Category Archives: Pride and Prejudice

What Could Be in a 19th Century Vampire-Slaying Kit? and the Release of “Midnight at Pemberley”

‘Vampire-slaying kit’ bought by Royal Armouries museum The box contains a prayer book and “vampire-slaying equipment” Related Stories Vampire-slaying kit sells for £7k Vampire-slaying kit up for sale In 2012, the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds sold a “vampire-slaying kit.” The … Continue reading

Posted in Africa, book excerpts, book release, excerpt, gothic and paranormal, Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Regency romance, romance, Scotland, Ulysses Press, vampires | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mashups!! Jane Austen and Vampires and the Release of “Midnight at Pemberley”

What is a MashUp? When I first became aware of the term “mashup,” I automatically thought of the music industry with its remixes and creative imaginings of oldies and the classics. By definition, a “mashup” is creating a new entity … Continue reading

Posted in book release, books, British currency, eBooks, Georgian England, Jane Austen, King Arthur, Living in the Regency, paranormal, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, quotes, Regency romance, romance, suspense, vampires, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Celebrating the ReRelease of Vampire Darcy’s Desire with a New Title and Updated Story, Mixing Austen with Vampiric Legends

On August 26, I will celebrate the rerelease of my vampiric version of Pride and Prejudice, Vampire Darcy’s Desire under a new title, Midnight at Pemberley. I wrote the original book in 2010. Ulysses Press has repurchased the rights to … Continue reading

Posted in British history, dueling, estates, George Wickham, Georgian Era, gothic and paranormal, Great Britain, historical fiction, Jane Austen, legends, legends and myths, Living in the Regency, medieval, mystery, Pride and Prejudice, real life tales, Regency era, romance, Scotland, suspense, Ulysses Press, vampires, Victorian era, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Rochester, England, Part of the Plot Line for “Lyon on the Inside” from Dragonblade Publishing

I have set the latter part of my latest Dragonblade novel in and around Rochester, England. One of the characters introduced in the novel “Lyon on the Inside” is a Scottish “gentleman,” who is familiar to both Lord Macdonald Duncan … Continue reading

Posted in Anglo-Normans, Anglo-Saxons, architecture, book release, British history, buildings and structures, Church of England, Dragonblade Publishers, England, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, hero, heroines, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, mystery, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, real life tales, Regency era, Regency romance, religion, research, series, suspense, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Rochester, England, Part of the Plot Line for “Lyon on the Inside” from Dragonblade Publishing

Greater and Lesser Tithes and Who Received Them + the Upcoming Release of “Lyon on the Inside” from Dragonblade Publishing, Arriving 24 June 2026

A church living was accepted to be a respectable occupation among the gentry and the aristocracy. It was a “job” which came with an income, house, and, often, farmland Continue reading

Posted in aristocracy, book release, books, British history, Church of England, customs and tradiitons, Dragonblade Publishers, eBooks, Emma, England, estates, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, hero, heroines, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, laws of the land, Living in the Regency, mystery, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, reading, Regency era, Regency romance, religion, research, series, suspense, terminology, tradtions, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Kissing a Woman’s Hand, a Jane Austen Perspective

References to hand-kissing in Jane Austen’s novels, particularly as a gesture of respect and affection can be found in four of her novels. While not a daily occurrence, kissing of the back of the hand was a recognized form of … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, customs and tradiitons, Emma, George Wickham, Georgian Era, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“Public” Education in the Regency Era + the Upcoming Release of “Lost in the Lyon’s Garden” from Dragonblade Publishing [Arriving 18 March 2026]

Young boys of the wealthy, generally, received a tutor about the same time as he received a valet to take over his care. Early curriculums included Latin, French mathematics, science, geography, and history. Later, a more intense study of literature … Continue reading

Posted in aristocracy, book release, British history, customs and tradiitons, Dragonblade Publishers, eBooks, education, Georgian England, Georgian Era, hero, heroines, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, mystery, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, Regency era, Regency romance, research, suspense | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on “Public” Education in the Regency Era + the Upcoming Release of “Lost in the Lyon’s Garden” from Dragonblade Publishing [Arriving 18 March 2026]

Rebuilding or Refurbishing a House in Regency England + the Upcoming Release of “Lost in the Lyon’s Garden” from Dragonblade Publishing (Arriving 18 March 2026)

The hero of Lost in the Lyon’s Garden was raised, until about the age of ten, by his father, a vicar on his uncle’s estate (now his estate). Lord Benjamin Thompson lives quite simply, as compared to his brothers and … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, aristocracy, book release, British history, buildings and structures, Dragonblade Publishers, eBooks, estates, fashion, Georgian England, Georgian Era, heroines, historical fiction, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, mystery, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, Regency era, Regency romance, research, series, suspense, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

What Did the Term “Half-Pay Officers” Mean During the Regency? And What of “Honor”?

I thought addressing this recent question from a reader appropriate for the Memorial Day Weekend. Question from a reader: I am confused about what it meant to be an officer on half-pay. Can you shed any light on this topic? … Continue reading

Posted in aristocracy, British history, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, military, Napoleonic Wars, Pride and Prejudice, real life tales, Regency era, research, terminology | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

What Did It Mean to Be a “Gentleman” in Jane Austen’s England?

The word “genteel” is an adjective, meaning polite, refined, or respectable, often in an affected or ostentatious way. Its roots can be found in the late 16th century (in the sense ‘fashionable, stylish’): from French gentil ‘well-born’. From the 17th century … Continue reading

Posted in Austen Authors, British history, customs and tradiitons, film adaptations, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, marriage customs, Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice, real life tales, Regency era | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on What Did It Mean to Be a “Gentleman” in Jane Austen’s England?