Fiction

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  The Depths of Darkness is the working title for an historic crime thriller I have in the works. It is set in the mid to late 1800s in the Wyoming territory. It is the story of the land war in the area and one young U.S. Marshall who struggles between doing his job and settling some personal scores.

  To help us all feel connected to the world of Levi Sorensen and his mentor/adopted father, Silas Blackstone, recipes, craftsmanship tips and demonstrations for building adobe ovens, making crockery, woodcarving, clothing construction and other elements of frontier life is shared on the blog weekly from a variety of sources.

Be sure to visit the Friends of Sutter’s Fort’s Instagram account to see how they are keeping history alive. 

 Levi and Silas are both US marshals. Did you know that the U.S. Marshals service is the oldest federal law enforcement agency? Did you know that the first 13 marshals were appointed by President George Washington in 1789?

Between 1865 and 1900 "U.S. marshals were instrumental in keeping law and order in the “Old West” era and involved in apprehending desperados such as the Dalton Gang, Bill Doolin, and Ned Christie."

Check out the US marshals complete history timeline on their official site by clicking on the link below.

This recipe comes from The Mormon Trail Cookbook: Endeavors, Struggles and Cooking Traditions of the Mormon Pioneers. On the title page there is a message that reads in part, 

“Many recipes were included in the book for their historical value and were not meant to be prepared; however, modern-day versions of some of these recipes are also included for your cooking pleasure.”

Since the surname Sorensen plays a role in this story, I thought I would start with the recipe that comes from Scandinavia and is included in the Ethnic Cooking section. It was quite a popular when we made it at our house. If you try it out let me know what you think!

Swedish Meatballs

2 lbs. ground beef

1 lbs. ground pork

5 slices wheat bread (no crust)

Milk or cream

2eggs

1 medium onion, grated finely

½ tsp. allspice

¼ tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. salt

½ tsp. pepper

Mix together the ground beef and pork. Crumble the bread slices in a bowl and add just enough milk (or cream) to soften. Add egg; stir until mushy. And grated onion, spices, salt and pepper. Roll into small balls and bake on a jellyroll pan at 350° for 30 minutes. Stir and bake about 30 minutes more or until cooked through make a cream sauce and pour over the meatballs.

Feely, Dawn, et al. The Mormon Trail Cookbook: Endeavors, Struggles and Cooking Traditions of the Mormon Pioneers. Morris Pub., 1997.

 Stay tuned for details about how to enter my Short Story Contest! It will be judged by a panel of well-qualified experts. I will let you know subject and the length specifications. A prize will be awarded for first place.

  What are you favorite parts of Levi's adventure? Email or message me on Instagram and I will share them here!

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 *Where do you get your inspiration?

I am inspired by the strength of the human spirit and that heroes from his history. I believe that there is something heroic in trying to live your best life every day. Sharing these stories with others can inspire them to overcome hard things in their own lives.

*What kind of stories are your favor to write?

I love to write stories that are based on real events and real people. History has a lot of lessons to teach if we pay attention.

*Is it easier to write villains or heroes?

I heard someone say once that if you write your villain first, he/she will help define your hero. I think that villains are easier to write because when someone is evil their intentions, motivations, and behaviors are more focused.