I still handwrite my stories on paper. Black ink. Wide ruled spiral notebooks. Wide ruled means I can squeeze in words or phrases. What I write today will receive its first edit tomorrow before I continue on with the story. Eventually, I type the pages, which is the second round of edits.

All that being said, I have my own method of marking words and phrases. If I cannot think of a more appropriate word than the one I have, I simple circle it and write wc (word choice) above it. On that second read through, I might change it or it may change later in the process, but I do not stop to look for an alternate word, for such would play havoc with my story flow. I do the same thing, if I have used the word often in a short passage. I also circle phrases that seem as if they might be too modern for a story set in the early 1800s. Such was true when I wrote a passage where my heroine, Lady Cora Midland, was honored by walking about the room with the “dandy of the period,” one Beau Brummell. Here is a bit of their conversation:

“How very sad,” she observed. 

“Is such not the way of all people?” Mr. Brummell questioned. “We wish others to fail so we might think ourselves the fortunate ones, though often we are teetering on the edge of disaster ourselves. Yet, enough of my sermonizing. I did not ask to walk about the room with you to discuss such morbid thoughts. Tell me, instead, something of your people, Lady Cora.” 

“Gladly so,” she said with another smile. “I adore speaking of them. My mother, Miss Sophia Cooper, was half-sister to Lord Lindmore’s mother, Miss Louisa Cooper. They shared a father, Edward, 7th Viscount Cooper. Louisa married Frederick Harrington, who, as you well know, both passed quite young, leaving their son as the heir to the Lindmore line.

“My mother was the second wife of Lord John Midland. With our father’s passing, my half-brother has assumed the earldom. My mother inherited Cameron Manor from her mother, the late Viscountess Cooper. The manor is mine, or, I should say, will be mine when the law considers me old enough to manage on my own. Before she passed, Lady Midland asked the Dowager Countess of Lindmore to see to my Come Out.” Cora would not admit how her mother had not trusted the Midlands to do right by her. Some family secrets were to be held close to the chest. 

“My own father was not a landed gentleman,” Brummell admitted. “Not that anyone in this room cares. Never permit them to know you possess a weakness,” he advised. “They will turn upon you in the manner of a swarm of bees.” 

Cora glanced to those watching them intently. “You make me wish to run screaming from the room, sir,” she admitted. 

Brummell chuckled. “Perhaps we both should do so and see how many follow suit. I have heard of the habits of Norway lemmings, which suddenly appear in large numbers, seemingly out of nowhere, as if they fell from the sky. They are thought to come upon the notion of following each other so closely that when one jumps from a cliff, they all follow without reason. Someday I may place this rumor into practice to see what might be the result.” 

Cora felt sympathy for a man who could not even turn around without everyone remarking on it. 

*******

When I wrote this remark regarding “lemmings,” I again circled it and put “origin” above it to remind me to trace whether those in the Regency era might know of lemmings and the story of their “supposed” suicide. Fortunately, for me, some knowledge of this tale did exist for the time period of my story. I did not have far to go for the truth of the matter. The lovely encyclopedia Britannica tells us, “In the 17th century, naturalists perplexed by the habit of Norway lemmings to suddenly appear in large numbers, seemingly out of nowhere, came to the conclusion that the animals were being spontaneously generated in the sky and then falling to earth like rain. (The prosaic truth is that they migrate in herds.) Some people also thought that lemmings explode if they become sufficiently angry. This is also a myth, of course—lemmings are indeed one of the more irascible rodents, but they mostly channel their rage into fights with other lemmings. People probably came up with the notion of exploding lemmings after seeing the picked-over lemming carcasses that were left behind following a migration.

“But there is one myth that has held on tenaciously: Every few years, herds of lemmings commit mass suicide by jumping off seaside cliffs. Instinct, it is said, drives them to kill themselves whenever their population becomes unsustainably large.

“Lemmings do not commit suicide. However, this particular myth is based on some actual lemming behaviors. Lemmings have large population booms every three or four years. When the concentration of lemmings becomes too high in one area, a large group will set out in search of a new home. Lemmings can swim, so if they reach a water obstacle, such as a river or lake, they may try to cross it. Inevitably, a few individuals drown. But it’s hardly suicide.”

“There it is in the 17th Century!” It can fit in the story, and no one can call me out on it, though someone will for that is the way of mean-spirited reviewers. Sorry. That is for a different blog.

Loving Lord Lindmore released yesterday. If you do have your copy yet, do so soon before the price change at the end of next week, and keep looking for the story’s companion novel, Taming Lord Truist, releasing in September 2024.

LADY CORA TAKES SOCIETY BY STORM . . .

Lady Cora Midland, a highly-spirited country beauty, offers no pretensions, which wins her many admirers, despite her lack of knowledge on how to manage the beau monde. However, Matthew Harrington believes she is taking advantage of his elderly grandmother, and he means to put a stop to the girl.

LORD MATTHEW LINDMORE IS IN DENIAL . . . 

Lindmore reluctantly assists his grandmother in bringing Lady Cora out in Society. Yet, what appeared to be a daunting task becomes a transformation the earl does not expect. He finds the woman as delightful, as do others in the haut ton. Yet… 

When Lady Cora is on the the verge of marrying another, Lindmore fears time will expire before he can speak his own proposal. 

Kindle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTFSRB7R?ref_=pe_93986420_775043100

Upon Release Available to Read on Kindle Unlimited

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTLY847C?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520