Lurana W. Sheldon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lurana W. Sheldon
Born	Lurana Waterhouse Sheldon April 11, 1862 Hadlyme, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	June 11, 1945(1945-06-11) (aged 83) Maine, U.S.
Pen name	Richard Hackstaff, Stanley Norris, Grace Shirley
Occupation	Author lecturer editor
Language	English
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Woman's Medical College of the New York Infirmary
Genre	novels, poetry, short stories
Notable works	"Marion Marlowe" dime novel series
Spouse	Isaac F. Ferris ​ (m. 1904)​
Relatives	Jonathan Edwards

Lurana W. Sheldon (born April 11, 1862 – died June 11, 1945) was an American writer. She wrote many novels, poems, and short stories. She also worked as a newspaper editor. Lurana used different pen names like Richard Hackstaff, Stanley Norris, and Grace Shirley.

Sheldon was very busy and creative. She wrote over a million words in her lifetime! She also said she earned her living in fifteen different jobs. These included bookkeeping, managing businesses, and working in a chemical lab. She was a strong supporter of women's right to vote. She also spoke out against Prohibition, which was a law against alcohol.

Many of Lurana's poems appeared in The New York Times. She became well-known for her connection to that newspaper. She is also remembered for her "Marion Marlowe" dime novel series. One book, My Queen, was special because the main character didn't get married at the end. This was unusual for romance stories back then.

Lurana also had a medical education. This helped her understand people's lives and social issues. In 1915, she gave a lecture in verse called "The Alien." It talked about society and was heard in New York and other places. A poem from this lecture, "The Night Court," was very popular. She wrote many novels, stories, and over a thousand poems. These appeared in almost every major magazine and newspaper in the U.S.

Early Life and Learning

Lurana Waterhouse Sheldon was born on April 11, 1862. Her hometown was Hadlyme, Connecticut. Her parents were Asa and Christiana Sheldon. Her family had lived in New England for a long time. Her father's ancestor was Jonathan Edwards, a famous religious leader.

Lurana went to public and private schools. In 1882, she started studying at the Woman's Medical College of the New York Infirmary. During her studies, she visited places where poor people, sick people, and prisoners lived. Seeing these difficult conditions made her think deeply about life and society. After six years of studying and practicing medicine, she had to stop due to health problems.

Her Career Journey

Working in Medicine

Lurana spent two years at the Woman's Medical College. She also spent almost seven years helping doctors in hospitals. Dr. James M. Kenniston wrote about her work at the Connecticut Hospital for the Insane. He said she visited to learn how patients were treated. She was very thorough and kind to the patients. They really liked her because she was honest and sincere.

Becoming a Writer

Lurana started working to support herself at age seventeen. She began writing poems when she was ten. But she didn't start earning money from her writing until she was twenty-five. She used her free time to write. Like many writers of her time, she first found success in the New York Mercury newspaper.

Her poem "The Medical Student's Dream" and some other writings were chosen for an exhibit. This was for New York State literature at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893.

Lurana Waterhouse Sheldon (1902)

By 1900, she had published over two hundred stories. Her funny poems were known by many newspaper editors. From 1900 to 1902, she worked for a big publishing company in New York City. In just one year (1900), she wrote over a million words! A new story from her was on bookstands almost every week.

Lurana wrote war poems for The New York Times and other magazines. She also wrote serious articles that showed her deep thinking. She often published her work using pen names or no name at all. This was partly her choice and partly because of how editors treated writers.

Her writing covered many topics. She wrote articles about freedom of thought, funny pieces for newspapers, ghost stories, and exciting adventure tales for boys. Lurana loved animals very much. She felt strongly that people who mistreated animals should be punished. She also believed that parents should be able to care for their children.

In total, she published seven novels, about two hundred short stories, over a thousand poems, and many articles on science and social topics.

Her Thoughts on Life

Lurana grew up in a traditional religious family. However, she began to question many things. She found answers that made more sense to her through studying science and the ideas of thinkers like Charles Darwin. She believed that "faith," "hope," and "love" were important human achievements. She felt these came from our own minds and experiences, not just from religious beliefs.

She believed that people should be free to choose their own beliefs. She also felt that real help and kindness often came from unexpected places, not always from religious groups. She saw that some people who claimed to be religious were not always honest.

Personal Life

Lurana Sheldon faced health challenges. But she still traveled around the United States, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. She felt she was content with little, but found it hard when good work wasn't rewarded. She lived alone and preferred books to social gatherings. She wished that people in power would do more to improve the world.

She didn't like to talk about her difficulties. She once said she was born with "poverty, poor health and ambition." She also described herself as having a strong spirit that didn't like being told what to do. She was determined to live life her own way, even if it meant facing many challenges.

Lurana was a strong supporter of women's rights. In 1916, in Maine, she started the Women's Defense Club. Its goal was to teach American women how to shoot guns for self-defense.

On November 20, 1904, she married Judge Isaac F. Ferris. He was a journalist earlier in his life. Lurana Sheldon died in Maine on June 11, 1945. She did not have any children.

Selected Writings

By Lurana W. Sheldon

• Death to the Inquisitive!: A Story of Sinful Love, 1892
• Is this your God?, 1900
• Whom god hath joined together, and The curse upon progress, 1900
• For Gold or Soul?: The Story of a Great Department Store, 1900
• As we forgive : a romance, 1928
• For Love Or Gold?: A Romance, 1928
• For Love Or Gold?: The Story of a Great Department Store, 1928

By Stanley Norris

• The young showman's triumph, or, a Grand tour on the road, 1903
• The young showman's rivals; ups and downs of the road, 1903
• The young showman's pluck; or, An unknown rider in the ring, 1903

By Richard Hackstaff

• "Tracked by a Pin", The Magnet Library
• Pete, the Breaker Boy, Or, The Young Coal Mine Ferret, 1906
• Bags, the Boy Detective, Or, A Warm Trail, 1907
• Bob, the Shadow, Or, Solving a Double Mystery, 1908

By Grace Shirley: My Queen, A Weekly Journal for Young Women

Other Short Stories