" outfit to work in and a Sunday outfit for going to church, it made sense to wear smocks to keep the workday clothes as clean as possible. My kids remember wearing old shirts of their father backwards to protect their clothes in nursery school and/or Kindergarten when painting pictures. (One of my sons even named his film production company Smock Media, observing that "Smock Protects the Artist." I have posted pictures of smocks on my website and on Pinterest.
An Unexpected Meeting with a Young Fan!
Recently I met a representative of the Children of the Revolution, an organization that is raising money to put up a new, corrected, marker about Lafayette's stop in my town, Hopkinton, NH. (This is where A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE is set, and his reception here is part of the story.) I only met her because she stopped by my house to pick up Julien Icher, the young Frenchman who is researching Lafayette's Farewell Tour. Anyway, I begn to explain to her why I was eager to help in any way I could with the new sign, and started telling her about BUSS. To my surprise, she said, "My daughter just finished reading that book and she loved it!" I turned around, and greeted her young daughter. I don't know which of us was more surprised, but I was delighted to meet this young fan!
19th C. Media
I was able to read these newspaper accounts myself, in both microfiche and paper versions, at the New Hampshire Historical Society. Such a thrill to get my hands (literally) on these stories from the past. One note: this particular newspaper article might have exaggerated the number of people at the ceremony. There are as many estimate variations as there are historians, but most say there were 50,000 - 100,000 people there.
A Glimpse of History
While watching the Patriots' Victory Parade today (I was born and live in New England, after all), I kept looking at the crowd gathered there and had a "deja vu" moment. Then I realized what I was recalling was the picture of Lafayette arriving in Philadelphia on his Farewell Tour. Check out this striking likeness on my blog: dorotheajensen.blogspot.com.
Cold Circa 1777-8!
There is a lot of talk this week about cold, and it all makes me think of the soldiers who had to endure the winter encampment at Valley Forge. I'm not sure anyone actually froze to death, or starved, but plenty went hungry and were inadequately clothed for the bitter cold. Some even lacked shoes. So count your blessings as you pull on your boots and mittens, people! By the way, I made a short video of this bit of Buss - in 95 degree heat, actually, at Valley Forge. You'll find it posted on the "Buss Pix and Videos" page of www.dorotheajensen.com. (There should be a link to this website somewhere close by,)
True Confessions of a Wallflower
OK. I admit it. I spent plenty of time as a wallflower at high school dances. My mother insisted I go to these events, but I went most grudgingly. After awhile, I started hanging out with the policeman stationed out in the hallway for "security", Officer Munk. Looking back, I wonder what he thought about having a 13-year-old girl chatting with him for hours during school dances, but I am most grateful he did so!
Aha! Laura Rode "Aside"!
I just finished reading PRAIRIE FIRES: THE AMERICAN DREAMS OF LAURA INGALLS WILDER, by Caroline Fraser. I have read several biographies of Wilder, and I think this is the best, most even-handed account of her life. But that is not what I am writing about here. It is simply where I learned that soon after their 1885 wedding, Almanzo bought a side-saddle for Laura and taught her how to ride on it. Here's what the book says: Always confident with horses, he told her, "Don’t let me hear any more about your father not letting you learn to ride".. . Almanzo showed her how to ride side-saddle, setting her to learn on plowed ground, a soft landing if she fell" -Fraser, Caroline. Prairie Fires What I find most interesting about this is that Almanzo thought Laura didn't know how to ride, but we know from Laura's books that she and her cousin Lena rode ponies (probably bareback) at a run across the prairie. The fact that she didn't tell Almanzo about this might just indicate that riding astride was still "improper" for girls sixty years after Clara was told this!
Why do I Write: Historical Fiction??
Kathy Meis, the Queen of Bublish, requested that we all create bubbles explaining why we write. Here is a short explanation of the the reasons I write historical fiction. First of all, I do this because I LOVED reading this kind of story myself as a young girl. Of course, I read all the Laura Ingalls Wilder books. (I finished the last one in 3rd grade, and my teacher told my mother that I cried all day when I did this because there were no more to read.) I read Johnny Tremain, and The Witch of Blackbird Pond, The Sherwood Ring, and many many other stories that let me experience history in a much more engaging manner than, say, a textbook. Years later, I realized I wanted to write stories that would do the same thing for readers, young and old!
Perkins Tavern
The Perkins Tavern where the dance is held (and Clara dances with Dickon) was a real place. There were several iterations of the Perkins Inn/Tavern over the years. (The sign board bears the date 1796.) In 1825, it was run by Captain Brinsley Perkins - a most colorful character who shows up later in this story. I have posted a picture of the actual sign board for the Perkins Inn on Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/dgjensen116/a-buss-from-lafayette/) and on my website, dorotheajensen.com
The Battle of Newport in Verse
By the time that ships from France arrived to lend us their support/Their admiral, D'estaing, was sent to help attack Newport/ But egos came in conflict when the battle was begun/And the French fleet sailed away before a victory was won/The Marquis was recruited then to act as go between/To help sooth ruffled feathers, and make everything serene.
Non-Electronic, Sticky Fun
When I was a child, many, many years ago, my family would occasionally make taffy. It was great fun. Of course, doing this was also inspired by my reading about making taffy in Laura Ingalls Wilder's books. Check this out on my blog, which also includes a link to a recipe for taffy-making: https://dorotheajensen.blogspot.com/2018/03/non-electronic-but-sticky-fun-for-kids.html
"Moving" Map of Brandywine
I stumbled across this amazing animated map showing British and American troop movements at the Battle of Brandywine: westernheritagemapping.org/ /RevWar/Brandywine/ BrandywineMotionV402.html
Finding the Site of Lafayette's First Command
IT IS A BIT TRICKY TO LOCATE THE PLACE WHERE LAFAYETTE ATTACKED IN GLOUCESTER. I FOUND THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE PINPOINTING WHERE IT WAS: "Thousands of drivers pass by the Kings Highway spot where Haddon Heights, Audubon and Mount Ephraim converge at Haddon Lake Park, oblivious to the Revolutionary War battle that occurred there. That history involves a victory by one of the most famous generals of the war, the Marquis de Lafayette, during a battle overlooked by most history textbooks: the Battle of Gloucester, which was fought across six towns from Gloucester City and Bellmawr to Haddonfield in what is now known as Camden County. There are park and town signs but no historical markers today at the two Haddon Lake Park entrances on both sides of Kings Highway. It was there and in an area extending a few hundred yards to the east that the Frenchman Lafayette scored a skirmish victory on Nov. 25, 1777, in the midst of the two day Battle of Gloucester that led to his full commission in the Continental Army under Gen. George Washington. - CAROL COMEGRO, CHERRY HILL COURIER-POST, PUBLISHED 7/15/18
Lafayette in Rhyme #1
Inspired by HAMILTON, I've been fooling around with writing Lafayette's story in verse. Here's the bit about Gloucester, etc. "The Boy's" courageous actions, it was very clearly seen/ Earned honor and respect from "Fighting Quaker" General Greene./ Greene put him in command to watch Cornwallis' armed forces / To see how many men there were, and armaments, and horses. Near Gloucester, in the Jerseys, lurked a Hessian company/ Outnumbered, the Marquis attacked, and won a victory./ Greene said he "searched for danger", when the facts of this were known./ And Lafayette was given a division of his own.
A Rare (Sticky) Simile
Ok. I admit it. I very seldom use metaphors or similes in my writing. Ot at least I don't on purpose. I could not resist using the hot taffy simile here, however. Then it occurred to me that most modern kids have never pulled hot taffy, so I posted a link to a recipe and directions via my blog: https://dorotheajensen.blogspot.com/2018/03/non-electronic-but-sticky-fun-for-kids.html (I did the taffy thing once or twice as a child, probably because of the Laura Ingalls Wilder books.)
Shampoo: 20th C Invention
I was interested to learn that shampoo as we know it is quite a recent invention. Up until the 1920s, (nearly a century after A Buss From Lafayette takes place) bar soap was still used for washing the hair. Here's what was recommended in 1908: The New York Times outlines “simple rules” on “How to Shampoo the Hair.” It claims that hair is best shampooed at night, following thorough combing and brushing, and singeing split ends. Castile soap is applied with a stiff brush, rinsed four times. Hair specialists, “Recommend shampooing every month to six weeks if the hair is in fairly good condition.” Hairstory.com
Town Bookkeeper?
When I visited Old Sturbridge Village more than twenty years ago, I was struck by the fact that the village storekeeper was in essence the bookkeeper for the whole town. Many transactions were three-or-more-sided, with customers buying services from other customers via the store's accounts. I clearly remember seeing a most complicated ledger book reflecting this complexity. Oddly enough, on my more recent visits to OSV, no one seemed to remember this ledger. They were able, however, to find xeroxes of some of its pages. You will find more information and see pictures of these pages on my blog: https://dorotheajensen.blogspot.com/ (Put "Complicated Figuring" in the search box.)
Exchanging Busses for Posies!
Of course, as I've mentioned in various places on the internet, it was just such a little girl who inspired me to write this book. She was the great-grandmother of an elderly woman I met in 1997 who presented Lafayette with a posie in 1824 in Northampton, Massachusetts. In return, he gave her a buss—a kiss—on the cheek. As an old lady, that little girl made a point of passing Lafayette's kiss along to her granddaughter—the mother of my new friend—who passed it to her daughter, who actually passed it along to ME! So that means I've been kissed by someone who was kissed by someone who was kissed by someone who was kissed by Lafayette. (I think I've got that right.) I figure that since thousands of little girls (and bigger ones) were bussed by Lafayette on his Farewell Tour, there must be many, many people today who have received kisses at many removes from the Great Man Himself!
"Miracle-Working" Combs
According to an Old Sturbridge Village publication on 19th century general stores, Simeon's combs really were available in all these materials.I believe that only the lead one was supposed to turn red hair into "a beautiful black." Or so it was claimed. Lead was probably the only one that blackened with oxidation, so perhaps people thought it would somehow coat red hair. Sounds pretty yucky to me. Now for a true confession: the manufacture of Simeon's lead combs stopped a few years before my story takes place, but I'm figuring that Mr. Towne still had some on the shelf. (For pictures of what a store of this era looked like, take a look at the pix and videos page of my website, dorotheajensen.com..)
Lafayette Himself Told This Story!
On February 25, 1825, Lafayette granted "Poulson's Advertiser," one of Philadelphia's leading newspapers, an interview. In the piece, Lafayette recalled receiving his wound at Brandywine: I ordered my horse to the rear. The news of my being hurt was conveyed to the commander-in-chief, with the usual exaggerations in such cases. The good General Washington freely expressed his grief that one so young, and a volunteer in the holy cause of freedom, should so early have fallen; but he was soon relieved by an assurance that my wound would stop short of life, when he sent me his love an gratulation that matters were no worse.. .I was carried into a house in Chester and laid on a table, when my wound received its first dressing. The general officers soon arrived, when I saluted them by begging that they would not eat me up, as they appeared to be very hungry, and I was the only dish upon the table in the house.
Bone for America????
I based this "Bone for America" story on that related by Captain John Polhemus in his 1818 application for a military pension: "Our Colonel had his horse killed, and General Marquis de Lafayette received a wound in his leg from the same ball, whereupon, while stroking the smarting wound, he exclaimed, 'Bone, bone for America!' I asked him what the bone had to do with it, to which he replied 'Good, good for American liberty!' and we both enjoyed the joke," As far as I know, there is no other verification of this, and Pohlemus might have been embellishing his war experience. However, I figured that the men at Towne's store might also embellish what they knew of the Revolution. : )
Granite Staters at Brandywine
Since my story takes place in New Hampshire, where I live, I was delighted to learn that New Hampshire troops took part in the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777. New Hampshireman Major General Sullivan, believed early reports that the British were NOT coming up on the other side of Brandywine Creek for a surprise attack from behind the American troops. But they were, and the troops which the "lobsterbacks" attacked were Sullivan's own men. It was these men whom Lafayette rushed into his first ever battle to rally. (Of course, New Hampshire was not called The Granite State until Lafayette came back fifty years later on his Farewell Tour. A song composed in his honor was the first time it was called The Granite State.
When did the millitia beome the National Guard?
The united French militia commanded by Lafayette during the French Revolution were known as the "National Guard". Because of this, some American milita were re-named "National Guard" in honor of Lafayette when he visited America in 1824-5. Eventually, all the states used this term for their militias.
Glimpsing Lafayette's Sense of Humor
This true incident is another instance of Lafayette's self-deprecating sense of humor. I HAD to include it in my story. Despite having been welcomed like a rock star for nearly a year all over America, this word-famous man could still laugh at himself in a most charming manner! No wonder people loved him.
An 1825 Comb Over??
I have no idea what the real Mr. Towne actually looked like. I just made him balding and fashionably coiffed (more or less) in order to refer back to this for a contrast later in the story. Sorry, Storekeeper Towne (and any of his descendants now living in Hopkinton).
Bi-Color Cockade
Why is this cockade (a leather "flower" identifying political allegiance) two colors? Well, apparently a black cockade was used early in the Revolution as a way of demonstrating allegiance to the Patriot side. As most of the American soldiers did not have uniforms, at least until later in the war, this black cockade was sometimes the only way to identify which side a soldier was on. (Strangely enough, black was the color denoting the Hanoverian monarchy, but even if the British soldiers might have worn clack cockades in battle, it was clear that they were British because of their real uniforms.) The French army used white cockades on their hats, and after the French became allies, many American soldiers honored this alliance by adding a white layer to their black cockades. Hence the bi-color cockade!
1825 Underwear #1
"The defining garment of girlhood for the second quarter of the 19th century was a pair of pantalettes. . .Little girls' dresses were very similar to their mothers' in cut, but they were shorter, allowing the pantalettes, either of a matching fabric or of embroidered white cotton or linen, to show. As a girl got older, her skirts became gradually longer. By the age of 13 or so, she left off wearing pantalettes altogether." Lynne Bassett, "The Great Leap: Youth's Clothing in the Early Nineteenth Century, Old Sturbridge Village. (So it appears that Clara is still wearing pantalettes after most girls her age would have stopped. When a girl stopped wearing pantalettes, her skirts would be long enough to cover her legs.)
