Laurie Winslow Sargent

Laurie Winslow Sargent • 31st July 2023

Hayden Howard: Short Stories with Creative Wordplay

In his fun short stories, John Hayden Howard used creative wordplay and unique characterization in 1940s to 1960s historical settings. Here's a great example from his short story Ten Rounds for the All-Time Champ (in REAWAKENED WORLDS, Vol One):

Laurie Winslow Sargent • 8th February 2022

Secret Stashes: Old Family Papers

Bins of musty papers, inherited from deceased family members, can be a nuisance to deal with. Yet fascinating historical details and stories may be nestled inside! Here are some examples:

Laurie Winslow Sargent • 4th February 2022

Hugo Awards 1967 Sci-Fi Nominees

When Hayden Howard was a nominee for the Hugo Awards in 1967 for his novelette, he was in good company. 1966 nominees included Frank Herbert, for Dune, and J.R.R. Tolkein, for Lord of the Rings.

Laurie Winslow Sargent • 2nd February 2022

5 Fun Facts about Hayden Howard, 60s Sci-Fi Author

Many fans of 1960s sci-fi stories recognize the author name, Hayden Howard, listed in the The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. These 5 personal facts about him may surprise you:

Laurie Winslow Sargent • 20th October 2020

Podcast Interview: Parenting Personalities and History

This blog post links to the Heart of the Matter Radio podcast (Cynthia L. Simmons), episode Oct 2, 2020: How to Delight in Your Child as You Homeschool. Cynthia interviewed me about parent-child personality differences as written about in the book Delight in Your Child's Design (Second Edition). We also looked back through history at one 1930s mom's parenting style, revealed in near-100-year-old letters.

Laurie Winslow Sargent • 2nd September 2020

1848: An Abolitionist Bill for Secession

Little-known History ~ Abolitionist voters in Massachusetts, 17 years before the 13th amendment, proposed a bill: denounce slavery or secede from the Union. I’d never heard before of any bills proposing a state secede unless slavery was abolished, have you? When I found this document with 7 signers connected to my family tree, I felt heartened. In these days of racial discord, it’s nice to see evidence of people who always thought slavery a horror and fought hard to destroy it. Here's that interesting document:

Laurie Winslow Sargent • 25th August 2020

Calculating Characters in Family History

In writing history – family history or a historical biography— using a little math humanizes characters so we can see them as former living, breathing human beings.

Laurie Winslow Sargent • 12th August 2020

A 1915 Yearbook Shows Teen Life 105 Years Ago

This blog post digs into an entertaining digitally archived 1915 yearbook from WaHi (Walla Walla High, Washington State). The book included student nominations for Best Fusser, Class Suffragette, Class “Burns” and Class “Harriet Stowe”, plus entertaining fiction, fun tales of inter-class rivalries, and intriguing now-vintage advertisements.

Writing Tips & History Tidbits • 15th July 2020

A Sure-footed Dhurzee & a Sly Cook

In 1926, Gladys Pearce, fresh from America, was new to routines in British India. Although she admired the tailor, she let the cook know she was not as naive as he’d hoped...

Writing Tips & History Tidbits • 8th July 2020

A Reluctant Memsahib

In 1920s British Raj India, independent, hardworking American Gladys was expected to have servants — whether she wanted them or not...

Writing Tips & History Tidbits • 17th June 2020

A Mongoose Surprise

In 1926 British India, the Adyar Club in Madras (Chennai) had an unusual resident...

Writing Tips & History Tidbits • 8th June 2020

A Story About a Love Story

How Adventures in the Attic led to an India news story, about a 1920s American romance & a jungle honeymoon.

Writing Tips & History Tidbits • 28th May 2020

1926: Silent Valley

In 1926, Kerala India, Gladys and Ken finish their honeymoon hiking in Silent Valley. How silent? Can screams still be heard?

Writing Tips & History Tidbits • 14th May 2020

Adventures in the Attic

How a vintage suitcase, overflowing with 1920s-1930s jungle honeymoon adventures, birthed a book. ~ Featured in Mid Day News: American Author Traces Her Ancestors Love Story Through Letters

Writing Tips & History Tidbits • 12th May 2020

1929: New Motherhood in Ooty

In 1929, expat Gladys sent this sweet note on motherhood from Ooty, South India to her mother in Walla Walla, Washington. Funny, even then teddy bear outfits on babies were popular.

Writing Tips & History Tidbits • 4th May 2020

1923: Ken in the Raj

While Gladys worked as a physical education teacher in San Diego, she received letters from India describing strange and wonderful tales. Ken, hoping for romance, had finally gotten her attention:

Writing Tips & History Tidbits • 28th April 2020

1918: A Day She Beat the Boys

In 1918, Gladys was not to be deterred from winning the race against the frat boys, so she ditched her cumbersome ladies’ “swim dress” for a men's tank suit.

Writing Tips & History Tidbits • 24th April 2020

A Naughty Baby Elephant

When elephant Kitty gave birth to the first baby elephant born in Nedangayam lumber camp in S. Malabar India, Kitty’s Baby became a beloved pet to all — until she outgrew her welcome...

Writing Tips & History Tidbits • 23rd April 2020

1929: Dearest Funny Baby

Kenneth — 91 years ago — wrote this love note to his wife and new child when all were confined to home. He was ill, so couldn’t be in the same room with them. He “mailed” it from one end of their house to the other.

Writing Tips & History Tidbits • 22nd April 2020

One Less Crocodile

This 1926 jungle story is from the diary of Gladys Gose Pearce, a Seattle woman who lived with spouse Ken in India during the British Raj era. On their honeymoon, only weeks after arriving in India, he asked her to help him defend locals from a crocodile...