Shannon here: Donna Schlachter shares her inspiration for her Historical Romance, A Fresh Start for Elizabeth. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing for a digital copy. Deadline: Nov 30th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Donna:
Tuberculosis, Colorado, and Cold Weather
In recent years, tuberculosis, or TB as it is better known, has been almost eradicated in the western world. The disease is caused by a bacterium that can settle in the lungs and grow, eventually causing death if untreated.
Despite progress in modern medicine, however, the disease is still threatening the health of many, particularly the poor and those without access to good medical care. And with increased global travel, the next outbreak could be as near as your travel plans.
For example, did you know that:
- China, Brazil, and Kenya rank amongst the countries with the highest incidence of TB? Thankfully, Cambodia and the Russian Federation have dropped off this list.
- Around 9,600 cases of TB were reported in the US in 2023? However, the number of deaths has rapidly dropped to around 200, down from over five thousand in 1970.
- The three best ways to avoid contracting the disease are good ventilation; natural light; and good hygiene. Tuberculosis can remain suspended in the air for several hours with no ventilation. UV light kills off TB bacteria. And good hygiene: covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing reduces the spread of TB bacteria.
While we should always practice good hygiene and hand-washing, get as much fresh air as possible, and make sure our living, work, and recreational spaces are well-ventilated, it is also encouraging to know that with medicine, particularly antibiotics, our risk of death is much lower than it was fifty years ago.
A Fresh Start for Elizabeth is set during a time when tuberculosis was spread easily due to crowded living conditions, poor hygiene and sanitation, and a lack of knowledge about both the cause and the cure. Many hospitals began, particularly in Colorado, because high altitude, clean air, and cold temperatures were thought to aid in recovery. My research turned up pictures of patients buried in snow drifts up to their necks, wearing little beyond long underwear.
Sanitariums were set up to quarantine the sick, but as treatments were mostly unsuccessful, most died. There was such a sanitorium in Boulder, and I used that as the setting for this story. The solution to the problem, which Elizabeth discovers in the recipe box handed down through generations of women in her family, is fictional, although many of the ingredients were used to address common ailments of the day, including fever, rash, and wound healing.
Question for Readers: What sliver of history that you’ve come across fascinates you the most and why?
About Donna: A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 60 times in books; is a member of several writers’ groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both, and is an avid oil painter. She is taking all the information she’s learned along the way about the writing and publishing process, and is coaching committed writers.
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About the book – A Fresh Start for Elizabeth: A chef who bakes up a storm while living a lie, a
research scientist whose faith is in what he sees—can they discover the truth about themselves—and reveal a murderer?
Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win? Need extra copies for Christmas gifts? Interested in the rest of the Recipe Box series or Donna’s other titles?
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A Fresh Start for Elizabeth The Recipe Box series Donna’s Books
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