Local Link to the Vast World!
My description of Towne's Store is based on several things: visiting Old Sturbridge Village, reading their publications, and my own experience growing up in a small town. I had no trouble imagining how a store such as Towne's would have seemed a link to the world, as it does here to Clara. To glimpse a 19th century general store interior, check out the Buss Pictures and Videos page of dorotheajensen.com!
Like Fingernails on, well, ALMOST a Blackboard.
Like Clara, I always loved school and even enjoyed schoolroom sounds like chalk scritching on a blackboard. The special pencils used on slate tablets sounded very similar to this. (I know this because I bought a slate tablet and slate pencil at Colonial Williamsburg.) In a time when paper was relatively expensive, students did much of their classwork on their individual slate tablets.
A True Life Mistaken Identity
The story of the veteran stranded in Boston is based on Amos Parker's often humorous published account of Lafayette's visit to New Hampshire. Here's what he wrote about the vet: ". . .a revolutionary soldier from Vermont, having attended the Bunker Hill celebration, and having accidentally been left by the stage, begged for a ride as far as Concord on his way home. As I had ample accommodations, he was cheerfully taken on board with me in the barouche" - Amos Andrew Parker, Recollections of General Lafayette on his Visit to the United States in 1824-5. Parker then goes on to describe how the cheering throngs thought this veteran to be Lafayette and how he himself was obliged to make a speech to explain the situation at every crossroads where people were gathered, eager for a glimpse of the famous general. When I read this, I figured that Hopkinton was handily located between Concord and Vermont, so I imagined the veteran stopping at Towne's Store and telling all about how he was "mistook" for Lafayette.
Freebies at Putney's Tavern
One tiny example of how historical fiction can be spun around actual historical fact. Here's the fact: "Elder Putney was particularly hospitable to his guests, always furnishing them with plenty of cider for nothing. His supply of winter apples was just as free." - Charles Lord, Life and Times in Hopkinton Yep, old Elder Putney did give away apples and cider to his guests. I figured he would also give 'em to the kids in the neighborhood once in awhile. (Innkeeper Putney was a veteran of the Revolution, and fought at Bunker Hill.)
Father Christmas etc.
I had trouble deciding what Clara's guess about the old veteran's mistake identity should be. Clement Moore's poem, "A Visit from Santa Nicholas" (sometimes called " 'Twas the night before Christmas") was actually published in 1823, two years before the time of my story. This verse, with its Dutch Sinter Klaas inspiration, eventually had a huge impact on the American concept of Santa. I figured, however, that it might not have been widely known in 1825. Therefore, I just called the jolly old elf "Old Father Christmas" based on an earlier English tradition. (I did this despite the fact that I am so fond of Moore's poem that I model all my Izzy Elf stories on it, anapestic tetrameter and all.) By the way, I learned that Old Sturbridge Village, the living history museum set in the early nineteenth century, uses the name Father Christmas. See my post about this entitled "I Do So Enjoy Being Right (Once in Awhile)" at dorotheajensen.blogspot.com.
Trading at the Store
One of the things I found interesting in reading about these stores via Old Sturbridge Village publications was the extent to which customers "traded" - paying with various homemade products to credit against purchases. Also, the credit for such trades could be applied to other customers from whom someone purchased a product or service. This made for very complicated three-way transactions that had to be kept track of by the storekeeper.
Pounding Sugar
When we lived in Brazil many years ago, brown sugar only came in hard blocks, so we had to hammer off what we wanted to use. Therefore, when I read a 19th century cookbook recipe for preserves that recommended using sugar syrup from the West Indies instead of pounding sugar from hard sugar cones, I totally understood what this meant. I have posted pix of sugar cones on the pix and videos page of my dorotheajensen.com website.
Rhyming History: Gloucester
"The Boy's" courageous actions, it was very clearly seen/Earned honor and respect from "Fighting Quaker" General Greene/ Who put him in command to watch Cornwallis' armed forces/To see how many men there were, and armaments, and horses. / Near Gloucester, in the Jerseys, lurked a Hessian company / Outnumbered, the Marquis attacked, and won a victory./ Greene said he "searched for danger", when the facts of this were known./And Lafayette was given a division of his own.
Lafayette's First Command
Apparently there is no marker at the site where Lafayette led his important first command. I found an article online that described exactly where it is. (For details, see my blog post: http://dorotheajensen.blogspot.com/2018/08/lafayettes-first-command-gloucester-2.html.
Hi Tech Kitchen Circa 1825
Benjamin Thompson, later known as Count Rumford, was an inventor born in Massachusetts who lived in Concord, NH, at one time. He created a number of advances in heating and cooking devices. His shallow, angle-sided fireplace design was much more efficient at heating a room than previous designs, (It is still in use today.) His Rumford range, or stew stove, allowed women to cook standing up. A Loyalist, he left America for England during the Revolution. He ended up a Count of the Holy Roman Empire. At that time, he chose to use Rumford in his title, because Rumford was an earlier name for Concord, NH. I have posted a picture of a Rumford range on my Buss board on Pinterest.com/dgjensen116.
Riding Aside
When I was a little girl, we visited Blackberry Hill Farm in North Grafton MA, where my father, his brothers, and my grandfather and his siblings were all born and grew up,.I remember looking around in the barn and finding a very strange-looking saddle, which I then learned was a sidesaddle. I recently asked my 96-year-old uncle about this. He said two of his aunts, (one of whom I remembered meeting) born in the late 1800s, had to ride on that sidesaddle as young ladies. At the time, I was always nervous enough when riding astride on horseback on a normal saddle and remember being glad I didn't have to ride "aside!" (I have posted a picture of a sidesaddle on dorotheajensen.com on the pix and videos page.)
Bogeyman Dr. Flagg
I found this real person in Charles Lord's history, LIFE AND TIMES IN HOPKINTON NH.and decided to put him into my story. Here is how Lord described him: "An itinerant doctor of repute in the town was Dr. Samuel Flagg, who carried a stock of medicines and travelled on foot. He seemed to have been esteemed by many adults, but greatly feared by the children, who regarded him as a monster having mysterious and dreadful uses for children, especially if they had red hair." He was apparently an alcoholic who ended up dying when he passed out in a bog in town.
Inspiration from the Stage
I think Joss's statement here was inspired by a production I was in of "110 in the Shade", many, MANY years ago. In that musical, the spinster heroine, Lizzie Curry, is told by her older brother, ' Well, you don't talk to a man the way you oughta! You talk too serious!" In that production, I played Snookie Updegraff, the girlfriend of Lizzie's younger brother, Jimmy. Apparently, my character knew how to talk to boys. I had to say (with a straight but simpering face) lines like "Hello, honeybabysugardarlin."
Mean Girls, 1825!
The relationship between Clara and her cousin Henrietta just might turn out to be a bit more complicated than indicated by this early description. At this point Hetty sounds straight out of "Mean Girls", doesn't she?
Rock Star Status
Lafayette was only 19 when he joined Washington's forces as a major general. Fifty years after the Revolution began, he was the only major general left alive. Because of his fame, and because he was a "living link" to a major event in American history, he attracted enormous crowds everywhere he went, especially at ceremonies such as the dedication of the Bunker Hill monument. There is wide variation in estimates of how many people were at this event, but there were upwards of 50,000. I have posted a picture of his rock star reception in Philadelphia on abussfrom lafayette.com (on the pictures and videos page). It was a huge mob!
Lucy Locket's Lost Pocket
When I was a child, the nursery rhyme about Lucy Locket losng her pocket baffled me. How could someone lose a pocket?? Later I learned that pockets in the 18th century were totally separate from clothing. They were basically flat bags that could be tied around the waist underneath a skirt. Said skirt would have an opening at the side seam so that the wearer could reach through to get t9 the pocket. Lucy probably lost her pocket because the strings came untied or broke. I have posted a picture of just such a detachable pocket on my website, dorotheajensen.com (on the pictures and videos page), and on dorotheajensen.blogspot.com (put pocket in the search box to find it). I once played Lucy Lockit (not exactly the same, but close) in THE BEGGR'S OPERA. I did not lose any pockets but I did lose the hero to the soprano. As usual.
Charm Offensive
One of the things that engaged my interest in Lafayette from the beginning was his reputed charm and his often self-deprecating sense of humor. As I read more and more about him, I found many instances illustrating these appealing qualities, several of which I detail later in this story. This was not some stuffy, self-important aristocrat!
New Short Video!
I just posted a VERY short video (only 15 seconds or so) introducing this story on my website,dorotheajensen.com. (I think there is a direct link to it near where you are reading this.) I hope you like it!
Re-visiting a stop on the Farewell Tour
On Labor Day weekend, I had the pleasure of participating in a commemoration of Lafayette's visit to Charlton, Massachusetts in September, 1824. I wore an 1820s costume and made a speech describing how the general was received on this Farewell Tour. The Big Finish was the arrival of Lafayette himself, as portrayed by professional actor, Ben Goldman. The best moment of all (for me) was when I received a BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE. For a photo of this delightful experience, visit my blog: dorotheajensen.blogspot.com
Rhyming History: Gloucester
"The Boy's" courageous actions, it was very clearly seen/Earned honor and respect from "Fighting Quaker" General Greene/ Who put him in command to watch Cornwallis' armed forces/To see how many men there were, and armaments, and horses./ Near Gloucester, in the Jerseys, lurked a Hessian company / Outnumbered, the Marquis attacked, and won a victory./ Greene said he "searched for danger", when the facts of this were known./And Lafayette was given a division of his own.
Gloucester #2: Action
Apparently there is no marker at the site where Lafayette led his important first command. I found an article online that described exactly where it is. (For details, see my blog post: http://dorotheajensen.blogspot.com/2018/08/lafayettes-first-command-gloucester-2.html. I call this Gloucester #2, because the first Gloucester that transformed Lafayette's life was the Duke of Gloucester, younger brother of King George III. He disagreed with the king's belligerent stance toward the American colonies. It was this duke who first told Lafayette about America's struggle for independence. This is what inspired him to join our cause. (I call this Gloucester #1: Inspiration.)
Friends in High Places
Lafayette actually had to sneak out of France under the threat of arrest to come to America. His powerful father-in-law, the Duc d'Ayen, was not pleased, especially since the Duc's own brother was the French ambassador to England at the time. Having his son-in-law hare off to aid the Americans against the British, after just receiving (literally) a royal welcome in England, must have been a huge embarrassment for him.
Free EZ Pass for Nation's Guest
When Lafayette came to tour America 50 years after the beginning of the Revolution (at the invitation of President Monroe) he literally was the "nation's guest." All of his travel expenses were paid for by the towns and cities he visited, and all the "turnpikes" were opened for him gratis! He went to all 24 states and mobbed like a rock star by grateful Americans everywhere he went.This must have been most gratifying for a man who lost most of his money and spent five years in prison during the French Revolution!
Time Traveling
I was able to read and print out the actual newspaper articles published in Concord, NH, that covered Lafayette's visits to Massachusetts and New Hampshire in June, 1825. They were on microfiche at the New Hampshire Historical Society. (I read the original paper versions on a later visit: it felt like true "time travel", only not as scary as in H. G. Wells' THE TIME MACHINE!)
Tasting History
SALMAGUNDI is a word that tickled my fancy from the first time I heard of it. It apparently comes from a French word that means a mixture of widely different things, or a hodgepodge. Frankly, I'm surprised that Priscilla doesn't mention this when later she explains the difference between salmagundi and Solomon Gundy. (BTW, we made salmagundi for the celebration of the launch of A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE and it was a big hit! I doubt that Salomon Gundy would have been quite so well received.)
School Corporal Punishment
In an early draft of BUSS, Joss compared having his hand whipped by a rawhide (leather strap) and by a ferule (a 2 foot long willow switch) in school, both of which he had experienced. Both sound painful, and both were accepted practice in 19th century schools. (Ouch!) By the way, Priscilla's experience is based on my daughter's one "misdemeanor" in elementary school.She was sent to the Dread Behavior Room, then announced "I'm never going to school again!" when she came home. Of course, she didn't have to suffer the painful consequences that Priscilla did for the same offense!
Birthday? No Biggie.
In the early nineteenth century, children's birthdays were NOT celebrated with parties or presents, generally speaking. According to James and Dorothy Volo, in the book FAMILY LIFE IN 19TH CENTURY AMERICA, it wasn't until the 1830s that parties and gift-giving became more common. That would have been a number of years after Clara's birthday in 1825. Nevertheless, I felt compelled to let her stepmother and father give her a present or two. Maybe they were just ahead of their time!
Attire can tell a story, too!
I decided to dress Priscilla in a "betsy" to give Clara a chance to talk about their relationship. I have posted a picture of a betsy on my website, www.dorotheajensen.com, so you can see what this ruffled collar might look like. (I am having a new 1825 costume made which has a betsy, and will post a picture of that later, too!)
False Claims are Nothing New!
Early on in my research for this story, I read an Old Sturbridge Village booklet about 19th century general stores. There I found a reference to Simeon's Lead Combs, sold at the time, purporting to turn red hair black. Ah hah! I thought, realizing that I had found another major (ahem) STRAND for Clara's story. Later I realized that Simeon's Lead Comb presented an excellent opportunity for parents and teachers to talk about how modern products promising to improve personal appearance are often less effective than advertised.
One Origin of this Story!
A few years ago I was doing some genealogy and found that one of my ancestors, in the early 19th century, married a woman who bore him several children but died a few years later. The widower then married his wife's sister. At the time, I wondered how the children felt about that. It seemed to me that it would be confusing, to say the least, to have an aunt turn into a stepmother. I created Clara and Priscilla to explore that situation. I think I found this interesting because through my Gilbert and Sullivan experience I knew that marrying a deceased wife's sister became illegal in the UK soon after this. It was considered incest! The issue was raised so often in parliament that in the Gilbert and Sullivan opera Iolanthe the Queen of the Fairies sings, “He shall prick that annual blister, Marriage with deceased wife’s sister”.
