Karen: What hidden talent do you possess outside of writing…something you do for fun, but are good at?
Kaye: Other than I occasionally play the harmonica for the entertainment and amusement of mygrandchildren, I have no hidden talents. I don’t have hobbies. I’m not artistic. I don’t know if I call it ‘fun’, as it’s more of an obsession/necessity, but I feed and provide shelter for feral cats and kittens in my neighborhood. When I’m able to tame them just enough to trap them (live trap or entice them into a pet carrier), I have them neutered, give them rabies vaccinations, and turn them loose. It’s a good day when I find a home for a kitten or a mama and her babies.
Karen: A hero for feral cats. I love it. I call that a hidden special talent.
What are you working on now?
Kaye: I’m nearly finished with a historical romantic suspense novel that begins with the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre—February 14, 1929. The title is ‘Chicago Lightning’.
Karen: I recently went to the Mob Museum in Las Vegas and they had the actual brick wall from that horrible day. I'm curious to know more about your tale.
Have you ever been to a Ghost Town? If so, tell the readers your experience there. If not, where would you like to visit and why?
Kaye: I’ve been to several ghost towns. I must have chosen ho-hum ghost towns to visit, because reading the history of the town was the most interesting part. However, my favorite place to visit, which I don’t get to do as often as I’d like because of the distance, is the open-air museum in Fairplay, Colorado. This museum is a ghost town visitor’s dream come true.
This museum in Fairplay is called ‘South Park City’. It was started in 1959 as a way to preserve the memories of the boom towns and camps of the gold rush years in the South Park valley (8900 square miles). Gold was discovered in South Park in 1859. When the rush was over, the people moved on and all that remained were remnants of what had been.
South Park City is a collection of buildings and artifacts from those early mining towns. Other than the seven buildings that stand where they were built on the street of the museum, all of the other buildings were brought in from the ghost towns and abandoned camps in the valley and restored to their original form.
There are exhibits and buildings with the historic contents displayed inside: doctor’s office, stage stop, livery, blacksmith, a homestead, depot with narrow gauge train, court house, cabin, brewery, laundry, newspaper office, bank, saloon, residential home, morgue and carpenter building, transportation shed, a trapper’s cabin, general store, ranger station, barber shop, assay office, and a school house.
It is an amazing place to spend a day. I make it there every few years, and I’m never disappointed. There is always something new (old?) to experience.
Thank you, Kaye, for being here today and sharing a little bit about yourself. Readers, feel free to leave a comment or ask a question. Kaye would love to hear from you. Have you ever been to a ghost town?
About GIVE MY LOVE TO ROSE:
A deputy U. S. marshal comes upon a dying man and finds unexpected love when he carries out the man’s last request.
Enjoy a Snippet:
“I’m going east to Dodge City to pick up documents, and then I’ll head to Colorado. I’ll take the train when I can and ride my horse otherwise.”
“That would be good for Jason. He needs to see life beyond the boundaries of this ranch and Wickers. He can’t want what he can’t imagine, and I want him to imagine endless possibilities.”
“Is that the only reason you want him to go with me?”
“No. If you take Jason with you that means you’ll come back when you bring him home.” Slowly, she shifted her gaze to look at him. “Jason going with you is my gift to him. You returning is my gift to me.”
Rose’s dark eyes shined with emotion he was sure he’d never see in a woman’s eyes after Sadie died. It was the unguarded wish of a shared future all tied up with a pretty love-colored bow. Hastily, she dropped her gaze which, he decided, was the best thing for both of them. He didn’t believe in love at first sight. Hell. He didn’t even know if he had the capacity to love again. What he did know, though, was he suddenly didn’t want to leave in the morning.
About the Author:
Native Coloradoan Kaye Spencer lives in a small, rural town located in the heart of the infamous Dust Bowl area of the 1930s. While drawn to cowboys and the Old West, all genres and time periods are within her story-creating realm. Reading Louis L’Amour’s westerns, listening to Marty Robbins’ gunfighter ballads, watching the classic television westerns, and growing up on a cattle ranch all inspired her love of the American Old West—truths and myths alike. Kaye retired from a career in education, which allows her the time to write full-time and as well as spend time with her grandchildren.
You can find the Kaye at:
Love me some 'South Park City'. It is a great place. I love that about Colorado,you have so many great places to visit, study and write about. Doris
ReplyDeleteDoris,
ReplyDelete*sigh* South Park City... My favorite place.
I love the harmonica! And I do agree with you: discovering the history of a ghost town is what makes the place interesting. Otherwise, without the historical context, you are only looking at abandoned shacks. Bravo for your work with feral cats. Do you have to pay for the neutering and vaccinations, or are you part of a group?
ReplyDeleteI pay for the neutering and vaccinations--no groups here in my small, rural town.
DeleteMy maternal grandpa taught me to play the harmonica. I've tried to teach each of my six grandchildren to play, but they haven't caught on. They humor me, though. *wink*
I have never been to a ghost town! South Park City sounds like "the" place to visit. I've never heard of it before, so I'm glad you mentioned it, Kaye! I used to "try" to play the harmonica back in my younger days. I was never very good at it but it always fascinated me. I marveled at the way performers like Bob Dylan and Neil Young could harness up with a harmonica and sing, play the guitar, and the harmonica too. Tallk about some coordination! LOVED Give My Love to Rose, Kaye. That was a really twisty-good story. Really enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteCheryl,
ReplyDeleteMy harmonica playing isn't all that great, but I can blow out a recognizable old folk tune such as My Old Kentucky Home and Shenandoah. I can, however, do a pretty good job with San Antonio Rose. But to play the harmonica and guitar while throwing in singing is way beyond me. lol
I so admire what you do for feral cats, Kaye. That is truly awesome besides kind. As for ghost towns, if I ever get to Colorado, I'm definitely going to South Park. I'm sure a ghost of a story will emerge simply by thinking about your visit to South Park.There are no real "western" ghost towns where I live...just abandoned places when whatever kept a community going, failed. I always enjoy your posts. Happy tales to you.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this interview, Kaye. I play the harmonica, too, not great, but just for fun.
ReplyDeleteI love that you do so much for homeless cats. They are little spirits in need of someone who cares about them the way you do.
I also like your stories and I wish you all the best.