Category: History (Page 1 of 3)

Gaining a Sense of Awe and Perspective from the JWST Images and the Vastness of the Universe

July 20, 2022 / Katie L. Carroll

As a writer, most people know me as a purveyor of words and stories, but I occasionally geek out here on scientific topics, like the Fibonacci Sequence, space exploration, and the Big Bang. I’ve been combining my love of writing and science in picture books drafts about the Mars rovers and the Voyager spacecraft. My hope is to bring these stories, both fiction and non-fiction, to readers starting next year!

First Deep Field
Image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI

When NASA released its first wave of images from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) on my birthday last week, it felt like the universe was giving me the best birthday present ever: awe and perspective. The above image is known as the First Deep Field. From our earthly perspective, the amount of space we’re looking at in the image is the size of a grain of sand held up to sky at arm’s length (so a very, very, very, very tiny amount).

Many of the reactions to this image were similar to my own of amazement and excitement, but I did see a few less-than-enthusiastic responses. One in particular was along the lines of not getting why people were so excited about a picture of space looking like, well, space.

Without context (and President Biden’s press conference on this image was not exactly illuminating as to the significance of this image), I totally understand the “so what?” reaction. So what is the significance?

First of all, the First Deep Field shows that tiny patch of space in greater detail than we have ever observed before. There are a few stars from our own galaxy there, those are the bright ones that look like sparkly stars. They’re cool to look at, but from a scientific perspective, fairly ordinary. More interesting is that this single image shows a galaxy cluster that contains thousands of galaxies. Our own Milky Way galaxy contains somewhere between 100-400 billion stars, so this image is showing a whole lot of space stuff with an incredible level of detail!

Even more interesting are the distorted-looking galaxies that have a kind of smudged appearance. Due to a phenomenon called gravitational lensing, light can bend around objects and be magnified. So those smudged galaxies are behind other galaxies and are at a much greater distance than we’d normally be able to see.

The thing about light is that it’s very fast, but the universe is so vast, light can travel for a very long time before reaching us here on Earth. Our sun is about 8 light-minutes away, so the sunlight you see right now (please don’t look directly at the sun and damage your eyes!) is 8 minutes old. From Earth, we can only see the sun as it was 8 minutes ago. Light allows us to see into the past!

One distorted galaxy in the First Deep Field is 13.1 billion light-years away. So we’re seeing it as it was 13.1 billion years ago. The farther into the universe we can see, the farther into the past we can observe. This galaxy is so far away that we’re seeing to within 1 billion years of when the Big Bang occurred. And that will allow us to discover more about how the universe was formed–the history of literally everything we know!

That’s only a fraction of the exciting information that will come from this one image from the JWST. Gazing at an image of this tiny bit of space makes you realize how very vast the universe is, large on a scale that is hard to comprehend. There is so much space stuff out there, and we here on Earth are a “pale blue dot” in a soup of many, much larger dots.

At first that makes me feel small and insignificant. I’m one person of billions on Earth. Earth is one planet among countless others circling countless stars in the countless galaxies of the universe.

But then I think of how amazing it is that we’re here at all. In all of that space, we have our beautiful, bountiful planet Earth. I breathe in the oxygen and drink the water with my body that is made of stardust. And I sit here at my computer with a brain complex enough to contemplate the vastness of space and the history of the universe. So when a person shows skepticism about a picture of space looking like space, here’s what I have to say.

Images like this give people a sense of awe, both in the beauty of space and the vastness of it. It simultaneously makes us feel insignificant and helps us realize how special it is that we are here at all. At least that’s why I’m so excited. I hope you find something that excites you today!

I’ll leave you with a couple more awe-inspiring images from the JWST.

Stephan’s Quintet, group of five galaxies
*Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI*

Cosmic Cliffs, Carina Nebula
*Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI*

Author Katie L. Carroll Reads From PIRATE ISLAND for Pirate Day

June 8, 2020 / Katie L. Carroll

Sunday was Pirate Day in my hometown, a place with a rich history of pirate lore and the inspiration behind my middle grade adventure PIRATE ISLAND (as I’ve shared on the blog before “The Real Pirate Lore That Inspired PIRATE ISLAND”). I was a featured performer at last year’s Pirate Day where I had games set up for little ones, a photo station where you could take your picture on a “pirate ship,” and I did two talks about the town’s Captain Kidd history.

The harbor was swarmed with people as Captain Kidd, Jack Sparrow, and their troupe of pirates arrived on the ship. Not something that could happen this year, so I decided to hop on my personal pirate ship and do a reading from the first two chapters of PIRATE ISLAND.