Bubbles Redux
A few weeks ago, a technical SNAFU caused all the bubbles (and nearly 70,000 hits!) posted for this book over the past two years to disappear. Bublish is working to restore them, but meanwhile, I have put A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE back in place and will be creating new bubbles going forward. First of all, in this excerpt, Clara mentions the hot weather. There actually was a heat wave in New England in late June, 1825, during Lafayette's visit. This was quite unusual for this part of the country (still is). I'm sure this made it less than comfortable for the Revolutionary War veterans who sported their fifty-year-old woolen uniforms for the occasion!
Tizzy, the Christmas Shelf Elf
Children's Books
Santa's Izzy Elves #1! Winner of the prestigious Mom's Choice Award, in the Juvenile Level I (Ages 5-8 Years), honoring "the best in family-friendly media". Naughty Owen and Alex sneak downstairs early on Christmas morning before their parents are up and open one of their big presents from Santa. They are disappointed to find that it is a bookshelf filled with books - not the electronic games they were hoping for. Their disappointment turns to amazement and concern, however, when they find Tizzy, one of Santa's elves, who has been packed inside the bookshelf by mistake. Tizzy, desperate to get back to the North Pole, points out that Santa's sleigh is powered by the imaginations of children, and asks the two boys to use the power of their own imaginations to send him home. But how?
Book Bubbles from Tizzy, the Christmas Shelf Elf
Pre-Dating Elf on the Shelf
I wrote this story poem in 1991, and copyrighted it under the title "The Elf on the Shelf." The original "naughty" children were my niece and nephew. For years I tried unsuccessfully to get it published. Finally, I heard about Amazon's free self-publishing program. I rewrote the story to feature two of my grandsons, found an illustrator, and brought it out in about 2010. Of course, I had to rename it, as the Elf on the Shelf juggernaut had come into being by then. You may imagine my indignation when one reviewer called my Tizzy (which I wrote 14 years before "Elf on the Shelf") a RIP OFF of E on the S ! I guess he must have thought I could see into the future. Maybe this was actually a compliment? Not. Oh, well.
Elfen Games Galore!
I just posted some games for the Izzies on my websitel. Find download links here: https://www.dorotheajensen.com/Izzy_Pix.htm.The Izzy Quizzies are all there now, I'll soon be posting elfen word searches, crosswords, and mazes. Add some modern magic to your Christmas plans with the Izzy Elves!
Hooray! Back in business!
Thank you so much to the Bublish reader who sent me a Twitter message that the Buy Links for all my Izzy Elf books on Bublish were dead ends. It's my own fault: I issued new editions of the four original stories with new ISBNs when I added a new one. So sorry about that. Just another example of (possibly SENIOR) compartmentalized thinking. NOW ALL THE BUY LINKS ON THIS SITE WORK PERFECTLY! The Izzies themselves are delighted (although they still are upset with me for messing this up). Sorry, guys.
The Izzies' Fireworks are Surfing Electrons!
I just found the article below online. (I think surfing electrons might be just as magical as elfen fireworks!) "A group of physicists from Iowa State University have finally proven that the “most brilliant auroras are produced by powerful electromagnetic waves during geomagnetic storms,” according to a newly released study. The study shows that these phenomena, also known as Alfven waves, accelerate electrons toward Earth, causing the particles to produce the light show we know as the northern lights. “Measurements revealed this small population of electrons undergoes ‘resonant acceleration’ by the Alfven wave’s electric field, similar to a surfer catching a wave and being continually accelerated as the surfer moves along with the wave,” said Greg Howes, associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Iowa and co-author of the study.. . .proving that electrons surfing on Alfven waves can accelerate the electrons (up to speeds of 45 million mph) that cause the aurora,” said Howes. Here's the link: https://www.ntd.com/the-mysterious-origin-of-the-northern-lights-has-been-proven_623953.html
The Izzies Take On a Life of Their Own
I had no plan to write other Izzy Elf stories beyond this one. It wasn't until I wrote the verse in this excerpt that other Izzies started taking shape in my mind. When I tried every letter in the alphabet to see if pairing it with —izzy seemed meaningful, some names popped out at me. Voila: Whizzy (obviously speedy); Fizzy and Dizzy (must make exciting presents); Bizzy (obviously a take charge kind of guy), Frizzy (a dolly hairdresser), Blizzy (making snow globes seemed a perfect match). It was after writing this bit that I overheard my grandson explain to his younger brother that I had elves inside my head who told me what to write!
Christmas Memory & Homage
Recently, a memory popped into my head which might just explain why I have spent nearly 10 years writing stories in rhyme that are based on the classic 19th century poem "A Visit from Saint Nicholas (sometimes called "Twas the Night Before Christmas") by Clement Moore. When I was a little girl, at a candllelit Christmas Eve service at our church, we kids were hidden around the nave. Each of us would then pop up from under or behind a pew and recite a verse of the Clement Moore poem. (Of course, my friends and family all would tell you that there is nothing I like more than performing, but this was many years before I acted in any operettas or plays.) In any case, I remember how wonderful it was to be crouched down in the dark, then jump up and recite my part of the story. In a way, that is not a bad description of a writer's life, so I guess that is what I am still doing!
Finally Getting to Bizzy
I'm under huge pressure these days from my two youngest grandsons, Henry and Miles, fraternal twins, aged 6. They were born after I wrote the Izzy Elf books that featured their two older brothers, Owen and Alex, (Tizzy, the Christmas Shelf Elf); and their two older cousins, Stuart and Drake (Dizzy, the Stowaway Elf). They suddenly realized that they are not in an Izzy Elf story. Every time I talk with them, the first thing they ask is "Is our book done yet??" Yikes. Well, I've finally gotten started on this saga, and I hope to finish it by (yes) Christmas. The pix won't be done by then, of course, but maybe I can fob off M and H with the written bit.
Why do I Write: Rhyming Verse
There are some obvious reasons, primarily Dr. Seuss, Clement Moore, and Shel Silverstein: I have always loved their poems. In thinking about this, however, I was reminded of my favorite course in college: the Augustans. I fell in love with the rhythms and rhymes of Pope's poetry. Something about it made me feel it was like listening to Mozart: orderly, but emotional, amusing, and satisfying. So I guess that, believe it or not, I must add Pope to my list of sources of inspirations.
2018 Christmas Countdown #3
We Izzies are in an advanced state of shock/ The calendar tells us (and so does the clock)/ That Christmas is coming: we'd better get busy/ To do all the tasks S. C. asks of Elves Izzy.
An Online Elf Chat
Just wanted to let everyone know that I was recently interviewed about my Izzy Elves on a podcast by Jed Doherty. It will be posted online on December 8th. I always enjoy talking about the Izzies! Tune in at http://readingwithyourkids.com. (I'll post the exact link when I get it.) Jed interviews many authors on his podcast to encourage parents to read to their kids.
Reading Tizzy Aloud!
I had fun reading the beginning of this story aloud and making a video of it! Check it out at my website, dorotheajensen.com. (There's a link to it somewhere nearby on this very page cleverly labeled "website".) Once you get to the website it's on the page marked "Videos" (another clever label). Enjoy!
A Choo Choo Solution??
Tizzy has told the boys that Santa's sleigh is powered by the imagination of children, and that they need to use their own to get him home. They think maybe using some kind of toy will do it. Their first choice? A model train. I loved the idea of an Izzy Elf taking a ride inside an electric train. Does it work? You'll have to read the story to find out! (Learn more about Tizzy et al at my website, dorotheajensen.com.)
Meet the Izzies!
Here is Tizzy's description of all the Izzy Elves. (Tizzy himself, we later learn, picks out the books that Santa brings to children.) Anyway, all the Izzies are VERY BUSY today. Here's a message from them: We Izzies are starting to reach panic mode/We try not to worry, but find our work load/A bit overwhelming at this time of year:/We just can't believe Christmas Eve is so NEAR! (To see what all the Izzies look like, visit my website, dorotheajensen.com, and look at the Izzy Elf Games and Pix page. (You'll find a handy link to the website either to the left of the bubble, or up above.)
Izzy Elf Tactfulness
Bizzy is always trying to tell the other Izzies what to do. How do they handle this? Here's an explanation: Bizzy thinks we should do what he tells us, exactly/But we Izzies ignore all his orders, in fact we/Most often do just as we like, even so/We do it in secret so he doesn't know! (Bizzy is going to be the subject of my next story. I look forward to rhyming all his bluster!) To see more pix of Bizzy and all the other elves, check out the Izzy Elf Games and Pix page on my website, dorotheajensen,com. (Look for a nearby link, named, appropriately, "website".
AKA Aurora Borealis!
It seemed to me that the Izzies might think the Northern Lights were fireworks. Also, I Iiked the idea that the elves dancing in a ring was actually the "arctic circle." Don't ask me how this all works. That's just how it is.
Elf Naming
OK. Here's the deal. I used Tizzy for the name of the elf in this first story. I don't remember the reason, as it was 1991, too many years ago to remember. I think I picked it because I thought this elf would be VERY upset at being shipped away from home by mistake, therefore "in a tizzy." To my amazement, I found that it was easy to think of other elf names ending in -izzy, i.e. Quizzy, who makes puzzles and games etc. Then I was on a roll! Check out elf pix, trailers, and GIFs on my website, dorotheajensen.com (Look for the link, probably to the left.)
Echoes of Clement Moore
I had lots of fun, 27 years ago when I wrote this, figuring ways to put tiny echoes of "A Visit from St. Nicholas" into my verses. Someone from Kirkus seemed to like this. Here is a review of Dizzy's story: Appealing Energy and Colorful Verbal Imagery A little elf’s clandestine adventure as a stowaway on Santa’s sleigh takes an unexpected turn in an engaging contemporary spin on the classic 19th-century poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas”...The author propels her present-day take on the classic Christmas poem with gentle humor and suspense, smoothly incorporating lines from the original poem into her lively tale about a stowaway elf. –Kirkus Reviews
This is SO 20th C!
I first wrote this story in 1992, when video games were physical discs that could be packed in a box, and not downloadable apps. Since I am always many steps behind in the tech world, I'm afraid this part is going to stay stuck in the 20th century!
Why I wrote about a trapped elf. . .
My inspiration for writing this story about Tizzy came from when I was in Kindergarten. My dad, a family doctor, went on a home call very early Christmas morning. When he came home, he decided to turn on the Christmas tree lights for the family to see when we came downstairs. When he crawled underneath to plug in the lights, the Christmas tree fell over on top of him. We kids heard the crash, and figured that Santa had been trapped in our living room. So exciting! My older brother, Paul, refused to let us go downstairs. I was hugely frustrated by missing this chance. So I made up for it by putting a version of "trapped Santa" - albeit another elf entirely - into a story!
Santa's Izzy Elves #1!
The two boys in this story were named after two of my grandsons. They assure me that they would NEVER do anything as naughty as going downstairs on Christmas morning before their parents were awake. Uh huh.
Blizzy, the Worrywart Elf
Children's Books
Santa's Izzy Elves #2! Winner of the prestigious Mom's Choice Award, in the Juvenile Level I (Ages 5-8 Years), honoring "the best in family-friendly media. Blizzy, Tizzy's "favorite lass", is the only elf who notices that Tizzy is missing on Christmas morning. When she starts questioning all her friends about when they saw him last, and where Tizzy could possibly be, however, they think she is just being a "worrywart". What Blizzy REALLY is, however, is very, very clever, and she just might figure out the mystery!
Book Bubbles from Blizzy, the Worrywart Elf
2018 Christmas Countdown #6
I haven't decided yet if Mrs. Claus does meditation or yoga with the Izzy Elves to help them deal with Christmas Stress. Maybe she leads them in a circle shoulder massage? That would make a good illustration. (I could have used some of this therapy when my kids were small and Christmas Loomed Large.) Anyway, here is a little verse about Mrs. C., who has actually never appeared in an Izzy Elf book: Whenever we stress out a little too much/We need to relax with a kind woman's touch/The woman in question is our Mrs. Claus/Who helps us stop fretting and helps us hit "Pause."
2018 Christmas Countdown #5
FIZZY'S JOB CHALLENGES:: Fizzy makes toys that surprise, and it's tough/To build in the secrets that thrill kids enough. "Kids today," she explains, "know a little too much,/To be truly surprised by hand-buzzers and such!"
2018 Christmas Countdown #3
The elfascope is what Dizzy is working on as he rushes to finish everything by Christmas. Meanwhile, here's the Christmas Countdown #3! Just eight days 'til Christmas and at the North Pole/We Izzies are working away, with one goal:/To make the right gifts for each child on the list./(We want to make sure not a one has been missed.)
2018 Izzy Elf Countdown #1
OK, OK. I'm finally starting to make Christmas Countdown verses for the Izzies. Here is one about Whizzy, who wraps all the present all the other Izzy Elves make. Poor Whizzy cannot get ahead of the game/His problem each Christmas is always the same:He can't finish this wrapping until Christmas Eve/ (just minutes before Santa's ready to leave.)/And why, you may ask, is there such a delay/ For Whiz to wrap presents to pack in the sleigh?/It's because he must wait until each Izzy Elf/ Is done before he can start working himself!
Does Tizzy Update His job?
Tizzy's own job is not mentioned in the Tizzy book, but his getting trapped in a bookcase was a bit of a hint. It occurred to me recently that Tizzy's job is really huge: having to deal with thousands of books. I suspect that he is about discover how e-books could lighten his load. Once I find a good rhyme for " e-book", I'll figure it out. (I suspect Tizzy will still prefer paper books, however.) Meanwhile, here's a bit of doggerel about Tizzy's job: Just a few days remain until we are all done/ And Tizzy is surely the busiest one/.For he has to do all his work in his head:/With thousands and thousands of books to be read!
Blizzy's Job Satisfaction
OK. We admit it. We have posted this bit of verse somewhere before. However, as December approaches (yikes!) we just like to remind you who Blizzy is and what she does. (This is not from her story:it is an Extra Bit that Deedy (Dorothea Jensen to you) made up for fun! Be sure to read it aloud! Ok. Here goes: Blizzy makes snow globes with North Poles inside/That, when shaken up, contain snowflakes that glide./She says they give children of all earthly lands/A bit of "White Christmas" to hold in their hands.
Bossy Boots Bizzy
I'm starting to figure out Bizzy's story before I start writing it. Because of this, I have been looking for mentions of this Know-It-All elf in the other Izzy Elf stories. Here's the introduction of Bizzy in Blizzy, the S.A.D. Elf. This clearly shows that it is only Bizzy himself who thinks the other Izzies should do what he says.
Reading Blizzy Aloud!
I had fun reading the beginning of this story aloud and making a video of it! Check it out at my website, dorotheajensen.com. (There's a link to it somewhere nearby on this very page cleverly labeled "website".) Once you get to the website it's on the page marked "Videos" (another clever label). Enjoy!
Seasonal Affection Distress
Missing her dollies is an annual problem for Frizzy. She finally decides to fix this in Frizzy, the S.A.D. Elf. She does NOT envision the outcome, however! For more about the Izzy Elves, including pictures and games, visit dorotheajensen.com (to which there is a link somewhere close by on this page.)
View Through the Elfascope
Shayne Hood, who has illustrated two of my four (so far) Izzy Elf stores, is also a skilled animator. She has created a GIF (animated picture, for those of you who don't know) for each elf who has already starred in these stories. The one for Dizzy features what Blizzy sees through his newly invented elfascope. Check it out on the "Izzy Elf Games and Pix" page of my website, dorotheajensen.com. (There should be a link to that site VERY CLOSE BY.)
Mistletoe Kissing
I made up the following last year for Frizzy's Bubble, but now that Blizzy is posted, I'm re-bubbling it. (Nota bene: all Blizzy's mistletoe hanging might be in vain and some other elf's mistletoe ends in her kiss. Anyway, here is what the other Izzies say about Blizzy:We are all quite amused to watch Blizzy the elf/Hang mistletoe bunches up all by herself./And she's hung up so many that she cannot miss:/Her Tizzy will give her a mistletoe kiss!
How can Santa eat all those cookies??
As a kid, I always wondered how Santa could possibly eat millions of cookies left for him. When I was writing this story, it suddenly occurred to me that he might bring the ones he couldn't consume back to the North Pole to share with his hardworking elves. Light bulb! To see pix and GIFs of all my Izzy Elves, check out my website at dorotheajensen.com. (There should be a link to it very nearby - usually to the left of this bubble!)
Countdown Verse about Blizzy
I must confess I published this last year as a Frizzy Bubble, but I decided that since Blizzy's story is finally Bublished, I'd repost it! Here you go:Blizzy makes snowglobes with North Poles inside/That, when shaken up, contain snowflakes that glide./ She says they give children of all earthly lands/A bit of "White Christmas" to hold in their hands.
Who makes snow globes? Blizzy, of course!
I LOVE WRITING STORIES IN ANAPESTIC TETRAMETER (just like Clement Moore). All my elf poems start out like his "A Visit from Saint Nicholas" in some way or other. Here we meet Blizzy, who makes snow globes. Or, as Tizzy puts it in TIZZY, THE CHRISTMAS SHELF ELF, "While Blizzy's the last (she's my favorite lass)/she fashions the snowflakes that swirl under glass.
Frizzy, the S.A.D. Elf
Children's Books
Santa's Izzy Elves #4! First Prize, Young Adult/Children’s Category, The Red City Book Awards; Winner, Santa Choice Award. “...a highly original and wonderfully developed children’s book...” - Red City Review .The Santa's Izzy Elves stories are not your usual picture books: older kids who enjoy playing with words and reading rhythmical rhyming verse will love them, too! One reason for this is that although these stories echo the famous 19th century poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas" Santa's Izzy Elves are definitely 21st century, with electronic devices galore in their North Pole workshop! In this fourth story of the series, Frizzy, one of Santa's Izzy Elves, styles the hair of Christmas dollies, but misses them dreadfully when Santa takes them away on Christmas Eve. (She suffers from S.A.D.: Seasonal Affection Distress.) Frizzy decides she needs to change her job so she doesn’t get so attached to the toys she works on. She starts making something completely different but soon finds that her plan isn’t going to work out exactly as she intended.(FRIZZY, THE S.A.D. ELF is available in e-book, paperback, and audio editions.)
Book Bubbles from Frizzy, the S.A.D. Elf
2018 Christmas Countdown #4
A little follow up verse to this bit from Frizzy, the S.A.D. Elf: S.C. has examined each one of your letters/And scanned the web wishlists of online go-getters./So our task is quite huge, and time’s wasting away./We’d better get busy and fill Santa’s sleigh!
Link to Izzy Elf Podcast!
My talk with Jedlie is posted on the ReadingWithYourKids.com podcast. Here's the link: http://traffic.libsyn.com/readingwithyourkids/Dorothea_Jensen.mp3 It was a kick to chat about my Izzy Elf stories. Besides, maybe it will stop the elves from whining that I don't pay enough attention to them.
Frizzy Transformed
When I first introduced Frizzy in TIZZY, THE CHRISTMAS SHELF ELF, her character was simple: she styled the Christmas dolls' hair.When I wrote Blizzy, the Worrywart Elf, Blizzy had developed an emotional problem: Her work was to cut and curl all the dolls’ hair/ But the dolls had departed, just hair bits were there,/ And Frizzy was sweeping them up from the floor:/Black, brown, and yellow, and red locks galore./Frizzy looked a bit weepy as she tidied her spot./“I miss them, you know, Blizz, I miss them a lot. My dollies are sweet! I’ll remember their faces/‘Til ones for next season move into their places.” Blizzy's mental state evolved into full blown "Seasonal Affection Distress" by the time I wrote Blizzy, the S.A.D. Elf!"
It's Bizzy's Turn!
On a recent visit with my grandsons, we got out the Izzy Elf books, and the two youngest (twins aged 5) suddenly realized that there was no Izzy story with them in it. They really, really want a story of their own. They thought this could be done instantly, but I tried to tell them this will take time. Because of this, I will start focussing on Bizzy's story, which feature's Miles and Henry (said twins). I have been calling it BIZZY, THE KNOW-IT-ALL ELF. I'd like to call it BIZZY, THE BOSSY PANTS ELF, because I like the alliteration. I'm uncertain, however, whether Bossy Pants has become a generally used term or does it still smack of Tina Fey?. Please advise via my e-mail: jensendorothea@gmail.com. Thanks!
Hoorah for Frizzy!
I have spent time lately trying to publish a new edition of this award-winning book so that it can be distributed to bookstores and libraries. I won't bore you with details of why this was necessary, but will just say that CreateSpace itself recommended that I do this. I took this as an opportunity to update Frizzy (and her fellow Izzy Elves' stories. When I submitted Frizzy's tale, however, I kept getting messages that they had serious doubts that I owned the rights to this story. Hmmm. I finally convinced them. Whew. It's been fun re-visiting the Izzy Section of the North Pole. It's been especially refreshing to make such visit in hot, hot July!
Reading Frizzy Aloud!
I had fun reading the beginning of this story aloud and making a video of it! Check it out at my website, dorotheajensen.com. (There's a link to it somewhere nearby on this very page cleverly labeled "website".) Once you get to the website it's on the page marked "Videos" (another clever label). Enjoy!
Countdown Verse 12/13
We Izzies are starting to reach panic mode/We try not to worry, but find our work load/A bit overwhelming at this time of year:/We just can't believe Christmas Eve is so NEAR!
Christmas Countdown 12/2
This is a very simple but heartfelt rhyme: From all of us Izzies/and from Deedy J, too/Here's wishing the merriest Christmas to you! (Huzzah, indeed! Please take a look at the IzzyElfBlog for some fun pix to go with this! http://izzyelfblog.blogspot.com)
CC #13: Our Big Finish!
This is a very simple but heartfelt rhyme: From all of us Izzies/and from Deedy J, too/Here's wishing the merriest Christmas to you! (Huzzah, indeed! Please take a look at the IzzyElfBlog for some fun pix to go with this! http://izzyelfblog.blogspot.com)
Christmas Countdown #10
Bizzy thinks he is Santa's Right Hand Man and tries to boss around the rest of the Izzy Elves. To find out if his bossiness works, read on: Bizzy thinks we should do what he tells us, exactly/ But we Izzies ignore all his orders, in fact we/ Most often do just as we like, even so/ We do it in secret so he doesn't know!
Christmas Countdown #9: Quizzy
Frizzy's friend, Quizzy. is the "Brainiac" Elf, At one point in the story, Frizzy makes her over so she looks like Marilyn Monroe! Anyway, here is a Countdown Verse about Quizzy: Our Quizzy wears eyeglasses shaped like a “Q.”/ (She needs them to see what she makes, it is true.)/ But her brain is much sharper by far than her sight/ And turns out new puzzles and games that delight!
Christmas Countdown #8: Fizzy
Fizzy is one of the elves who is "madeover" by Frizzy and is NOT happy about it. She is also finding her work rather challenging these days. Here is her Christmas Countdown Verse: Fizzy makes toys that surprise, and it's tough/ To build in the secrets that thrill kids enough./"Kids today," she explains, "know a little too much,/ To be truly surprised by hand-buzzers and such!"
Christmas Countdown #6
Here's our latest verse for counting down to Christmas Eve. We must admit we filched it from our book trailer, but you must understand we are VERY BUSY up here in the Izzy Elf Section of the North Pole right now. We figured a shortcut might be OK. Once. As the holiday season arrives at your places/ Put smiles of delight on your progeny’s faces./ Just open our stories and read them aloud/They’re perfect for pleasing your family crowd!
Christmas Countdown #5
Blizzy is one of the Izzy Elves that Frizzy "improves." Here is a Christmas Countdown Verse about her (and her work). Blizzy makes snowglobes with North Poles inside That, when shaken up, contain snowflakes that glide. She says they give children of all earthly lands A bit of "White Christmas" to hold in their hands.
Christmas Countdown #3
The Izzy Elves from Frizzy's story have written another little verse: Today we will focus on Frizzy a bit. Her new girl-type trucks seem to be a huge hit. So now she is madly a-working away To ready them all to arrive Christmas Day!
Christmas Countdown #2
Here is the second installment by Frizzy and her friends: We are all quite amused to watch Blizzy the elf, Hang mistletoe bunches up all by herself. And she's hung up so many that she cannot miss: Her Tizzy will give her a mistletoe kiss! To see her picture, visit: http://izzyelfblog.blogspot.com/2015/12/christmas-eve-countdown-2.html
Poetic Advent Calendar 1
The Izzy Elves have decided to write poems counting down to Christmas. Since poetry doesn't show up in Bubbles very well, please go to the IzzyElfBlog to read the first one. Here is how it begins: ‘Tis twelve days til Christmas and at the North Pole We Izzies are working away, with one goal: To make the right gifts for each child on the list. (We want to make sure not a one has been missed.) Read the rest at: http://izzyelfblog.blogspot.com/2015/12/counting-down-to-christmas-in-rhyme.html
S.A.D. Revisited
One of my own kids suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder (or at least that is what we parents thought, based on the yearly dip in his GPA every winter at college.) That is how I became aware of this problem, and decided to give poor Frizzy her own version of it: Seasonal Affection Distress.
Toy Proving Ground
This was a fun part to illustrate. The artist who did the pictures for this story suggested I ask my grandsons to draw designs to put on the sides of some of the monster trucks. The four older boys did so, and are very proud to point out which one was done by whom! (Too bad the illustrations can't be included in these book excerpts!)
Why Monster Trucks?
My family has always been amused by radio and television ads for monster truck events. You know, they usually start out (announced in a very loud voice) SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY! MONSTER TRUCKS IN THE M-U-U-U-D PIT! This is such a source of fun in our family that when our son learned Arabic, he figured out how to do a parody monster truck ad in that language, with exactly the same volume and "intonations". So naturally, when I was trying to decide what was most UNLIKE Frizzy's dollies, toy monster trucks popped into my head.
Why I made Santa High Tech. . .
I know I've already written a bubble about this bit, but I suddenly remembered WHY I came up with the idea of Santa checking out what kids post online. One of my grandsons, when he was only 4 or 5, often talked about posting what he wanted from Santa on web wishlists. I was inspired to write about this from SANTA's point of view.
Watch Frizzy's Trailer!
There's a link to Frizzy's trailer on the home page of my website, www.dorotheajensen.com. Enjoy!
A Frizzy Audio Excerpt
I have recorded audiobooks of the first four of Santa's Izzy Elves stories. Here is the address if you want to listen to an excerpt of Frizzy's tale: https://youtu.be/oxJp32XW0wE
What does S.A.D. Mean, Anyway??
In Frizzy's case, this does NOT mean Seasonal Affective Disorder. It's not the missing daylight hours that make her depressed; it is missing the dollies that she loves.
High Tech Santa Still Traditional
Lest anyone think that Santa is TOO high tech for reading actual letters that children write to him, please set your minds at rest. He still reads 'em all!
Santa Claus is also high tech!
S.C., as the Izzies call him, is always happy to try some new electronic tool. I believe he would highly approve of this Youtube trailer about his elves and their stories! https://youtu.be/VQRVzk2Aydw
Not QUITE the same...
In posting excerpts of Frizzy's story here on Bublish, two things happen: 1) The placement of the poetry lines is messed up considerably. 2) None of the wonderful interior illustrations by Shayne Hood can be included. There is not much I can do about #1, but if you want to have a sneak peek at Santa's Izzy Elves in their splendor, please see the blog they write: http://izzyelfblog.blogspot.com/
Why Anapestic Tetrameter??
There are two answers to this question. 1) Clement Moore 2) Dr. Seuss. Obviously, the first is the author of "A Visit from St. Nicholas" and the second is the author of many, many poems, including "And to think that I saw it on Mulberry Street". Both of these poems were my favorites as a child. Somehow by reading them over and over, that anapestic tetrameter rhythm got planted inside my head permanently. Thus, when I started out writing about Santa's Izzy Elves, it seemed natural for me to tell their stories in this meter. It feels so lighthearted, and it bounces along delightfully. At one point, the elves (who have their own blog) were thinking of forming a support group to help them stop thinking in anapestic tetrameter.
My Split Authorial Personality!
This is the 4th in a series of rhyming modern Christmas stories I have written. This is definitely a far cry from writing historical fiction, and I can almost feel that s different part of my brain is engaged when I write verse. When people ask me which kind of writing I enjoy the most, I reply that this is like asking me which of my children is my favorite. These two kinds of work present two kinds of challenges and delights. Frizzy's story won first prize in the children's/YA category of the first ever Red City Review Book Awards. It also is a Santa Choice Award winner. In 2015 it won Honorable Mention at the Holiday Book Festival.
A Buss From Lafayette Teacher’s Guide
Education & Reference
"This teacher's guide gives many wonderful suggestions of how to integrate subjects with the historical content of this novel. . .[and] suggests questions that challenge higher level thinking."—Susan Elliott, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Quinnipiac University; Literacy and Curriculum Development This guide is for Dorothea Jensen's award-winning (Literary Classics, Purple Dragonfly, eLit Awards, etc.) historical novel for young readers, A Buss from Lafayette. It contains bulletin board ideas, vocabulary exercises, varied student handouts, puzzles, games, reading comprehension quizzes, discussion questions, and both individual and class projects. Its cross-curricular activities include language arts/reading, social studies, mathematics, health/safety, art, music, dance, drama, recipes, and suggestions for real and virtual field trips. A full answer key is provided. The main topics covered are the American Revolution, Lafayette's role in our War of Independence, Lafayette's Farewell Tour of America in 1824-5, and everyday life and customs in rural America in the 1820s.
Book Bubbles from A Buss From Lafayette Teacher’s Guide
Key Non-Kissing Moment Based on Reality
Lafayette did eventually refuse to kiss the hands of ladies wearing gloves that had his picture on them. He apparently would joke that he didn't want to kiss himself. When I first read that he did this, I was struck by the fact he had a great sense of humor, and easily made jokes poking fun at himself. This did not sound like a stiff, proud, self-important aristocrat to me, and so I was drawn to write about him.(And to use this particular practice of his as a way to showi Hetty's apparent egotism, too!)
Puzzling Vocabulary
Some of the fun activities in this book include crossword puzzles. (These were mostly created by Sienna Larson, my younger co-author and former homeschooling mom who knew how to use crossword puzzle-making apps.) This one is aimed at helping students understand and remember vocabulary words (some old-fashioned) from the second section of A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE: the chapters which take place on Wednesday, June 22, 1825. (As a side note: the owner of the art gallery where I spoke as part of a living history day gave me a pair of pantalettes - one of the words in this puzzle. These were made in the 19th century and they fit me! Now my 1825 costume has truly authentic historic underwear!)
Rented Hessians
I recently traveled through Hesse in Germany, where the tour director said that this was where the German troops came from who fought for the British during the American Revolution. He described them as "mercenaries." This was not accurate. First, although referred to as Hessians by Americans, many of the German troops came from other German states, such as Brunswick. Secondly, these troops were not actually mercenaries (individual soldiers who are paid to fight for a cause or country that is not their own). These troops fought for their own princes, who ordered them to fight as "auxiliary" troops for Great Britain. In essence, George III rented them from German princes (some of whom were his relatives). Of the 30,000 German troops rented by Great Britain, 3,000-5,000 chose to stay in America after the war.
Bublish: X-Ray for Books!
At a book signing several weeks ago, I met a young woman who homeschools her two daughters. When I told her about Bublish and the kind of background information it is possible for authors to write about via this website, she immediately got it. "It's just like X-ray on Prime Video," she observed. This struck me as a singularly apt comparison. Like Prime Video's X-Ray, Bublish makes it possible for viewers/readers to learn a great deal about the "cast", the characters, the costuming,' trivia' and other background information about a story. The more I thought about what this woman (who also had the perspicuity to buy copies of both A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE and THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM) said, the more I realized that this is exactly the kind of information authors are able to post and readers are able to access on the Bublish website. Kudos to this clever young mom for figuring it all out in a nanosecond!
Flagging real people from the past!
One thing I enjoyed doing when writing A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE was finding and writing about interesting real people who lived in Clara's town at the time the story is set, 1825. Dr. Flagg was one of these. He apparently was a good doctor, but had a serious problem with alcohol. It seems he actually did harbor an aversion to red-headed children, for some reason. Obviously this was another reason I put him into my story, as the main character is red-headed Clara. I thought some interesting "reverberations" could develop from this. This multiple choice question is from the reading comprehension exercise for this part of the book.
Visiting the Past
As a young reader, I loved nothing more than historical fiction. Luckily for me, some GREAT h.f. books came out when I was exactly the right age to read them. THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND, THE SHERWOOD RING, CALICO CAPTIVE, etc. all appeared when I was in 8th grade or soon thereafter. I am certain that these books engendered the passion for history that impels me to write this kind of story myself. There is no question that embedding a compelling fictional plot within accurate events of the past (although tricky to do) actually does bring the past to life for young readers. To this day, when I visit the setting of a h.f. book I love, I get a thrill finding spots mentioned in the stories I read 60+ years ago. Last year I went to Quebec City for the first time. I spent much of my time there dragging my husband around to find places where the fictional Miriam Willard lived or worked when a captive there during the French and Indian Wars. It suddenly struck me that readers of A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE might someday do the same kind of search in Hopkinton, my very own New Hampshire town, where this story is set.
An Inauspicious Beginning to a Noble Quest
No matter what motivations drew Lafayette to help America, his actual arrival on our shores had to have been a bit of a let down for him. Yesterday, June 13, marked the anniversary of the day in 1777 that Lafayette arrived in America on his noble quest. Lafayette and fellow military officers and shipmates, however, did not start out quite as gloriously as they doubtlessly envisioned. Here is how historian James Gaines describes what happened soon after they arrived: "After trekking for three days and two nights through pathless forests and burning sands, they arrived in Charleston looking 'like beggars and brigands,' and they were received accordingly". -Gaines, James R. R.. For Liberty and Glory: Washington, Lafayette, and Their Revolutions
Time Travel
This activity from the Teacher's Guide points to some of the most important reasons I wrote A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE. These are: 1) to bring historical events alive for young (or old) readers, and 2) to help them connect with fictional or real characters from another time. As I know from my own girlhood reading (in closets, mostly), accurate historical fiction (and I strive to make mine as accurate as possible) is an EXCELLENT portal to the past.
Skewering Spoiled Brats, etc.
I must admit I love skewering "spoiled brats" : ) in my story. Hetty, of course, is quite selfish, and a quintessential S.B., or at least we think she is. As I once sang in a duet in HMS Pinafore, however, "Things are seldom what they seem. . ." In any case, it was fun combining a historical fact (that Lafayette started refusing to kiss the hands of ladies wearing gloves bearing the image of his face) with things my characters experience during the course of the story.
Smoothing Down the Quills
Students might think that the French Alliance magically made victory a sure thing for the Americans. Not. Here is a chance to talk about one of the major contributions by Lafayette which made it possible for us to win the struggle for independence. (Of course, all of his contributions are clearly conveyed in A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE.)
The Sounds of History
A great deal of 18th and 19th century history is embedded in A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE. I wrote the book in such a way that, along with the main character, Clara, readers learn about what Lafayette did for American during the Revolutionary War, the war itself, and what life was like in the early years of our republic. Many questions in the TEACHER's GUIDE spotlight the historical background of the story and can be a springboard for learning more about our history. (I have also posted music from that era to listen to on my website,) dorotheajensencom.
Procrustian Pie: Playing with Words
This is one of many, many suggested student exercises in this Teacher's Guide. Puns played a big role in my family when I was growing up, and so all my writing is "infested" with 'em.This exercise is designed to encourage young readers to play with words.
Woo hoo! Possible Breakthrough
As some of you know from my websites et al, for some mysterious reason my book, A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE, its Bubbles (I don't know how many but probably well over 100) and its nearly 70,000 hits (thank you, readers) disappeared from my Bublish account. I thought All Hope Was Lost, but apparently the book and its Bubbles have been found in some remote "development" location. Now they are trying to figure out how to retrieve these so they can be re-posted on the Bublish "live feed." So at least there is now a remote possibility that all my hard work over the last two years can be retrieved! Thanks for all your efforts to help fix this, Bublish!
Historical Fact vs Fiction
Here is an activity designed to focus students on how historical fiction "works." In both THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM and A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE I include afterwards that detail who and what in the story are historic fact, and what elements are fictional. (Of course, I do this because whenever I read historical fiction written by others, I really want to know how much of it is accurate history and what occurred only in the imagination of the author.)
Whatever his reasons, he made a huge difference!
To hear me read an official Lafayette Day proclamation issued by Governor Baker of Massachusetts, check out my blog post. It sums up very well why Lafayette came and what he did for us! Here's the link: http://dorotheajensen.blogspot.com/2018/05/proclaiming-lafayette-day-in.html
Surprising Spanish Support!
A year or two ago, I visited the mission in Santa Barbara, California. One of the exhibits described how the head of the mission had gathered money together to send to George Washington in 1780. This support for the American side in the Revolutionary War was quite a surprise to me. Apparently, even though Spain was not our direct ally (but was allied with France, which WAS our direct ally) the padre felt that supporting our side would weaken England, which would benefit Spain. I wrote a blog about this. Check it out here: http://dorotheajensen.blogspot.com/2016/09/surprising-spanish-support-for-american.html
Video Visits (Gratis)
I enjoy meeting young readers of my stories, even if only electronically. I am happy to do this with classrooms of kids or groups of five or more homeschoolers. (My one requirement is that they have already read my story or have heard it read by their teacher.) I generally don't make a long formal presentation, but briefly show some interesting artifacts from my books (such as an actual riddle) and then answer questions posed by the students. It is such fun for me to do this! Contact me at jensendorothea@gmail.com if you would like to set up such a video visit. (Schedule permitting, of course!)
Downloadable Handouts
In order to make printing out these handouts easy, I have posted all of them online. These can be reached through a link in the book, then downloaded and printed as needed. It occurs to me that this is a far cry from the mimeographed pages I used as a teacher way back when.However, I must say that these handouts won't have that good, good mimeograph smell.
Pointing Out a POV
Historical fiction in the classroom (or anywhere) provides an excellent opportunity for students to analyze points of view. After all, unlike other books, HF must have a core of truth: the historical events that support the tale. This usually makes the point of view easier to determine. How does the author portray these events? How does this differ from the way a textbook would present them? How do the characters react to or talk about them? In my writing, I try to show that there were usually widely varying opinions of what was happening at the time, and the results were never a foregone conclusion.
Yikes!
Another suggestion about some introductory discussion in the classroom before students read (or listen to) A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE. It is amazing how little young people know about the Revolutionary War. (I've heard that when some students were recently asked whom we were fighting in the Revolution, the answer was ISIS.) Yikes!
Buss=Kiss
This is another "before reading" question for getting students ready to read or hear the story in the classroom. BTW, I struggled with this title, as most people do NOT know what a BUSS is. I ended up using BUSS because I thought it gave it an "antique" feel. I also didn't want to give the impression that Lafayette was a "dirty old man" for kissing a young girl. I tried to make it clear in the book that bussing was perfectly acceptable under the circumstances. Besides, I myself received a buss from Lafayette - 4th or 5th-hand. This happened when I met woman whose great grandmother had been kissed by the famous man, and the buss had been passed down through her family. Of course, I asked for a buss - - -and got one!
America's Favorite Fighting Frenchman!
This is an introductory question to assess what students already know about Lafayette. Many young people who are fans of the smash hit Broadway show, Hamilton, may have heard of him but know few details. A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE will make this famous Revolutionary War general come to life in the classroom! "A winning historical tale that may appeal to young fans of the musical Hamilton." - Kirkus Reviews
Putting Old Skills to Work
I'm having fun dredging up old (and I mean OLD) skills (singing, acting, etc.) and putting them to use on my so-called author "platform". My husband just says it's my love of leaping into the spotlight. I say it's a way to put my writing into the spotlight. So there.
The Riddle of Penncroft Farm
Children's Books
2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Prize Winner, Historical Fiction; International Reading Association Teachers' Choices Selection. ". . .a wonderful book that melds both past and present together... This novel is a perfect example of historical fiction.” - Monroe County Library System. Young Lars Olafson moves from Minnesota with his parents to Penncroft Farm, the old family farm near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Lars is miserable until he meets Geordie, a boy whose stories of the Revolutionary War are as exciting as those of an eyewitness. Then Lars is faced with a mystery linked to the Revolution, and Geordie’s ghostly tales are his only chance of solving it. One reviewer said: ". . . two terrific stories are intertwined nicely and come together in a satisfying conclusion. Not only is the history presented in an interesting and painless manner, but also readers should come away eager to read more about this period. Middle graders are in store for a real treat with this offering." –School Library Journal, Elizabeth Mellett, Brookline Public Library, MA (THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM is available in paperback and e-book editions.)
Book Bubbles from The Riddle of Penncroft Farm
Another Bit of Supporting Material
I recently found the following on the website of the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia: "In the fall of 1777, Philadelphia – the Revolutionary capital at the time – was seized by the British and occupied for nine long months, with Independence Hall serving as a prison for American prisoners-of-war. " —AmRevMuseum.com ********************************** It is always a real pleasure to find backup for history I used in writing this book 40 years ago!
Aleays Nice to Verify: Van Steuben
I started writing The Riddle Of Penncroft Farm in 1982, forty (!) years ago. Thus it is immensely gratifying when I come across something that verifies something I wrote back then. Here's something I found today on the New England Historical Society site: By 1777 Van Steuben was out of a job, heavily in debt. . . He solicited Silas Deane and Benjamin Franklin in Paris for a job with the Continental Army. Von Steuben got the job, partly because he offered to serve without pay and partly because Franklin exaggerated his credentials, calling him a lieutenant general in the Prussian Army.
Outflanking the Continentals
Here's how I described the British feint at Brandywine in my rhyming biography of Lafayette, Liberty-Loving Lafayette. ************************************* But just a few weeks later came the fight at Brandywine/ And no one could make Lafayette avoid the battle line./ For when the Brits outflanked us with a most effective trick/He sallied forth into the fight and helped out double quick./He rallied men (who’d panicked and were trying to run away)/ To stand and fight, and thus he tried his best to save the day.
Friendly Grenadiers
I've always wondered if this scene was too far fetched. Howeer, I came across the following in "They Passed This Way," by Marc A Brier. He described the arrival of grenadiers in Philadelphia when the British arrived there in the fall of 1777. The granadiers he talks about might very well have helped a terrified boy get his wounded brother into a wagon. ************************************** A ten-year-old boy known only as “J.C.” remembered the grenadiers in this way: "Their tranquil look and dignified appearance have left an impression on my mind, that the British grenadiers were inimitable ... I went up to the front rank of the grenadiers when they had entered Second Street, when several of them addressed me thus, -- 'How do you do, young one -- how are you, my boy' -- in a brotherly tone, that seems to still vibrate on my ear; then reached out their hands, and severally caught mine, and shook it, not with the exalting shake of conquerers, as I thought, but with a sympathizing one for the vanquished. " **************************** Sounds to me as if they might wel have helped Geordie!
A Better Setting for this Scene (ButToo Late)
Several weeks ago I had the opportunity to visit an exact replica of George Washington's tent. (The original is at the Museum of the American Museum in Philadelphia.) Now that I've walked around in General Washington "virtual" footsteps, I hugely regret not setting this scene inside his tent! To read my blog on this subject and to see pictures of the replica, which was made entirely by hand,, visit dorotheajensen.blogspot.com.
On the Other Hand, This is All Too Accurate
Always gratifying to verify the accuracy of something I wrote more than thirty years ago. . . "On December 21, only a few brigades received some salt pork - never a welcome ration. The rest got nothing. The next day, there was no food whatsoever for anyone. As it dawned on the troops that they faced starvation, a mutinous spirit swept the camp. One regiment after another began chanting, “No meat! No meat!” —Fleming, Thomas. Washington's Secret War: The Hidden History of Valley Forge/ I also came across this recently in the readings for a Museum of the American Revolution course: "When food gave out, men relieved their hunger, or at least their minds, by sticking their heads out in the cold and calling out to passers-by in an undertone. "No bread, no soldier." —Royster, A Revolutionary People at War
So Sorry to Set This Straight!
I was most disappointed to learn recently that the shad run at Valley Forge was apochrophal. It is presented in numerous books about the winter of 1777-8 as a true account, and when I wrote The Riddle of Penncroft Farm in the early 1980s, I was confident that it had actually occurred. It wasn't until I read Thomas Fleming's 2015 book, The Hidden History of Valley Forge that I learned the truth. Among other evidence for this, studies of the "middens" at Valley Forge showed very few fish bones. Fleming says: "as Joseph Lee Boyle, former librarian at Valley Forge National Historical Park, has wryly concluded, 'the miracle of the shad run at Valley Forge is just another fish story.' What a blow!
Halloweening my Story
One reason I set the beginning of this book just before Halloween was so that I could write this scene. I thought it plausible that when Lars first meets the "shade" Geordie, he mistakes the 18th century clothing Geordie is wearing for a Halloween costume. Of course, he very soon finds out this Halloween has nothing whatsoever to do with Geordie's "costume."
September 11: Brandywine
In addition to the tragedy of 2001 on this date, there is another anniversary today: the Battle of Brandywine, which happened in 1777. To mark this anniversary, I am posting videos of the parts of THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM depicting what happens to the main character, Geordie, when he becomes caught up in this major battle. You will find these 4 videos on my blog, pinterest account, and website. dorotheajensen.com; dorotheajensen.blogspot.com/ pinterest.com/dgjensen116/ vimeo.com/dorotheagjensen
Word Play: I just Can't Resist
This week, the Bublish Diva suggested we talk about using word play in our writing. The chapter title I selected as an excerpt is one example of how I played with words in Riddle. Anyone who has read the story knows that "shade" is the term Geordie prefers to be called, and "raising" can mean something quite ghostly. This also refers back to when Lars arrives at Penncroft Farm and see "a shade" in the window. Anyway, this reminded me of one of my all-time favorite reviews of THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM. It was by Sara S., a 4th grade Gifted class teacher: "I appreciate, and the students definitely notice, all of the complex word play throughout the story,." Nice that someone noticed!
Pandemic Productions: Playing Favorites !!
So I know it isn't cool to play favorites, but this chapter, in which the modern-day boy, Lars, learns some VERY interesting stuff about the mysterious Geordie, is definitely my favorite! Why? Because it was the one that gave me my very first writing award! The Loft, a writers' organization in Minnesota, had a competition for children's literature. I submitted this chapter and won the middle grade category. Part of this honor was my reading this chapter aloud at the awards ceremony. Such fun! Anyway, I have made an author readaloud video of this chapter (#4) and posted it on my website, www.dorotheajensen.com. Enjoy!
Pandemic Productions: Riddle
Along with the rest of the world, I have been trapped at home for nearly three weeks. To amuse myself, I've started making "Author Readaloud" videos of THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM. I just posted the first three to the PBS website, and will also be adding therm to YouTube, Vimeo, and my social media, including my website. (dorotheajensen.com) It's kind of fun, except that it forces me to 1) change into real clothes, 2) comb my hair, and 3) put on lipstick. These are all things I have tended NOT to do during The Great Quarantine.
Internet Treasure
So once in awhile I snoop around the internet and find treasure. Here's one exacmple: on https://www.pinterest.com/luckysheep/kids-summer-reading-5th-grade/, "The Riddle of Penncroft Farm by Dorothea Jensen on[e] of my kids all time favorite books, hands down!" That was my first present this season: Merry Christmas to me!
Named for My Teacher
I named this character after my own 8th grade teacher, Mrs. Maybelle Hettrick. We were the last class she taught before she retired. She told us stories of her childhood when her family homesteaded in Oklahoma, much like Laura Ingalls Wilder. Mrs. Hettrick lived to be over 100 years old, so she was still alive when I was working on this book many, many years after I was in her class. I sent the manuscript of The Riddle of Penncroft Farm to her when she was in her 90s. She loved it, and said that she especially liked "learning all the new words." I was very impressed that she still had a keen interest in learning new things. (It's probably one reason she lived so long.)
Riddle's Diamond (or Pearl) Anniversary!
THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM was released by Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich in August, 1989, and has been in print ever since.Meanwhile, my son has made me start cleaning up my desktop computer, organizing the files and deleting duplicates etc. This is a daunting task, to say the least, as he tells me there are nearly a million files on its hard disk. Yikes.The good news is that while drudging away at this overwhelming task, I came across screen shots (unlabeled, of course) of a number of reference books/lists that include THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM. I consider these to be an EXCELLENT anniversary present! Here they are:1. Best Books for Children: Preschool Through Grade 6 (Children and Young Adult Literature Reference) by Catherine Barr and John Gillespie; 2. 2013-2014 California Young Reader Medal Resource Guide; 3. Exploring Our Country’s History: Linking Fiction to Nonfiction (Literature Bridges to Social Studies Series) by Phyllis J. Perry; 4. Fantasy Literature for Children and Young Adults: An Annotated Bibliography Fourth Edition by Ruth Nadelman Lynn. I know there is at least one more book out there recommending RIDDLE for classroom use, but I can't remember its name. Maybe it will crop up in my archeological excavation of this overloaded computer!
Effective Trilingual Expletives Part 2
Here is what I wrote in this story, my first historical novel, about von Steuben's profanity-laced training of Washington's forces at Valley Forge. (I have already posted about how I described this in my second historical novel, A Buss from Lafayette.) Although in this excerpt I do not stress the fact, apparently von Steuben himself cursed in French AND German and insisted his aides translate his curses into English. From what I've read, this trilingual cursing hugely amused the American soldiers.
Was Geordie Subject to Arrest?
In Thomas Fleming's excellent book, THE STRATEGY OF VICTORY, I found the following about Valley Forge: "There the men began building a veritable village of log cabins, while the commissary department frantically sought food to feed them. Philadelphia was only twenty miles away, enabling Washington to patrol the roads around the city with fifty-man detachments of picked troops and arrest farmers caught selling the British food for their army." Now Geordie was not selling food or drink directly to the British, (although readers know that he used some to bribe his way past British sentries and such), but he did sell to the City Tavern. This was a favorite dining spot of British officers during the occupation of Philadelphia. I wonder if any farmers were arrested for INDIRECTLY supplying food or drink to the enemy.
POWs at Independence Hall
The building housing POWs in this description is the Pennsylvania State House, later called Independence Hall. Lest you think I exaggerated how dire conditions were for American prisoners, here are some numbers I found on the New England Historical Society Website (in the article "Seven Fun Facts about the Continental Army"): "More patriots died in British prisons than in battle. A total of 6,800 died in action, while another 6,100 were wounded. But 20,000 were taken prisoner, and of those as many as 12,000 died while prisoners." I was happy that Geordie had apples etc. to give to the prisoners when he realized how bad things were.
Toilet Training at Valley Forge
I wrote THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM Iin the early 1980s. I was very pleased recently to come across an article on the website of the New England Historical Society that backed up what I wrote so long ago. Here's what it said about punishment for not using the "vaults" (also called latrines, jakes or necessaries), the troughs dug to be used as toilets: Soldiers could get whipped for failing to use the privy. When they arrived at Valley Forge, some men relieved themselves wherever they felt like it. They left the carcasses of horses to rot where they fell. Washington, concerned about disease and disgusted by ‘intolerable smells,’ ordered five lashes for anyone who did not use ‘a proper Necessary.’ He also ordered two windows cut in every hut to let in fresh air. - Seven Fun Continental Army Facts, New England Historical Society
And all because a young fan texted me!
THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM reaches its 30th anniversary this year, and, as I may have mentioned before, is read in many US classrooms as a supplement for learning about the American Revolution. Awhile ago, out of the blue I received a FB message from a boy whose teacher (in Pennsylvania) was reading his class this book and he loved the story. I wrote back, and he told his teacher that I had. Then I heard from the teacher, who has been reading RIDDLE aloud to her classes for seventeen years! I ended up doing a video visit with her students, and later, since I was going to the Philadelphia area, I made a surprise appearance in her classroom. Such fun!
Cold?? At Least We're Not Buff and Blue
I believe that one strong factor in our soldiers surviving the winter at Valley Forge was making such jokes about their plight. (The "buff and blue" and "Firecake and water" jokes are true enough.) Lafayette's friend Baron de Kalb said that no European army would have similarly endured such hardships.
Gaunt and Starving POWs
The Journal of the American Revolution posted an excellent article of the condition of American prisoners in New York captured by the British. I don't think my description here of the prisoners in the State House (now Independence Hall) is at all exaggerated. Here is the link: allthingsliberty.com/2019/01/1776-the-horror-show/
Happy 30th Anniversary, RIDDLE!!
I am highlighting this little bit about the Valley Forge encampment because kids have told me that it is one of their favorite parts of the story. Perhaps it is one of the reasons that this book has been in print since 1989, and this summer will mark its 30th anniversary! I'm thrilled to tell you that the story of Lars and Geordie has NEVER gone out of print since it was first released, despite the fact its original publisher, Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, no longer exists as such. (RIDDLE is now under the aegis of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.) A "Teachers Choices Selection" by the International Reading Association,THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM is used in many classrooms across the U.S. when kids study the American Revolution. (I always get a huge kick out of seeing my title listed alongside Johnny Tremain as a reading choice on classroom websites.)
Drummer Boy "Regalia"
I never thought much about what drummer boys wore when I wrote this book many years ago. It occurred to me that they would need uniforms that distinguished them from weapons-bearing soldiers, but I didn't really look into this. (I guess I figured if they were obviously boys and carrying drums, it was assumed they were drummer boys. I write about this in my blog. Check it out! http://dorotheajensen.blogspot.com/2018/08/what-did-drummer-boys-wear-in-revolution.html
Baron von Steuben
Today (February 23) is the anniversary of the arrival of von Steuben at the Valley Forge encampment. He soon set up the "School o the Soldier", in which he would train men and then have those men train others, who trained others, and so forth. This brilliant plan meant that by the time the Americans set off after the British after they left Philadelphia, for the first time our army was an effective fighting force. Hoorah for von Steuben!
A Valentine of Sorts
I just want to send a huge "I HEART you" to all those teachers across the United States who have used THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM in their classrooms, some of them 18 or 19 times! When I started doing electronic classroom visits last year (and some in person ones as well), I had a wonderful time answering questions from the teachers and the kids, whose enthusiasm delighted me! Thanks so much for making history come alive in your classrooms with my stories!
Hmm. Maybe I will. . .
Just finishing up an audiobook of my other award-winning historical novel for young readers, A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE. Apart from seeing my face on the screen for hours at a time (not fun at my age) as I made a simultaneous video version, it was quite fun. I am now thinking of doing the same for THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM. I think it would be fun for teachers to be able to show their students a video of me reading a chapter or two from this classroom favorite!
Runaway Wagon!
Here's the runaway vehicle bit from THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM to match the one I wrote about in another bubble about A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE! Somewhat similar, but it is the sound of battle that sends the horses running here, rather than the sound of thunder!
Charles Willson Peale
To find out more about Peale, go to Grateful American Kids website, (http://gratefulamericankids.com/ga-tv/q-and-a/ ) which has a great article that starts like this: Charles Willson Peale (April 15, 1741 – Feb. 22, 1827) was an American painter, soldier, scientist, inventor, politician, and naturalist. He is best remembered for his portrait paintings of leading figures of the American Revolution, as well as for establishing one of the first museums. Born in 1741 in Chester, Queen Anne’s County, MD, Peale became an apprentice to a saddle maker when he was 13 years old. When he got older, he opened his own saddle shop, but his political enemies conspired to bankrupt his business. He tried fixing clocks and working with metals, but both of these businesses failed as well. He then took up painting.
More Settling
Ok, ok, I know I wrote about settles earlier, but I'm writing about them again because I have now posted the picture of me sitting on a settle at the City Tavern (location of two scenes in this story) on my dorotheajensen.com website on the page labeled Riddle, Buss, and Scalp Games and Pix (etc.). You'll find a link to this website somewhere very close to where you are reading this.
Cider/Perry Press
I happened across an antique cider press last fall at Old Sturbridge Village. To see what it looked like, go to dorotheajensen.com and you'll find a picture on the "Riddle, Buss and Scalp Games, Pix, and Recipes" page, which you'll find in the left column on the home page. This one looks pretty elaborate, so I doubt Lars' dad will actually be building one. : )
Aha! Bull-eye!
I wrote this story more than thirty years ago, so was delighted to recently find proof that one of the historic al details I used was correct. The new museum about the American Revolution in Philadelphia has one of these fringed hunting shirts on display, Here's what the sign about it says: In the summer of 1775, riflemen from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia joined the New England troops already gathered in Boston to form a Continental Army. Many of these mid-Atlantic troops wore fringed hunting shirts like this example. A uniquely American garment that originated in the Virginia backcountry, it was thought to evoke the dress of Native Americans. As stories of the riflemen’s marksmanship spread, General Washington saw a psychological advantage in outfitting thousands more of the American soldiers in these distinctive shirts. In his headquarters orders for July 24th 1776, Washington wrote that he “earnestly encourages the use of hunting shirts,” in part because they were “justly supposed to carry no small terror to the enemy, who think every such person a complete marksman.” Woo hoo!
A Big Surprise in the Reel
When I was in grade school, everyone had to learn to dance the Virginia Reel. I remember the boys grumbling about this. I loved this dance, however, because our family used to dance it at celebratory family gathering while my mother played the piano. When I was trying to decide how to end my story, the Virginia Reel popped into my head. If you would like to try this dance, you will find instructions posted on both dorotheajensen.com (via website link on this page). (It is on the "Music, Songs, and Dances" page on both sites. (We danced this at the launch party for A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE, by the way. Such fun!
Pasties and Squash RECIPE!
Enjoy these historic foods yourself! I just posted recipes for pasties and squash on my website (the link to which is posted either above or to the left of this) dorotheajensen.com. You can get to that page on my website through the link in the right column labeled "Riddle, Buss, and Scalp Games, Pix, and Recipes.
True Confession!
When I started researching for this story, I found the apple variety "Seek-No-Further" in an old book called PENNSYLVANIA AGRICULTURE AND COUNTRY LIFE, 1640-1840 (where I also found the farm implement called a RIDDLE). It was listed with varieties of apples raised in early Pennsylvania. Recently I searched the internet for more information about this kind of fruit. I found that its origin in America was not until 1796 in Westfield, Massachusetts, and it was mainly grown in New England. Hmmm. Then I discovered that Seek-No-Further apples were raised in Wales (UK) since the 1700s.There it was called Seek-No-Further by English speakers. Welsh speakers called it Gwell Na Mil (Better Than A Thousand). OK. Apparently there were a number of Welsh settlers in Pennsylvania, hence the town names like Bala Cynwyd and Bryn Mawr. I choose to believe that one of these Welshmen (or women) brought Seek-No-Further apple seeds to PA in the early 18th century. Therefore, Geordie's family could raise them at the time of the Revolution, and a road could be called Seek-No-Further Pike. Whew! Now I can sleep nights.
Why RIDDLE is in the 1st Person
I recently found a letter I wrote to my dad in 1986 about my difficulties in getting this book written and (especially) published. In this letter I described what was happening at that time like this: "It's a most painful process." This letter also explains why I changed the p.o.v. of THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM's modern bits. To read this, go to http://dorotheajensen.blogspot.com/2017/09/a-31-year-old-letter-about-riddle.html.
Reading at Valley Forge
This section was based on what really happened at Valley Forge. I recently visited there (after many years) and made a short video of me reading this section. It's posted on my blog here: https://dorotheajensen.blogspot.com/2017/08/dorothea-jensen-riddle-of-penncroft.html
All Settled In!
I recently dined at The City Tavern in Philadelphia, where Washington met Lafayette for the first time. (This place figures in later parts of this story.) Anyway, while at the City Tavern, I actually sat on a settle. To see a picture, go to my blog: http://dorotheajensen.blogspot.com/2017/06/where-washington-met-lafayette-city.html
A short audio answer!
I recently beamed into a classroom where the students had all read THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM. One of the students asked me why I had Aunt Cass playing the organ, and why I had picked this piece. Here's the link to a audio of my reply: https://youtu.be/5Fe9Hx0SFmk
So. Exciting.
My first historical novel for young readers,THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM, was just added to the list of "Best History Books for Kids to Read" on the Grateful American Kids website. This is part of the Grateful American Foundation, dedicated to getting kids interested in American history. RIDDLE thus joins my new historical novel for middle graders,A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE on that list. Hooray for Lars, Geordie, and Clara! Here's the website (there is a lot of wonderful historical information posted there!): gratefulamericankids.com
21st C. Riddle Visit!
I have recently learned that THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM is still being used in school classrooms to enrich the study of the American Revolution. (This is 28 years after it was published, people!) One school contacted me and soon thereafter I made a school visit via FaceTime. It was great fun! in the following blog I talk about the questions the kids asked me about RIDDLE and what answers I gave them. (Although I must admit I added to what I actually said on screen.) Spoilers are included so please don't read unless you have already read this book. http://dorotheajensen.blogspot.com/2017/02/my-first-classroom-visit-via-21st.html
A Thrilling Discovery!
I was looking around the internet recently and discovered that part of THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM had been presented as a little play during a re-enactment of the Battle of Brandywine. I don't think there can be a bigger thrill for an author of historical fiction than for someone to present it dramatically where it actually took place! Check out my blog for details: http://dorotheajensen.blogspot.com/2017/02/a-bit-of-riddle-enacted-at-brandywine.html
Secret (?) Cupboard
I took a picture of a cupboard over the fireplace in an 1830s house. This one isn't exactly "secret", but it is certainly in the same kind of location as where Lars thinks the will is hidden. This picture is posted on my Penncroft Farm board at pinterest.com/dgjensen116/.
Brandywine
Here is a more detailed description of how Howe outflanked the American troops, specifically Sullivan's, as mentioned in A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE. Squire Cheyney really did finally convince Washington what was really going on. I just had Geordie help him do this!
Latchstrings
This was based on a trick our 3 year old son pulled on my grandmother when she helped take care of him when his younger brother was born. We did not have a clothes dryer, and every time she went outside to hang up the wash, he would lock the door. Luckily for him, Grammy thought it was funny. (Oops, I just realized I already wrote about this.) However, I recently made a video of opening a door with a latchstring, which reminded me of this bit in RIDDLE. Find it on my blog: dorotheajensen.blogspot.com
Nail Soup
Remember the story in which a penniless man cozened everyone into adding vegetables to what he claimed to be "nail soup?" (The very last thing he did was to remove the nail on the sly and eat the fine soup.) That is what this excerpt amounts to. I saw a Revolutionary War drum in a museum and it was one large spur to my writing this story. I was going to have Geordie be a drummer boy in Washington's army, then I decided to have Ned Owens be one instead, which makes Geordie jealous. For the big finish/reveal about Sandy, I had her beating on such a drum as she rode behind Will to Penncroft Farm. Which was ridiculous. It would just not have been possible, especially as she would have been perched behind him with both legs on one side because she was wearing a dress. (This was called riding "aside" rather than "astride", I believe.) The very last thing I did before this book went to press was take the drum out of Sandy's hands. (So glad I did.)
More Fun with Ancestors
Once again, I had fun with the ancestor whom modern day Eddy Owens always brags about. I made him a fan not only of Conway (of Valley Forge infamy), but also BENEDICT ARNOLD! Of course, this is all revealed in the diaries, so Eddy (and everyone else) finds out about it.
Learning at Valley Forge
Von Steuben's "School for the Soldier" was a brilliant method of teaching the untrained Americans. He himself taught a few men how to move by command, then had each of them teach others, who taught others, etc. Apparently von Steuben would swear at them in French and German, then have his aide swear at them in English, which the soldiers found to be very funny. At the end of the terrible winter of 1777-8 at Valley Forge, we had a trained army. (When we lived near Philadelphia in the 1970s, we went to Valley Forge many, many times. Our two sons learned to ride their bicycles there. Quite a different kind of learning!)
Musical "Reveal"
Music was a huge part of my growing up. My mother was a professional musician, a cellist and a pianist. She taught me to sing something like 20 songs (melody and lyrics and nicely in tune, so I'm told) BEFORE I turned 2. Some of my best memories are of us five kids singing folk songs while Mom accompanied us on the piano. (This was in the 1950s, people, long before folk music hit the hit parade.) Therefore, it seemed natural to have Pat's singing a folk song be the means for Lars to learn exactly who Geordie was.
Fishing in February
Yet another true event that I found in my research and decided to put into RIDDLE. It must have seemed almost miraculous to the hungry soldiers at Valley Forge!! (Besides, it gave me a chance to hint that Sandy is not quite what he appeared to be.)
Covered Bridges
I learned that covered bridges were mostly built during the 19th, rather than the 18th century. I couldn't resist having Lars meet Geordie in a covered bridge at the beginning of the story, as there are covered bridges in that part of Pennsylvania now. I wanted to have a setting that seemed odd and antique to Lars. Also, I needed them to meet somewhere where it was a bit hard to see. (Remember that Lars first thinks that Geordie is a girl because of his "ponytail" and puffy sleeves.) I put this part in to suggest that covered bridges were built later than when Geordie was young, during the time of the Revolution.
Joking at Valley Forge
I came across these jokes made by the soldiers during the terrible winter of 1777-8 at Valley Forge and put them into my story. It seemed to me that these were an excellent example of how soldiers and other Americans often use humor to get through terrible experiences. (Maybe people from other countries do, too; I don't know.) In any case, "buff and blue" and "firecakes and water" apparently did help these guys to endure.
Chanting at Valley Forge
This kind of chanting apparently really did happen at Valley Forge. When I learned about this, it seemed to belong in my story!
Colonial Day Inspiration
Just before we moved from Wayne, Pennsylvania, to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1981, my older son's school had a "Colonial Day". He was in 4th grade or so, and I believe they had been studying life in colonial America. Parents were asked to help out, and I ended up demonstrating "finger weaving" with yarn, something I knew nothing about. I must have had a crash course. I cobbled together a costume of sorts to look vaguely "colonial", but the only antique-looking hat I owned was a lace one I had brought back with me from Holland (where we lived in the mid-1970s). Oddly enough, 30 years later I learned that the first of my ancestors who came here as colonists actually were from the Netherlands. (These were the Yerxas, who 3 or 4 generations later were Loyalists and moved to Canada at the beginning of the American Revolution.) So as it turns out, my head was actually authentically garbed for my own family tree.Anyway, several years later when I started to write The Riddle of Penncroft Farm, I remembered the Wayne Elementary School Colonial Day festivities and ended up using such a setting for the Big Finish of the story.
An Effective Way to Show Contempt for America
What is now known as Independence Hall was originally the Pennsylvania State House. Building was begun in 1732 but was not finished until 1753. It was here that the Continental Congress met and the Declaration of Independence was adopted.( It was also here that the Constitution was debated and signed, in 1787.) No wonder the British used it to house American prisoners of war during the occupation of Philadelphia the winter of 1777-1778! What better way to show contempt for what had happened within its walls.
Cup and Ball
I needed to find an 18th century toy that could have survived as a family heirloom into the 20th century to use in my story. I later learned that this toy was also called a "bilbo-catcher". I would have loved to use this in RIDDLE but it was too late. A picture of a bilbo-catcher is on the RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM page of my website, with a link to my blog about it. (I have to wonder if Tolkien had this toy in mind when he named Bilbo Baggins.)
20th Century City Tavern Scene
And here's the modern scene I wrote to "bookend" the 18th century one in my last bubble. It was a challenge to write such corresponding scenes in such a way that each era reverberated off the other. I remember how much fun it was to figure out how to do this!
City Tavern
The City Tavern was a favorite meeting place of the Founding Fathers. It was the scene of the first meeting between George Washington and Lafayette. It was also a favorite of British officers during the winter of 1777-8, when Philadelphia was occupied by the enemy. The City Tavern was rebuilt in 1976 and serves 18th century fare by costumed wait staff. I set two scenes in this historic site. Here is the 18th century one. I have posted photos of the City Tavern exterior and interior on the RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM page of my website. I also wrote about it on my blog. http://dorotheajensen.blogspot.com/2015/10/riddle-of-penncroft-farm-scenes-at-city.html
Meeting in a Covered Bridge
I have posted a picture of the covered bridge near the "real" Penncroft Farm on the RIDDLE page of my website. Covered bridges were not common until well into the 19th century, so this one would NOT have been around when Geordie lived at Penncroft Farm. Also check out my blog post about this picture! http://dorotheajensen.blogspot.com/2015/10/another-setting-from-riddle-of.html
The Original Penncroft Farm
In the 1970s, we lived for five years in Wayne, PA, outside Philadelphia. (Wayne, BTW, was named after "Mad" Anthony Wayne, a Pennsylvanian who served in the Revolution War with distinction and was quite a colorful character, apparently.) Our sons learned to ride bikes at Valley Forge, and our family often visited Brandywine Battlefield and historic sites in Philadelphia. We especially liked eating lunch at the City Tavern. (More about that later.) A couple we knew while we lived there had a horse farm they named "Penncroft Farm". Their house was built in the antique Pennsylvania style, with different sections that had differing exterior finishes. After we moved to Minnesota in 1981, I did not want my kids to forget the history we had experienced while living in Pennsylvania. Very soon after that, I started writing a story about a boy who moved from Minnesota to Pennsylvania. I needed a name for the farm where he and his family were to make their new home. I wanted it to sound a bit exotic to the Minnesota boy, and reflect the Pennsylvania location. Then I remembered the name of our friends' farm and borrowed its name: "Penncroft Farm". (A picture of the "original" place is posted on the RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM page of my website.)
