Tag Archives: Historical Fiction

Ian’s Outstanding Book Report

Ian is eleven years old, and this spring he completed the fifth grade at Running Springs Elementary School in Anaheim, California. Ian’s teacher gave his class an assignment to prepare a book report on a historical novel. Ian chose Eagle Talons, The … Continue reading

Posted in Book Review, Eagle Talons - Book One, Iron Horse Chronicles' Characters, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Transcontinental Railroad | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Steam Locomotive’s Tender

A steam locomotive could not operate without its tender. In recent posts I have written about how the locomotive works, but the engine must have fuel and water to produce the steam. The tender is the car that is hooked immediately behind … Continue reading

Posted in Central Pacific, Eagle Talons - Book One, Iron Horse Chronicles' Characters, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Transcontinental Railroad, Union Pacific | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Golden Spike Anniversary

May 10, 2015, is the one hundred forty-sixth anniversary of the driving of the golden spike at Promontory Summit, Utah, commemorating the completion of the first transcontinental railroad. This event signified the joining of the west coast to the east coast of the United … Continue reading

Posted in Bear Claws - Book Two, Central Pacific, Eagle Talons - Book One, Geography, Golden Spike - Book Three, Indians, Iron Horse Chronicles' Characters, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Transcontinental Railroad, Union Pacific | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Beauty of 4-4-0 Locomotives

The 4-4-0 locomotive was a thing of beauty that is hard to appreciate from photography of the mid-nineteenth century. Color photography did not exist during the heyday of the locomotive that “built” the first transcontinental railroad. One of the most famous … Continue reading

Posted in Eagle Talons - Book One, Golden Spike - Book Three, Iron Horse Chronicles' Characters, Museums and Parks, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Transcontinental Railroad, Union Pacific | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Bullhead City Book Signing Successful

On Tuesday, April 7, 2015, I held a successful book signing for Eagle Talons, The Iron Horse Chronicles–Book One, at the Hastings book store in Bullhead City, Arizona. My wife, Barbara, and I had gone to Laughlin, Nevada, for a short vacation, and … Continue reading

Posted in Bear Claws - Book Two, Book Signing, Eagle Talons - Book One, Iron Horse Chronicles' Characters, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Transcontinental Railroad, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Paseo Verde Library Book Signing Successful

The Paseo Verde Library’s book signing event in Henderson, Nevada, on Saturday, March 28, 2015, was successful. Because of the large number of local authors, and the relatively small size of the library, it was necessary to divide the signings into … Continue reading

Posted in Bear Claws - Book Two, Book Signing, Eagle Talons - Book One, The Iron Horse Chronicles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bear Claws Cover Released

[media-credit name=”ENC Graphic Services” align=”alignleft” width=”194″][/media-credit] The cover art for Bear Claws, The Iron Horse Chronicles–Book Two, has been released by ENC Graphic Services and Five Star Publishing. The cover conveys the power and intensity of the adventures facing fifteen-year-old Will Braddock as the … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Bear Claws - Book Two, Geography, Indians, Iron Horse Chronicles' Characters, Stagecoaches, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Transcontinental Railroad | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

SCBWI Writers Workshop with Suzanne Morgan Williams

The Las Vegas, Nevada, contingent of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators sponsored a Writers Workshop conducted by award-winning author Suzanne Morgan Williams on March 7, 2015. Suzanne is the author of the middle grade novel, Bull Rider, published by … Continue reading

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Barnes & Noble Book Signing for Eagle Talons Successful

The Barnes & Noble book signing for Eagle Talons, The Iron Horse Chronicles–Book One, in Henderson, Nevada, on Saturday, February 28, 2015, was successful. I especially thank those of you who purchased the book and had me autograph it for … Continue reading

Posted in Bear Claws - Book Two, Eagle Talons - Book One, Iron Horse Chronicles' Characters, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Transcontinental Railroad | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Will Braddock’s Hat

[media-credit name=”Miller Hats” align=”alignleft” width=”228″][/media-credit] Will Braddock leaves Burlington, Iowa, wearing his father’s old Army slouch hat when he embarks upon his quest to determine his own destiny in Eagle Talons, The Iron Horse Chronicles–Book One. In Chapter 1, I describe … Continue reading

Posted in Army, Eagle Talons - Book One, Iron Horse Chronicles' Characters, The Iron Horse Chronicles, Transcontinental Railroad, Union Pacific | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments