GAINESVILLE - History, family and a zest for competition inspire Lynda Holmes in her writing genres. And, recently in Washington, DC, she received the first place national award for drama in this year's American Heritage Literature and Drama contest, sponsored by the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution.
Holmes' one-act play, “Exploring our American Heritage With the Apron Mavens,” is based on an Apron history presentation of research by the author and an heirloom apron collection sewn by her mother, Eula Mae Adams. Holmes is a member of the Col. William Candler chapter DAR, Gainesville.
“Aprons are mentioned as far back as in the Bible when they were made of leaves and worn by Adam and Eve," she explained. "The word 'apron' (from naperon) actually means 'little tablecloth. In 1782, Fort Henry was under attack by Indians who fought for the British in the American Revolution. A girl named Elizabeth Zane wore a tablecloth tied around her waist to carry gunpowder to the fort when she literally ran for her life and the lives of other Patriots. Around 1780, Nancy Hart, a Georgia patriot, appeared harmless in her dress and apron when some Tories (British Loyalists) forced her and her daughter to prepare a meal for them in her home. Nancy ended up holding them at gunpoint.”
“I decided the apron history was a great topic for a drama with a contemporary plot line added for connection to the present."
Holmes describes the writing contest this way: “The competition for DAR American Heritage contests is fierce, with hundreds of entries or thousands in every category, although participation is limited to DAR members. It is always exciting to share historical writing with all ages to preserve our national heritage and educate younger generations about those who achieved independence and freedom for America.”
Her drama will be posted on the national DAR website for members later this summer. As a retired educator, she is interested in sharing the play for non-profit use through the community (Contact: [email protected]).
Holmes also won a short story contest last year posted by JanCarol Publishing (jancarolpublishing.com).
“I am a member of the Northeast Georgia Writers and we invited Janie Dempsey Watts to speak about her novel, ‘Moon Over Taylor’s Ridge.’ Janie talked about her great book and she mentioned the short story contest and encouraged us to enter it. I looked it up through the internet, after that meeting and noticed the criteria called for stories about strong, Appalachian women. I remembered a family trip with my parents when I was a girl to visit a great aunt who lived on Lookout Mountain. That aunt gave me a quilt that she made, but I never knew the pattern.”
Holmes shared a photo of the quilt with friends and family who are quilters or collectors but no one recognized the pattern.
“I began researching the pattern and found out the name of it through the Quilt Index (Michigan State University) and their personnel who will look up your pattern in their collection. It is the “Hands All Around” pattern. When I knew the name of the pattern, I blended the memories of that day with some historical fiction and the Battle of Chickamauga (1863) in the War Between the States.”
Holmes has a Georgia ancestor who fought with the Hall County Rifles and enlisted with the Army of Tennessee, CSA (Confederate States of America), along with two of his brothers. His name is Archibald Hanes and he is buried with his wife, Louisa, in south Hall County.
Holmes titled the story, “Holding Pattern” and it was published in the “Broken Petals” anthology (JanCarol Publishing, 2014). This year, the story has been published again as a children’s picture book with illustrations (lyndaaholmes.com). Copies of the book are available locally at the Longstreet Society, the Northeast Georgia History Center, and the Interactive Neighborhood for Kids (INK) Children’s Museum. It is also available from JanCarol Publishing, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.
“The publisher introduced me to a gifted illustrator who created wonderful pictures to complement the text. A sequel to the book, 'Mineral Spirits,' is in production and that story ties in with family and the American Revolution.”
Holmes is scheduled to read her book, “Holding Pattern” at INK on July 24, 11:30 a.m. Contact Sheri Hooper for details at 770-536-1900.
Holmes' is published along with other award winning authors in “Words on the Wind,” the 2015 Anthology of the non-profit Northeast Georgia Writers, available through http://negawriters.org.
Holmes' one-act play, “Exploring our American Heritage With the Apron Mavens,” is based on an Apron history presentation of research by the author and an heirloom apron collection sewn by her mother, Eula Mae Adams. Holmes is a member of the Col. William Candler chapter DAR, Gainesville.
“Aprons are mentioned as far back as in the Bible when they were made of leaves and worn by Adam and Eve," she explained. "The word 'apron' (from naperon) actually means 'little tablecloth. In 1782, Fort Henry was under attack by Indians who fought for the British in the American Revolution. A girl named Elizabeth Zane wore a tablecloth tied around her waist to carry gunpowder to the fort when she literally ran for her life and the lives of other Patriots. Around 1780, Nancy Hart, a Georgia patriot, appeared harmless in her dress and apron when some Tories (British Loyalists) forced her and her daughter to prepare a meal for them in her home. Nancy ended up holding them at gunpoint.”
“I decided the apron history was a great topic for a drama with a contemporary plot line added for connection to the present."
Holmes describes the writing contest this way: “The competition for DAR American Heritage contests is fierce, with hundreds of entries or thousands in every category, although participation is limited to DAR members. It is always exciting to share historical writing with all ages to preserve our national heritage and educate younger generations about those who achieved independence and freedom for America.”
Her drama will be posted on the national DAR website for members later this summer. As a retired educator, she is interested in sharing the play for non-profit use through the community (Contact: [email protected]).
Holmes also won a short story contest last year posted by JanCarol Publishing (jancarolpublishing.com).
“I am a member of the Northeast Georgia Writers and we invited Janie Dempsey Watts to speak about her novel, ‘Moon Over Taylor’s Ridge.’ Janie talked about her great book and she mentioned the short story contest and encouraged us to enter it. I looked it up through the internet, after that meeting and noticed the criteria called for stories about strong, Appalachian women. I remembered a family trip with my parents when I was a girl to visit a great aunt who lived on Lookout Mountain. That aunt gave me a quilt that she made, but I never knew the pattern.”
Holmes shared a photo of the quilt with friends and family who are quilters or collectors but no one recognized the pattern.
“I began researching the pattern and found out the name of it through the Quilt Index (Michigan State University) and their personnel who will look up your pattern in their collection. It is the “Hands All Around” pattern. When I knew the name of the pattern, I blended the memories of that day with some historical fiction and the Battle of Chickamauga (1863) in the War Between the States.”
Holmes has a Georgia ancestor who fought with the Hall County Rifles and enlisted with the Army of Tennessee, CSA (Confederate States of America), along with two of his brothers. His name is Archibald Hanes and he is buried with his wife, Louisa, in south Hall County.
Holmes titled the story, “Holding Pattern” and it was published in the “Broken Petals” anthology (JanCarol Publishing, 2014). This year, the story has been published again as a children’s picture book with illustrations (lyndaaholmes.com). Copies of the book are available locally at the Longstreet Society, the Northeast Georgia History Center, and the Interactive Neighborhood for Kids (INK) Children’s Museum. It is also available from JanCarol Publishing, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.
“The publisher introduced me to a gifted illustrator who created wonderful pictures to complement the text. A sequel to the book, 'Mineral Spirits,' is in production and that story ties in with family and the American Revolution.”
Holmes is scheduled to read her book, “Holding Pattern” at INK on July 24, 11:30 a.m. Contact Sheri Hooper for details at 770-536-1900.
Holmes' is published along with other award winning authors in “Words on the Wind,” the 2015 Anthology of the non-profit Northeast Georgia Writers, available through http://negawriters.org.
