LoginApril 2024 Notable Maryland Author - Erika Robuck - Illuminating the Shadows of History
Author: Erika Robuck
Genre: Historical Fiction
“Women have the strength to do what is needed to be done." Erika Robuck
Erika Robuck is the national bestselling author of Receive Me Falling, Hemingway’s Girl, eight other historical novels and her latest, titled The Last Twelve Miles. She reveals the story of women living in the shadows of history.
Her interest in writing began as a child with poetry, plays, songs, and short stories. Writing novels in middle and high school resulted in a minor in literature in college. When children began to arrive, she elected to stay home with them and found time to write, which cemented her love of novels.
Erika’s current interest in writing novels about women living in the shadows of history was initially only a desire to portray women living in the shadow of great authors. In one of her first novels, Hemingway’s Girl, her protagonist is a fictional housekeeper at the Hemingway House at Key West, Florida. Through the housekeeper’s eyes, Erika makes the reader an eyewitness to Hemingway’s life; a life she researched and wrote about for three years.
She expanded her scope from women living in the shadow of great authors to any strong women in the shadows of history at the encouragement of an editor. This led her to Baltimore’s Virginia Hall and the publication of The Invisible Woman, a story of a woman with a prosthetic leg who was very effective in WWII as a spy, in spite of her disability and being a woman in a male-dominated profession.
Her latest novel, The Last Twelve Miles, brings two women out of the shadows of history; Elizebeth, a cryptanalyst who breaks code for the U.S. Coast Guard, and Marie Waite, a rumrunner working the waters off the Florida coast.
Erika has received recognition and acknowledgement of her work, but the compliment she enjoyed the most was from a real housekeeper at the Hemingway house in Key West who wrote and confessed to being very moved by the book.
A boating enthusiast, amateur historian, and teacher, Erika lives in Annapolis with her husband and three sons. She can be reached, and her books viewed, at: www.erikarobuck.com.
Genre: Historical Fiction - Literary genre in which a fictional plot takes place in the setting of particular real historical events. Robuck’s focus is revealing real women from the shadows of history.
Sample Reading List: Receive Me Falling, Hemingway’s Girl, Call Me Zelda, Fallen Beauty, The House of Hawthorne, The Invisible Woman, Sisters of Night and Fog, The Last Twelve Miles.
Fun With Words - Maryland Writers’ Association (MWA) invites you to have fun writing historical Fiction like Erika Robuck. Using up to 100 words, make up a woman or man in the shadows of history and begin to tell their story. Title your work and submit to: https://marylandwriters.org/Notable_Maryland_Authors by the 22nd of the month to receive an MWA Fun With Words submission certificate. Selected responses will be published with next month’s article and on the MWA Website.
The MWA is a 31-year-old state-wide association (501c3) dedicated to encouraging and mentoring Maryland writers, poets, playwrights, and authors. Go to www.MarylandWriters.org for more info.
Eric Waldow
May. 6, 2024Judas’s Lament - They hated me. They still hate me. I do not know why; they owe everything to me. They’d be all as forgotten and loathed and left completely to the Arch-Fiend’s evils as they were before, had I not done what I did: had I not willed and sought for the one Death that, purchased merely with thirty pieces of silver, gave Life to everyone. It is my eternal lot to be despised, by the Highest and Lowest. It is my place to be forever gnashing… tortured! But never will I yield, never will I regret my wrought salvation—my holy sacrifice.
Ruth Ticktin
May. 6, 2024Attending to Frida Kahlo - “I’m your enfermera Frida, here to sit with you. Shall I bring a soothing drink? Do you prefer hot or cool?” No answer. Witnessing bold paintings, her beating heart on canvass, I’m silent. Frida’s colorful images scream, I must attend to my weeping. “Frida, I promise to take care.” Serving juice, I pray that someday Frida will be known as the true brilliant artist. A world in chaos, words left unsaid, I’d always meant say: “You grasped that whatever comes, adapting was necessary. We can never dismiss love. Your stories carry on forever in your art.”
David Thompson
May. 6, 2024Moll Dyer - The tragic tale of Moll Dyer, the accused witch, is consistent across various oral traditions; a solitary herbal healer from Ireland, clad in the remnants of a once prosperous life, froze to death on a frigid night in 1697 when a vengeful mob reduced her cabin to ashes. Minimal historical records preclude definitive parallels between her life and others, but her tragedy speaks its own truth and resonates with everyone facing injustice. Moll can find peace in stories told today. Once a cautionary tale, we invoke Moll's memory whenever facing bullying or loneliness. Good emerges from tragedy, Moll’s final bequest.
Ken Stepanuk
May. 6, 2024INDENTURED - He gurgled something unintelligible as those last few words and blood came to his lips with Ellie's dressmaking scissors buried in the Captain's neck. His thrashing broke and ignited a liquor bottle. Flames engulfed the shack. Abused on her transatlantic voyage by Captain Stoleman and enduring seven years of debt slavery hardship, Ellie was one of the few who completed her indenture. She rose to become a successful member of Baltimore's elite. As a miserable drunkard living alone near the Chesapeake Bay, Stoleman’s death was deemed an accident. Ellie escaped judgment, never mentioning the fishing shack incident with the Captain.
Beth Smith
May. 6, 2024Flyer - December 17 was cold and blustery. At Kill Devil Hills, a shivering Jenny Moore spotted a few men and her brother Johnny bustling around a glider-like contraption. She heard a motor. The machine climbed into the air for a few seconds and then thumped onto the sand. Everyone cheered. “They done it,” yelled Johnny running down the dune past her. “Done what?” called out Jenny as he sprinted by. “They done flew an airplane, and one day it’s gonna fly like a bird,” he cried. “Don’t look like a bird,” Jenny said. She kicked the sand and walked home.
Viola Robinson-Boone
May. 6, 2024Momma Biddy’s Second Voice - I was brave today. Filled with hope, Momma Biddy motivated me. She said even though I’m only fourteen, I stood in front of the California judge like a grown woman and said my peace. I was her second voice. She had taken sick days before. So, I was encouraged to ask for our freedom politely. It was the right thing to do. Master Robert brought us to California and refused to free us. It wasn’t a slave state. Momma Bridget Mason taught me how to fight for what was right. I’m Birdie. In 1851, I learned about freedom for all.
Jim Coleman
May. 6, 2024First Day - Ada Burch might have been the first. We'll never really know. They didn't note such things in the Wild West territories during the 1800's. In that world, if you could do the job, you could have the job, and that was that. They'd been shooting up the saloon all night. She was going to put a stop to it. "Haw! It's the new depitty", the meanest-looking one scoffed. "Ya gonna haul us ALL in, depitty?" She grinned the grin of someone with an ace in the hole. It wouldn't be the first or last time she surprised some unsuspecting loudmouth.
Lawrence McGuire
May. 6, 2024DARK NIGHT, STRONG WINDS - Tension strained Dottie Meredith's old bones. She gripped the tiller of her late husband's three-log canoe, sailing away from a British frigate under summer stars. Earlier, a British sloop had overtaken her boat. Royal Marines brought her before their lieutenant who, after questioning, proposed she smuggle goods for the Crown. When she refused, he said, "Smuggling beats fishing on a rumbling stomach in the slapping dark." Dottie now sailed north, toward Fort McHenry. Whoever smuggled goods for England deserved death. You, old girl, a smuggler? I already have my stiff hands full serving as a spy for the Republic.
Jon Hillbilly Anthology Ketzner
May. 6, 2024HATE TRIANGLE - Leona hated Max Blanck. He’d been bold and unsubtle toward Leona since Joseph died. Leona entered Blanck’s office. “Sir, I must leave early to check my baby. I’ll make up the time.” Max Blanck leered. “You girls are always cheating us. Smoking, checking on babies. Many girls would love your cutting job, Leona.” “Yes, sir.” “Go to your baby. Come back after we close. Be friendly. My wife’ll be at synagogue.” “Must I, sir?” Leona was tearing. “If you want to leave early.” “Yes sir.” Leona returned to the factory later. The sidewalks were littered with charred and crumpled bodies of her Triangle Shirtwaist co-workers.
Christine Hickey
May. 6, 2024It Was Me! - It’s December 1871, the ashes of what was Chicago smolder still. I feel terrible that Catherine O’Leary was blamed for starting the fire while milking her cow. I, Daisey Elliott am responsible! Working as chamber maid, one of my jobs was to take out all the trash and burn it in large pits at the back field. A wind sprang up and embers caught my dress and flamed up around me. I rolled on the ground to extinguish the flames, but it had been so dry that wherever I rolled, grass ignited and raced toward the hotel and city center. God forgive me.
Cindy Herndon
May. 6, 2024Fingering Secrets - The Secretary of State was finally a woman! It was every bit as stressful as being President, and Madam Secretary carried the stress in every muscle in her neck and back as though the nation’s troubles were robes of stone. She trusted Marla, her masseuse, to knead the world’s woes from her weary shoulders. Marla suggested Madam name each stress as a way to release it as Marla kneaded the rigid muscles. Madam spoke of the Middle East as her right shoulder began to relax; Russian was the left shoulder. So began the confessions and secrets that only Marla knew.
Leslie Dickey
May. 6, 2024“The Tell” - Karine, the first black presidential press secretary, is noted for her creative use of eye-makeup. A stylish woman, she routinely wears whitish-light eye shadow. It is an excellent tool during tense moments under media interrogation. Tough questions can come at any time and from any direction. Frequently they come from the WSJ and Reynard reporters. Karine’s primary nemesis is Peter from Reynard. The skilled observer learns to know when she needs to roll her eyes in frustration. She’ll shut her eyes and, from the peanut gallery, the eye shadow makes it look like her eyes are open. Cover. Concealment. Clever.
Ellen Coffey
May. 6, 2024A Matter of Balance - “Reverend Burrows, please roll up your sleeve,” she said in a forceful tone to the local church elder. “I will not be bitten by your witch’s needle,” he said with indignation as he stormed out. Hannah Waterton’s father, the local doctor, had been called away to Boston to deal with the raging smallpox epidemic there. He left his daughter in charge of giving their village the life-saving inoculations. She realized that the dosage must be administered based on the recipients age, weight, and general health. By striking this delicate balance only one person died of the pox that year – Reverend Burrows.
Doris Brady
May. 6, 2024CHECKING THE NUMB3RS - Summoned by her supervisor, Katherine walked down the hall, found the office door open, and walked in. He got straight to the point. “As you know, Project Mercury had been plagued by setbacks. Finally, we’re ready to launch, except for one thing.” “Something involving me?” “Yes, Miss Johnson. Even with the all expensive computers we bought, Colonel Glenn is refusing to get into the dang capsule unless you do the math and validate the computer!” The movie Hidden Figures finally told the story of Katherin Johnson, a female Black NASA mathmetician in 1962, who was vital for the success of our space program.
Teresa Bilzor
May. 6, 2024Cherokee ancestors of the North Carolina mountains - Our dear friend and neighbor Davy Crockett gave us the warning that President Andrew Jackson was sending troops to forcibly take us from our native lands– the lands inhabited by our ancestors for thousands of years. Davy Crockett had spoken to Congress in our defense. We had heard of the plight of the other tribes that had come to be known as the “trail of tears.” They were coming now for our people, the Cherokee. We knew what we must do. With footsteps soft and light, we disappeared into the North Carolina mountains like a fog passing into the night.
Rob Billingsley
May. 6, 2024The end of the street - Lucy Kelly carefully spread newspapers on the basement floor and kneeled. She had thoroughly cleaned the brick duplex at the bottom of a dead-end street in a Washington, DC suburb. Lucy thought, "I must leave it perfect for him and her" -- the German maid her hero husband brought home from the war. Last week, he said the girl was pregnant. For three years, Lucy sent letters of support declaring her love and devotion. She had felt invisible since he returned. Now, she would be after pulling the trigger on the gun in her mouth…
Steve Baker
May. 6, 2024BEFORE Sky Mall - Two unknown brothers poured into an Eastern Carolina tavern. The tavern was owned by an ex-burlesque dance hall gal named "Kitty Hawk." While enjoying the tavern's trademark gimmick (booze served in miniature bottles) they lamented to Miss Hawk: "We've just invented a spectacular new contraption know as: 'THE AIRPLANE'...but we can't convince anyone to 'fly the friendly skies' with us." Miss Hawk replied, "I don't know if I can help. The only things I have to offer are a bunch of leggy girlfriends, an out-of-work brother-in-law who knows all the latest showtunes, and a warehouse full of honey roasted peanuts.