It never fails. Just when I’m unsure I have another blog in me, a new inspiration floats in. Today it is a memory about a set of glass goblets, and the Oregonian’s front page story celebrating 175 years since its birth. Today’s Oregonian article celebrates the anniversary of the first printing of the Oregonian. That achievement pre-dates Oregon’s 1859 statehood. In that earliest issue, its four pages depended on supplies and equipment to be delivered from San Francisco. All the details about this are quite fascinating, so I encourage you to read today’s Oregonian article.

The article, however, also returns me to slightly later history. And oh – yes, it’s lovely when it too relates to the writing caught within my own books. When I first published My Music Man in 2017, I had no idea that my short introduction to Henry Pittock might carry on into a later book; fiction at that!

“The Pittock Mansion, originally the home of the founder of the Portland newspaper the Oregonian, even today boasts forty-six rooms and magnificent views of Portland below.” (Chapter 1: A Lover of Rivers, My Music Man).

I have several times reread, too, the unpublished 1922 diary of my second great-grandfather, J.K. Gill, using a quote here and there in prior blogs. I expect to speak with a distant family member over the holidays about finding this diary a final resting place, perhaps at the Oregon Historical Society. In the meantime, J.K.’s scribed pages of involvement with the Columbia River Paper Company have informed me about its beginnings, including this introduction captured in the typed copy of his diary below. The mill was created, of course, to be a local newsprint provider for the Oregonian.

And so, as I was in the midst of crafting A Map of Her Own, it made sense to have newly created character Emma work at the then Columbia River Paper Company’s paper bag factory. I had an early first idea of adding J.K. Gill’s wife (my second great grandmother Frances) into the story, but quickly realized that was taking my family roots a bit too far. I reminded myself how the earlier timeline chapters were written from Emma’s point of view – she a fictional character born in ~1894 Camas. Instead, I threw in a couple family history “Easter eggs” from both Celia’s 2025 perspective, and Emma’s in 1915. Oh, and if you’re observant, you may notice I chose the name “Frances” for Emma’s sophisticated Portland friend, no relation of course to Frances Gill.

While A Map of Her Own is a work of dual timeline fiction, like other historical fiction authors, I did try to be authentic to the history of our Pacific Northwest. I have to admit, it was a fun challenge to include enough detail to do that without – I hope – weighing down the storyline. So far, the feedback I’ve gotten has been positive on this point. What do you think? (Hint: you should read it if you haven’t.) Later today I’m meeting with my first (virtual) book group to discuss A Map of Her Own, and am looking forward to asking this question!

While my brain can be scattered, I too often find a connection for the thoughts spinning inside. I could have gone off on the power of freedom of the press and the current risks and losses we are beginning to experience. Instead, I’m veering to a story I was reminded about this week from my eldest second cousin, she too a descendent of J.K. and Chloe and William. A number of years ago she passed on to me a set of glass goblets for me to hold until the time when (if?) my daughters want them. We use them as water glasses on special occasions, as we did last week for Thanksgiving. And yes, the story is rather remarkable, as the goblets traveled with Chloe Clark Willson during her return trip to Salem from Massachusetts sometime in the early 1860s. Yes, the same era of the beginnings of the Oregonian. (Need a family history primer? Shortly after Chloe’s husband William died abruptly in 1856, she returned to the east coast with her three young daughters –including Frances. Young J.K. Gill was then a border in her house. Within a few years she returned to Salem – J.K. followed not long after…) Want more of those early stories? You really should read My Music Man – it’s also in audiobook now too!)

And with that? A few takeaways. Support journalism and the importance of the press as a watchdog over power, supporting democracy and keeping us informed. Keep reading! And support local authors and institutions. You can easily do the latter by joining us this Sunday, December 7 from noon to 4 pm at the Oregon Historical Society’s annual Holiday Cheer. See you there?