AtoZ Challenge: D-FOR A DANGEROUS DESTINATION...

If you do get a chance to stop by this quaint town, you must visit the famous Mark Twain Cave. In Tom Sawyer, the characters, Tom and Becky, end up in the cave, lost, scared out of their minds and running from Injun Joe who was bent on silencing them--for good. If you haven't read this classic, stop, buy it now, read. It's available here in Hannibal at most EVERY location. Twain sure knew how to spin a story. Not only did he master humorous writing, he perfected suspense. He is my inspiration.

The cave is a balmy 52 degrees all year round. Some spots are as slim as a couple of feet, others are pretty wide. After the snaking twists and turns of the cave, you can see how easy it would be to get lost inside. It has been confirmed that after the infamous outlaw Jesse James robbed a train in St. Louis, he hung out in the cave for several weeks. His handwritten signature in one of the veins of the cave has been authenticated.

The entire hilly town of Hannibal rests on an intricate cave system. In 1967 three boys entered "Murphy's Cave" near Bear Creek about a mile from the Mark Twain Cave. When they never came home, the police were notified and it led to the largest underground search party in history. They were never found.

I loved to go exploring as a kid. I still do, but I take a phone, another person and supplies with me like diet coke. We hiked the train tracks, back roads, creeks. What was your favorite place to explore as a kid? One time we discovered a dead cat on the tracks and a hobo near our favorite creek.

AtoZ Challenge: C-Samuel Clemens

SAMUEL CLEMENS: 

William Faulkner referred to Samuel Clemens as "The Father of American  Literature." Sam's pen name "Mark Twain" was derived from his love for the Big River and his dream of becoming a steamship captain. Mark Twain literally means "two-fathoms" deep or twelve feet deep or "two marks." 

Sam's dad Judge John Clemens had a law office a few blocks from their home on Hill Street. It has since been moved to sit across the street from his boyhood home. His father bailed young Sam out on many occasions. I have boys. I can relate.

My favorite boyhood story happened to Sam when he was probably around ten or eleven. He stayed out past curfew, sneaked into his dad's office and spent the night. With the hopes of slipping back into his house undetected, he woke up early and woke up face to face with a dead man in his dad's office. He shot out of the opened window and swore to never break curfew again.

Tragedy struck the family when his dad came down with pneumonia in 1847 and died when Sam was only eleven years old.  

At the age of eighteen, Sam's dream came true. He became an apprentice to steamship Captain Horace E. Bixby. For the next two years of his life, he navigated the waters between St. Louis and New Orleans.

Sam's boyhood home and the infamous white-washed fence still stand as they did more than a century ago. Our town has enough festivals and parades to fill an entire calendar year, including a 4th of July celebration, which hosts a white-washing fence contest.

Sam's boyhood home. Notice the white picket fence. It does exist!

Have you fulfilled your childhood dream? Did you ever con anyone in to helping you do chores? My dream job was a toss up between an archaeologist, a detective or a writer.

A to Z Challenge: B is for Molly Brown

Did you know Hannibal is the birthplace of the Unsinkable Molly Brown? Her real name was Margaret "Maggie" Tobin. The feisty redhead was born in Hannibal on July 18, 1867. She left for Colorado when she was nineteen years old where she met and married J.J. Brown.

After leaving her daughter safely behind in England, Maggie boarded the Titanic on April 15, 1912. She was on her way back to Hannibal to visit her ill brother. Her fascinating rags-to-riches story is truly inspirational.

Rumor has it she met Mark Twain while waiting tables at The Park Hotel (has since burned down) in Hannibal. She was a great fan of his books. She dedicated the Tom and Huck statue at the foot of the lighthouse here in town. Her childhood home is only a five minute walk from Mark Twain's home.

Maggie "Molly" Brown's Birthplace

I grew up just across the Big River in a small town in Illinois. Do you miss your hometown? What was your nickname as a child? Mine was/is "little red" given to me by my dad.

AtoZ Challenge: A is for All Aboard & April's IWSG: Anxious

Are you ready to climb aboard this AtoZ Challenge with me? Let's explore America's Hometown together. The famous fiction writer Mark Twain was born in Florida, MO, on November 30, 1835. But around 1839, he moved to Hannibal, located on the Mississippi River two hours north of St. Louis. Seven years ago, I moved to this sleepy, little town. I'm a former fifth grade teacher turned writer. My two teenage boys give me plenty of material for writing middle-grade fiction.

If you come for a visit, be prepared to see the famous writer's name plastered on every establishment: the Mark Twain Hotel, the Mark Twain Dinette, the Mark Twain Cave, the Mark Twain Museum, the Mark Twain gas station, the Mark Twain bowling alley. You get the idea.















The billboard near the visitor's center reads, "Welcome to Hannibal - Write Your Own Story." So I did. My first upper middle-grade novel FREE RUNNER was published last year and won Honorable Mention in the 2014 Purple Dragonfly Book Awards. I have written three more upper MG novels. Two are part of a contemporary mystery series set in the Midwest and the other one (my personal favorite) is an urban fantasy set in Chicago.

FEELING ANXIOUS:

Today, I bite my nails in anticipation of receiving feedback from my beta-readers and CPs. Without them, I'd be lost and my manuscript wouldn't be nearly as polished. Writing is a community effort. Don't be afraid to show your work to trusted writers and readers. And reciprocate whenever possible. Let's do this together!

AtoZ Theme Reveal: "America's Hometown-Hannibal, MO"

You might be wondering what makes Hannibal, Missouri "America's Hometown." Aren't all small towns nestled along the Mississippi River a piece of American history? What makes this place stand out from the rest? American novelist and humorist, Mark Twain, grew up in Hannibal. His boyhood home is only a stones throw from the Big River. My family has made this place our home for the past seven years.

We will explore Hannibal, Mark Twain's stomping grounds, where all of his real-life shenanigan's took place. You will also learn of a feisty female in history who was born just a half-mile from Mark Twain's home. We'll also talk fiction. After all, Mark Twain was one of the greatest fiction writers of all time. His humor and wit inspire me everyday as as I walk in his footsteps. Hope to see you on April 1st for a fun, photographic journey of Twain's town.

Downtown Hannibal, MO

Are you participating in the AtoZ Challenge? Have you ever visited Hannibal? What's your favorite small town? Thanks for stopping by!

PHOTOS: all photos are mine unless otherwise stated.

March IWSG: Comfort Zone

Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We post the first Wednesday of every month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

I crossed the finish line this past month, writing my first ever upper, middle-grade urban fantasy. Now, it rests in the hands of my CP's and beta readers. I'm already receiving an overwhelming amount of positive feedback! This past fall, I stepped out of my comfort zone to try my hand at writing an urban fantasy which is 50% contemporary and 50% fantasy (where magical elements aren't the norm) and it's set in a city, hence the word, urban. For a genre I've never written before, this means the world to me!!

I may only ever write UF fiction for the rest of my life. NO I don't write about vampires and werewolves or zombies, unless you count the zombie-like MC waking up in the middle of the night. It's something new and fresh and derived from my overactive imagination and my love for sci-fi and all things retro. I will be pitching it as Night at the Museum meets The Matrix.

I'm looking forward to the AtoZ Blogging Challenge next month where I will also be a Sidekick for the contest. This time I'm getting ahead of the game by writing my posts in the month of March. As far as my theme, I will leave you with a hint in the form of a question:

What famous author grew up on the Mississippi River?

Have you ever written out of your comfort zone? Do you trust your work to CP's and beta readers? Are you participating in the AtoZ Blogging Challenge next month? Hope to see you there!

Photo: mine (notice my daughter playing in the fountain!)

February IWSG: Suprises

Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We post the first Wednesday of every month! http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/p/the-insecure-writers-support-group.html

I hate surprises in life. Probably because most of the time they sound like this: "Mom, the car has a flat tire." "Mom, the car won't start. "Mom, I have the flu." "Mom, I need twenty bucks by tomorrow for (fill in the blank)." The worst one is when coach calls me, "Your son, (pick one) broke his (fill in the blank), or has a concussion, needs stitches."

Surprises in writing, movies and t.v. series are a whole other story. I love to be surprised when it comes to a good book or my fave show. For example, my new found appreciation for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has surprised me more than once. (Spoiler Alert!!) When Agent Grant Ward stands up, ready to shoot his psychopathic SO, John Garret, instead, he aims the gun at Shield's President Victoria Hand and pulls the trigger. I figured he kept hidden loyalties to the man that practically raised him, but I didn't see that coming. Surprise.


With my finished WIP, my characters have continually surprised me, leading me down unexpected paths. I like to keep myself guessing when writing. Will this character turn out good or is he lost forever? Will he get what he wants in the end? Will he sacrifice people and friendships along the way?

I just read a quote recently: (Summarizing it) "If you are not surprised as the writer of your story, you can bet your readers (yawn) won't be either."I purposefully try to do the opposite of the norm. I even ask myself, "What would be totally unexpected in this scene?" Surprise the reader and you will hook them for sure. I hope this month is full of great surprises in your writing pursuits.

How have you added surprise elements in your story? Think of your favorite books and shows. What surprises did they have up their sleeves?

P.S. I did get a nice surprise yesterday. My oldest son is now ranked 6th in division 3 (weight class-182 #s) Missouri High School wrestling. 

Photo: courtesy of free photos.