Category Archives: real life tales

Happy February Birthdays to Some of Our Favorite “Austen” Actors

These fabulous Thespians have brought us hours of viewing fun in Austen-inspired films. Happy Birthday!        9 February – Ciarán Hinds, who portrayed Captain Frederick Wentworth in 1995’s Persuasion 15 February – Jane Seymour, who portrayed Mrs Wattlesbrook … Continue reading

Posted in film adaptations, Great Britain, Jane Austen, real life tales | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Ever Been on a “Cook’s Tour”?

Most of you are likely to think a “cook’s tour” has something to do with a chef’s culinary excellence, but the phrase actually has its roots in the world’s oldest and largest travel organization.   Thomas Cook was a 32-year old … Continue reading

Posted in British history, commerce, Great Britain, Industrial Revolution, Living in the UK, real life tales, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Happy January Birthdays to Some of Our Favorite “Austen” Actors

January brings us a “New Year” and another batch of Austen-inspired actors celebrating birthdays.             January 1 – Nicholas Farrell, who portrayed Edmund Bertram in Mansfield Park 1983   January 1 – Doran Godwin, who portrayed … Continue reading

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An Old-Fashioned Holiday Season? Perhaps Not!! Be Careful For What You Wish

An Old-Fashioned Holiday Season…Or, Perhaps Not!! Be Careful For What You Wish. Have we lost the meaning of the holidays? As many are conserving their energies for Black Friday shopping tomorrow, others are wondering how we lost the true meaning … Continue reading

Posted in British history, food and drink, Great Britain, holidays, real life tales | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

“And the Best Supporting Role” Blog Hop Continues!

Please follow a fab blog hop that celebrates the favorite supporting characters of some authors you love already and some of have yet to meet. Personally, I am on Friday, December 9, but I encourage you to visit the authors’ posts … Continue reading

Posted in blog hop, book release, books, British Navy, mystery, Napoleonic Wars, paranormal, Peterloo Massacre, reading, real life tales, Realm series, Regency era, Regency romance, romance, Tudors, Victorian era, War of 1812 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Happy December Birthday to Some of Our Favorite “Austen” Actors

We wish to say a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to these actors who brought some of our favorite Austen characters to life.            December 1 – Jeremy Northam, who portrayed Mr. Knightley in the 1996 film version … Continue reading

Posted in Jane Austen, real life tales | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Jane Austen’s Publishing Options, or Being a Female Writer in the Regency Era

Publishing Options for Women During Jane Austen’s Lifetime I thought it time to revisit this post for several people of late have asked me of Austen and self-publishing. “Novels” during the early Regency were geared toward the female reader; therefore, … Continue reading

Posted in British history, food, George IV, Georgian England, Great Britain, historical fiction, Industry News/Publishing, Jane Austen, literature, Living in the Regency, publishing, reading, reading habits, real life tales, Regency era, Regency personalities, romance | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

From Where Does the Name “Cutty Sark Scotch Whisky” Come?

With the news of the anniversary of the Cutty Sark ship this past week, I thought to renew this post. First a bit on the clipper ship: On 22 November, Cutty Sark celebrates the 146th anniversary of her launch. Originally designed … Continue reading

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

William “520 Percent” Miller, Inspiration for “Mr. Darcy’s Bargain”

In my latest release, Mr. Darcy’s Bargain, Elizabeth pleads with Darcy to save the citizens of Meryton from a scam being perpetrated upon them by Mr. Wickham. But how did I come up with the idea of this scam as … Continue reading

Posted in American History, Anglo-Normans, Austen Authors, Barbara Kyle, book excerpts, book release, books, British currency, British history, British Navy, business, Chaucer, commerce, contemporary romance, eBooks, George Wickham, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, Living in the Regency, Pride and Prejudice, real life tales, Regency romance, romance, Vagary | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Drambuie: Scotland’s First Commercially Produced Liqueur

To fully appreciate how Scotland claimed drambuie as its own, one must possess a general knowledge of what is known in Scottish/English history as the Rebellion of ’45. James II of England and Ireland (James VII of Scotland) converted to … Continue reading

Posted in Act of Parliament, British history, commerce, Georgian Era, kings and queens, legends and myths, real life tales, Scotland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments