In my new release, The Lacemaker, I dedicated the book to a female patriot in my family lineage and am bursting my buttons that I could do so! The centuries since Susanna Thorne Hightower lived have left little about her though I long for a diary or letters. She has such a novel-worthy name! George HIghtower is the patriot that opened the door for me to realize a long held dream and join the DAR. My grandmother became a DAR member in the 1950’s but I have not been able to follow in her footsteps till now and join the Berea-Laurel Ridges Chapter here in Kentucky. With the release of my most patriotic book to date, my involvement with the DAR seems heavensent.
Early in December I had my new member induction and pledge. Then the day before Christmas I received my pins from Hamilton Insignia. New members wear a ribbon and three pins though state pins are available, too, in addition to many others that make wonderful gifts.
Why did I recently join the DAR, you might ask? Instead of being some outmoded, frivolous organization, I was struck by their commitment to veterans, their dedication to preserving history, and their involvement in many projects that are both patriotic and practical and enrich the lives of so many nationwide and around the world. There are many facets to the DAR I’ve not yet discovered but I’ve begun a wonderful journey and am very thankful for the accomplished, devoted women in my chapter as well as state and national.
I’ve put the DAR museum in Washington DC on my bucket list. And I’m heading to the state convention in March here in KY. Hope to see any fellow KSDAR members there!
Be the first to receive writing updates, try her favorite recipes, and get her FREE guide: 10 Beloved Books (that inspire me professionally and personally).
Very Interesting! Lovely connection with history!
Well said, Jeanne! Such a divinely timed opportunity. Very thankful!
Hello Laura! Congratulation on your induction into the DAR. This has been a desire that I share with you. I just haven’t had the time to do the reasearch yet. Thank you for sharing your accomplishment.
Tammy, I’d so love to have you as a DAR sis! Given I only have a brother, I don’t say that lightly :). It took me about 6 months to reach the point of submitting my application and the DAR detectives as I call them did most of the work as well as the amazingly savvy registrar of our own chapter. Really exciting to walk this new DAR road!
That’s great, Laura! Mother had many DAR friends in her day, but she herself was associated with DUV, or Daughter of Union Veterans. cot
Clyde, That’s fascinating to me as I did not know about that organization but what a worthy one! We were just watching a segment of Ken Burn’s Civil War documentary recently and saw old film of the remaining Union veterans. So moving!
Congratulations on your induction into DAR!!
So blessed by your support, Trisha! Getting ready to delight readers with those hand-crafted bookmarks. Heartfelt thanks to you and your sis again! Am wanting to do something to thank her in return!
Congratulations!!! What fun news. 😊
What a perfect match…you and DAR!
Truly, Nicole, God has great timing and a sense of humor about all this! Maybe someday I’ll tell the story behind this story of my getting in. Novel-worthy :). So appreciate your presence here.
I know the DAR is blessed to have you! 💛
Aw, thank you, Stacey. I feel so blessed to have them. Truly a whole new world has opened up and they even love to read! 🙂
Such a beautiful Privilege Laura I would think it will open new Opportunities! where you can be a blessing too!
Love that you saw this and are so gracious about this new chapter of mine in real life! Thanks so much for being here, Mary Jill!
Oh, my, what a delightful bit of “serendipity” to join the DAR. (Translated God-appointment!) Congratulations on another step into history. Reading Lacemaker, I hoped for a bit of a map of the line between fiction and history ~ even more knowing your relationship. Hope to hear that story someday! Love your fifth great-grandmother’s name. It’s lovely.
Love that serendipity, Mary Kay! Truly, that it is! Oddly enough, I have six aunts who didn’t join the DAR and follow in their mother’s, my Mamaw’s, footsteps so it skipped a generation. Happy you think Susanna’s name is lovely, too. I couldn’t have dreamed up a better one for a novel if I’d tried! Now to do her fine name justice 🙂
I’m thrilled to see that this came to fruition for you, Laura! Way to persevere with the process!
Thank you, Jocelyn! Worth every minute of the wait :). And they even have a recommended reading list for historical fiction. Smitten!
Congratulations, Laura, on your membership into the DAR, and welcome! I am also a member of the DAR, the General Smallwood Chapter in Baltimore, MD. My chapter has been talking about a book club, and I suggested an historical fiction book club. I just submitted some book titles to our regent — of course I included The Colonel’s Lady and The Lacemaker — so we can discuss some books to read at our next meeting.
I am in awe of the fortitude and perseverance it took our ancestors to fight the Revolutionary War, knowing that if they lost, they would be hung for treason and their families would be destitute. We share this heritage of brave patriots who were willing to risk their lives and their fortunes so their descendants would be free.
My Patriot is on my father’s side of the family, a private in the Army from Charlottesville (Albemarle Co) Virginia. I’m so glad my sister just submitted her paperwork and documentation, and she’s waiting to hear from the DAR HQ. It was easy for her — the DAR genies and I did all of the work. lol!
Happy New Year! Looking forward to reading your A Bound Heart.
Dear Sharon, Oh, I’m so delighted by your own rich family history and DAR ties! Such a historic state you’re in, too. And huge, heartfelt thanks for recommending my books in your start-up of a chapter book club. That sounds like a wonderful group to bring to life, full of like-minded history buffs and so much more! Kentucky has a state reading list and I was thrilled to find The Lacemaker on it for 2018. I hope you enjoy A Bound Heart very much. It truly is a work of my heart and heritage. Like you, I am in awe of all that our ancestors/forefathers did in America’s founding and all that they had to lose or lost. That’s one of the reasons I love the DAR so much – keeping that history relevant and alive so we don’t lose sight of why we have so many freedoms today. I could go on and on…
Your sis will sure enjoy the fruits of your labors 🙂 I had hoped to come in via my paternal grandmother but she had been red-lined as they say and so it took about six months for us to find a new line. I had the blessing of a chapter registrar who is an incredible genealogist who worked tirelessly on my application. I could not have done it without Wanda. Eternally grateful!
If you’d like for me to send bookmarks or anything of that nature once your club is up and running, I’d be happy to do that. For now, it means so much that you stopped here. I treasure your comments and am thrilled we’re both DAR members!
Happy 2019 to you and yours!