Polly Bemis - an Idaho Pioneer

Of all the pioneers in Idaho, I would have to say Polly Bemis (or Lalu Nathoy or Hathoy) is one of the most interesting. She was born in China in 1853.  As a child, her feet were bound in what was termed "golden lotuses." Times were hard and her impoverished family sold her to bandits for 2 bags of seed.  She was ultimately shipped to San Francisco where she was sold for $2,500 to Hong King, a saloon owner in Warrens, a mining camp in Idaho, as a prostitute, though it is uncertain whether Polly actually worked as a prostitute or Hong King kept her for his concubine. Charlie Bemis, a resident of Warrens, became her protector and eventually they lived together and then married.  Speculation is that it  may have been a marriage of convenience - Polly took care of Charlie and in return, she was saved from deportation.  They later moved to a spread on the Salmon River where they were known for their hospitality.   Charlie Bemis died and Polly ran the ranch by herself for several years. Polly died in 1933 from injuries sustained a fall

In 1991, a fictionalized account of Polly's life, a movie entitled "Thousand Pieces of Gold" was released.  Though lacking in many ways the true account of Polly's life, it did symbolize the plight of many Chinese women who were smuggled into the United States for the purpose of prostitution.
The Polly Bemis Ranch is a designated national historic site.


For more information on this amazing woman:
http://www.answers.com/topic/polly-bemis
http://pollybemis.org/
http://www.mccunn.com/PollyPic.html

At Linda LaRoque's Wonderful Site today.

Linda LaRoque has a wonderful blog spot, always something interesting happening there.  Stop by today and visit with me and perhaps win an e-copy of Will o' the Wisp.  Thanks.


Patsy

Blogging today re: Riley's Journey

I'm at 99cent EBOOKS today visiting about Riley's Journey.  Come by if you have a chance and visit.


Patsy 

Patsy's Amazing Author Blog Tour

Welcome to my portion of the Amazing Author’s Blog Event.  A group of author friends are sharing our stories and at the end of the event, a nice prize package awaits.  Keep track and be ready to answer some easy questions which will appear at Ginger Simpson’s blog as the last contributor. A great way to get some new reading material.

My short story, Will o’ the Wisp, is my contribution to the winning package.

Blurb:

Stalked across the vast reaches of the universe, Tannis, the last fecund female of the clan Light Bringers, takes refuge on Earth, veiling herself within the dying form of a human female. Her energy forces are flagging and to rejuvenate, she must seek the healing properties of the sun’s rays, but by doing so, she risks discovery by the hunter. Time is short and Kadin—the most feared assassin of all—draws near!

Excerpt:

The hunt had led him to this place. A primitive planet on the outskirts of a distant galaxy. He’d arrived ahead of the pack, confident his subtle pointers would lead the others in the wrong direction. Convinced he’d caught up with Tannis at last, he’d come upon her at the moment she’d entered the host body, seeking to mask her presence. Such was the act of desperation, born of her inexperience and misguided information. Her energies pulsed bright and compelling, far too tangible to hide in the husk of the former occupant.

His lips curved in a self-deprecating smile. He could heal the female body with a simple touch. The shell’s hold on life was tenuous but if Tannis flew, the hunt would commence again. He grew tired of the hunt, tired of the unending frustrations. Now he wanted closure, craved an ending. But until he caught her, it was not to be.

He glanced down. A single human male also watched the vehicle’s progress. When the transport disappeared from his line of sight, the human turned, starting up an overgrown pathway into a wooded area.  Kadin touched on the human’s mind, taking in information at light speed.

Buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Will-o-the-Wisp-ebook/dp/B0060M0QU6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326557858&sr=8-1

Next stop on the blog tour event (January 18):  S.G. Rogers, http://childofyden.wordpress.com/

Patsy 

Can Sins be Absolved?

Are we fated by the sins of our fathers?  Can we be absolved from sins we didn't realize we committed?  I delve into these questions in my novel Absolution.  Chloe is a vampire who doesn't realize she's a vampire.  In the past, she was protected. In the present, she is hunted.

Excerpt:

 “I canst not move,” she objected. “Ye hast made movement impossible.”

Chloe reached up, moving the gauze just enough to allow breathing.

“Now you messed it up.” Earl re-adjusted the layer, leaving it slightly looser.

“I be barely able to see,” Chloe complained. “Doest ye believe such will work?”

“I think it will, but what about these?” Benny fingered her long tresses. “Won’t they get suspicious if her hair’s not burned off?”

“’Tis very thin,” Chloe murmured, “and p’raps they will think the fire be the cause.”

“Good point! Maybe if we pull it up and wrap it around her head, they won’t even notice it. Her face’s enough to scare ‘em away anyway.”

“For gawd’s sake, Benny!  Is your mouth attached to your brain?”

Chloe’s lips twisted in a wry smile. “’Tis well Benny reminds me often, else I might fall into the sin of vanity.”

“Well, I’ve been paying attention, and believe me, you’re getting better. There are actually places where skin’s starting to form. That has to be good!” Earl reached for a jug of blood. “While I’m thinking about it, you better drink some more of this before you go to sleep.”

Benny’s stomach gurgled loudly. “How about us? When do we eat?”

“I be pleased to share.” Chloe’s voice rang with amusement, much to Benny’s chagrin.

Shuddering exaggeratedly, he poked a finger down his throat and gagged. “Forget it!Yuck!”

With Earl’s assistance, Chloe managed to mince her way to the SUV, but getting in was another matter. Between the two of them, Earl and Benny loaded her into the back, taking care to tuck the tent around her once again. Their voices came muffled through the layers and Chloe felt as if she were in another world. Truth be known, she was in

another world, unlike any she’d ever imagined. How was she going to fit into this strange place? 

Buy Link:  http://www.eternalpress.biz/book.php?isbn=9781615723164

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004QGYCA8/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d0_g351_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=16W78E3NFP9XYAVJKN4V&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

Stepping into 2012

I start 2012 in my 60th year!  Pretty much a milestone in anyone’s life.  I used to think 60 was old, but I don’t feel old!  I still enjoy life and look forward to life’s events.  I admit I don’t bend as easily as I used to and certain parts of my body tend to ache at times, but in general, I’m in here kicking.  I am thankful that my family is still here, my parents, my siblings, my children and grandchild and that we enjoy not a wealthy life, but we have what we need. 

Part of me fears the future.  What will happen this year? Hopefully, good things.  I try to keep in mind that no matter what, today is the first day of the rest of my life.  I have the opportunity to make changes for the good. 

Patsy