AUTHOR'S NOTE

I started my blog, Sites and Stories, to celebrate historic sites - the stories they tell, the stories they inspire. My posts often provide behind-the-scenes glimpses of places and themes featured in my books. I also write monthly for InkSpot, a group blog shared by some of the adult mystery authors published by Midnight Ink. There’s a lot here - have fun exploring!

My Blog Posts from Last Year

kathleen ernst, sophie the cat, writing, undisclosed location

Below are descriptions and links to some of the recent postings on my Sites and Stories blog, to some of my posts on the InkSpot blog I share with other Midnight Ink authors, and to my posts on blogs where I have been a recent guest. Enjoy!

A Most Mischievous Christmas
	"In honor of Christmas eve, let’s set aside the ancient, spooky traditions featured in Heritage of Darkness, and celebrate one of Norway’s more recent (and fun) bits of folklore: the nisse. Nisser are household or farm spirits. Belief in these mythological creatures, which resemble garden gnomes, became common in Scandinavia in..." more>> Posted December 24, 2013 to Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Happy Solstice!
	"It’s the shortest day of the year! In southern Wisconsin, the day was gray and frosty. Centuries ago, our ancestors built bonfires on the darkest day of winter. Many Europeans feared the evil spirits that roamed winter skies. I thought a lot about that ancient belief and similar folktales while writing Heritage of Darkness. In isolated rural areas..." more>> Posted December 21, 2013 to Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Preserving Holiday Food Traditions
	"Food traditions often linger longer in families and communities than any other custom. And there is no better time than the holiday season to celebrate old recipes! I recently taught a workshop designed to help people who want to capture and preserve their own family, ethnic, or community recipes, and was reminded just how precious family recipes are." more>> Posted December 8, 2013 to Kathleen's Sites And Stories blog.

Cooking With Crimespree
	"The plot of my latest Chloe Ellefson mystery takes place at Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah, Iowa. When considering a murder weapon, I decided to use something fundamentally Norwegian—a lefse pin. Lefse is a round flatbread made with mashed or riced potatoes. Although I’m not of Norwegian descent, I love it—especially served warm with butter, sugar, and cinnamon." more>> Posted November 26, 2013 to the Crimespree Magazine blog.

Christmas Cozy, Christmas Bleak
	"Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa…most of us dream of a cozy holiday season. We want the glowing candles, the scent of mulling cider, the taste of special holiday foods. Peace on earth sounds pretty good, too. If the coming season does evoke negative vibes..." more>> Posted November 23, 2013 to the Killer Characters blog.

Lost, 1867
	"I’ve been compiling a collection of poetry about immigrant women’s experiences in the Midwest. I can’t possibly use in novels all the compelling tidbits I find when doing historical research! When something calls to me, but it won’t work in whatever book I’m writing, I often channel it into a poem instead." more>> Posted November 10, 2013 to Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Wreaking Havoc
	"The plot of my new Chloe Ellefson mystery, *Heritage of Darkness*, reflects the fundamental challenge I face each time I begin a new book in the series. First, I pick a town and museum or historic site that I love, to serve as the setting. Then, I start making (fictional) trouble... more>> Posted November 6, 2013 to the InkSpot blog.

Lefse
	"Since a lefse pin spattered with blood is on the cover of my latest Chloe Ellefson mystery, Heritage of Darkness, it’s not much of a spoiler to say that the murder weapon is. . . you guessed it, a lefse pin. Which has led some readers to ask, What the heck is lefse, anyway?" more>> Posted October 28, 2013 to Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Very Special Seniors
	"I’m four books into the series now, and over the past few years I’ve been surprised but delighted by reader response. Often characters with very small roles prompt the most feedback. And often, those characters are seniors..." more>> Posted October 23, 2013 to the Escape With Dollycas Into a Good Book blog.

A Day In The Life With Chloe Ellefson
	"So a typical day for me this week? Let’s see…fall farther behind in my rosemaling class, feel the tension grow between me and Mom, delve into what the old-timers refer to as “the power of darkness,” try to squeeze in a few minutes here and there with Roelke, dig into troubling family secrets, and—oh yes, help catch a killer..." more>> Posted October 18, 2013 to Dru's Book Musings blog.

