A Wicked Welcome to Barbara Schlichting. Barb and I knew each other from the Guppies, and from Facebook, but we got to visit in person a couple of times this year, first at Left Coast Crime in February, and then at Malice Domestic in May. She sat at my table during the Agatha Banquet, and I was so glad that she did. She is funny, kind, and wicked excited about her publishing debut.
I’m thrilled to welcome her to the blog today, and hear more about the path she followed to write her new First Lady Mystery series.
Whatever made me think of writing about the First Ladies, let alone come up with a mystery surrounding them? How could an item that was lost over two-hundred years ago become a modern day mystery? I used my imagination.
I’ve always loved American history. The early years of our republic were colorful. How could the First Ladies manage? They needed recognition and praise. I got a ‘bee’ in my ‘bonnet’ and decided it was time for me to write the living First Ladies and request a picture plus an autograph. It should be easy. At the time, it seemed like it should be an easy task. I thought of a few options. My first thought was to send a letter requesting an autograph. I slid a self-stamped addressed envelope inside of the letter. Before you knew it, First Lady Rosalynn Carter sent me a photo plus her signature. I was elated. I never expected that. My letters were returned from the two First Lady Bush’s. I stepped up my request by asking for a picture plus the signature, found another address for First Ladies Laura and Barbara Bush and Hillary Clinton. Since Mrs. Reagan hadn’t responded, I sent another letter to the same address. All total there were at least four letters of request sent to each First Lady. Eventually I received a beautiful picture of Barbara Bush of which she personally autographed in calligraphy as well as a letter. Laura Bush sent a signed picture. Nancy Reagan sent a photo of her and the president. Hillary Clinton was a bit of a challenge because she was Secretary of State at the time and hard to track down. Eventually I received three photos of Mrs. Clinton: First Lady, Mr. and Mrs. Clinton, and as Secretary of State.
Then one day, I thought our mailman was going to have a heart attack. He honked his horn all the way down the driveway, jumped from the car, and raced to our door waving a large yellow envelope and shouting, “The White House! The White House! You have a letter from the White House!”
Indeed. Enclosed was a letter on White House stationary from First Lady Michelle Obama with her signature plus a signed photo.
I had a relationship with the First Ladies.
It was my duty to shine the light on our beloved First Ladies. The question I asked myself was; who was my favorite?
Dolley Madison was at the top of the list. I loved that she climbed up on the roof of the White House with a spy glass and watched for the British soldiers. She chewed tobacco. Imbibed a bit too much. Had a parakeet or parrot, and probably talked to it plus wore a turban with bird flowers. She was a real person. She loved everyone. There had to be a mystery surrounding her, right?
Of course!
The title of the Star Spangled Banner easily translated to THE BLOOD SPANGLED BANNER, and my first book was born. I always felt sorry for Mary Lincoln. I thought she got a bum-rap from the press after her husband was assassinated. What horrible circumstances she had to live through. When I discovered that Mr. Lincoln gave a speech called, ‘the lost speech’, I had my hook. Couldn’t Mary have hidden it? WORDS CAN KILL will also be published at the end of the summer by Darkhouse Books.
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Barbara Schlichting was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota where her First Ladies Mystery Series is set. Barbara graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1970. Later, she and her husband moved their family to Bemidji. She attended Bemidji State University where she earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in elementary education and special education. Barbara has been married for forty-four years and has two grown sons who have blessed her with five grandchildren and one great grandson. Barbara has been known to travel too much, and read while not paying attention to her husband. However she has had an English penpal for over fifty years.
Barbara Schlichting can be found on the web, on Facebook, and on Twitter.
Another entry for my definitely read pile! History and mystery make such a compelling combination.
Thank you! It’s a fun way to learn about history without having to study!
Enjoy! And thank you for the response. It’s a fun way to learn about history.
I’m SO happy for you, Barb! And I can’t wait to dive into the series.
Thanks, Edith! Let me know how you like it.
Another series for my t-b-r list . Thanks.
Thanks! Enjoy! It’s a great way to learn a little bit about history.
What a wonderful concept! Can’t wait to read these! I LOVE the way your mind works, Barbara.
Thanks, Carol! Let me know how you like it. It was fun to write.
Love the premise of your book, Barb! And I had a Korean pen pal in the fifth grade. I’m impressed you’ve had one for fifty years!
Vickie, you should try and look your penfriend up on Facebook. Why not? I had sent some genealogy stuff to Norway, and, of course, had the wrong person. However, the person who responded invited me to come for a visit. She brought me to meet relatives and I saw where my great-grandparents came from. You never know what will happen. But, Chris in England, has changed my life and me, hers.
Thanks for the response.
I love first ladies too and the exhibit at the American History Museum in DC is one of my favorites! Congratulations on your new series!
I loved the one with the inauguration dresses!
Thank you. I loved that exhibit, also. They are special. No matter what you think of the president or politics in general, they are amazing women, and have done an awful lot for this country.
Welcome to the Wicked Cozies, Barb. First Lady is such a weird role, and one that has, no doubt, evolved over time. I can’t wait to see what you’ve done to it.
From one Barbara to another–thanks! It is a weird role, and one I personally wouldn’t want, but they all seem to make the best of it and do miss the White House after their role is finished.
I can’t wait to dive into The Blood Spangled Banner. It’s next up on my TBR list. Congratulations, Barb!
Thanks, Cheryl. I couldn’t have done all of this without your support. You’re very good to me.
Sure hope I get to review this for Suspense magazine. Sounds like a great read and I love the premise behind the series!
Susan, thank you. If you’d like, I can send you a copy of the book. Just email me. I’d love a review from you, you’re very sweet. schlichtingbarb@gmail.com
Hi, Barbara — Congratulations!! I’m thrilled that you’ve published your First Ladies book. It sounds really interesting, and I am looking forward to reading it. Wishing you continuing success with your writing.
Thank you Grace. It’s been a long time, but well worth it. Let me know what you think of it.
Barb, you have a lot of material to mine: history + the White House + dresses + murder + women in such an unusual role.
I agree with Barb Ross’s comment that the role of the First Lady is a strange one and, as such, is fascinating.
Thank you Ramona. I appreciate you. I don’t envy any of the First Ladies, but they sure have changed history in many ways.
I somehow missed that you were an author when we meet at Julie’s table at Malice. I love history as well as mystery, so this sounds like a must read for me.
Mark, thank you. We were all so busy talking and enjoying the evening. Malice is such a great conference. Enjoy the read!
My degree is in History, so I love historically based mysteries. I can’t wait to read “The Blood Spangled Banner”!