If you stick around until the end (it’s only like 11 minutes, so hopefully not too long a time to listen to me!), you’ll get a peek at my first mate, who unfortunately was engaged in mutiny. Also, if you listen closely, you may hear my littlest shipmate playing the ukulele and singing what I can only assume was a sea shanty. It’s all small ship!

About PIRATE ISLAND

A thrice cursed island, a legendary pirate treasure, and one not-so-brave boy. What could possibly go wrong?

For centuries, the whereabouts of Captain William Kidd’s lost pirate treasure has remained a mystery. When Billy’s best friend, Andy, proposes they look for it on nearby Pirate Island, Billy thinks it’s just another one of their crazy adventures. It’s usually Billy who ends up in trouble as a result, but he goes along for the ride…like always. The more he delves into the life and death of Kidd, the more he thinks the treasure is real and that it might be buried on the small island in Long Island Sound. Billy—nope, call him William—becomes obsessed with the captain of the same first name. He even believes he’s possessed by Kidd’s restless soul. Now he and the spirit of a long-dead pirate are leading the crazy adventure on Pirate Island. And what they find is far bigger than the treasure they imagined.

PIRATE ISLAND is available from Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Kobo, IndieBound, Smashwords, Book Depository (for international folks), and many other of your favorite book sellers! Anyone interested in learning more about the history of Captain William Kidd can check out the free Pirate Island Curriculum Guide or click on #CaptainKiddHistory.

Get To Know Tammy Lowe Author of THE SLEEPING GIANT

November 19, 2018 / Katie L. Carroll

Let’s give a big hello to Tammy Lowe as she celebrates the upcoming release of her YA historical romance THE SLEEPING GIANT (a title that I especially like because of a certain mountain in a certain book I wrote!). Make sure to check out the giveaway at the end. Welcome, Tammy!

What inspired you to write THE SLEEPING GIANT?

Oooh, I’m so glad you asked that!

Without giving away spoilers…I spent years researching a legendary artifact; trying to trace the history of it as far back as I could. This “item” seems to be as old as mankind and if the legends are true, the first century Roman Empire might have been a possible time when it could have resurfaced.

What else happened in the first century Roman Empire?

In 79 AD, Mt. Vesuvius erupted with the force of over a thousand nuclear bombs. Many people in the nearby city of Pompeii didn’t even try to flee the volcanic eruption because they didn’t understand what was happening. They thought the gods were angry.

Within twenty-four hours, not a trace of Pompeii remained. The city—and its inhabitants—were buried beneath layers of volcanic ash and pumice. Over the centuries it simply became a forgotten legend.

But…in the 1700’s, men working on a new palace for the King of Naples rediscovered Pompeii hidden twenty feet below them.

The amazing part is that as the volcanic ash hardened over time, the bodies trapped within decomposed, leaving behind what was basically…a mold. When these molds were filled with plaster, the results were life-like statues of the people who died that day; their final moments preserved forever.

Photo by Tammy Lowe

So, I realized I wanted to set this time-travel adventure in Ancient Rome, playing off the terrifying volcanic eruption in the final scenes. I was pumped and inspired!

But then it dawned on me…oh my gosh…am I crazy enough to attempt to write a novel set in Ancient Rome? The research alone would take forever.

Apparently, yes.

I am crazy enough.

After three more years of research, a second trip to both Rome and Pompeii—this time armed with historians and archaeologists to answer all my questions, I fell head-over-heels in love with that ancient world.

I hope you will too.

This is your second novel. How was the writing process different the second time around?

My first book, The Acadian Secret, is middle grade/tween. Because the main character, Elisabeth, is twelve years old, it’s a lot of youthful fun and adventure when she time-travels to the seventeenth century Scottish Highlands.

The Sleeping Giant picks up five years later. Elisabeth is now seventeen. I found it took some getting used to writing for an older reader. I had to step out of my comfort zone more often. I’d opened a whole new world of emotions and events for Elisabeth to explore— things like falling in love for the first time, being sold into slavery, betrayal, etc. That was the biggest difference this time around.

Of course, I think all the writing lessons learned along the way helped make a bigger, stronger story. The entire process is a never-ending learning experience, even as I continue on with The Age of Aquarius, the next book in the series.

What’s one thing you can tell us about the book (no major spoilers please!) that isn’t in the jacket copy?

Although this is a series, I can and should tell you that this book stands alone.

You needn’t have read the first book to get (hopefully) swept away in this one.

THE SLEEPING GIANT has a time travel element. If you could travel back in time, where would you go?

I’d actually really like to go forward in time. I mean, as long as I’m not stepping into a Hunger Games or Divergent type scenario. (No, not even for you, Tobias Eaton.)

I think I could handle travelling to distant planets on the Starship Enterprise.

*Taps imaginary communicator* “Enterprise—one to beam aboard.”

