Author: osgoodjeremy@gmail.com

Creating Carved in Granite based on the Legend of Chocorua

Chocorua Lake and Chocorua Mountain sunset

The Process of Writing Historical Fiction Six years of research and late, lonely nights with only your thoughts and doubts, finally came to fruition when I published Carved in Granite: Cornelius Campbell and the legend of Chocorua. It was a humbling journey as I explored early 18th century New England fraught with hostilities and disease on a contested frontier. Here is a brief summary of my process. Here is a behind-the-scenes look at the process of creating Carved in Granite: Cornelius Campbell and the Legend of Chocorua. This image used on the cover was taken back in 2010, captured with my old Canon t1i. I never imagined it would be used for my novel a decade later. <img src=”https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c9e7b772727be5d26d3c4c4/1600806542970-IFDLJ7EBUH410QSVS1QE/May-June2010+1110-1.jpg” alt=”May-June2010 1110-1.jpg” />My original hand drawn map used in the frontispiece, on the left, and the digitized version of the same map that I ended up using, on the right. I created these maps at the completion of the first draft in 2018.Photo of a photo taken back in the 1990’s ice fishing at Chocorua Lake. The fish house in the back was built by my brothers, Grandpa Tinker, and I, at his home in West Ossipee. He was a ridge-runner and storyteller, an inspirational force behind the book, as noted in my Introduction.There is something comforting about writing with pencil and paper. The process allows for a hand-written first draft that is edited into a second draft as you type it into the computer. I have 3 journals filled with the manuscript and 2 notebooks from research, notes and thoughts. I ended up with 7 drafts before the master file was completed.I am a visual writer. Here is a brief snippet on my process of getting thoughts on paper/screen. Visualization is the only way that I know of writing out scenes, picturing the setting, the characters, and then trying to capture the moment in words.  It is also helpful to visualize your characters speaking the dialogue and their body language to see if it makes sense. I’m sure other people have insights into how they like to write, but I wouldn’t get through the first chapter without it.When researching the Campbells in Scotland, I used old maps of Ayrshire and battle maps from the first Jacobite Rebellion to figure out how to approach various scenes.  Old maps and paintings of Portsmouth NH were also a great reference to layout routes for the antagonists as they made their way to the frontier. The old cliche about a picture being worth 1000 words is multiplied by another 1000 when it’s the only insight you have into historical settings.Big Rock Cave in the Sandwich Mountain Range. As Chocorua leaves to confront Atenah and the Mohawks at the Battle of Deer Run Ravine, his family retreats deep into the mountains and Big Rock Cave.The process of writing the book was extremely lonely. Sometimes it felt like working in a box with no windows. It was not until the last six months when I hired Paul Martin from Dominion Editorial that I had an in-depth edit of the manuscript. I also thought it was important to have a cultural editor, so I hired Abenaki author and historian Dr. Joseph Bruchac III to proofread the manuscript and offer cultural and linguistic edits. Freelance editor,Sarah Johansson, helped me break down the first chapter, after I had revised several times, and cut out extraneous research that I over-indulged in. Here are my thoughts on the arduous process of writing the project after completion of the first draft. I was naive enough to think I was actually done back in 2018: “Write that book” scrolls across my screen saver. It’s there every day; a constant reminder, staring back at me after the blue screen of activity gives way to procrastination, frustration or the words become insurmountable walls of gibberish piled on top of each other.  For me, the process was similar to thru-hiking the 2,180 mile Appalachian Trail-only much harder. And just like life on the trail, there comes the point, early on, when the struggle gets real, and you probe your soul to find the answer to some simple questions: Is this worth it to me? Do I want to commit months, even years, of precious time to fulfill this goal?  Why?  Straightforward questions, with loaded answers depending on the circumstances.  And just like that first thirty mile stop on the trail, you can either quit with the majority or persevere because something at your core is telling you to keep going no matter how difficult.   The one thing that I can promise is that your reason for writing will regularly be scrutinized and tested until the very last sentence is written. There will be hundreds of peaks and valleys and some of those icy river crossings where the cold water penetrates into your boots to soak your last pair of dry socks.  There will also come periods of jubilation where the writing takes on a rhythm of its own. When the research, story, and characters come to life in ways that you never imagined.  And in that dimly lit room at 2 am you will eventually reach your trails end, the figurative Mount Katahdin  <img src=”https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c9e7b772727be5d26d3c4c4/1600811196628-XRRF71CON98JYI3DLXL5/BE7A0782-24EE-4C58-8890-DBB5DE720A7E.jpg” alt=”BE7A0782-24EE-4C58-8890-DBB5DE720A7E.jpg” />   <img src=”https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c9e7b772727be5d26d3c4c4/1600811206320-VXIHV5Q5CWNM9WA42FQN/IMG_7419.jpg” alt=”IMG_7419.jpg” />   <img src=”https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c9e7b772727be5d26d3c4c4/1600811212727-KGFTKW7GST3FRS8FOI3W/IMG_7333.jpg” alt=”IMG_7333.jpg” />   <img src=”https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c9e7b772727be5d26d3c4c4/1600811341600-HNYTGJ1KXZHMGKCGA86Z/D9CE79BE-9077-4B5E-896F-3BA3EC6D7F69.jpg” alt=” Survey marker on the summit of Mount Chocorua ” /> Survey marker on the summit of Mount Chocorua   <img src=”https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c9e7b772727be5d26d3c4c4/1600811222290-XWEC7HB3GS1UKK5MH6I2/DE27BC0F-5B0B-4712-B2E1-F0658E8F7980.jpg” alt=”DE27BC0F-5B0B-4712-B2E1-F0658E8F7980.jpg” />     Some images I’ve taken of Mount Chocorua throughout the years. Learn More Learn more about the legend of Chocorua and the historical novel Carved in Granite: Cornelius Campbell and the Legend of Chcorua

Leipers Fork Bovine Sunset

Bovine Sunset- Leipers Fork Greens on limestone. A regular bovine paradise. Cool June Breeze, a cloud canopy to reflect the sunlight, and not a plague in sight. Bovine Sunset over at Leipers Fork, TN A beautiful sunset over at Leiper’s Fork, TN.  These bovine’s have the best real estate in the Leipers Fork. This image was taken during the Covid shutdown just after I had gotten over the sickness, patient #35.  My momma up in NH must be so proud. Anyways…It was a welcome sight seeing these cow’s dining on greens over limestone.  It felt a like a touch of heaven after being quarantined by my wife for 3 weeks.  Check out my Photogallery at www.photos4nature.com.  Where you can get a digital download of this print for $10 and print it anywhere, on any medium.  Yeah, I know, that’s a bonafide bargain.  And the best part, it comes with a license and 25% is donated back to nature conservation.   PHOTOS4NATURE Click here for Photogallery Instagram Facebook Linkedin Youtube

Nashville Skyline-Last Night

Nashville Skyline Photo

Nashville Skyline Photo from across the Cumberland I got a new Nashville Skyline photograph last night. While I was setting up a guy popped the question next to me and she said “yes!”. They’re off to a good start! I also got a few shots of couples with the city in the background. It was a perfect southern night. This photo and hundreds of others are available in my digital download gallery.  Print where you want and the license is included for most uses… for an affordable $10 flat fee.  25% of all gallery proceeds are donated to nature conservation.  Connect on social below! PHOTOSNATURE Click here to View my Gallery and Purchase Images 7 July 2023Some Photos of Fort Foster, Kittery Maine. The closeup was first taken in 2010. The rest were just a few… 7 July 2023Fort Foster Park, Kittery Maine #kitterypoint #kitterymaine #fortfoster #maine #landscapephotography #lighthouses #lighthouse #newengland 30 June 2023 26 June 2023Well, good morning there sunshine… #owls #owlstagram #owlsoftheday #owlsofinstagram #owlsofinsta #natureza #naturelover #naturephoto #nature #wildlife #wildlifeplanet #wildlifephotography #bird_perfection #birds #birds_captures… 15 June 2023The gnomes were out chasing fireflies last night. #gnomes#gnome #gnomelife #gnomelove #imagine #fun #Night #nightsky #nightlife #nightview #creativeart #creative #nightphoto… 9 June 2023Sleepy robin chicks after a full stomach. Mom and Dad robin were bringing in beatles and worms and these guys… Instagram Facebook Linkedin Youtube

Ernest Hemingway house Key West

Ernest Hemingway House cat in Key West

Earnest Hemingway House Key West Florida Ernest Hemingway house in Key West. Photo 1: One of many beautiful cats prowling Ernest Hemingway’s historic home in Key west, Florida. The rain was heavy outside, tourist herded together around the bed, but it made had no effect on this Hemingway cat. Photo 2: An old portable typewriter presumably off Ernest Hemingway’s fishing boat. Due to a lingering war-time injury Hemingway stood while typed his manuscripts. If you look close, you can read about the admiration he had for his boat. Ernest Hemingway wrote several notable works during his time living in Key West, Florida. Some of the books he wrote while residing there include: 1. “To Have and Have Not” (1937): A novel set in Key West and Cuba, following the struggles of a fishing boat captain during the Great Depression. 2. “The Green Hills of Africa” (1935): A non-fiction account of Hemingway’s safari adventures in East Africa. 3. “Death in the Afternoon” (1932): A non-fiction book exploring the bullfighting culture in Spain. 4. “Winner Take Nothing” (1933): A collection of short stories featuring various themes and settings. 5. “The Snows of Kilimanjaro and Other Stories” (1961): Another collection of short stories, which includes the famous title story set in Africa. It’s worth noting that Hemingway did not publish any novels during his time in Key West after 1937. However, he continued to work on other projects and wrote numerous short stories, articles, and essays during this period. <img src=”https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c9e7b772727be5d26d3c4c4/1555600969337-CEMDZT2EYVX6CNRTSZTR/DSC01122-1.jpg” alt=”DSC01122-1.jpg” /> <img src=”https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c9e7b772727be5d26d3c4c4/1555600969950-PI5H16HTELAY9DRM34MD/DSC01117-1.jpg” alt=”DSC01117-1.jpg” /> By Jeremy Osgood Author and Photographer Visit my photo gallery PHOTOS 4 NATURE Check Out Jeremy’s Historical Novel Based On the Legend Of Chocorua

Big Rock Cave, Sandwich Mountain Range

Big Rock Cave Trail is off 113A in Tamworth – just down the road from the little church with the mountain back-drop is a parking lot.  Park and walk by a couple of homes/driveways and continue on the trail to the top of Mt. Mexico. You will cross a mountain bog with that sweet balsam fir smell before a sharp hike down to the Rock Cave.  It's a cool little hike.    Minion 1 is inside the cave for depth perception while minion 2 guards the entrance.  The photo was taken some time ago.   The second photo is the middle of the cave as it curves to the back.    

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