Author: jeannemeeks

I write mysteries. I also bike long distances, quilt, backpack, canoe, and play tennis, golf, and pickleball, Now that I've retired, I live a fun-filled life.

History on the Trail

~ jeannemeeks ~ 2 Comments

The Midewin National Tall Grass Prairie in Will County IL has thirty miles of trails and thousands of acres to explore. Yesterday, we started at the Iron Bridge trailhead to bike and explore a small portion of the rolling hills.  We stumbled across a statue honoring the civilian workers who died while making munitions for … Continue reading History on the Trail

Where Have All the Coopers Gone?

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A few years ago I watched a barrelmaker at his craft. He was young and had big dreams. I love when people work to keep old traditions alive. I was very impressed with the cooper's old-world skill but wondered how one could make a living with it. Turns out they don't. On a whim a … Continue reading Where Have All the Coopers Gone?

Foraging for Historical Facts

~ jeannemeeks ~ 4 Comments

These nasty looking things are black walnuts. (From experience, I can tell you a patch of them fallen on the bike path can be treacherous!)  Black walnut trees (Juglans nigra) are native to the Midwest. Squirrels love the nuts and have the teeth to get them open. As a closet forager, I tried to crack … Continue reading Foraging for Historical Facts

Researching Historical Fiction

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While writing my first six books, I avoided research and wrote only what I knew with the facts I could easily look up. Now I find diving into history is exciting and gives me a better sense of the people and places about which I write. Now I'm a believer. Researching for historical fiction is … Continue reading Researching Historical Fiction

Historical Fiction in Review

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The Home for Unwanted Girls My search for historical fiction set in Quebec led me to this book by Joanna Goodman. The novel I’m writing is set in a convent in France two hundred years earlier, but I thought this book would give me a feel for what life might be like for an orphan … Continue reading Historical Fiction in Review