Last September, I was invited to speak at the Lewisburg Study Club about my writing journey. This is where I met Miss Lynda, a well-respected widow in our community. Unless you’re from the South, you might wonder why she’s referred to as a “miss” since she’s been married. It’s just the way it’s done here. Women older than us are …
It is always a pleasure for me to meet unknown (to me) authors. This past month, I was blessed to meet KC Hart, who is as Southern as they come. I could have listened to her talk for hours. What is it about Southerners that make a person feel like their presence brings a little Mayberry into one’s heart? If …
The Oakands Mansion is situated at 900 North Maney Avenue in Murfreesboro Tennessee. You may wonder why I’m sharing its address since I didn’t for any of the other plantation houses. This one is significant, however, because it was built on land inherited by Sally Mufree Maney, who was the daughter of Revolutionary War Colonel Hardy Murfree—who the city of …
The wealthiest area of Nashville is called Belle Meade. The first time I wandered into this part of the city was when my husband took me to a popular steak house (Sperry’s) for my birthday. We drove past incredible mansions set atop hilly acres of land. I couldn’t imagine living in a home such as these. This is where today’s …
A great history trivia question would be: Where did George W. Polk come up with name Rattle and Snap for his plantation? It just doesn’t seem to fit with the opulent time period or majestic mansion. If you’re curious, continue reading and I’ll enlighten you! Where most of these plantations are in well-known areas such as Franklin, Nashville, or Murfreesboro, …
One of the first plantations on my to-tour list was The Carnton Plantation. You would think it was named for its original owner, but that wasn’t the case. This historic house and museum, located in Franklin, Tennessee, was built by Randal McGavock who emigrated from Virginia in 1796 and settled in Nashville. I suppose even back then it was quite …
When I became a middle school teacher, I discovered very quickly that I learned more from teaching a subject than most of my students. Of course, eighth graders aren’t known for their hunger of knowledge—especially U.S. history. But this same holds true for my delving into the plantations of Middle Tennessee. In researching the Belmont Mansion (aka Acklen Hall and …
About the Book Book: Under an Indigo Moon Author: JL Crosswhite Genre: Romantic Suspense Release date: December 28, 2022 It was supposed to be a fresh start for her… …He’d never expected to find love again. Will they find a second chance or will small-town secrets spell disaster? Former big-city architect and single mom, Carissa Carver, found just enough to …
Welcome back. Today’s plantation has an unusual name, and from everything I’ve read, no one is sure how it came about. It’s the Rippavilla, and is located in Spring Hill, which is slightly southwest of Nashville. Built in 1855, this was the home of Nathaniel and Susan Cheairs. Here is a little interesting tidbit—Nathaniel was the youngest of ten children …
To kick off the release for my newest novel Shadow Dancing, I’m going to highlight a different Middle Tennessee Plantation over the next seven days. Even though my novels are in the contemporary genre, I think the rich Civil War history of this area is fascinating. You may recall that when Book 1 in my Bedford County Series released last …
