Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Linda LaRoque Guest Post



I'm happy to be part of the blog tour for Linda LaRoque! Today, Linda stops by with a giveaway and a gustpost. One commenter today will win a copy of A Marshal of Her Own, and one commenter from Linda's entire blog tour will win a Kindle! 

Linda's topic today is about the Hoosier Cabinet. 
Here is what Linda has to say:


The majority of Victorian houses didn’t have built in cabinets in their kitchens. For homemakers, lack of storage to organize cooking supplies and staples was a major problem. For years free-standing cupboards made food preparation and storage somewhat easier. In 1898, the Hoosier Manufacturing Company of New Castle, Indiana, produced the first Hoosier cabinet. It put everything at the woman’s fingertips and remained popular into the 1920s when builders began to incorporate cabinets into their kitchen designs. Many homes used the cabinet much later into the twentieth-century, some until 1940s and 1950s. Today they are collector’s items. My cousin has one that still has the paper label. It looks almost identical to the one pictured.
As you can see in the picture, the Hoosier has a large base section set on casters. It has one door and several drawers and a slide out countertop for baking, with several thin drawers below to hold utensils. The upper section is shallower and has several smaller compartments with doors. One door has a roll top. Another holds a flour bin with a sifter attached and another bin to hold sugar. Shelves hold racks and other hardware to store spices, tea, coffee, and other staples. Special jars were made to fit suspended in a metal hanging rack. In the picture you can see the labels with measuring conversions, sample recipes, and household hints. Lucky was the woman who had a Hoosier in her kitchen.







References 



Linda, what an interesting post! Thank you for sharing!

Linda is also sharing an excerpt from A Marshal Of Her Own. And of course, a blurb.

Blurb:  Despite rumors of “strange doings” at a cabin in Fredericksburg, investigative reporter Dessa Wade books the cottage from which lawyer, Charity Dawson, disappeared in 2008. Dessa is intent on solving the mystery. Instead, she is caught in the mystery that surrounds the cabin and finds herself in 1890 in a shootout between the Faraday Gang and a US Marshal.
Marshal Cole Jeffers doesn’t believe Miss Wade is a time traveler. He admits she’s innocent of being an outlaw, but thinks she knows more about the gang than she’s telling. When she’s kidnapped by Zeke Faraday, Cole is determined to rescue her. He’s longed for a woman of his own, and Dessa Wade just might be the one—if she’ll commit to the past.

Excerpt:  Dessa stood still and watched as they conversed. Something stank to high heaven about this entire situation. Why were the cops chasing robbers on horseback? It’s not like Fredericksburg was that isolated. She glanced at the captured men. The boy moaned, and she made a step to go over and help him. The Marshal spun, and the expression in his eye froze her in place.
He needs first aid.”
He’s fine. The Doc will tend to him when we get to the jail.”
You could at least call 911 and let them patch him up for you.” She nodded to the man lying so still with his eyes closed. “Your other prisoner doesn’t look so good. He’s going to die on you if you don’t start CPR or get him some help.”
Lady, no one is going to hear a yell from out here. Never heard of any 911 or CPR.” He propped the hand not holding the shotgun on his hip and threw her a disgusted look. “Are you blind? That man is dead, shot through the heart.”
Her head swam for a moment, and she struggled not to give in to the sensation and faint. She drew in deep gulps of air. “Well...well..., what about the coroner and the meat wagon, not to mention the CSI folks? If you don’t get them to record the scene, how are you going to cover your butt? The authorities might say you shot him in cold blood.”
He looked at her like she’d sprouted an extra head. “I don’t know what the hell you are talking about woman. No one will question my authority. I’m the law in this county. Now, be quiet, or I’m going to gag you.”

A Marshal of Her Own will be available now at The Wild Rose Press, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com and other online book stores. It is the sequel to A Law of Her Own available at The Wild Rose Press, Amazon.com, and Barnes and Noble.com and other online book stores. I’m awaiting a release date for A Love of His Own, the third story in the Prairie, Texas series.

My release contest for A Marshal of Her Own began November 9th. I’ll be giving away this vintage rhinestone typewriter pin. To enter the drawing, go to my website or blog and sign up for my newsletter. Don’t forget to verify your email address. If you already receive it, email me at linda@lindalaroque.com with A Marshal of Her Own contest in the subject line. Contest ends December 15, 2011.

