Sincerely Yours by Jane Kirkpatrick & Amanda Cabot & Laurie Alice Eakes & Ann Shorey

Author:Jane Kirkpatrick & Amanda Cabot & Laurie Alice Eakes & Ann Shorey [Kirkpatrick, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC042030, FIC042050, FIC027050, American Christian fiction
ISBN: 9781441245335
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2014-02-28T05:00:00+00:00

Dear Reader,

One of the things I like best about writing historical fiction is illustrating the contrast between women’s lives today and what their expectations were in the past. For instance, early in Dandelion Wishes, Colin asks Merrie if she wants to be a writer, “like Mrs. Hale.”

Although Merrie and Colin are fictitious characters, Sarah Josepha Hale was a real person, and a remarkable one at that. Widowed in 1822 shortly before the birth of her fifth child, Sarah was faced with the dilemma of finding a means to support herself and her family. With few options open to women, she tried millinery and writing poems before writing a novel, Northwood, which was quite successful in its day.

The success of her novel led to an offer to act as editor for a periodical called Ladies Magazine, which later became Godey’s Lady’s Book. During the time my fictitious Merrie was sending her articles to the equally fictitious Kipler’s Home Weekly, Sarah had already been editor of Godey’s for over twenty years.

Today we think of Godey’s fashion prints as defining the magazine, but back in her day, Sarah used her pulpit as editor to influence civic values, literature, intellectual life, homemaking, and women’s rights and responsibilities. It was as a result of Sarah’s unceasing efforts that President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.

Interestingly enough, although Sarah continued in her career as Godey’s editor for forty years, she encouraged her female readership to stay at home and shape their worlds through their influence as wives and mothers.

Today, with our twenty-four-hour news coverage and the bombardment of emails, tweets, and other media shouts, it’s difficult to imagine a time when magazines dominated women’s attention.

As you think back over Merrie’s commitment to her writing, imagine yourself in her shoes. Having her words published would have made her part of a very small group of successful women.

An inspiring goal, indeed.

Sincerely yours,

Ann Shorey

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