The Boyfriend
	"Chloe Ellefson, the protagonist of my Historic Sites mystery series, is a museum curator. She is also thirty-two years old, single, and in the process of leaving behind an old relationship that failed in a particularly colossal way. I knew from the start that I wanted Chloe to have a man in her life. Enter Roelke McKenna, local cop." more>> Posted October 9, 2013 to Beth Groundwater's blog.

The Zone
	"Flow is the mental state of operation in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity. In essence, flow is characterized by complete absorption..." more>> Posted October 9, 2013 to InkSpot, the Midnight Ink authors' blog.

Gratitude Giveaway
	"While supplies last, I’m giving away two-for-one passes to Old World Wisconsin, the wonderful historic site near Eagle, WI where the protagonist in my Chloe Ellefson Historic Sites mysteries is employed. Here’s the scoop..." more>> Posted October 2, 2013 to Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Ballads of Antietam
	"Wherever I am on September 17, I pause to remember the horrific battle that raged in and around Sharpsburg, Maryland, on this day in 1862..." more>> Posted September 17, 2013 to Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Who Am I?
	“It may be subconscious, but we all address that question in a myraid of ways thoughout our lives. And it's a question that museum curator Chloe Ellefson, protagonist in my Historic Sites mystery series, confronts as well. Chloe has always taken her Norwegian heritage for granted. But in Heritage of Darkness, interviews she conducts with..." more>> Posted September 16, 2013 to Sheila Webster Boneham's blog.

Why Vesterheim?
	“Why is the new Chloe book set in Iowa?” The question came in an email. “Why is Chloe crossing the border? Why not explore other sites in Wisconsin?” I have no intention of having Chloe leave her job at Old World Wisconsin. Roelke McKenna, suitor and local cop, will remain in the area as well. But I do plan to get Chloe out and about... more>> Posted September 13, 2013 to Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Christmas All Year Long
	My fourth Chloe Ellefson mystery, Heritage of Darkness, is soon hitting the bookshelves. Chloe Ellefson, my curator-protagonist, has traveled to Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Iowa. The book takes place during the first week of December, 1982. Chloe is asked to interview several elderly people about their Christmas traditions. Those traditions shape the plot... more>> Posted September 11, 2013 to InkSpot, the Midnight Ink authors' blog.

Heritage of Darkness Launch Events
	The 4th Chloe Ellefson Historic Sites Mystery will soon be published! And I have some great launch events—including two special Chloe’s World Tours at Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum—planned for my wonderful readers... more>> Posted September 9, 2013 to Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Holiday Food Traditions Class -- You're Invited
	I am very excited about a weekend workshop I’m teaching this fall, Holiday Food Traditions: Remembering, Writing, Tasting, Sharing. The class is scheduled for November 1-3, 2013, at the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in... more>> Posted September 8, 2013 to Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

The Empty Meadow
	I had intended to write a novel “just” about Pottawatomie Lighthouse in Rock Island State Park. Why look any farther? Pottawatomie has it all: a fascinating human history, a stunning location, an impressive and beautifully restored structure... more>> Posted September 3, 2013 to Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Of Mothers and Daughters
	Chloe’s relationship with her mother is polite, but distant. Mom is a renowned practitioner of rosemaling, a decorative form of Norwegian painting. When Chloe spots an ad announcing classes at Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah, Iowa, she impulsively suggests that she and Mom sign up for concurrent advanced and beginning classes. Even better, Chloe’s cop-beau, Roelke McKenna, decides to tag along... more>> Posted August 30, 2013 on Lois Winston's Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog.

