I was blessed to be born and raised in Michigan. My family
has been here for generations. My grandfather owned a cabin “Up North” as we
called it, and my great-uncle owned one in the “U.P.” or Upper Peninsula. Fishing,
hunting, swimming, and just walking through acres of forest was a pretty good
way to grow up.
When asked to be included in this wonderful collection of Colonial American stories, it was an easy pick to set Her Redcoat at the Straits of Mackinac, where Lakes Michigan and Huron meet. It’s an area rich in history. Many people mistakenly think that Colonial America was just the northeast states, but Sault Ste. Marie was established in 1668, St. Ignace in 1671, and Marquette in 1675. By comparison, Philadelphia wasn’t established until 1682. Michigan—before it was Michigan—was a busy place for the French fur traders.
Her Redcoat was inspired by an Indian uprising and attack that took place after the French and Indian War.
When asked to be included in this wonderful collection of Colonial American stories, it was an easy pick to set Her Redcoat at the Straits of Mackinac, where Lakes Michigan and Huron meet. It’s an area rich in history. Many people mistakenly think that Colonial America was just the northeast states, but Sault Ste. Marie was established in 1668, St. Ignace in 1671, and Marquette in 1675. By comparison, Philadelphia wasn’t established until 1682. Michigan—before it was Michigan—was a busy place for the French fur traders.
Her Redcoat was inspired by an Indian uprising and attack that took place after the French and Indian War.
To celebrate the release of The Backcountry Brides Collection,
including my story, Her Redcoat, I’m
giving away one of my signature shawls. Today the area around Fort
Michilimackinac is known for its beautiful lilacs. One subscriber to my
newsletter will win Northern Lilacs, my handspun, handknit wool shawl on May
31, 2018. Subscribe today
to be entered!
Pegg Thomas lives on a hobby farm in Northern Michigan
with Michael, her husband of *mumble* years. A life-long history geek, she
writes “History with a Touch of Humor.” When
not working or writing, Pegg can be found in her barn, her garden, her kitchen,
or sitting at her spinning wheel creating yarn to turn into her signature wool
shawls.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thank you for letting me talk about my story in this collection today!
ReplyDeleteYou are so welcome. I'm just fascinated with the backstory here. I've always loved Great Lakes history as it was the highway to the interior of a continent fought over by three nations. And, as usual, I'm drooling over this shawl. The lovelies combination of colors ever!
Deleteoh my.
Afternoon Debra and Pegg!
ReplyDeleteI loved your post Pegg and all the little extra information on your family background. I really enjoyed your novella, Her Redcoat, in this wonderful collection. Your shawls are beautiful and I would really like to win one...hint, hint. ;-)
Blessings, Tina
Thanks so much for stopping by, Tina. I appreciate it!
DeleteThank you, Tina! I hope you DO win one!
DeleteWelcome to the blog, Pegg.
ReplyDeleteI was born a few hours to the northwest of the Soo in Geraldton, Ontario. My American step-mom spends a lot of her summers in Michigan. She wants me to set a story in the area during the War of 1812 period. I wonder if anyone has done a similar collection yet? It's encouraging to hear you've used this area as a Colonial in a Barbour collection.
Congrats, Deb and Pegg. I'm excited to read all of the stories in this new collection.
I've had a War of 1812 novel set around Mackinac percolating on the back burner for a while now. This area is RICH in history! Hubby and I plan to return to the Soo - American side - when he retires in a few years. Can't wait! Love it there.
DeleteI have a War of 1812 novel written and two plotted. It's such a fascinating era in my opinion, but Canadians are much more aware of it, right, Anita?
DeleteAre we? Well, I think of it every time I eat a Laura Secord chocolate. :D
DeleteHaha. At least in my experience the War of 1812 events are highly attended in Canada (around Lake Ontario) while many U.S.ofA'ers couldn't tell you a thing about it!
DeleteI love getting to know the authors in this collection! So nice to get to know Pegg. Gorgeous shawl! Wow! What skill!
ReplyDelete