Monthly Archives: March 2017

Why Do We Call a Toilet a “John”?

Posted on March 31, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

 Sir John Harington was a courtier, translator, a not so successful poet of the Elizabethan era. Harington’s father married an illegitimate daughter of Henry VIII. His second wife was attendant to Princess Elizabeth, and Queen Elizabeth I stood as godmother … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Elizabethan drama, poetry, real life tales, Tudors | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Georgian Era Commerce – Part II: The West India Docks and the London Docks

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

This is the second part of a look at the commercial trades during the Georgian Era. If you missed part one, you will find it HERE.  The cargo-handling docks of the early 1800s included the West India Dock, the London … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, commerce, Georgian England, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, Regency era | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Celebrating the Release of “A Dance with Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary” + Giveaway

Posted on March 29, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

A major turning point in my latest Austen-inspired vagary, A Dance with Mr. Darcy, comes when Elizabeth permits Lydia to convince her to join in the St  Agnes Eve festivities.  But who was St Agnes? And why do we celebrate … Continue reading →

Posted in Austen Authors, book excerpts, book release, customs and tradiitons, eBooks, excerpt, giveaway, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, marriage customs, medieval, Regency romance, religion, Vagary | Tagged , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

The Legend of Handfasting + Release of “A Dance with Mr. Darcy” + Excerpt + Giveaway

Posted on March 28, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

 Last Tuesday, we looked at the formal betrothals known as “handfasting,” But what of the mythical handfasting ceremonies purported by popular literature? In the late 18th Century, an idea arose in Scotland that “handfasting” did not refer to a betrothal, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Austen Authors, book excerpts, book release, books, British history, customs and tradiitons, eBooks, excerpt, giveaway, historical fiction, Jane Austen, legends and myths, Living in the Regency, marriage customs, marriage licenses, Pride and Prejudice, Scotland, Vagary | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

“Lizzy and Jane,” a Contemporary Tale Based on the Austen from Katherine Reay

Posted on March 27, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

This is one of the first posts that my fellow Austen Author, Katherine Reay did for the blog. Check out this piece on Jane Austen and Food.    Great writers and my mom never used food as an object. Instead … Continue reading →

Posted in Austen Authors, book excerpts, books, contemporary romance, food, Jane Austen | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Brother Can You Spare a Dime? a Guest Post from Brenda J. Webb + a Giveaway

Posted on March 25, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

We have had LOTS of interest in this post, so Brenda Webb and I thought we would highlight it again today. Brenda has generously added a giveaway to the post. Comment below to be part of the giveaway of two … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Georgian England, Regency era, tradtions | Tagged , , , , | 44 Comments

Historical Handfasting as a Plot Point in “A Dance with Mr. Darcy” + Excerpt + Giveaway

Posted on March 21, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

Although Darcy and Elizabeth do not come to their Happily Ever After in A Dance with Mr. Darcy through handfasting, it is a subject of discussion. They are in Scotland, and handfasting was a more common practice there. But what … Continue reading →

Posted in Austen Authors, book excerpts, book release, books, customs and tradiitons, eBooks, excerpt, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, marriage, marriage customs, medieval, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, Regency romance, religion, Scotland, Vagary | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 36 Comments

Newbury Acres (a modern retelling of Austen’s Northanger Abbey) by Sarah Price

Posted on March 20, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

Today, I am hosting another of my fellow Austen Authors, Sarah Price. Sarah is one of the “queens” of Amish literature, and she often mixes it with a bit of Jane Austen.  Most of the time, when people mention Jane … Continue reading →

Posted in Austen Authors, book release, Guest Post, Jane Austen | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Chanticleer International Book Award Finalist “The Prosecution of Mr. Darcy’s Cousin”

Posted on March 17, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

When I was writing my most recent cozy mystery, The Prosecution of Mr. Darcy’s Cousin, I spent many hours in research on the Regency era court system for a long trial scene occurs within the book. Correct verbiage and procedures were … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Truth Stranger Than Fiction, a Guest Post from Jennifer Petkus

Posted on March 16, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

This post originally appeared on Austen Authors, but I thought it worthy and wanted to share it with others. If you do not know Jennifer Petkus’s works, check them out.  Truth is stranger than fiction, they say, which I’ve never … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, British Navy, business, commerce, Scotland | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Truth Stranger Than Fiction, a Guest Post from Jennifer Petkus