Bonanza Farms
	"Harvest has started. Now there will be no rest for man, woman, or beast until frost comes." —Mary Dodge Woodward, August 11, 1885. It’s harvest-time, which reminds me that I had no idea what threshing grain involved until I moved to the Midwest in 1982. more>> Posted August 21, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Changes for Caroline: The Stories Behind the Story
	I had a lot of flexibility when developing a plan for Caroline Abbott’s six stories, which was great! However, I did try to include familiar themes in Caroline’s stories. Traditionally, the six-book sets created for American Girl’s historical characters have ended with a “Changes” book. I liked the idea of giving Caroline new ways to grow and change, so I decided to take her away—temporarily!—from her beloved Lake Ontario... more>> Posted August 11, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

The Children Of Antietam
	Like most any writer of history, I love the research process. Nothing is more satisfying than unearthing some previously unknown treasure. Most exciting of all are primary documents—diaries letters, reminiscences, or articles left by people who experienced the events I’m studying. I spent twelve years digging through such documents while researching Too Afraid To Cry: Maryland Civilians in the Antietam Campaign. I got shivers reading the words of people who had lived through... more>> Posted August 4, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Secrets In The Hills: The Stories Behind The Story
	When my editor at American Girl asked if I’d like to write a mystery about Josefina, I was delighted! This project combined several of the things that I love to learn about: history, people with different cultural backgrounds, and an intriguing and beautiful landscape. I started by... more>> Posted July 28, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

The Bravest Girl In Sharpsburg: The Stories Behind The Story
	I always tried to imagine what it was like for civilians who found themselves in the midst of fighting. I spent about ten years collecting stories about the civilians who lived in Western Maryland during the Civil War. All that research eventually led to... more>> Posted July 21, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Caroline's Battle: The Stories Behind The Stories
	People often ask why Sackets Harbor, NY, was chosen as Caroline Abbott’s home town. When I was invited to create an 1812 character for American Girl, I explored several possibilities. In the end, though, I recommended that we locate the new character on the shore of Lake Ontario. Once my editors had agreed... more>> Posted July 14, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Retreat From Gettysburg: The Stories Behind the Story
	Williamsport sits on the banks of the Potomac River, within sight of the Virginia shore. After the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863, the defeated Confederates knew that if they could reach Virginia, they’d be safe on their own soil again. When they arrived in Williamsport, however, there was no way to get across... more>> Posted July 7, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Ghosts of Vicksburg: The Stories Behind the Story
	Nothing quite said “This is it,” though, until I found the memoir written by Elisha Stockwell, who was 15 years old when he ran away from his family farm near Alma, Wisconsin, and enlisted in the 14th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment... more>> Posted June 30, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Making Jam For Mollie
	My husband Scott and I have served as docents at Pottawatomie Lighthouse, setting for The Light Keeper’s Legacy (the third Chloe Ellefson Historic Sites Mystery), for five years now. There are lots of stories to tell. I wove some of my favorites into the book... more>> Posted June 17, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Danger At The Zoo: The Stories Behind The Story
	I was working at my computer one day when my editor from American Girl called to ask if I’d like to try writing a mystery about Kit. I was excited about the idea, but a little nervous too. Lots of readers already knew and loved the character created by Valerie Tripp. I wanted to do a good job... more>> Posted June 16, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Betrayal At Cross Creek: The Stories Behind The Story
	When I was a kid, I read lots of novels set during the American Revolution. Every one I recall portrayed Patriots as “good” and everyone else as “bad.” As an American, I’m enormously proud of what our foremothers and forefathers did to establish our country. But the truth is, many good people fought on both sides, trying to defend... more>> Posted June 12, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Speed Dating For Writers
	I recently attended Malice Domestic, an annual celebration of the traditional mystery. Participating authors were invited to enter a drawing to earn a place on the roster for Malice-Go-Round. "It's like speed dating for authors," explained Barb Goffman, who organized the event... more>> Posted May 22, 2013 on InkSpot, the Midnight Ink authors' blog.