Leave me a comment or ask a question today and you’ll be entered into a drawing for an ecopy of A Law of Her Own.

Also, today’s blog post is part of 2 blog tours—this one for A Marshal of Her Own and starting December 4th, one for Born in Ice. Follow along each day and leave a comment to be entered into the grand prize drawing and learn about my Born in Ice contest.
The Blog Tour schedule will be posted on my blog and website. It will last 25 days and the Grand Prize is a Kindle. Leave a comment each day and your name will be entered 25 times. Pretty good odds, huh?
Thank you for having me on your blog today, Nikki!

You're very welcome, Linda! Congratulations on your release, I wish you many sales, and continuing success in your writing career! 

Tomorrow, Dec. 1, I’ll be on Val Pearson’s blog at - http://bookblogs.ning.com/profile/ValPearson talking about Women of Controversy.
AND in The Tap Room with Liz Crowe at http://www.brewingpassion.com/
Happy Reading and Writing!
Linda LaRoque
Writing Romance With a Twist in Time






BIO:  Linda LaRoque is a Texas girl, but the first time she got on a horse, it tossed her in the road dislocating her right shoulder. Forty years passed before she got on another, but it was older, slower, and she was wiser. Plus, her students looked on and it was important to save face.

A retired teacher who loves West Texas, its flora and fauna, and its people, Linda’s stories paint pictures of life, love, and learning set against the raw landscape of ranches and rural communities in Texas and the Midwest. She is a member of RWA, her local chapter of HOTRWA, NTRWA and Texas Mountain Trail Writers.


Linda, it's been a pleasure having you on my blog!

I hope that readers will follow Linda on the blog tour and remember, comment for some prizes!

Until next time,

Storm Goddess









13 comments:

  1. Congrats on your release...the book sounds like an interesting read. Enjoyed the excerpt...I've yet to try a time travel story and think it might be something I have to add to my list after reading a bit about yours. I like the mystery factor mixed in with the time travel.

    Loved the post about Hoosier cabinets...very informative. Love that type of history and would love to have an antique one myself....they're gorgeous!

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  2. I never seem to have enough storage space. I could use a Hoosier in my kitchen.



    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  3. My mom really wants to find a Hoosier cabinet for her dining room. The picture you posted looks just like what mom has described to me many times.

    Mom's folks had a matching Hoosier cabinet & dinette set when she was a kid in Virginia. The family moved to Michigan in the early 60's & the Hoosier cabinet fell off the trailer enroute, so only the table & chairs made it. I've got that table & chairs in my dining room today.

    drainbamaged.gyzmo at gmail.com

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  4. Hi Christina! Glad you enjoyed the excerpt. Time travels can be a lot of fun. Love my hoosier cabinet. My husband and taken it over though and fills it with his stuff.

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  5. Hi Marybelle, Seems no matter how much we have, we tend to fill it up and need more. Thanks for stopping by.

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  6. There are so many things I take for granted and sort of assumed has been around "forever". Cupboards are definitely one of them and yes, lucky for the woman with a Hoosier. Although, I'm sure they had less items back then but still storage is important. Thanks for another great post, Linda.

    Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  7. I can see my 7 yo filling a Hoosier up with all of her crafting supplies. :-)

    slandon9903(at)gmail(dot)com

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  8. Kathryn, what a shame about the hoosier. Maybe you can find a replacement on ebay. They have alot of them.

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  9. Hi Linda,

    I give 5 stars on your book A Law of Her Own and I'm betting A Marshall of Her Own is terrific too! By the way, I absolutely love the cover.

    I'm enjoying the history associated with your stories.

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  10. Ditto abou the Hoosier!

    Great excerpt; I look forward in reading A Marshal of Her Own.

    Thanks,
    Tracey D
    booklover0226 at gmail dot com

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  11. Yes, they did, Na. They could provide a meal with very little. We're so spoiled. I saw a blender on tv last night that now heats. Can you believe it?

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  12. A hoosier would be a great place for your child's art supplies, Sarah L. Right by the kitchen table for homework!

    Oh, thank you, Susan. I'm so glad you enjoyed A Law of Her Own. Thanks on the cover!

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  13. Love trivia & historical info, great fan of interesting facts. Wouldn't mind having a Hoosier cabinet myself! Thanks for the info and congratulations on the book release.

    Michelle B. aka Koshkalady

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