Author: Rebecca Royer
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Writing Women Back into History
When I created Jane’s grandmother, I wanted her to symbolize the strength and quiet courage woven through women’s history. What I discovered in the world of abolitionists amazed me. While… .
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The Great Black Jockeys
In shaping Peter of Chasing Freedom into a character who loves animals and finds his place as a stable boy, I dug deeply into the history of horse racing in… .
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Congressman Cutler and Macaroni
One of the most interesting figures I stumbled upon while researching the Myers Tavern at Matildaville was Congressman Manasseh Cutler. His published journals contain one of the few surviving references… .
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Welcome Readers
Chasing Freedom is just beginning its journey into the world, and I’m so grateful for everyone who has picked up a copy, shared a supportive word, or entered the world… .
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Tobacco was everywhere in 1801 Virginia — I didn’t include this in the book
One of the unexpected facts I uncovered while writing Chasing Freedom was just how much tobacco Virginians chewed in 1801. Not just smoked and snuffed – but chewed and chewed… .
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The year was 1802. The gift was cheese. A lot of cheese.
In 1802, a group of proud Baptist farmers in Cheshire, Connecticut, crafted a 1,235‑pound wheel of cheese and carted it all the way to the President’s House in Washington City.… .
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Tavern Life in 1801
Sometimes, the most important insights for writing historical fiction come from immersing yourself in the places and spaces of the past. Last year, I visited the Rising Sun Tavern in… .
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Character Spotlight: Addie Myers
Today’s spotlight shines on Addie Myers, a young woman whose quiet strength and tender heart anchor some of the most emotional moments in Chasing Freedom. Addie’s story begins in loss.… .
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A Methodist Woman I Never Heard Of—But Who Made History
Dorothy Ripley’s journey from England to Washington reshaped my understanding of early American Methodism. Through her narratives, I discovered a movement that was far more radical, mobile, and socially disruptive… .
