Petticoat Ball by Shanna Hatfield

The annual Petticoat Ball is coming soon! I hope you’ll join me April 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pacific Time (11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mountain, Noon to 4 p.m. Central, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern).

Join in four hours of fun, games, giveaways and more! Even if you can’t attend the ball live, check in later to get in on the freebies and enter to win great goodies!

Those who attend will have the opportunity to interact with a dozen amazing authors!

The guest list includes:

10 a.m. Julie Lence

10:20 a.m. Melanie D. Snitker

10:40 a.m. Kristy McCaffrey

11 a.m. Kit Morgan

11:20 a.m. Caroline Lee

11:40 a.m. Danni Roan

Noon – Josie Riviera

12:20 p.m. Cindy Caldwell

12:40 p.m. Heidi Vanlandingham

1 p.m.  Kay P. Dawson

1:20 p.m.  – Kristin Holt

1:40 p.m. Zina Abbott

The Stone House

by Shanna Hatfield
 

If you mention the town of Vale, most people quickly jump to the conclusion you're talking about a place to ski in Colorado.

Although little known, there is a town in Eastern Oregon named Vale that once served a very important stop for weary travelers on the Oregon Trail.

Between 1843, when the first great wagon trains left Independence, Mo., and 1869, when the new transcontinental railroad provided a more streamlined method of transportation, emigrants journeyed west along a route that was little more than a double oxcart track. Determined pioneers traveled approximately 2,000 miles, enticed by the hope of finding rich forests, thick meadows, and open spaces where new lives could be carved from the fertile soil.

Travelers crossed the Snake River at old Fort Boise, marking the completion of about three-fourths of the journey. Oregon City was only 500 miles away. On the other side of the river, travelers set foot in what is now Oregon.

Fifteen miles ahead, they traversed a low rise and made their way downhill to the Malheur River. Natural hot springs bubbled from under Rinehart Butte. Exhausted travelers embraced the opportunity to take a warm bath and wash their clothes before continuing on their journey.

Paiutes and other tribes made their homes by the river  for centuries before the first white people arrived.

Historians report the first white men to pass through the area were French-Canadian fur trappers from the Hudson's Bay Co., between 1811 and 1814. Unable to carry all the beaver furs they had taken, they cached many of their treasures and unneeded supplies beside the river, returning the following year to collect them.  Paiutes had raided the storage cache, leading the trappers to call the place “Malheur,” French for “misfortune," or "bad <mal> hour <heur>."

Journals of the early travelers along the Oregon Trail mention the Malheur River crossing. A temporary trading post in the area was referred to in journals as early as 1853.

In 1864, Jonathan Keeney built a log house and barn near the banks of the river, offering lodging and respite. Keeney's name was eventually bestowed on the pass along the Oregon Trail six miles southeast of Vale on Lytle Boulevard (where trail ruts can still be seen today). 

Louis and Amanda Rinehart purchased Keeney's property and in 1872 built a house made of sand stone.  Over the years, the Stone House (sometimes called the Rinehart House) served as a stagecoach stop, hotel, and place of rest. In 1878, settlers seeking refuge during the Bannock-Paiute War made their way there. General O.O. Howard used the house as his field headquarters.

 The Stone House became the first permanent building in Malheur County.  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Stone House is now a museum.

Henry C. Murray, Rinehart’s brother-in-law,  leased the building for the first post office in the 1880s. Malheur Crossing (sometimes called Rinehart's Crossing) officially became known as the town of Vale.

Peter Skene Ogden, then employed by Hudson's Bay, is sometimes credited with inadvertently naming the future town when he passed through the Malheur Valley in the late 1820s.

Others claim the name was inspired by Thomas Moore's 1817 words about Indian Kashmir: “Who has not heard of the Vale of Cashmere, with its roses the brightest that earth ever gave.”

If you ever find yourself in Eastern Oregon, make time to stop by the Stone House and journey the few miles out of town to explore the wagon ruts carved from the hopes and dreams of those intent on building a new life on Oregon.

