When trying to imagine the experiences of dead and imaginary individuals from times long past, reference books can go only so far.  I have to get off the academic bus and strike out into my own malpais of memories.             That isn’t as far fetched as it...

“Irreverence is the champion of liberty and its only sure defense.” Mark Twain  (1835-1910) American history is taught in our schools.  Historical sound bites are repeated on Washington’s birthday, Lincoln’s birthday, the Fourth of July, and Thanksgiving. Like most...

  Thanks to Vivian Waters for taking this photo at the National Military Cemetery at the Presidio outside of San Francisco.  Sarah Bowman is honored there for her courage under fire at the Battle of Ft. Brown in March of 1846, and for her bravery in caring for the...

            My guy, Brian, knew what to buy for a girl.  While I was writing The Tokaido Road he did some research of his own, and found Mr. Kiyota’s martial arts store on Charles Street in Baltimore.   http://www.kiyotacompany.com/  For Christmas that year this...

            Several years ago I decided to stop at the McDonald’s in the Annapolis  district called Parole (a name which, given the resulting Devilish plot line, is a coincidence in itself).  As I was savoring the egg-and-cheese McMuffin, two guys got into an argument...

This is/was my grandmother, born 1894, died 1974.  While researching Tiana Rogers’ story for Walk in My Soul, I learned that among the Cherokee people, “Grandmother” was a respectful way to address a woman.  They even referred to the sun as "Grandmother."  In one of...