Tattered Cover – the author’s friend

In the Denver area, we are fortunate to enjoy the services of the Tattered Cover. It is not only a remarkable independent bookstore, but is easily one of the finest bookstores in the United States. Speaking at the Tattered Cover when a book is published is an honored passage relished by authors near and far from all levels of experience. When you present at the Tattered Cover, you are treated like literary royalty as you are asked to sign one of their volumes of ledgers, a treasured collection of author signatures over the years, and then sign your own books for those purchasing them and awaiting the magical personalized touch of your signature.

Last weekend, I attended my friend Linda Wommack’s presentation regarding her latest book, Colorado’s Landmark Hotels, published by Filter Press. It is a wonderful collection about majestic Colorado hotels which have endured over the years, allowing visitors enjoyment of the past and the nostalgic atmosphere they maintain. Accompanying the book is a music CD by Jon Chandler, a talented country singer of ballads with historic themes, which is icing on the cake of this beautiful book. I’ve visited many of the listed hotels during my years living in Colorado, and I have already made a reservation to check into another one during my presentation schedule this summer.

When asked how the project came about, Linda said this:

Who doesn’t love a Victorian hotel?

That was sort of the starting point of point as I began my research for “Colorado’s Landmark Hotels.” So much of my early reading included hotels that had been destroyed or demolished for one reason or another. I wanted this book to include hotels that were open to the public so that I could tell their story, hopefully in a way that the reader would like to visit these historic treasures. In further research, I learned there are only 30 hotels in the state that have either State or National Historic Preservation status.   

From the tiny four room Creede Hotel to the five-star Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, each hotel has it’s own character, charm, and yes, history. I hope people will enjoy the book as much as I enjoyed the research and writing. And maybe they will have a hotel road trip in their future!

~Linda Wommack
lindawommack.com
http://www.filterpressbooks.com

Thank you, Linda, for providing this wonderful and fun resource!
Joyce Lohse, http://www.LohseWorks.com

 

Scenic Views from a Desk Chair

When I was young, one of my favorite toys was a ViewMaster. When you held the device up to your face and looked into the eye holes, a vast array of scenic views in a quasi-3D format unfolded. This was my first exposure to treasures such as the Grand Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns, Garden of the Gods, and Old Faithful Geyser. As I pressed the lever down, the reels transferred the beautiful images before my eyes, around and around, again and again. Little did I know that I would leave the Midwest as a young adult, and would live near these scenic areas in the Western United States during my entire adult life. To this day, I keep a ViewMaster and a few reels in my desk drawer. Since my son was more attached to his GameBoy, I felt no qualms about repossessing as my own the magical viewing device we must have given to him on a birthday or Christmas.

Cave Without A Name

I had not indulged in a peek at these secret treasures in some time, so I recently gave it a whirl. There they were, the same scenes I relished as a youngster. I’ve visited most of these places by now, or at least something like them. For instance, I’ve never been to Carlsbad Caverns, but I’ve seen Cave of the Winds in Colorado Springs, and Cave Without A Name near Boerne, Texas. The scenes there were equally as thrilling and possibly more adventurous due to their remote locations. I never cease to relish the views of the West and to appreciate the many ways to enjoy the land and its illustrious history. When time and money are sparse, or I’m feeling confined to my desk chair, I can always rely on the trusty ViewMaster to lift my soul with the beauty and wonder of the most scenic places in our country, and beyond, at least for a while.

Joyce Lohse, http://www.LohseWorks.com

 

A World’s Fair in a Contemporary Context

When I saw a copy of Colorado Goes to the Fair for sale recently at a library used book sale, I jumped on it. It’s subject, the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893, was certainly focused and specific. The event was a huge cultural phenomenon attended by people from all walks of life and from all over the country, and the world. Although Colorado was spiraling into a deep, dark recession due to a silver crash when the U.S. government chose gold over silver as the foundation for American currency, many people still overcame the expense and hardship of travel to attend this sprawling worlds fair. It was an experience not to be missed.

Beyond that, this topic continually pops into my consciousness and onto my radar, and from the strangest places. A family friend gave us beautifully framed lithographs of scenes from the historic fair as a wedding present many, many years ago. At the time, I had no knowledge of it. My understanding increased considerably when I researched my book, First Governor, First Lady: John and Eliza Routt of Colorado. The Routts, like me, were from Illinois. They jumped at the opportunity to return to Illinois in 1893 to attend the fair. Colorado’s first couple were honored guests during opening ceremonies. Also, Eliza Routt’s committee commissioned a famous statue, The End of an Era, which was unveiled at the fair, before it was placed permanently on the east lawn of Colorado’s capitol building to honor Native Americans.

