I have just finished writing
a short novella for a summer release where ice cream must be used somewhere in
the story line. Although Huckleberry Happiness will stand
alone, it will be part of the One Scoop
or Two collection published by the Wild Rose Press. Huckleberry Happiness was fun to write because I wandered back to 1885 when refrigeration consisted of ice boxes, sometimes called ice closets. I also used huckleberries as the flavor, because in Pennsylvania, these little dark berries were picked and used in recipes like cultivated blueberries. The heroine, Emelia Stone, makes huckleberry pie for her bakery, but also plans to make a special ice cream dessert for a contest the Pennsylvania Railroad is having.
I’ve always been interested
in ice caves since one exists in Coudersport, Sweden Township, Pennsylvania. Originally
the ice caves were used to store meat and for ice harvesting. So naturally, Joe
Sawicki, my hero, has to own an ice company with his brother. He stores some of
his ice in an ice cave and regularly delivers ice to Emelia Stone’s bakery to
keep her perishable goods fresh.
How do ice caves work? Heavy
cold air from outside cascades into the cave and warmer air inside the cave
rise up and escapes, lowering the temperatures. The ice that forms inside makes
it harder to warm the space and acts as a buffer that stabilizes the
temperatures to freezing.
Although Huckleberry Happiness is still in the production stage, here is the
blurb:
In 1885, Emelia Stone and her sister
must learn to operate their deceased parents’ bakery in the small town of
Pennsylvania. A large mortgage looms on their family home. When her sister
leaves town, Emelia is forced to handle the bakery and burden alone.
The Pennsylvania Railroad is searching
for the perfect dessert for its passengers. Joe Sawicki, owner of Sawicki
Brothers Ice Company, is certain Emelia can win the contest and the hundred-
dollar bonus if she creates a special ice cream to accompany her popular
huckleberry pies. He has loved her since they played hooky in grade school to
explore the company’s ice cave.
Can Emelia find courage to stand up
to the town’s bully to win the competition? And will Joe have the mettle to
express his undying love and win first place in Emelia’s heart?
Judy, Although I've toured several caves, I've never been to an ice cave. Now I want to see a huckleberry. I'm glad you have a photo of them. Congratulations on the new story!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Caroline. There is something mysterious and intriguing about caves.
ReplyDelete