~*~

USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield writes character-driven romances with relatable heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”

      Convinced everyone deserves a happy ending, this hopeless romantic is out to make it happen, one story at a time. When she isn’t writing or indulging in chocolate (dark and decadent, please), Shanna hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.

Find Shanna’s books at:

Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | Apple

Shanna loves to hear from readers. Follow her online at:

ShannaHatfield | Facebook | Newsletter | Pinterest | Goodreads | You Tube | Twitter

Ogallala Bay Rum

by Shanna Hatfield

 
From 1870-1885 Ogallala, Nebraska, was the destination of countless cowboys driving cattle north from Texas to the railhead located in the small town.

As early as the 1830s and 1840s, Texans had driven cattle to potential markets in the east and north. After the Civil War ended, the arrival of railroads across the plains and a surplus of cattle combined to create an interesting business enterprise.

Texan cattlemen drove their rangy, sometimes hard too handle stock to the railhead in long trail drives that soon became the stuff of legend.

The first cowboys to drive cattle along the trail were known to be a wild, reckless bunch with homemade saddles and clothing.

 As the cattle business grew, cowboys took more pride in their appearance. By the early 1880s, many cowboys would spend a significant portion of his pay on his clothing, starting with custom boots and sliver spurs and ended with a  Stetson hat on his head.

Yet, out on the trail, the cowboys worked long, hard, monotonous hours. There wasn't any shortage of ways for them to die: exposure to the elements, dragged to death by a rogue animal, struck by lightening, killed by Indians, or drowning in a river.

Those who survived the journey were eager to reach the railhead in Ogallala.

Part of the year, life in Ogallala was reportedly “a dull, dreary existence in a drab, unpainted, and unpromising little village.” However, during the months when the trail herders arrived in town and local ranchers rounded up cattle, saloons burst with gamblers and soiled doves.

Filthy after months on the trail, one of the first stops for the cowboys was a barbershop for a bath, shave and haircut. After being splashed (often quite liberally) with the barber's own special mix of Bay Rum, the cowboy was ready to hit the saloon and charm the ladies.

I've often wondered about Ogallala Bay Rum - what it smelled like.  One day, I happened to see an advertisement in a catalog promoting "Genuine Ogallala Bay Rum." It took me all of five seconds to decide to order a bottle.

Made by the Genuine Ogallala Bay Rum Toiletry Co., right in Ogallala, Neb., the family-run business recreates the scent that was so popular with those cowboys. They offer soap, after shave and cologne.

Excited when my cobalt blue bottle of cologne arrived, I opened the top and inhaled the scent of clove, sage and mint. While it isn't a scent Captain Cavedweller would wear, I could see why the girls back in the legendary days of trail drives welcomed those cowboys after they paid the barber a visit.

~*~

USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield writes character-driven romances with relatable heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”

      Convinced everyone deserves a happy ending, this hopeless romantic is out to make it happen, one story at a time. When she isn’t writing or indulging in chocolate (dark and decadent, please), Shanna hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.

Find Shanna’s books at:

Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | Apple

Shanna loves to hear from readers. Follow her online at:

ShannaHatfield | Facebook | Newsletter | Pinterest | Goodreads | You Tube | Twitter

 

How To Make Butter

by Shanna Hatfield

Butter.

Such a simple thing, but so creamy and delicious and so vital to any number of recipes. Or even better, pooling on a piece of bread fresh from the oven.

For centuries it has been something that tied humans together. I can't tell you how many times I've read a book (or even written a scene) that includes someone buttering something or dropping a glob in a skillet to fry something.


The other day Captain Cavedweller asked (okay, begged) me to make fried chicken for dinner. I had everything I needed except buttermilk to give the chicken a bath before I fried it.

Rather than make the jaunt into town to the store, I decided to make my own buttermilk. Truthfully, I wanted to try my hand at making butter in my stand mixer and the by-product of the buttermilk was a convenience excuse!

Once, years ago, I tried making butter by shaking it in a jar. It took somewhere between half of forever and an eon. By the time it turned into a solid form, my arms were ready to fall right out of the sockets.