As a Buffalo Bill Wild West researcher, I was interested to learn that William Cody’s show was not allowed within the grounds of the world’s fair. No problem. He set up camp and his tents outside the boundary, and did a splendid business on his own. With so many references to the fair, I take notice whenever it comes up now. Who can overlook the chilling book, Devil In the White City, a real page turner about shocking crimes during the fair. My dad gave me a gavel made from the floor of Libby Prison, a confederate prisoner of war camp in the Civil War. This souvenir was purchased by my civil war veteran great-grandfather John B. Innes, who was visiting the world’s fair in 1893. The reconstructed Libby Prison museum in Chicago was a popular enticement to veterans.

The largest and most compelling attraction of the Columbian Exposition, which was named to honor the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the New World, was the Ferris Wheel. It was the largest one constructed at the time, and was built to surpass the splendor of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. When I was in Chicago with my family last summer, we enjoyed the magnificent huge Ferris Wheel on Navy Pier, a nod to the history of the Ferris Wheel in Chicago, beginning with its grandiose appearance at the 1893 World’s Fair.

The Ferris Wheel pulls the whole World’s Fair together for me. It brings a historic experience to life in a setting contemporary to many of my biographical characters, and carries over to modern times. After all, the World’s Fair provided a setting enjoyed and shared by people of many backgrounds. It brought understanding of the life and times contemporary to historic characters to something they and we could understand, while they contemplated glimpses of their future at the exhibits. The Ferris Wheel certainly provides a fun way to reach back and touch history, and there is a heck of a view from the top!

Joyce B. Lohse, http://www.LohseWorks.com

 

Girls Who Wear Pearls

Mom always said, “A girl should never be without pearls.” Mom was right. Pearls are grounded and classic, a reminder of a girl’s dignity and gender. Nobody knew this better than Dickey Chapelle, a pioneer female photojournalist and war correspondent who followed the troops into war zones, foxholes, and front lines during WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. You never saw Dickey without her trademark Leica camera, and wearing her everpresent anti-combat-ready pearl stud earrings.

Several years ago, I stumbled across a documentary about Dickey Chapelle while flipping through the TV channels in a motel room. Totally enchanted by her story, I jumped on Amazon.com and found a biography about her, Fire in the Wind: The Life of Dickey Chapelle, a great read by Roberta Ostroff. As a biographer myself, I was impressed by this seriously researched and well-crafted life story of a fascinating character and female pioneer journalist. After Dickey fought her way into military war zones before women did that sort of thing, she exercised her craft with precision and compassion. When she was captured and imprisoned during the Hungarian revolution, she dealt with it. Dickey was no angel, but she was courageous and dedicated, and would do just about anything for a story. She met her end in 1965, the first war correspondent killed in Viet Nam, when she stepped on a land mine. At age 46, she was also the first American woman reporter killed in action.

During Women’s History Month in March, I am wearing pearl stud earrings in honor of Dickey Chapelle. The truth is that I wear them often anyway. They go with everything, and after all, Mom said that is the way to go. My camera is a Panasonic Lumix … no surprise that it has a Leica lens.

Happy Women’s History Month! — Joyce
http://www.LohseWorks.com

 

What Happens in the Salon …

Midway through February, I will revisit the Denver Woman’s Press Club for some more historic journalism magic. My second visit within a month is part of their salon series. The program is entitled, Almost Famous: Crafting Characters from Colorado’s Past, which will feature myself and fellow DWPC journalist, Kimberly Field. In this program we will discuss several aspects of crafting characters from historical data into biographies. One of the inspirations for the program is my biography, First Governor, First Lady: John and Eliza Routt of Colorado. It is the story of Colorado’s first elected governor and his wife, the first woman registered to vote in Colorado, who happens to be my first cousin, a few generations back.

Before this program came up, I was not especially familiar with the concept of a salon and what it means. I knew that at the beginning of the Twentieth Century there was a cluster of artists and writers living on the Parisian Left Bank, encouraging one another, feeding off of their respective talents, and repeatedly toasting their good fortune. A ring leader of these talented folks was an eccentric writer named Gertrude Stein. Whether she was brilliant, or simply good at positioning herself as such, is not clear, but as her influence increased while her writing gained in importance and popularity, she hosted salons, a series of casual gatherings in her parlor for her talented friends. It was an affirmation of a person’s artistic talent and status in creative circles to be included in Stein’s salons, where abstract ideas and conversation flowed, lubricated by liquid attractions.

When I was invited to host a DWPC salon, joined by respected journalist Kimberly Field, I jumped at the chance. What an honor to share my craft with my peers while enjoying the ambiance of a lovely, historic setting. This should be a really special event. RSVP to DWPC (www.dwpconline.org) for the Almost Famous salon on Sunday, February 17 from 3-5 p.m. Otherwise, to learn more about salons, rent or borrow the movie, Midnight In Paris, starring Owen Wilson, produced by Woody Allen. It is extremely entertaining and a must see for those who are passionate about writing.

Au revoir! A bientot!
Joyce Lohse – http://www.LohseWorks.com

 

The Walls Inspire

Denver Woman’s Press Club

For the life of me, I can’t figure out how a building can lend so much inspiration and ambiance to a program. This was the case this past weekend when Filter Press publisher Doris Baker and I presented our program at the Denver Woman’s Press Club in Denver. The topic, Kid Lit: Tools, Trends, and Markets, was challenging and could have taken off down any number of paths. As it was, it became a magical mix of history oozing from the historic little structure surrounded by high-rise office buildings a block from the state’s capitol, and the lively conversation among professional writers who came to learn and share. Our talk went overtime, but nobody seemed to care.

Like a rich dessert, the topic of trends was saved for last. Everybody wants to hear about them, although by nature, they are here today and gone tomorrow. Doris and I referred heavily on a list of “Top 10 Trends in Children’s Books for 2013″ from David Allender and the editors at Scholastic Books. In a nutshell, here they are:

1. Bullying - every child will face or witness the effects of bullying at some point in their lives. I pointed out that author James Howe has switched from writing about talking animals in his YA (Young Adult) Bunnicula series to his latest title about bullying called The Misfits. As a successful author, he obviously saw a need and filled it.
2. Science Fiction - Dystopia (yes, I looked it up) is a make-believe place or situation, wherein the state of living is very bad, because of scarcity, tyranny and terrorism. This topic remains timely with an updated raw new edge to it. I pointed out the continued popularity of an old standard, Madelaine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle In Time.
3. Intriguing Nonfiction - Biographies (yesssss!!) have always been a kids’ staple, and more are on the way. It was an easy slam dunk to mention the value of “Now You Know Bios” from Filter Press at this point.
4. Novels-in-Cartoons – Graphic novels are booming. I was skeptical, but was assured there are some really fine works out there in this genre. I quoted a January 6 Denver Post article that said basically the same thing.
5. Kid Lit on the Screen - We all know that name recognition can make book sales skyrocket when the story reaches the big screen. Harry Potter, Twilight, and Hunger Games are all the rage. There are bound to be more.
6. War – An ever-timely topic, this one has been evident with attention to the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.
7. Tough Girls – Who can resist girls with bows and arrows after the Hunger Games hit the screen. More powerful female characters will appear, although I personally hope some of them show up in biographies.
8. Survival Stories – These topics continue in popularity. Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet is still popular.
9. Spotlight on Diversity – Kids want to see themselves in the novels they read, and publishers are embracing their individuality, and are adding more contemporary settings.
10. Nature Runs Amok – Eco-thrillers pick up on stories straight from the newspapers. With names like tsunamis, Katrina, and Sandy, plenty of topics are ripe for publication. This subject is wide open.

There you have it. We added our own comments and sidebars to the nucleus of this list. Adults are reading more YA books. Somebody in the audience asked about animals … where are they? What about the horse stories treasured by girls? They appear to be absent, at least in the above list. Look around and draw your own conclusions. For instance, I don’t see any signs of anything western. However, I bet a good steam punk adventure would get somebody’s attention.

During times of uncertainty, the only given is CHANGE. Trends constantly change. Watch them carefully, but don’t be blinded by their supposed importance.

Coming soon: Sunday, February 17, 2013 – 3-5 p.m. – Denver Woman’s Press Club – Salon Series – “Almost Famous: Crafting Characters from Colorado’s Past” with biographers Joyce B. Lohse and Kimberly Field.

Joyce B. Lohse, http://www.LohseWorks.com

 

Back to the Basics

Outside Tribune Tower

When I was in Chicago last June, we stopped in at Tribune Tower. My hub and I both graduated from journalism school at Northern Illinois University, and Tribune Tower is a bit of a shrine to us. My feelings were mixed. Always proud of my journalism background, I am so thankful for the tools it has given me, and the liberties it afforded me, but also, deeply saddened by the current struggles of newspapers and print journalism. As I read the lofty quotations etched in stone and the ethical standards they support, I was deeply moved. My eyes stung and my throat tightened. I was home, inside the heart of a truly great newspaper.

This past year has been a time to regroup, reorganize and reassess before moving ahead with new projects. The plan has gone very well, and this particular visit fit right in with it. I know I am on the right track with my writing and biographical research as I search for truth in history, and seek ways to preserve stories of pioneers, and share them with those who learn from them and find them interesting.

When we were in journalism school, our hero was editorial writer Mike Royko. Our class at NIU presented him with the first Illinois Journalist of the Year award, which became an ongoing tradition. Mike came out to our school banquet to accept his award, then attended a celebration beer party with our bunch of 70′s era j-students afterwards. We were starstruck. Mike Royko was our superstar, and he was drinking beer with us!! It didn’t get any better.

Quotation at Tribune Tower

My hubby and I soaked up the journalistic ambiance of Tribune Tower, took stock of our feelings, then did the right thing. We found the original Billy Goats Tavern underneath Michigan Avenue, bought two beers, and toasted the ghost of Mike Royko, who visited there regularly while alive. Sometimes it is best to overlook the sadness and celebrate all the good that comes from a solid foundation built on tradition and ethics. And … it is about time to start a new project.

Joyce Lohse
www. LohseWorks.com