Yes, I’m totally practicing. *grin*

What actors would play the main characters in a movie version of your book?

What an entertaining question!

Okay…if I’m going to start casting actors, just give me a minute to channel my inner Estelle Leonard. (I’ve been watching re-runs of Friends lately! Haha)

I honestly thought this was going to be a hard question to answer, but instead I’ve had way too much fun. Look what you’ve started Katie!

ELISABETH: A few weeks ago I watched The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society with Lily James. A younger version of Lily is the closest to Elisabeth I’ve found. Sweet, smart, and would totally be out of her element if she suddenly found herself in Ancient Rome.

AQUARIUS: I think Aquarius would be such a fun role to play. It would take someone who could pull off a good, old-fashioned, swashbuckling hero. Maybe a younger Hugh Dancy from Ella Enchanted?

CATO: Aquarius’ best friend. I can totally see someone like Channing Tatum in that role.

MRS. WATERS: Back at home in the 21^st century, an intriguing old woman named Sissi Waters is Elisabeth’s employer/mentor. Since she’s the epitome of class and elegance, even in her eighties, Julie Andrews of course comes to mind.

BALINUS: Ben Kingsley could pull off Balinus. He’s this darling, old philosopher who accompanies Elisabeth, Aquarius, and Cato.

RUFUS: The slave-dealer can be a younger Ciaran Hinds. I have a special place in my heart for Ciaran Hinds because he’ll always be Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre to me. And, even though Rufus is a villain, I have a special place in my heart for him too. So…perfect casting.

AURELIUS: If this is my imaginary movie, then I’m going to stick the one and only Bill Murray in here somewhere. He can be Balinus’ eccentric old friend, Aurelius.

What’s your favorite snack or beverage to have while writing?

Can I say champagne and Parisian macarons?

The truth isn’t as glamourous.

I live on water, don’t like coffee (did someone just gasp?) and try not to snack between meals. When I get into that writing zone, the world around me fades away and then I’ll look up and realize it’s something like four or five hours later.

But…

Somedays, when the planets are aligned, I do end up with my favourite snack and a fancier glass of water.

Like this day.

THIS is my perfect snack while writing…

Thanks so much for having me on your blog again, Katie. I had a lot of fun.

About the Author:

An adventurer at heart, Tammy Lowe has explored ruins in Rome, Pompeii, and Istanbul (Constantinople) with historians and archaeologists.

She’s slept in the tower of a 15th century castle in Scotland, climbed down the cramped tunnels of Egyptian pyramids, scaled the Sydney Harbour Bridge, sailed on a tiny raft down the Yulong River in rural China, dined at a Bedouin camp in the Arabian Desert, and escaped from head-hunters in the South Pacific.

I suppose one could say her own childhood wish of time traveling adventures came true…in a roundabout way.

www.tammylowe.com

About THE SLEEPING GIANT:

A Historical Romance Adventure

Lured into time-traveling to Ancient Rome, weeks before a volcanic eruption will bury the city of Pompeii, a shy teenager finds herself falling for the adventurous runaway slave she is supposed to rescue.

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Tucked in a box, in the back of her closet, seventeen-year-old Elisabeth London hid the secrets of a summer five years ago. The items inside are a reminder to never time travel again. After almost being burnt at the stake in 17th century Scotland, the shy teenager believes life is perfect the way it is now; calm and stable.

When a tormented man from Elisabeth’s past begs her to travel back in time to save his life, she reluctantly agrees. Elisabeth assumes Scotland is the destination and is horrified when she arrives in Ancient Rome instead.

The good news is she finds the man; now a cheeky, fun-loving, seventeen-year-old boy named Aquarius. The bad news is he’s an indentured slave, sentenced to death in the arena, and has no idea who she is yet.

Elisabeth helps Aquarius escape and becomes an outlaw herself. Armed with nothing but her wits and his rock sling, the new friends are on the run from Rufus Leptis, a relentless slave-dealer whose job is to hunt them down.

Elisabeth soon realizes she’s here to save Aquarius, not from Rufus or the arena, but from the doomed city of Pompeii. She’s trying to be brave, but the thought of remaining in his swashbuckling world a minute longer than necessary is inconceivable.

At least, it used to be.

Before that darn, happy-go-lucky slave stole her heart.

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PIRATE ISLAND Event Pictures and News

September 26, 2018 / Katie L. Carroll

It’s been a whirlwind this past week with two book events (plus all the usual shenanigans that go on around here with the kiddos and such)! The PIRATE ISLAND One City, One Story event at the library was so much fun. I always enjoy talking about Charles Island, the real island that inspired Pirate Island, and the legends of Captain William Kidd’s lost pirate treasure that may be buried there.

