Category Archives: Scotland

Craigievar Castle, the Inspiration for Walt Disney’s Trademark Castle and a Ghostly Experience

Posted on November 2, 2018 by

  Are you still looking for the ghosts and goblins of Halloween? Permit me to introduce you to Craigievar Castle in Scotland, where you might hear ‘Red’ Sir John tell of ancient feuds between the clans and the murder of … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, British history, buildings and structures, history, legends, medieval, paranormal, real life tales, Scotland, spooky tales, suspense | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Headless Horseman and the House of Dun

Posted on October 29, 2018 by

 We have all heard of the Headless Horseman. Surely, you know something of the tale written by Washington Irving in 1820: “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” However, did you realize that the Headless Horseman had been a much used motif … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, castles, Georgian Era, legends, legends and myths, Scotland, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Closer Look at “Vampire Darcy’s Desire”

Posted on October 24, 2018 by

 In late 2009, at the height of the Twilight mania, Ulysses Press approached me regarding my writing a vampiric version of Pride and Prejudice. [Each book in the Twilight series was inspired by and loosely based on a different literary … Continue reading →

Posted in gothic and paranormal, Jane Austen, paranormal, Pride and Prejudice, reading habits, romance, Scotland, vampires | Tagged , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

A Closer Look at MR. DARCY’S BRIDEs: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary

Posted on August 3, 2018 by

In my book, MR. DARCY’s BRIDEs, by mistake Elizabeth disrupts Mr. Darcy’s marriage to his cousin, Anne De Bourgh. Our daring heroine is in disguise (NOTE: I drape her with a heavy veil attached to her bonnet, which would not … Continue reading →

Posted in Austen Authors, British history, Church of England, eBooks, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, marriage, marriage customs, marriage licenses, Pride and Prejudice, Regency era, Regency romance, Scotland, Vagary | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

Why Gretna Green? Marriage Over the Anvil, a Guest Post by Alexa Adams

Posted on May 14, 2018 by

This post originally appeared on Austen Authors on 23 February 2018. Enjoy!!  “I am going to Gretna Green, and if you cannot guess with who, I shall think you a simpleton, for there is but one man in the world … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Church of England, customs and tradiitons, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Guest Post, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, marriage, marriage customs, marriage licenses, Regency era, Scotland | Tagged , , , , , , , ,

A Closer Look at “The Disappearance of Georgiana Darcy”

Posted on May 11, 2018 by

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, gothic and paranormal, Industry News/Publishing, Jane Austen, legends and myths, Scotland, Ulysses Press, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Fleet Prison Marriages of the 1700s

Posted on April 18, 2018 by

Marriage ceremonies associated with the Fleet Prison is London were many in the mid to late 1700s. It is estimated that in the 1740s over half of London’s marriage ceremonies took place in “marriage shops” surrounding the Fleet Prison. By … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, Church of England, customs and tradiitons, Georgian England, Georgian Era, marriage, marriage customs, marriage licenses, real life tales, Scotland | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments