Category Archives: real life tales

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?

Use of “Marquess” vs. “Marquis” and My Newest Story, “Never Contradict a Lady” + the Release of “Regency Summer Melodies” + a Giveaway

In Great Britain and historically in Ireland, a marquess ranks below a duke and above an earl. A woman with the rank of wife to a marquess is a marchioness. The dignity, rank, or position of the title is a marquisate or marquessate. In France, … Continue reading

Posted in Act of Parliament, book release, British history, Dreamstone Publishing, eBooks, England, Georgian Era, history, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, primogenture, publishing, reading, real life tales, Regency era, research, tradtions, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Use of “Marquess” vs. “Marquis” and My Newest Story, “Never Contradict a Lady” + the Release of “Regency Summer Melodies” + a Giveaway

Claridge Hotel + the Upcoming Release of “Lyon in the Way” from Dragonblade Publishers

It is only two more days until the release of the first book of my mystery/romantic suspense series for Dragonblade Publishers releases. The series, which I have nearly finished writing are in different stages of production. They will release three … Continue reading

Posted in blog hop, book release, British history, buildings and structures, Dragonblade Publishers, eBooks, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, history, Living in the Regency, publishing, reading, real life tales, Regency era, research, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Claridge Hotel + the Upcoming Release of “Lyon in the Way” from Dragonblade Publishers

Whaddon, Bletchley, and Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire + the Upcoming Release of “Lyon in the Way” from Dragonblade Publishers

Part of my story has the heroine hiding out in a hunting lodge in Buckinghamshire. At this point, I shan’t tell you why. You must read the book to learn something of her motives and mine. LOL! However, as she … Continue reading

Posted in blog hop, book excerpts, book release, British history, Dragonblade Publishers, eBooks, England, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, hero, heroines, historical fiction, history, Living in the UK, mystery, publishing, real life tales, Regency era, Regency romance, research, romance, suspense, travel, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Whaddon, Bletchley, and Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire + the Upcoming Release of “Lyon in the Way” from Dragonblade Publishers

The Importance of Packet Boats in the Regency Era + the Anticipated Release of “Lyon in the Way” from Dragonblade Publishers

In The Marchioness’s Madness, which is still waiting to be published, the often used travel by packet boats is more developed, than it is in my tale coming soon from Dragonblade Publishers. The hero and heroine in The Marchioness Madness … Continue reading

Posted in book release, British history, commerce, Dragonblade Publishers, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, historical fiction, history, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era, research | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

What is a Glass Cone? And a Look Back at A Touch of Cashémere, Book 3 of the Realm Series

Next month, I hope to release a new romantic mystery/suspense series. This one is from Dragonblade Publishers, so I thought I might revisit my very successful Realm series and some of the history regarding each of the stories in the series. … Continue reading

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, customs and tradiitons, Great Britain, Living in the UK, mystery, real life tales, Realm series, Regency era, Regency romance, research, romance, Scotland, suspense | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Proving Oneself the New Peer

I had a recent question from a reader/writer about how after the death of the current peer was one made the new peer. Was it immediate? Is there a process or some sort of hearing. What must he prove to … Continue reading

Posted in Act of Parliament, book excerpts, British history, eBooks, excerpt, Great Britain, history, laws of the land, Living in the Regency, peerage, real life tales, Regency era, Regency romance, research, romance, titles of aristocracy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Proving Oneself the New Peer

The Cambridge Five: “We need people who could penetrate into the bourgeois institutions. Penetrate them for us!”

 If you are a great lover of all things British, as am I, you are likely familiar with the BBC2 mini-series, Cambridge Spies. It starred four of my personal favorites: Toby Stephens, Rupert Penry Jones, Tom Hollander, and Samuel West. … Continue reading

Posted in American History, British history, film, history, military, political stance, real life tales, war, world history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on The Cambridge Five: “We need people who could penetrate into the bourgeois institutions. Penetrate them for us!”

Orphans and Orphanages in Late Georgian England

I had a recent question regarding what I knew about the conditions inside of orphanages during the Regency and Georgian eras. Below is a mash of all the tidbits I had accumulated on the subject. I have attempted to organize … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Orphans and Orphanages in Late Georgian England