Whistler In The Dark: The Stories Behind The Story
	When I attended interpreter training at Old World Wisconsin in the spring of 1982, the Curator of Textiles showed us a photograph of a Wisconsin woman wearing trousers beneath a knee-length skirt. The image shows a woman in a farmyard, staring straight at the camera, with a man and child behind her... more>> Posted May 19, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Highland Fling: The Stories Behind The Story
	I attended my first Highland Games at Macalester College in St. Paul. I loved visiting the cultural tents. I loved watching the dancing and the heavy athletic events. The highlight, though, came when the massed pipe bands took the field. The music and energy seemed to pulse deep inside me. I got a lump in my throat, and had to blink back tears... more>> Posted May 12, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Remembering Marty
	Old World Wisconsin opened to the public last week, as it has every May since 1976. As always, the new season brings a variety of changes intended to improve visitor experience. But this year also marks an unwanted and profound change. For the first time ever, Marty Perkins isn’t watching spring unfurl at the historic site... more>> Posted May 7, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

The Night Riders of Harpers Ferry
	This is the story behind the story. When I was a kid, I attended a summer camp perched on a cliff above the Potomac River and the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, and a short hike away from Harpers Ferry... more>> Posted April 24, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

One Extraordinary Librarian
	Like all writers and readers, I owe a huge debt of thanks to librarians. As a history junkie, I’m particularly interested in the pioneers in that profession. I recently attended a special event called “The Women of Mill City” at the Mill City Museum in Minneapolis... more>> Posted April 24, 2013, on the InkSpot blog.

The Runaway Friend: The Stories Behind The Story
	After I started writing for American Girl, I always hoped that my editor would invite me to write a Kirsten book. The story of European immigrants moving to the Upper Midwest is very close to my heart. more>> Posted April 14, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Gathering: Memoir of a Seed Saver
	If you’re a gardener—or even if you’re not—I highly recommend Gathering: A Memoir of a Seed Saver, by Diane Ott Whealy (Seed Savers Exchange, 2011). When considering topics and themes to explore in my second Chloe Ellefson mystery, The Heirloom Murders, I decided to highlight heirloom gardening. I began working at Old World Wisconsin in 1982 with little knowledge of gardening... more>> Posted April 9, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Midnight In Lonesome Hollow: The Stories Behind The Story
	I have always loved the southern Appalachian mountains. Although I’ve lived in Wisconsin for many years now, I went to college in West Virginia, spent many summers in western Maryland, and have enjoyed many hikes and rambles through the mountains in the southern states. My editor at American Girl knows that, so when she invited me to write a second Kit mystery... more>> Posted March 31, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

The Women Of Mill City
	The Mill City Museum in Minneapolis, Minnesota, celebrated Women’s History Month with a fascinating and multi-layered special event. I find it easy to imagine the lives of historical rural women. City women, not so much. Perhaps that’s because most urban historic sites interpret the lives of wealthy people who lived in fancy homes. Local citizens often rally to save a treasured... more>> Posted March 29, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Historical Fiction?
	Recently, a reader asked if my Chloe Ellefson Historic Sites Mysteries are historical fiction. The first three books in the series are set in 1982. I was in my early twenties then, so for much of the cultural context, I simply tap my own memories. For me, and for some of my readers, the '80s were the good old days. On the other hand, some of my readers weren't born until well after 1982... more>> Posted March 27, 2013 on the InkSpot blog.

Old World Murder Giveaway!
	Round 4 of the “25 in 25″ Giveaway! This week I’m giving away three copies of Old World Murder, the first book in my Chloe Ellefson Historic Sites mystery series. Old World Murder is a traditional mystery, with no explicit sex, violence or gore... more>> Posted March 24, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites & Stories blog.

Author Interview: Kathleen Ernst
	Q. You live in Wisconsin but grew up in Maryland. How did your early life influence your desire to become a writer? A. I grew up in a house where books ranked right up there with food and shelter. My mom was a librarian, and my dad was a voracious reader... more>> Posted March 21, 2013 on Linda Sandifer's Writing Out West blog.

