Spotlight of Under the Almond Tree by Linda Ulleseit

PHOTO SOURCE:
TYPORAMA
***********

UNDER THE ALMOND TREE

LINDA ULLESEIT

************

ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF THE AUTHOR.

 ************

Linda writes books inspired by stories told to her by her grandmother about her female ancestors.

************ 

PRAISE FOR UNDER THE ALMOND TREE:

As a historian and a California Bay Area native, I really loved this book! " ~Amazon reviewer

 
"Linda Ulleseit writes with knowledge and passion." ~Amazon reviewer

************

ABOUT UNDER THE ALMOND TREE:

Under the Almond Trees is the story of three ordinary women in California who lived extraordinary lives.

 

It starts with a falling tree branch that kills Ellen VanValkenburgh’s husband in 1862, forcing her to assume leadership of his paper mill, something women weren’t allowed to do.

 

Women weren’t allowed to vote yet, either. Ellen decided that had to change, and became a suffragette.
 

In 1901, Emily Williams, Ellen’s daughter-in-law, became an architect – very much against her family’s wishes. No one would hire a woman, but Emily would not be deterred. She and her life partner Lillian set out to build homes themselves.
 

By the 1930’s women enjoyed more freedom, including the vote. Even so, Ellen’s granddaughter Eva VanValkenburgh chose a traditional life of marriage and children, even closing her photography business at her husband’s insistence.

 

When he later refused to pay for their daughter’s college education, Eva followed the example of her Aunt Emily and reopened her photography business.

************

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Linda Ulleseit has an MFA in writing from Lindenwood University. She is a member of the Hawaii Writers Guild, Women Writing the West, and Paper Lantern Writers.

 

Linda is the award-winning author of two novels, Under the Almond Trees and The Aloha Spirit. 

 

Her books are the stories of women in her family who were extraordinary but unsung.

 

She recently retired from teaching elementary school and now enjoys writing full time as well as cooking, leatherworking, reading, gardening, spending time with her family, and walking her dog.

************