I will be posting one chapter at a time of my manuscript I call "Golden Dreams". This title may change as it is a "working title" This is in the old west genre and the story is fiction, but losely based upon the life of my great-great grandfather's life. The primary plot and story line is why they left the comforts of the east coast, the trip across country in a wagon train, the hardships and incidents they faced on the trail, and the discovery of gold on the property they homesteaded. I discovered the basis of this story while doing my family tree. I learned that I enjoy doing the research as much as I do the writing. My research encluded family letters, diaries of pioneers, visiting museums, going to the Oregon Trail Historic Interpative Center in Baker City, Oregon, and following and camping along both the California and Oregon trails. I atempted to make my writing as accurate as possible while mixing my fiction with events that actually occured on the trail.

The photo was sent to me by my relatives and they said it was my great great grandfather on the trail "taking a break."