Author Donna Schlachter joins me today on Help From my Friends Friday. The great thing about hosting guests is the education they provide. Donna is no exception, giving us interesting facts about the 1860s and the Pony Express. She also has a new book out on the subject. And . . . a giveaway!!! Be sure to answer Donna’s question below to enter! ~ Donnell
The Pony Express Tale (with giveaway)
Author Donna Schlachter
By Donna Schlachter
Most people know something about the Pony Express, but few realize it only operated from April 1860 through to November 1861. The first ride left St. Joseph, Missouri heading west, and from Sacramento, California heading east, on April 3rd, 1860.
The idea for a Pony Express was conceived in the minds of its owners because of the possibility of winning the contract for the overland US mail. Another company, Butterworth, was running a southern route that took up to three weeks to deliver to the West Coast, and Majors and Waddell thought they could beat that time by taking the shorter northern route.
The time period, 1860, fascinates me as there were so many changes happening in America. The train is a dream; the cross-country telegraph is nearing completion; the country is brewing for civil war; women are campaigning for voting and civil rights. In just a few short years, cameras will photograph war for the first time; telephones will be installed in people’s homes; electricity will light our lives into the dark of night.
When the final rider left Sacramento in November 1861, carrying letters going east as far as St. Joseph, Missouri, the company was already about $600,000 in debt. Although the project was well-conceived and well-executed, it was never designed as a long-term system. And when the Overland Express lost its bid to garner the mail contract, the company ended up merging with its competitor Butterworth to deliver mail that kept the country united through the coming war and for many years to come.
Question: Answer the following question to enter a random drawing for a print (US only) or ebook copy of Hollenberg Hearts: What’s your favorite genre and why?
About the Book Hollenberg Hearts
Catherine Malloy escapes a poor past in response to a mail order bride ad her best friend answered. However, Margaret dies before meeting the man who owns horses and property in Kansas.
Benjamin Troudt works for the Hollenberg family at their way station in Kansas, and owns nothing but the clothes on his back. Unbeknownst to him, his pastor is corresponding with a potential wife from back East for him.
When Catherine, now calling herself Maggie, arrives, Benjamin knows nothing of the pastor’s match-making, and rejects her. However, a seriously ill pregnant woman needs tending. Perhaps Maggie can prove herself useful.
Not only does she do just that, but she finds herself attracted to the very man who is looking for ways to send her away.
A mail order bride. A crippled stationmaster. No way out for either of them—except with each other. Can they surrender their hearts and find true love?
About the Author: Donna Schlachter lives in Denver with husband Patrick. As a hybrid author, she writes historical suspense under her own name, and contemporary suspense under her alter ego of Leeann Betts, and has been published more than 30 times in novellas, full-length novels, devotional books, and books on the writing craft. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Writers on the Rock, Sisters In Crime, Pikes Peak Writers, Capital Christian Writers Fellowship, Faith, Hope, and Love Romance Writers, and Christian Authors Network; facilitates a critique group; and teaches writing classes online and in person. Donna also ghostwrites, edits, and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, and travels extensively for both. Donna is represented by Terrie Wolf of AKA Literary Management.
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Welcome, Donna, your Hollenberg Hearts sounds fascinating. I’m going to have to think about my favorite genre to answer your question. Just last month I devoured two westerns, as you know I love suspense and romantic suspense, but I also love historical fiction. It’s like being a time traveler in the safety of your own home. Thanks for being my guest today.
The entire concept of arranged marriages fascinates me (the success rate is apparently at least equal to that of “for love” marriages) and this sounds like an interesting read.
My favorite genre is psychological suspense–I wish I find more authors like Margret Yorke! Or, even better, write like her.
Great article, Donna. I’ve always been fascinated by the Pony Express. There is a simulated Pony Express run here in Arizona each spring called Hashknife Pony Express. They start at Holbrook, Arizona where they’re sworn in by the post office as Official Mail Carriers of the U.S. Postal Service. Then riders trot and gallop along the route carrying and handing off a real mail bag every mile all the way to Scottsdale, Arizona, 174 miles away. Beautiful cover on your new book. Congratulations!
