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Our young fans, particularly of the Samurai Detective Novels, have done some amazing videos (see this, this, and this for some examples — and of course the Lego stop motion version!) as they do virtual book reports and trailers for the book. Please upload your version to our Guest Book — we love to see these!!
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Are You Prepared for the Storm of Lovemaking
Releasing from Simon and Schuster 6-Feb-2024, Are You Prepared for the Storm of Lovemaking?
Carrie Phillips was born on September 22, 1873. She and her husband lived in Marion, Ohio and were good friends with Warren G. Harding long before he became president. In fact, Carrie became one of Warren’s many lovers, a relationship that continued for years. Warren had written passionate letters to her and she did not follow his instructions to burn them. Thus, when he was nominated for president, she threatened to make them public. Friends of Warren, who knew of the situation, paid for Carrie and her husband (who knew of the affair) to go on a round-the-world trip until the election was over. Somehow copies of the letters were saved, and in 2014 were released by the Library of Congress. ![]()
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For a much longer account of the story, see; kevinterralbrewer.com/harding-phillips/![]()
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Image from: www.mistressestheplay.com/carrie-fulton-phillips
Elizabeth Kortright Monroe, wife of the fifth president of the United States, James Monroe, married him when he was 27 and she was 17. Before her husband became president, in 1794 he went to France as an ambassador, taking his wife along. The French Revolution was going on then, but the French regarded the U.S, as a friendly nation. However, the wife of the French Marquis de Lafayette was in jail (her husband was a nobleman and had already left the country). It seemed likely she would be executed by guillotine. Hearing of Madame de Lafayette’s plight, Elizabeth took her husband’s carriage, which bore the seal of the United States, and asked to see Madame de Lafayette in jail. Soon after, the French lady was set free. The French looked favorably on this attempt to help another woman, and Elizabeth was called "la belle Americaine," during her visit. ![]()
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Image: C.M. Bell, photographer. Brewer, Mrs. E. [between February and December 1903] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2016699697/>. (Daguerrotype of Elizabeth Kortright Monroe)
A belated Happy Birthday (it was actually on September 15, 1857) to future president William Howard Taft. His wife, as a young girl, had visited the White House, and she always wanted to return, as First Lady. Taft, on the other hand, preferred the practice of law and his ambition was to be appointed to the Supreme Court, Both of them got their wish, and Taft is the only person to occupy the presidency and the Chief Justice’s chair.![]()
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Image: William Howard Taft and family. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2003654858/>.
Yesterday (August 28, 1831) is the birthday of Lucy Webb Hayes, wife of Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th president of the United States. Lucy was the first First Lady to have a college degree, though she was not an advocate of votes for women. She was, however, opposed to the use of alcohol, and was referred to as "Lemonade Lucy," even though it was her husband who banned alcoholic drinks in the White House. She was quite progressive and forward thinking — the first First Lady to install a telephone and running water in the White House, to visit the West Coast, and she sponsored the daughter of her Black cook to get a college education.![]()
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Image source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_Webb_Hayes#/media/File:Lhayes.jpeg
We are so thrilled to announce that we’ll be speaking at the inaugural Jackson Hole Book Festival on Saturday, October 26. We’ll be in conversation with best-selling author Derek Leebaert in the afternoon. If you’re in the area, please come see us (and a host of other talented writers) speak! More details at their website ![]()
jacksonholebookfestival.org/