Meet Caroline Giveaway!
	Round 3 of the “25 in 25″ Giveaway! This week I’m giving away three copies of Meet Caroline, the first book in the series about American Girl’s newest historical character. Caroline Abbott’s stories take place during the War of 1812... more>> Posted March 17, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Nålbinding, Part 3 – Going Solo
	In recent posts I provided a brief glimpse of the history of nålbinding, and an overview of my class at Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum. I left Iowa knowing that I needed to practice the stitch until it was firmly imbedded in my brain... more>> Posted March 16, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Hearts Of Stone - The Story Behind The Story
	I’m often asked where my interest in the American Civil War comes from. Growing up in Maryland, I had lots of opportunities to visit Civil War battlefields. Since Maryland was a border state, I also had plenty of opportunities to consider the experiences of people on both sides of the conflict. And in addition to learning about the soldiers’ lives, I always tried to imagine what it was like for civilians who found themselves in the midst of... more>> Posted March 10, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Nålbinding, Part 2 – Getting Started
	As I mentioned in a recent post, when I learned that Kate Martinson taught workshops in nålbinding at Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah, Iowa, I signed right up. When the class began, I quickly learned that the trickiest part is... more>> Posted March 9, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Trouble At Fort La Pointe - The Stories Behind The Story
	I thought about writing a story about the Great Lakes’ fur trade era for a long time. Lake Superior is beautiful, and the region’s history is fascinating. From 1650 to 1850, the fur trade was the most important “business” in the area that now includes... more>> Posted March 3, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Nålbinding, Part 1 – An Ancient Technique
	I’m a fiber arts junkie—especially when it comes to old forms of needlework. So when I saw a woman demonstrating a technique I didn’t even recognize during a special event at Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, I skidded to a halt... more>> Posted March 2, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

The Amazing Race
	I recently turned in the manuscript for the fourth Chloe Ellefson mystery, Heritage of Darkness. There’s still work to do—final corrections, proofing, writing acknowledgments—but the book is basically done. Phew. Reaching this stage always makes me feel as if I’ve just completed the last sprint of a long and challenging race... more>> Posted February 27, 2013 on the InkSpot blog.

A Silver Celebration: 25 Books in 25 Weeks Giveaway!
	Each week for 25 weeks I’ll be giving away multiple, personalized, signed copies of one of my titles, including each of my Chloe Ellefson, Civil War, and American Girl books. That’s 25 opportunities for you to win one of my books! more>> Posted February 24, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

A Giveaway for Caroline Fans!
	The publication date for Traitor in the Shipyard is February 26, but I’m giving away three hardcover copies this week! To enter the drawing, leave a comment here (or on my Facebook page) by Wednesday, Feb. 20. Winners will be announced on... more>> Posted February 17, 2013 to Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Gratitude Giveaway!
	My latest Chloe Ellefson mystery, The Light Keeper’s Legacy, has received the 2013 LOVEY Award for Best Traditional Mystery! To celebrate, I’m giving away three special-edition Chloe Ellefson Mysteries totebags... more>> Posted February 7, 2013 to Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Caroline's Winter Fun
	Do you like winter? Caroline Abbott does. I do too, which made the third book of the Caroline series, A Surprise For Caroline, a lot of fun to write. When the book opens, Caroline is facing a new challenge. Two other girls are staying in the Abbott home... more>> Posted January 31, 2013 to Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Just Keep Writing!
	Last November I wrote a post I titled Gratitude about why I feel grateful to be a working writer, despite the inherent challenges. Most comments were positive, but I did receive one message from an aspiring writer whose basic message was, “Easy for you to say, oh published one.” I did try to stress that making my way along the writer’s path has not always been easy. Perhaps a few more examples will help... more>> Posted January 30, 2013 on the InkSpot blog.

The Library Box
	What did the library box look like? The question came up last week when I visited a book group to discuss the 3rd Chloe Ellefson mystery, The Light Keeper’s Legacy. A library box is featured prominently in the story, linking the historical timeline to the modern one. A reproduction library box also happens to be my favorite object in... more>> Posted January 21, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Traitor in the Shipyard
	Writing the six-book Caroline Abbott series for American Girl gave me lots of opportunities to develop fascinating aspects of history into plots. Even so, the story of Sackets Harbor during the War of 1812 is so rich that I had to leave lots of things out. All along, I hoped that I’d be invited to write a mystery for Caroline. And I was... more>> Posted January 6, 2013 on Kathleen's Sites and Stories blog.

Happy New Year!
	For many years I belonged to a critique group. We organized an annual weekend retreat so we could focus on whole novels instead of the twenty pages we each brought to our monthly meetings. And for quite some time, one retreat ritual was the declaration of our writing goals for the coming year... more>> Posted January 2, 2013 on the InkSpot blog.