Shrewsbury Press

04/06/2024

Book signing Memorial Day weekend at Colonial Williamsburg's new bookstore. It's a little bit hard to find - down the alley and up the stairs, 440 W DOG Street in Merchant Square, but a great space with great books - not only CW publications!

15/02/2024

So much interesting research for the next mystery - like this article on paper.

Paper conservation fellow Leonie Müller guides readers in an examination of paper’s material qualities and explains how its structures reflect the process of how it’s made.

26/01/2024

Weber's book (research for mystery #3) is a deep dive into the use of codes by the founding fathers, which often seems a comedy of errors. Jefferson in Paris couldn't decipher his letters from Monroe, saying "by some unfortunate mistake, probably in the young gentleman who wrote the cypher, it will not explain a single syllable." Jefferson was no slouch when it came to such things, but Adams was a different story altogether. As Abigail put it, "my Friend is no adept in investigating ciphers and hates to be puzzeld for a meaning."

(Book best purchased used from ABEbooks.com, if you're interested.)

06/01/2024

For Epiphany, a little research article from Colonial Williamsburg -

Colonial Williamsburg - Experience life in the 18th century at America's largest outdoor history museum.

21/12/2023

A little cooking project for the holidays.
Cheers to you!

Eating Christmas Pie at Mount Vernon was customary in the Washington household.

In 1786, George Washington described the holiday meal as "the Attack of Christmas Pyes." He elaborated, "We had one yesterday on which all the company (and pretty numerous it was) were hardly able to make an impression."⁣

Standing pies (pies that stand up without the aid of pie tins, moulds or hoops) required a tremendous amount of coordination and preparation amongst the enslaved cooks of Mansion House, at that time led by Hercules Posey. Given the poultry boning and other preliminary steps involved, it could take at least two days to put together.

Try this modern adaptation of an 18th-century recipe: https://bit.ly/3EfsArx

(Image Credits)
Yorkshire Christmas Pie in "Dining with the Washingtons: Historic Recipes, Entertaining, and Hospitality from Mount Vernon," Nancy Carter Crump, c. 2011. George Washington's Mount Vernon.

06/12/2023

Interested in Colonial American Christmas customs? Then you might like this newsletter. https://mailchi.mp/ab583fade6ac/christmas-newsletter-794581

PS, books make great presents!

24/04/2023

Look for it: book signing at Colonial Williamsburg's Brick & Vine, May 27, 11-3!

23/12/2022

Repeating an earlier newsletter on colonial Christmas celebrations and wishing a festive holiday to all. https://mailchi.mp/7dc8637463dc/christmas-newsletter

14/05/2022

Book signing Sunday May 15 at Colonial Williamsburg's Brick&Vine. Come by, say hi!

22/12/2021

Looking for a last-minute present? How about a Kindle mystery? "Secrets Worth Killing For" - “a terrific historical mystery” per The BookLife Prize in Fiction

https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Worth-Killing-Founding-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B01M244FAL/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1640202917&sr=8-1-spons

Secrets Worth Killing For: A Founding Fathers Mystery (Founding Fathers Mysteries Book 2)

16/12/2021

Just published! A new children's story for ages 8 - 12. A fascinating mystery story set in the early days of the Revolution - fun and educational too. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NPBLMPG/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+servant+girls+secret+jami+borek&qid=1639615516&sr=8-1

The Servant Girl's Secret

31/10/2021

Many historic houses seem to come with ghosts and ghost stories - here are some from Mount Vernon. Happy Halloween! https://www.mountvernon.org/preservation/mount-vernon-ladies-association/mount-vernon-through-time/ghost-stories/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Fact+or+Fiction%3F+Ghost+Sightings+at+Mount+Vernon&utm_campaign=mktg_content_ghost_stories10_31_21

For decades, there have been reports by visitors and staff at George Washington's home of supernatural activity. Below are a number of Mount Vernon ghost stories staff have recorded over the years.