I’m delighted to welcome Karen M Cox back to Diary of an Eccentric today to celebrate the release of Son of a Preacher Man, an original novel inspired by Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. The novel is set in 1959, so Karen is here to talk about money during that year. Please give her a warm welcome!
Thanks so much for the invitation to be a guest on Diary of an Eccentric! I’m Karen M Cox, and I write fiction accented with history and romance. My new release is titled, Son of a Preacher Man, and it’s my fifth full-length novel. It holds a special place in my heart because of the themes explored: the roles of men and women, what it means to be “good”, and most of all, it’s about forgiveness and the power of love. I like to say it’s “a realistic love story told by an idealistic young man.”
I’ll let you in on a little secret—in Son of a Preacher Man, the hero, Billy Ray Davenport has money, but you’d never know it. Because he isn’t worried about financial matters, they don’t define him. On the other hand, when it comes to money, our heroine, Lizzie Quinlan, has none, and it’s written all over her for the world to see.
So, let’s talk money in 1959. What did people make? What did things cost?
(Sources: Morris County Library (NJ) website, thePeopleHistory.com, University of Missouri Libraries)
Billy Ray wants to be a doctor. In 1959, the median income for physicians and surgeons was a whopping $15,000 per year! But when you compare it with other professions, it looks pretty good:
Junior Accountant? You’d pull down 90$/week
Chemical Engineer? He (and they were almost all “he” at that time) made $7000/year
Typist/clerk? Only 65$/week.
Most things were much, much cheaper in 1959 than they are today:
For example, an Oldsmobile 88 Automobile, 6 passenger car cost $2,887.
Women’s cotton dress would set you back $10.98.
Box of Ritz Crackers? $0.25 for a 12 oz box
A loaf of bread was $0.20.
Gasoline cost $0.25/gallon!
Billy Ray and Lizzie’s movie tickets to see West Side Story were $1.00 each.
But this surprised me: A Kitchen Aid Dishwasher cost between $209.95 and $479.95. Sure, it’s about 2-3 times more today ($500 or $600 for most models), but when you look at gasoline, which is like, 10 times as much today as it was then—the 1959 cost of the dishwasher is a bit of a shocker.
It’s tempting to look back fondly on decades past, when items cost less or society seemed more calm, but, as Billy Ray learns in Son of a Preacher Man, things aren’t always what they seem.
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About Son of a Preacher Man
“I forget that you’re a fella sometimes.”
“Gee, thanks.”
I never forgot that she was a girl. Not for one second…
1959. The long, hot Southern summer bakes the sleepy town of Orchard Hill. Billy Ray Davenport, an aspiring physician and only son of an indomitable traveling minister, is a young man with a plan that starts with working in a small-town doctor’s office before he begins medical school in the fall. Handsome, principled, and keenly observant, he arrives in town to lodge with the Millers, the local doctor’s family. He never bargained for Lizzie Quinlan—a complex, kindred spirit who is beautiful and compassionate, yet scorned by the townsfolk. Could a girl with a reputation be different than she seems? With her quirky wisdom and a spine of steel hidden beneath an effortless sensuality, Lizzie is about to change Billy Ray’s life—and his heart—forever.
A realistic look at first love, told by an idealistic young man, Son of a Preacher Man is a heartwarming coming of age tale set in a simpler time.
Buy Son of a Preacher Man: Universal Buy Link | Amazon
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Connect with Karen
www.karenmcoxauthor.wordpress.com
https://www.instagram.com/karenmcox1932/
https://www.facebook.com/karenmcox1932
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Giveaway
Enter for a chance to win an ebook copy of one of my backlist titles (1932, Find Wonder in All Things, Undeceived, I Could Write a Book, or The Journey Home(novella)) AND a $10 Amazon Gift Card. Three winners will be randomly selected on 7/25/18. This giveaway is international. You must enter through this link. Good luck!
