Category Archives: reading

Snuff Boxes and the “Avid” Georgian Era Collectors + the Release of “Loving Lord Lindmore” + a Giveaway

Christie’s Auction House’s Facebook page tells us, “In the Georgian era, snuff was the tobacco of choice for high society. It came in a great many varieties and spending on it was lavish. The boxes in which snuff was carried … Continue reading

Posted in anthology, aristocracy, book excerpts, book release, British history, Dreamstone Publishing, eBooks, excerpt, fashion, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, history, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, reading, real life tales, Regency era, Regency personalities, Regency romance, research, romance, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Trompe L’oeil & Grisaille in Historic Houses + an Excerpt from “Mr. Darcy and the Designing Woman” and a Giveaway!

To write “Mr. Darcy and the Designing Woman,” I had to learn the “technical” architectural terms for many architectural effects I enjoy viewing in historic houses and buildings. Two such terms are “trompe L’oeil,” and the other is “grisaille.” Trompe-l’œil (French for … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, art, book excerpts, book release, British history, buildings and structures, eBooks, excerpt, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, reading, reading habits, real life tales, Regency era, Regency romance, research, tradtions, Vagary, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Mystery and Suspense Month: The Disappearance of Georgiana Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery on Sale Until November 5

When writing any mystery, the author cannot just have a murderer and a victim. He/She must also have suspects, red herrings (false clues), motives, and deception. There must be a balance between the suspense and the story’s pace must be … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, British history, excerpt, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, legends, legends and myths, mystery, Pride and Prejudice, reading, real life tales, Regency era, Regency romance, research, suspense, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mystery and Suspense Month: The Phantom of Pemberley: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery on Sale Until November 5

For October, I thought to highlight some of my mysteries and suspense novels. Heck, it is the time for ghosts and goblins and things that go bump in the dark. ALL BOOKS FEATURED THIS MONTH ARE ON SALE ON FOR … Continue reading

Posted in Austen Authors, book excerpts, British history, estates, excerpt, Georgian England, Georgian Era, gothic and paranormal, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, legends and myths, mystery, reading, Regency era, Regency romance, suspense, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Reverend John Trusler, a Man for All Times or Cunning Con Man, Part 1

In researching something on another piece on William Blake, I came across a letter from Blake to Reverend John Trusler, who I will address in a moment. Yet, for those not familiar with William Blake (remember I spent many years … Continue reading

Posted in books, British history, excerpt, Georgian England, Georgian Era, reading, real life tales, Regency era, research, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Reverend John Trusler, a Man for All Times or Cunning Con Man, Part 1

A Bit on Copperplate Handwriting . . .

Reader’s Question: Could someone tell if the person was right-handed or left-handed by the slant of their letters on a page? First, let’s speak to what was known as Copperplate Handwriting, what we now call “calligraphy.” Copperplate script is the … Continue reading

Posted in American History, books, British history, England, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, history, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, reading, Regency era, research, terminology, Victorian era, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Happy 5th Book Birthday to “Lord Radcliffe’s Best Friend”

“Lord Radcliffe’s Best Friend” was originally part of the anthology A Regency Christmas Together. The idea behind the stories in the anthology was the hero and heroine are “trapped” together at Christmas. The “trapping” could be anything from being snowed in … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, book release, Christmas, eBooks, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, publishing, reading, Regency era, Regency romance, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Happy 5th Book Birthday to “Lord Radcliffe’s Best Friend”

Reader Question: What Were the Choices of Carriages for a Lady in the Regency to Simply Travel About Her Husband’s Estate to Sketch and Paint?

CARRIAGE CHOICES: New Question from a Familiar Follower: I have a character in the book I am writing who prefers to keep her distance from horses, but she enjoys painting and walking quite long distances to sketch outdoors. Her husband … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Georgian England, Georgian Era, heroines, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Pride and Prejudice, reading, Regency era, research, tradtions, travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

How NOT to Do Away with One’s Hero or Heroine …

How often have you read a Regency based story and the author uses some sort of concoction to incapacitate the hero or the heroine? Heck, I have written that plot line several times. Yet, what was the truth of this action?

Mostly used during the period were opium based and alcohol based mixtures and were used for pain. Some were plant based in could be found among the herbal realm, but, generally, nothing during the day worked efficiently and safely. Part of the problem was the dosage could not be adjusted for the person’s weight and medical history, as one might find today. A woman like my 95 pounds mother might be given the same dosage as a 200 pounds man. Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, excerpt, food and drink, Georgian England, Georgian Era, herbs, heroines, historical fiction, history, Living in the Regency, medicine, medieval, reading, reading habits, Realm series, Regency romance, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on How NOT to Do Away with One’s Hero or Heroine …

Celebrating the Release of “Two Earls to Love” With Two Excerpts and a Giveaway

The first of the “two earls” featured in this collection was released in the summer of 2022 as part of the Regency Summer Garden Anthology (which is only available in print format). Rose Vickers has been sent home by her … Continue reading

Posted in aristocracy, book excerpts, book release, books, British history, eBooks, excerpt, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, heroines, historical fiction, Living in the Regency, publishing, reading, reading habits, Regency era, Regency romance, research, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments