Category Archives: Uncategorized

  My picture book biographies, Nancy Kelsey Comes over the Mountain and John and Annie Bidwell: The Long and the Short of It, are both available on Amazon. But I need to some reviews! If you have bought or read … Continue reading →

Today, January 9th, is the date of the final battle of the California Campaign of the Mexican-American War. The Battle of La Mesa occurred one day after the Battle of Rio San Gabriel and brought an end to hostilities between … Continue reading →

What would a canny ship owner do as soon as he heard about gold in California in 1848? He would load up a ship with goods and passengers, and set sail for the Pacific. Among the many fascinating items to … Continue reading →

Best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year from Goldfields Books. I hope 2018 is filled with wonderful discoveries and joyful events for you and yours. This past year I worked on two publishing projects: my own book on … Continue reading →

I spent the day at the History Room of the California State Library in Sacramento, looking at papers in the Sutter’s Fort Pioneer Collection. Among other things, this collection contains two boxes of papers pulled from the Bidwell Papers, consisting … Continue reading →

Not long ago a friend of mine asked me why John Bidwell did not name the town he founded after himself. He could name it anything he wanted. Why Chico? Why not Bidwellville, or Bidwellton, or Bidwell City? It used … Continue reading →

The last field trip for my OLLI Historic Homes group last Thursday was to my favorite Victorian home, Stansbury House in Chico. I love Bidwell Mansion too, but it’s too grand for me to actually imagine living there. But I … Continue reading →

There are lots of opportunities this holiday season to promote my new book, Nancy Kelsey Comes over the Mountain. Dan Barnett reviewed it in the Chico Enterprise-Record yesterday, Sunday December 3rd.  Here is what he says: This captivating book keeps … Continue reading →