The stand mixer  is a fast, simple way to make it. You could also do this in a food processor, blender, or with a regular hand-held mixer.

Homemade Butter

1 pt. heavy cream (if you have access to fresh cream, awesome, if not, just purchase some heavy whipping cream)


Pour the cream into a mixing bowl. You want to give it plenty of  "splash" room. I set my stand mixer on medium speed and let it go for about five minutes. By this time it had turned to a heavy whipped cream. Feel free to snitch a taste at this point. I scraped the sides of the bowl and let it go for another five minutes. Again, scrape down the sides of the bowl. Return to mixing on medium speed. Continue mixing until the solids separate from the buttermilk.

The butter will be the palest, prettiest yellow!

Scoop out the butter into a double layer of cheesecloth (or a thin kitchen towel) and squeeze out any remaining buttermilk. Rinse the butter in cold water.

If you want your butter salted (who doesn't, right?), you can blend in salt to taste. The salt will also help it keep in the fridge a little longer. And it is super hard to over-salt butter, but try about 1/3 teaspoon to start.

You could also get all fancy and mix in fresh herbs for a savory butter or blend in honey and lavender.

This will yield about one cup of butter. Store covered in the refrigerator.

See, wasn't that easy?

 ~*~ 

Convinced everyone deserves a happy ending, USA Today best-selling author Shanna Hatfield is out to make it happen, one story at a time. Her sweet historical and contemporary romances combine humor and heart-pumping moments with relatable characters. When this hopeless romantic isn’t writing or indulging in rich, decadent chocolate, Shanna hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.

Find Shanna’s books at:

 Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | Apple

 

Shanna loves to hear from readers. Follow her online at:  

ShannaHatfield | Facebook | Newsletter | Pinterest | Goodreads | You Tube | Twitter

Prohibition in Pendleton

by Shanna Hatfield

The latest installment in my Pendleton Petticoats series releases this week. In the story, Millie Matlock is leading the local Women's Christian Temperance Union to drive the saloons out of town. Gideon McBride is a saloon owner who also happens to be the one man who turns Millie's head.

 The story is set in 1908, when the citizens of Pendleton, Oregon (along with the rest of the county) voted to go "dry" and bring prohibition to the area.

As I started digging into the research, I couldn't help but question why a town that boasted more than thirty saloons and nearly 18 bordellos would suddenly decide to go dry.

In truth, I never found the exact reason why prohibition became an issue. Although Pendleton had a population of 4,406 and was the fourth-largest city in Oregon in 1900, it  catered to the surrounding communities as an "entertainment hub." Cowboys, wheat harvesters, sheepherders, railroad workers, miners, and crews of men who descended on the town to work could find quite an assortment of places to drink, play cards and visit soiled doves.

In late spring of 1908, articles began popping up in the newspaper about the possibility of prohibition. A special voter’s edition of the Pendleton newspaper was published May 22, 1908. It urged voters to consider the financial impact prohibition would have on the town. 

According to the article, the city would lose more than $23,000 in liquor licenses alone if prohibition came to town. With rent, salaries, and other expenses, it was estimated the abolition of liquor business would leave a deficit of approximately $270,000 (around $6.6 million in today's economy). Not only would prohibition create a significant loss of income, it would leave thirty businesses empty and a few hundred people seeking a new means of support.

When ballots were cast in the June 1 election, prohibition passed in Umatilla County, but also in three neighboring counties as well.

The saloon owners had until June 30 to close their businesses. According to newspaper articles, the saloons went out of business without much fanfare on June 30, 1908 (several closing at midnight) and only one man was arrested that night.

A group of saloon owners did their best to have the vote declared illegal, citing an improper navigation of voting protocols. Other than running up attorney's fees, nothing came of their efforts.

Although Pendleton went "dry," twelve saloons were allowed to retain their liquor licenses and remain in business. The how and why those twelve were given special treatment is lost to history.

In years between then and the time when prohibition officially ended across the nation in 1933, many underground drinking rooms and escape tunnels popped up throughout Pendleton.

~*~

He watched as Millie sipped her hot chocolate. As soon as she lowered the cup from her mouth, he took it from her, placing his lips in the exact spot hers had been. While he tasted the rapidly cooling drink, he stared at her over the rim of the cup. His green eyes locked on hers as he handed the cup back to her. “That’s not bad, but I like a pinch of cinnamon and a dollop of whipped cream in mine.”

In a huff, she scowled at him. “I don’t recall offering to share my chocolate with you.”

“Oh, what’s one little sip between friends, Miss Matlock?” Gideon laid on his charm, smiling in such a way it did great justice to the dimples in his cheeks. Ever so slightly, he bent closer to her and lowered his voice. “Any time you like, I’d be more than happy to make you libations far more tempting than you could imagine.”

The timbre in his voice as he said “libations” nearly made Millie drop the cup in her hand. Not completely certain they were talking about beverages, her heart skittered in her chest.

Unsettled, her gaze shot to his, yet he continued to smile in an amiable, almost boyish manner, appearing innocent of any indecent implications.

Millie - Pendleton Petticoats Book 7

~*~

Convinced everyone deserves a happy ending, USA Today best-selling author Shanna Hatfield is out to make it happen, one story at a time. Her sweet historical and contemporary romances combine humor and heart-pumping moments with relatable characters. When this hopeless romantic isn’t writing or indulging in rich, decadent chocolate, Shanna hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.

Find Shanna’s books at:

 Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | Apple

Shanna loves to hear from readers. Follow her online at:  

ShannaHatfield | Facebook | Newsletter | Pinterest | Goodreads | You Tube | Twitter

Old West Handcuffs

by Shanna Hatfield

In my new sweet historical western romance releasing next week, I have an easy-going sheriff as the hero.

When I was developing the idea for the story, I decided it would be fun for the one person who drives the sheriff crazy to be a prim and proper woman who arrives in town quite unexpectedly.  Of course, he does his best to antagonize her and she goes out of her way to snub him.

Eventually, he ends up arresting her (twice) and hauls her off to jail. In fact, the cover of the book shows her standing outside the jail with cuffs around the wrists.

Since I couldn't find any models wearing an 1890s outfit with cuffs on their wrist, I ordered a pair of reproduction cuffs and had Captain Cavedweller snap a photo of  them on my wrists.

I am here to tell you from first-hand experience these things are heavy (really heavy), incredibly uncomfortable, and aren't the easiest things to get on or off.

It made me wonder about the history of handcuffs. According to information I found, the first recorded mention of handcuffs was in Virgil's telling of  the myth of Proteus, an ancient Greek shape-shifting god. The son of Apollo discovered the secret to preventing Proteus from shape shifting and escaping was with handcuffs.

The Bronze and Iron ages ushered in the first metal handcuffs, which were “one size fits all” for centuries. The inability to adjust the handcuffs brought with it any number of problems. If a suspect's wrists were too large, the cuffs were painful (and they hurt bad enough when they aren't too small) or wouldn't close. If the suspect's wrists were too small, they could slip right out of them.

In 1862, a man named W.V. Adams patented the first adjustable ratchet design. Orson C. Phelps followed with a patent that improved upon the original ratchet design.

John Tower used their patents to manufacture what were the industry standard from the mid-1800s right up until World War II.  Tower Handcuffs introduced the first double-locking cuff design in 1879.

George Carney invented the first swing cuff handcuffs  in 1912, similar in design to the handcuffs used today.  The revolutionary design made it possible for a law enforcement officer to quickly secure the cuffs with just one hand, vastly improving security and ease of use.

 Corsets and Cuffs releases May 12 and it is currently available for pre-orders.
Here's a little excerpt:

~*~

Her jaw dropped open as she gaped at him. “This is ridiculous. Remove these cuffs and release me, this instant.”

