Ghost Towns

There are a lot of ghost towns in the southwestern United States. Many of those towns were once thriving mining communities that were abandoned when the mining material (copper, ore, gold) went dry.

My older son is working on a report over winter break about ghost towns. For a true being-there experience (all right, maybe it wasn’t exactly true with all the commercialism), we went to historic Goldfield, Arizona to give him a taste of life in the 1800s and what a ghost town looks like up close and personal.

 I had to take a picture of this since my YA novel, Superstitions, features the legend of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine. Has absolutely nothing to do with his report.

Doc Holiday's dress coat, which was actually acquired from Tombstone, AZ. He seemed to be a smallish man. 

The beautiful Superstition Mountains. On a side note, I've been rock climbing out there. I still haven't found the Lost Dutchman Mine, though. Maybe because it's not 100 feet above the ground. 

A mining town wouldn't be a mining town without a bordello, right? Looks like someone is trying to drum up some business on the stairs. 

After visiting the bordello, it's important to go to church (which is basically next door). 

I also took some pictures of the boys (and the boys eating ice cream), but my older son has given me the kid version of a cease and desist order when it comes to posting pictures of him on my blogs. 

All in all (aside from my laryngitis and slight lethargy), it was a productive day with beautiful weather. 

Have you been to any ghost towns? If so, which ones?

Jacob Waltz

I realize some of you may be saying to yourselves, “Who in the world is that?” So I'll tell you.

Jacob Waltz is THE main person associated with the famous Lost Dutchman Mine in the Superstition Mountains just outside of Phoenix. Legend claims that Waltz located a rich Apache Indian Mine. Some versions of the story state it was first located by Miguel Peralta, but he was attacked and massacred by the Apaches. Waltz is said to have known the location, but he only told one person during a death bed confession.

The Lost Dutchman Mine has drawn countless people in search of a fortune. It has also been the source of many mysterious deaths—often attributed to an Apache curse. While deaths have surrounded the search for the mine, anyone venturing into the Superstitions will know the terrain probably played a part in those untimely deaths.

So why do I even care about Jacob Waltz and the mine? Aside from the fact that it is a pretty intriguing story—and people truly believe it exists—it forms the basis of my latest YA WIP (work in progress). A major character, Alexander, goes in search of the mine, pulling the main character (Ellie) into the legend, too. The search for the mine proves to be a diversion for both characters from their unhappy realities. Jacob Waltz plays a minor role in the novel, as well.

On a separate note, I need to give a shout out to my older son, Justin. I know it is obvious and absurd to write this, but I absolutely love this kid! I have the best boys ever!

(he's almost seven now)

And I should probably mention my supportive husband, Jeff, too. He has encouraged me and helped me live out my writing dream for many years now. But I am quite sure he does not want his picture displayed here :-)