C.C. I would LOVE to see that. Is it advertised? Are the crowds humongous? Thanks for stopping by!
Hi, Donna! This sounds like a great premise. I love anything with suspense. This story is near and dear to my heart. My great grandfather rode for the pony express. Although I only know pieces of his story, I know he was orphaned at ten. Somehow he became a pony express rider and ended up in Denver, CO. On his tombstone is engraved an image of a pony express rider.
Congratulations on the book, and best wishes for its success!
Laura Haley-McNeil
Oh, Laura, that is fascinating. I would love to see a picture of your great grandfather’s tombstone. Most children in those days were forced adventurers. I would totally be documenting the stories you do know. Thanks for stopping by and supporting Donna. ~ Donnell
Hi Donna and Donnell: I found this topic very interesting as I always assumed the Pony Express turned into the Postal Service. (Shows what I know about history. LOL)
Anyways, I’m like Donnell, I like all kinds of genres, from rom-coms to fantasy and science fiction to thrillers, but if I was tied to a chair and forced to make a decision, I would say crime and suspense. 🙂
Donnell, Yes, just Google it and information will come up. During COVID I moved up to Heber-Overgaard in the White Mountains and that’s how I found out about it. It’s a little stunning to be driving down the highway and see a Pony Express rider galloping along with a mail pouch. They’ve been doing it for years, but I’m sorry to say it doesn’t get much media attention. Heber-Overgaard is a very interesting area. It’s where the infamous Sheep Wars were waged back in the day. You know, cattlemen versus sheep men. Also, it’s where that big UFO abduction happened in the national park back in the – I think the 80s.
That period of history and what women with no means of support from family had to do to survive (my research shows similar with the Irish women who married the ‘coolies’ who built the western railroad since women were not imported from Asia only the men.) I am not a romance reader, but your book is compelling enough that I- will get a copy and read it with much interest. I also passed your title along to a friend who loves historical romance. I kno-w she will enjoy your story.
Hi Donnell, thanks for hosting me. I, too, read across genres, but mystery and history are my faves.
Hi Kathleen, thanks for stopping by. I find a lot of romantic suspense novels include a strong psychological element. I’m currently reading, “Protecting Her Witness” by Sarah Hamaker, and she’s got me on the edge of my seat!
Hi CC, thanks for stopping by. Although the Pony Express never ran officially in Arizona, I saw a sign on a store up in the mountains near the Lost Mine Museum that touted itself as a Pony Express stop. I’m sure there were many delivery services run the same way. We attended the real official National Pony Express Association annual re-run in June each year. It leaves from St. Joseph, Missouri, and goes all the way to Sacramento. It went through Marysville, Kansas about 11pm. It was such fun. So many people turned out and made it into a party!
Hi Laura, sounds like you need to write your own Pony Express story! Thanks for stopping by.
Hi Francelia,a thanks for stopping by. I think reading across genres is a good thing for readers, particularly as we then get the opportunity to learn about something different.
I know so little about the Pony Express which, as a former horse owner, is inexcusable. These facts are fascinating as is the premise of Hollenbeck Hearts.
Hands down, my favorite genre is mystery, police procedural, crime stories. It’s what I read. It’s what I write.
My favorite genre is Christian Historical Fiction
My favorite genre is fantasy fiction. Whether it’s the Warlock in Spite of Himself (Labeled science fiction by many) where a secret agent ariving by space ship, looking to promote democracy in Graymare with his robot horse housing its spaceship’s AI brain in its belly encounters ESP powers which mimic actual magic (yeah, SURE it’s science fiction. SURE it is!) or Tolkein’s elves, or Randall Garrett’s Too Many Magicians or Robert Howard’s Conan the Barbarian, beginning when I was about ten years old with L. Spague De Camp’s Incomplete Enchanter, up to the books I write with David (Wandmaking 101 and Wandmaking 201) it’s the ability to COMPLETELY enter a different world where things aren’t quite the way they are here, but close enough to be familiar. -tc
This is terrific, Tom. Thanks for stopping by!
thank you all for entering Author Donna Schlachter’s Hollenberg Hearts giveaway. Moreen Drake is the winner of this drawing. Moreen, Donna will be in touch with you.