Thank you, Karen, for being my guest today, and congratulations on your latest release. I’ve heard nothing but great things about it, and can’t wait to get a chance to read it!
I’ve read a few of Karen’s books and they’ve all made it to my top favourites. So excited to read this new one. Thanks for the giveaway, hope I win!!!
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Thanks for stopping by, Priscilla 🙂
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Reblogged this on Karen M Cox and commented:
On the virtual road with a stop at Anna’s blog…
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I have enjoyed Karen’s books and am sure this one will be just as interesting.
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Thanks for your comment, Eva!
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Interesting, the comparison of prices! Perhaps a dishwasher was relatively more expensive, because it was such a new item at the time?
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I think you may onto something, Jeane. New technology always is more expensive when it first comes out. Thanks –
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Don’t miss this one! I love this story!
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Thank you, Becky!
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I enjoyed Karen’s books, so I’m sure I’ll like this one as well. Sounds interesting. Congratulations.
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Appreciate you dropping by, Kate 🙂
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Oh,this book will enthrall and utterly bewitch you while it transports you to a different era,where you’ll encounter Billy Ray,a guy quite unlike anyone Lizzie has met before.
One that doesn’t tick many of the preconceived boxes that she’s learned,from experience,to expect,but perhaps ticks one….that all important box beside friend,partner and lover..one who truly understands the essential elements that make Lizzie uniquely her.
I loved this story and recommend it highly!!! You’ll fall in love with these wonderful characters,bite your nails through the angsty moments and love their HEA!!
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Thanks so much for the shout out, Mary 🙂 Yes, I love them too – Lizzie as much as Billy Ray.
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Very interesting this difference of prices! Son of a Preacher Man is a wonderful story! Congrats, Karen! 😉
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The whole time I was researching this post, I was fantasizing about how much money I could save if gas were still .25 per gallon – lol. I live in a rural community, no mass transit, and too far away to walk anywhere, so EVERYTHING requires gas. We have a hybrid car, which helps a little, but we still spend a lot on gasoline.
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Thanks for this captivating and wonderful feature and giveaway. Fascinating and interesting facts which I can relate to since I grew up in the 1950’s. Your books are a pleasure.
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Aw, Anne – thank you so much for your kindness 🙂 Glad you found the 50s facts interesting.
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Thank you for this generous giveaway! I love to see what things used to cost. . .
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It’s fascinating, isn’t it? The world is so different now 🙂
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I often here from my dad that coke was a nickel. LOL This was interesting. Thanks for the giveaway
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I actually remember when candy bars were a nickel, and phone calls cost a dime at a pay phone (something else we don’t see anymore 🙂
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It’s funny you should mention money and the costs of things back then. My mother-in-law is 93 and came to Canada in 1958, she still remembers what the price of things were back then! But the price of the dishwasher, wow, it must have been considered a true luxury! Looking forward to reading this one and thank you for a chance at the giveaway!!!
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I’m trying to remember when we got our first dishwasher – I think it was maybe the mid 70s? I do remember we had to hook it up to the sink each time we used it; it wasn’t built-in. Thanks for stopping by, Carole!
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I remember 3-cents postage stamps, bread delivered to our house, etc. I have read and loved Karen’s books. I read both the first and the new version of this one. Thanks for sharing.
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Hi Sheila! Good to “see” you 🙂 I think the cheapest postage I remember was 13 cents – circa 1975.
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I’m looking forward to reading the rereleased book. I love Karen Cox books.
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Thank you so much for your kind words! I hope you enjoy it 🙂
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THAT IS rather interesting about a dishwasher. Maybe they were just rare then?
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I was actually a little surprised that they were available at all. Thanks!
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That’s fascinating, thanks Karen. I was thinking with the dishwasher it might have (effectively) cost more then because it was new technology, not so many people had them. Just a thought.
I’ve entered the giveaway! If I don’t win I’ll buy the book anyway. Have a happy Sunday! 😀
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Thank you for stopping by, Elaine 🙂 Good luck in the giveway!
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