Historical Fiction Squared
Re-reading RIDDLE for Bublish has gotten me thinking about the nature of historical fiction. I'm beginning to regard the modern story in this book as nearly as "bygone" an era as the historical part! Check out my blog on the subject: http://dorotheajensen.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-riddle-of-penncroft-farm-historical.html
Occupied Philadelphia
We lived close to Philadelphia for a number of years in the 1970s. I found it fascinating to read about its occupation by the British in the winter of 1777-8. First of all, this occupation did not accomplish what the British general, Howe, thought it would. Used to European warfare in which capturing the enemy's capital meant ending the war, Howe found that the only thing making Philadelphia the capital was the Continental Congress meeting there. The Congress easily moved elsewhere and the loss of Philadelphia did little damage to American morale, despite the fact that the city suffered damage indeed! (BTW I originally wrote "the thitty is thmiling at me" for Geordie's lisped lines. Apparently the editor did not approve!)
Not a Sure Thing
One reason I wrote this book was to help young readers understand that for a good part of the Revolutionary War, America was LOSING to Britain. Gaining independence was definitely NOT a foregone conclusion. The American leaders really did risk being hanged as traitors. When I found this expression that was in use at the time about 1777 looking like gallows for them, I had to put it in my story somewhere. I thought it sounded exactly like something Geordie's brother, Will, might say. So he did.
Fun with Antique Words
I had to fight with my editor at Harcourt to keep archaic words in this story. (I put a glossary at the end of the book to help young readers learn the meaning of these words.) However, what is mentioned more than anything else in the fan mail I have received about THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM is how much the letter writers loved these old words!
And here's the payoff...
Here is the modern "antagonist", Eddie Owens, bragging about his ancestor (as mentioned in a previous bubble) and getting it all wrong! His ancestor actually gave George Washington the WRONG information. Lars knows that it was his "friend", Geordie, who actually helped convince Washington that the British were outflanking the American troops.
An Artifact to be Found
I wanted to underscore how difficult it is to know the precise meaning of historical artifacts. For this, I needed Geordie to leave an artifact behind on the battlefield at Brandywine. His toy soldier seemed to fill the bill. I also thought it might show that Geordie's experience at Brandywine has moved him past childhood. As you will see, his childhood toy is definitely misinterpreted two centuries later!
Straight out of History!
I came across this true happening in my research for Riddle and simply HAD to use it! The image of Washington close behind poor old Mr. Brown, shouting "Push along, old man, push aiong!", was too good to ignore!
Having fun with history!
Eddy Owens, the modern main character's nemesis, is always bragging about his ancestors. It was fun to reveal that he has a family tree with less-than-heroic characters in it!
Another true incident. . .
American vedettes (mounted sentries) were caught unawares by the British army at Welch's Tavern. They had to run away without their horses to avoid capture. I just put Geordie in the tavern with 'em!
21st Century Tech: Riddle Trailer!
Although this book was published in the 20th century, it has now moved into the 21st: it has a "trailer". There's a link to this on the home page of my website: www.dorotheajensen.com. Enjoy!
A True Story with a Small Addition...
This is based on a true story. Squire Cheyney did exist, and he tried to warn Washington about the British flanking movement. He had a very difficult time doing so, but eventually Washington believed him. I just gave Squire Cheyney some fictional company in his desperate attempt to warn Washington.
Lars's Mom: As Cool as an Engineer?
This was loosely based on an incident when the orchestra my mother was in played Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture in a college fieldhouse. When the "cannon" boomed (by firing a blank from a gun into a barrel) one engineering student sitting in front of us asked, sounding quite alarmed, "What's that?!?" His friend answered quite matter-of-factly,"12 gauge, I think." Want to hear what the Toccata and Fugue sounds like? Follow this link: https://youtu.be/IVJD3dL4diY
Looking the Part
I was delighted to find out that George Washington liked his men to wear leather hunting shirts so they looked like genuine sharpshooters to the British. It seems that the Father of Our Country knew that looking the part was an important element in facing the enemy. Even without elaborate uniforms!
Cockades??
These leather hat ornaments showed the political loyalty of the wearer. Early in the Revolutionary War, many American soldiers had no uniforms, so cockades were an important "decoration" for them. There were black at first, then later white cockades were put over them. I explain why in this blog post: http://dorotheajensen.blogspot.com/2015/08/cockades-not-just-pretty-ornament.html
THE RIDDLE SONG
I always loved this folk song as a child, so I decided to put it into my story. If you want to hear what it sounds like, check out my YouTube audio recording of it. https://youtu.be/hFmj3OxDfec
A Missing Piece
Earlier in this chapter, Lars had wondered why a Quaker meetinghouse had no stained glass windows like other churches. When I originally wrote this account of Aunt Cass's Quaker memorial service, Lars listened to all the different memories of her from her family and friends during the service. He then realized that this was a little like putting bits of glass of many colors together to create a beautiful stained glass window. It wasn't until years after THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM was published that I noticed my metaphor was missing. Apparently my editor decided she didn't like it. Rats!
What's in a name?
I realized when I re-read this that naming this character "Pat" was a another sideways reference to THE SHERWOOD RING. This was a favorite of mine in junior high, and in a way, I wrote THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM as an homage to this story. (A main character in THE SHERWOOD RING is also named Pat, which is a also way of concealing his real name.) For more about the "reverberations" between my story and THE SHERWOOD RING, see my blog post: http://dorotheajensen.blogspot.com/2015/08/homage-to-sherwood-ring-1.html
Author's Message??
I guess this is about as close to an "author's message" as anything else I put into this book. It is also the reason I wrote THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM in the first place, I guess. For more about the challenges of writing historical fiction that shows the complexity of the past, see my blog: http://dorotheajensen.blogspot.com/2015/08/help-help-im-drowning-in-notes.html
My Prize-Winning Chapter
This is part of the chapter I submitted for a children's literature competition at The Loft, a Minnesota writers' organization. When I sent it in, I decided to give my name as D. G. Jensen, so the judges would not know my gender. As my main character is a boy, I didn't want them to start reading the manuscript looking for ways in which a woman author failed to portray him realistically. (I'm a bit paranoid.) The winners were to be announced in April. In February, however, my phone rang. "Is this D. G. Jensen? I'm calling from The Loft, and I need to know how your first name is spelled," said the caller. "Why do you need to know that?," I asked, knowing my cover was about to be blown. "So we know who to make the check out to. You won." "D-O-R-O-T-H-E-A," I spelled hastily. I soon read this chapter aloud at the award ceremony, was interviewed on MPR and was on my way as an author!
Stake-and-Rider Fence
I have posted a picture of a "stake-and-rider" fence on my blog. Take a look! http://dorotheajensen.blogspot.com/2015/08/another-riddle-tidbit-stake-and-rider.html
Mrs. Hettrick
I named Lars's new teacher after the teacher I had when I was his age, Mrs. Maybelle Hettrick. Her family had been homesteaders in Oklahoma, where she had met Geronimo, jailed in her town after his capture. (For more about her, see my blog: http://dorotheajensen.blogspot.com/2015/06/laura-ingalls-wilder-and-me-part-2.html)
Nemo and the Nautilus
Obviously, this refers to the 1954 movie, "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea", starring Kirk Douglas and James Mason. It was based on the science fiction novel by Jules Verne, published in 1870. The mysterious captain of the 19th century conception of a submarine, the Nautilus, calls himself "Nemo" - which means no-name. Of course, the Nautilus itself was named for a snail-like sea creature. This music was also in Fantasia 2000.
Drinkable Squash!
My family first encountered squash in Center City Philadelphia, where it was on the menu at an outdoor restaurant near Independence Hall (with an explanation of its colonial origins). From then on, we often mixed orange juice and lemonade to make squash. It does sound strange, however. No wonder Lars was not enthusiastic when Aunt Cass brought it up!
Antique Apples
"Seek-no-further" was the name of an antique variety of apples. (I believe some are being raised again today as an "heirloom" variety.) I decided that because Penncroft Farm was primarily an orchard, "Seek-no-further" apples might have been raised there, and the nearby road could have been named for it. Besides, I just liked the sound of it!
Another "Real Life" Incident
This came from something my older son did as a child when my grandmother came to visit. Just like Aunt Cass, my gramma simply thought it was funny! (She always had a soft spot for little boys.) Of course, no latchstrings were involved. : )
Rolling Uphill??
The original hardcover edition of THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM had a wraparound jacket. The back cover had a beautiful picture of a colonial era Pennsylvania-style house. However, there was one glaring error: the road appears to be up hill from the house and the barn! It would be really tough for a runaway wagon to go up that hill. There's an image of this original jacket on the RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM page at my website. Just click on "website" above, then click on THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM in the left column of the main page. (There's another big error on the front cover, but that one was apparently deliberate. I'll talk about that soon!)
Another Reversal
This idea came from something my husband told me. When he was in junior high, no one at his school was allowed to wear a costume to school on Halloween. One boy, who had just moved there from another state (where costumes were apparently the custom) showed up in a Halloween costume . The poor guy was mortified when he realized he was the only one in a costume. I turned the situation around and made Lars the only one in the class who is NOT wearing a costume.
Riddle
I found the name of this antique farm implement in a huge old book called PENNSYLVANIA AGRICULTURE AND COUNTRY LIFE 1640-1840. As an inveterate punster, I had no choice: I absolutely HAD to use RIDDLE in my book, and to put it in the title as a wordplay. Some might even call it a riddle. The word RIDDLE has survived only in phrases such as "riddled with bullets" etc. In addition, the grate that is shaken to remove ashes from a coal stove is called a riddle, so someone can "riddle the ashes". This use is not in most people's vocabularies these days, however.
Aunt Cass
In my first draft of this book, Aunt Cass had died before the story began. Bill Iverson (an expert in the field of children's literature and the father of a college friend) kindly read this draft and suggested that I keep Aunt Cass alive until Lars could get to know her. I did this, and modeled her on my own rather eccentric grandmother. This "Why didn't you pick more peas?" story was actually something my grandmother said to Bill Iverson's son, Peter, ten years after the peapicking endeavor had taken place. Poor Peter had been one of the pea pickers who had not fulfilled her expectations, and he had not seen her since that day.
Original Idea
The idea for this story occurred to me when I moved from Pennsylvania to Minnesota in 1981 with my husband and three children. My two boys had learned to ride bikes at Valley Forge, and had visited Independence Hall, Brandywine Battlefield, and other Revolutionary War sites in and near Philadelphia. I decided to write this story to help them to remember this history, but I decided to reverse the situation. Instead of moving from the Philadelphia area to Minneapolis, my main character, Lars, moves from Minnesota to Pennsylvania. And he is NOT happy about it!
Bizzy, the Bossy Boots Elf
Children's Books
A 2021 Purple Dragonfly Book Awards Winner in Poetry, and Picture Books (Aged 6 and up) categories *************************************************************** Bizzy (Santa’s “Right Hand Man”) is a great organizer. He not only convinces S. C. (Santa Claus) to let the depressed Izzy Elves go on a much-needed vacation, but he finds a perfect holiday spot where they can blend in—Santa Claus Lane. What he doesn’t plan on, however, is the other elves calling him “bossy boots,” or two smart boys, Henry and Miles, who just might recognize the Izzies despite their disguises.
Book Bubbles from Bizzy, the Bossy Boots Elf
Bossy Boots of the World, Unite!
All right, people. I wrote this story for everyone out there who has ever been called "bossy." Like me. I was the oldest girl in my family, with one older brother and three younger sisters. And yes, I admit that when we were very young, I did occasionally take the lead and make pointed suggestions to my little sisters. After all, I was bigger than they were. Not. Any. More. Yes, there was that fateful day when my smallest sister suddenly looked up at me and said, "Wait! You're not my mom. I don't have to do anything you tell me to!" It was all downhill after that. My career as a Bossy Boots was pretty much over. However, as long as my mother lived, which was about fifty years longer, she would always tell people "Deedy [my nickname] is really, really bossy." So this illustrated poem, Bizzy, the Bossy Boots Elf, tells the story of Bizzy, who just might possibly have a tendency to be bossy. I hasten to add, however, that Santa Claus regards Bizzy as his "right hand man," so at least some of this was legitimate. But the Izzies don't think so. Here's what Bizzy himself says about this: “For ‘Bossy Boots Elf’ is what everyone calls me. I must say that really gets old, and it galls me.”
The Izzies are B-a-a-a-c-k!
I just took a look at the stats for the Izzy Elf Blog, It has nearly 65,000 hits, with 500 last month, despite the fact that the elves have not posted anything at all for more than two years. The elves found this out and insisted they would "start this baby up again." Here's the address: izzyelfblog.blogspot.com
A Pandemic-Created Story in Verse!
Unlike the other four Izzy Elf books that preceded this one, BIZZY, THE BOSSY BOOTS ELF takes place a whole month AFTER Christmas. Just like all the rest of us suffering through the Great Shutdown of 2020-2021, the Izzy Elves have terrible cabin (or in this case North Pole) Fever and are desperate to bust out of there. And thanks to Bizzy, that is exactly what they do!