“Not happening, your highness.”  He swung open the door to the jail and escorted her through the office back to the cells. No one else was in the building, something for which Brianna was grateful. Mortified to be manhandled in such a manner on the way to the jail, she certainly didn’t need any spectators to her unexpected imprisonment.

Tully marched her into a cell then removed the cuffs. A smile played around the corners of his mouth as he slammed the door and turned a key in the lock. “You’re under arrest.”

Furious, she spluttered in protest. “For what? I have done nothing more than demand you carry out the responsibilities of the job the good citizens of this town entrusted into your care. You have no right…”

Tully took a step back as she grabbed hold of the cell bars and rattled them. He smirked. “You are under arrest for assaulting an officer of the law.”

Defiant and insulted, she lifted her chin. “You deserved the slap after that impudent comment.”

Tully ignored her and continued. “You’re under arrest for assaulting an officer of the law, being a public nuisance, harassment, and disorderly conduct.”

Incensed, she rattled the bars again. “I did no such thing, and you know it. This is an outrage. You, sir, are a bully and a beast! I demand an immediate release. Wait until your superiors hear about this. I’ll have you removed from your position. In fact, I won’t stop until the governor of this state has you tossed in prison!”

“Good luck with that, sweetheart.” Tully stalked over to the door, leading to the jail’s office, his gaze hard and penetrating. “Your time might be better spent reflecting on how you ended up in here, Miss Smarty Britches.”

~*~

Convinced everyone deserves a happy ending, USA Today best-selling author Shanna Hatfield is out to make it happen, one story at a time. Her sweet historical and contemporary romances combine humor and heart-pumping moments with relatable characters. When this hopeless romantic isn’t writing or indulging in rich, decadent chocolate, Shanna hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.

Find Shanna’s books at:

 Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | Apple

Shanna loves to hear from readers. Follow her online at:  

ShannaHatfield | Facebook | Newsletter | Pinterest | Goodreads | You Tube | Twitter

Crazy Mules, Lunatic Chickens and Love

by Shanna Hatfield

I love creating characters for my stories, and sometimes I have the most fun creating non-human characters.

My latest sweet historical western romance features plenty of odd animals. 

There's a loony chicken out for blood named Napoleon. A crazy mule named Steve think he's a dog. And then there's a beautiful horse named Mud.

Bertie, the long-awaited sixth book in the Pendleton Petticoats series, releases Thursday, April 7!

She needs an adventure —  

He needs the warmth of her smile… 

 Bertie Hawkins survived a traumatic ordeal that stripped away her sunny outlook on life and left her afraid of every shadow. Terrorized and tired of reliving the past, she accepts an offer to change her situation. Although she only intends to work through the summer, the peace she finds at Nash’s Folly keeps her there every bit as much as her interest in a mysterious new ranch hand.

Desperate to escape his memories, Riley Walsh buys a run-down farm in Pendleton, Oregon. To pay for the many necessary repairs, he goes to work for his neighbor, never intending to fall in love with the effervescent girl who helps around the house.

Riley isn’t the only one enchanted with Bertie. His own crazy mule and the neighbor’s son both share his infatuation, driving him past the brink of jealousy.

A sweet romance that embraces the trials and triumphs of yesteryear, Bertie blends laugh-out-loud adventures with heartwarming moments.

Order your copy today on Amazon — http://amzn.to/1LbOdJV

 

Aundy, Book 1 in the Pendleton Petticoats series, will be available for free Kindle downloads April 7.

Make sure you grab your copy!

 Desperate to better her situation, Aundy Thorsen agrees to leave behind her life in Chicago to fulfill a farmer’s request for a mail-order bride in Pendleton, Oregon. When a tragic accident leaves her a widow soon after becoming a wife, Aundy takes on the challenge of learning how to manage a farm, even if it means her stubborn determination to succeed upsets a few of the neighbors.

Born and raised at Nash's Folly, the family ranch, Garrett Nash loves life in the bustling community of Pendleton as the 20th century approaches. When his neighbor passes away and leaves behind a plucky widow, Garrett takes on the role of her protector and guardian. His admiration for her tenacious spirit soon turns to something more. He just needs to convince the strong-willed woman to give love another chance. 

 

If you haven't met the characters from Pendleton Petticoats, here's a brief introduction:  

Aundy (Book 1) - One stubborn mail-order bride finds the courage to carry on when she's widowed before ever truly becoming a wife, but opening her heart to love again may be more than she can bear.

 Caterina (Book 2) - Frantic to escape a man intent on marrying her, Caterina starts a new life in Pendleton, completely unprepared for the passionate feelings stirred by the town's deputy sheriff.

 Ilsa (Book 3) - Tired of relying on others to guide and protect her, Ilsa finally finds the strength and courage to take control of her life. Unfortunately, her independence drives a wedge between her and the man she's come to love.

 Marnie (Book 4) - After giving up on her dreams for a future, Marnie finds her hope rekindled by one caring, compassionate man and the orphans who need her.

 Lacy (Book 5) – Bound by tradition and responsibilities, Lacy has to choose between the ties that bind her to the past and the unexpected love that will carry her into the future.

Dust off your dancing shoes and choose your formal attire for the Petticoat Ball Party on Facebook April 7, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (Pacific Time) Giveaways and games will make for a splendid event as we celebrate the release of Bertie and cover reveals for two new historical romances!

Invite your friends to the party, and you could win a $25 Amazon Gift card. Go to the Petticoat Ball Party page, click on the "invite" button, invite your friends, then post how many you invited. One randomly drawn person will win! The winner will be announced prior to the start of the party April 7! http://tinyurl.com/petticoatball2

 

   

To enter the drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card, autographed books, digital books, an adorable apron, a tote bag, vintage picture frame, old-fashioned candy and more, fill out this form. 

http://tinyurl/petticoatball2form

Here's a little excerpt from Bertie:

~*~

“I, um…” Bertie stopped a few feet away and scuffed the toe of her shoe in the dirt, stirring up little puffs of dust. “I owe you an apology, Mr. Walsh.”

   Riley stopped fussing with Mud’s saddle and turned to stare at Bertie. “For what?”

   “It was completely inappropriate for me to throw eggs at you yesterday. In addition, I failed to thank you for coming to my rescue. Left to my own defenses, I might still be sitting in the pen, surrounded by demented chickens intent on inflicting harm.”

   He chuckled and shook his head. “I think you would have been just fine without my help.” His eyes trailed over her from head to toe then settled on her face. “I’m sorry I laughed, Miss Hawkins. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”

   Bertie didn’t know what to say to his sincere apology. She could tell it was earnest by the humble look on his face and the kindness in his eyes. “You’re forgiven, this time.” Bertie smiled and held out a square of fabric to him. “Unless I’m mistaken, this belongs to you.”

   As he took his neckerchief from her hand, his fingers brushed across her open palm. They both drew in a startled breath at the jolt the touch created. Bertie raised her gaze to his. Her eyes were wide and luminous as surprise and something Riley refused to acknowledge shined in their depths.

   Hastily, he stuffed the square into his pocket and nodded his head. “Thank you for returning it. Did you find the flowers?”

   “I did. Daisies are my favorite.” Bertie took a step back, too aware of her interest in Riley Walsh. Too unsettled by what his handsome features and resonant voice did to her sensibilities. Around him, she felt like a tongue-tied ninny. Yet, at the same time, her thoughts lingered on how much she’d like to be held in his arms, taste his kisses. It was positively… indecent how frequently he’d invaded her thoughts in the last week.

   

Convinced everyone deserves a happy ending, USA Today best-selling author Shanna Hatfield is out to make it happen, one story at a time. Her sweet historical and contemporary romances combine humor and heart-pumping moments with relatable characters. When this hopeless romantic isn’t writing or indulging in rich, decadent chocolate, Shanna hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.

Find Shanna’s books at:

 Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | Apple

Shanna loves to hear from readers. Follow her online at:  

ShannaHatfield | Facebook | Newsletter | Pinterest | Goodreads | You Tube | Twitter