Since I’ve talked about this topic at the library once before I hit some of the old favorite facts and legends but also mixed in some new ones. Then we had cookies, a writing prompt, and pictures…lots of pictures. A photographer from the Connecticut Post stopped by and took a bunch of pictures and put a nice little write up about the event in the newspaper with a slideshow. The librarian also set up the green screen and the kids hammed it up. Here are a couple of shots from her.

Then on Saturday I was at the Milford Barnes & Noble signing books and helping raise funds for the Friends of the Milford Public Library. You can shop online at BN.com/bookfairs through Friday, September 28 with bookfair code 12394516 to help out the Friends! If you’re local, the are probably still some signed copies of PIRATE ISLAND at the bookstore as well.

I’ve got one more event coming up on Saturday, October 13 at the Norwalk Public Library for their Indie Author Day. They don’t have a lot of details listed on their website yet, but I can tell you that it’s an all day event with a ton of authors of all age groups and genres. I’ll be reading in the Children’s Room in the morning and selling copies of PIRATE ISLAND and ELIXIR BOUND (with the new cover!) all day. And hopefully catching up with a few of my author friends that I think are going.

I’ve been slowly but steadily pecking away at the second Elixir book, ELIXIR SAVED. I’ve finally passed that muddy middle and have tipped over into the second half with THE END in sight! I’m hoping to have a good draft done by the end of the year to send out to beta readers for feedback. This in anticipation of releasing it some time next year!!!

My reading goals have been going well this year. I actually bumped up my number goal recently, and I feel like I’ve been doing well mixing in lots of books from underrepresented communities and indie authors as well. So what have you all been up to? Reading, writing, and otherwise?

Summer Writing Update: Elixirs, Witches, and Pirates!

June 21, 2018 / Katie L. Carroll

The kids have been out of school for a week and summer break is in full swing here! We’ve made out lists of activities we’d like to do and places we’d like to go this summer. Some we’ve already done or have planned (like going to the zoo and strawberry picking), while others are probably not going to happen this year (like visit NASCAR’s Hall of Fame).

As for my writing, I’ve got a couple of things going on. I’m working on getting my YA fantasy Elixir Bound with the new cover back up for sale. Right now you can get the ebook of Elixir Bound from Amazon and that’s it. I’ll post when I get it up in paperback and on ebook for the other vendors. Plus, I finally created a book trailer for it, which was a lot of fun. It was nice to work a different set of creative muscles for it. (The map it features is part of the map of the Great Peninsula, which can be seen in full in the new version of Elixir Bound.)

I’ve been on something of a roll with drafting the companion novel Elixir Saved. I’ve been drafting this novel for years…yes, I said years! So long, in fact, that I’ve been calling it my perpetual WIP (work-in-progress). But I think I’m finally crested the murky middle section and can see the far side of the hill. I’m hoping to keep that momentum going over the summer and get it ready for beta readers before the end of the year. I’d like to publish this one some time next year (fingers crossed!).

Research for my next middle grade book has been going well. I’ve been doing a bunch of reading about the witch trials that took place in Connecticut (mostly before the more famous Salem Witch Trials) and what colonial Connecticut was like. I checked out a local history book from the library and mentioned it to my dad because he’s a history nerd. He was like, “Is that the book where I helped write and edit the updated history in the 1980s?” Turns out it was! And my grandfather, who was there when I mentioned it to my dad, was like, “My father, your great-grandfather, helped with the version that was written in the 1930s.” So that was an interesting serendipitous moment.

The witchy middle grade book–which in my mind is pitched as Mean Girls meets The Crucible–doesn’t take place in history, but it will be a contemporary middle grade that delves into history and ties it to the present, much like Pirate Island does with Captain Kidd’s history being woven into Billy’s story in the present day. I hope to start drafting this story soon, but I need to focus on Elixir for now.

Speaking of Pirate Island, the ebook is on sale for $1.99 for a limited time, so scoop that up if you haven’t already (links for Pirate Island on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo). I’ve also got an exciting announcement coming up for Pirate Island once my local library makes it public…just to give you a little teaser there. 😉

And I always have stuff I’m waiting to hear back about, so there’s always the potential for good news (or devastating rejections!). Thus is the nature of the publishing biz.

Anyway, I’m excited for the summer weather and hanging out with the boys and family day trips. And a certain writer/mama’s birthday is coming a few days before a certain gentleman’s first birthday. Oh, and I’ll be going to the big SCBWI conference in L.A. this summer. I’m so excited (I won the trip, so the airfare, hotel, and conference fee were paid for!), but super nervous about leaving the baby. I keep telling myself it’ll be fine. Busy times, busy times.

What are your summer plans?