Love on the Line - Deeanne Gist [146]
Nellie Bly was, in fact, one of the most famous women in the world and way ahead of her time. There really was a Nellie Bly game and all sorts of things—including a Nellie Bly hat. But I have absolutely no idea if it had any bird parts on it. I made that up.
And how could I set an entire novel in Brenham and not give Blue Bell Ice Cream a shout-out? Their first ice cream was cranked in 1911 in a wooden tub with a maximum output of two gallons per day. But the 1903 Brenham Banner advertised an ice cream parlor which opened for the spring and summer months. So I tweaked the name of it to reflect Blue Bell’s patriarchs, H.C. Hodde and E.F. Kruse.
The toothache gum and digestive tablets displayed in the book’s ice cream parlor were inspired by an old generic tintype I found. I had to get out my magnifying glass, but upon close inspection, that’s what they had sitting right up on the counter. LOL. My inclusion of it is, of course, no reflection on the Blue Bell Creamery—as anyone who’s had the great privilege of tasting their ice cream knows. As we speak, I have in my freezer a half gallon of their mint chocolate chip, a half gallon of cookies and cream, and a pint of coconut fudge. Yum!
And finally, the bird conservation movement was a hot topic of the time and spearheaded by women. Eventually, a tariff act banning the importation of wild bird parts was in fact passed in 1913 as a result of the pressure the women exerted. (And all before women gained the right to vote!)
I hope you enjoyed reading Love on the Line as much as I enjoyed writing it. I would love to hear from you. You can find me on Facebook (facebook.com/DeesCircle) and on my website, IWantHerBook.com. I hope to see you there!
Blessings, Dee
Books by Deeanne Gist
* * *
A Bride Most Begrudging
The Measure of a Lady
Courting Trouble
Deep in the Heart of Trouble
A Bride in the Bargain
Beguiled *
Maid to Match
The Trouble With Brides (3-in-1)
Love on the Line
*with J. Mark Bertrand