Category Archives: writing

Gregor McGregor, an Extraordinary Regency Era Con Man + an Excerpt from “Mr. Darcy’s Bargain”

In writing my Austen-inspired vagary, Mr. Darcy’s Bargain, I researched LOTS of scams occurring during the Regency era. We are peppered with them every day, and A/I is making it harder and harder to tell what is real and what is … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, books, British history, business, excerpt, finance, Georgian England, Georgian Era, hero, heroines, historical fiction, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, marriage, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, real life tales, Regency era, Regency personalities, Regency romance, research, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A “Baron” By Any Other Name, May Not Be As Correct As One Assumes…

Being a “baron” means a man holds a title of the nobility. In the British system, he is below a viscount (baron, viscount, earl, marquess, duke). In those countries without “viscounts,” a baron is below a “count,” which is the … Continue reading →

Posted in aristocracy, British history, customs and tradiitons, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, Inheritance, laws of the land, primogenture, Regency era, research, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Breaking Regency Myths: A Lesson for Beginning and “Season”ed Writers on What Could and Could Not Happen Regarding a Regency Era Marriage

I belong to a Facebook Group called Regency Kisses: Lady Catherine’s Salon. Many of those found on the group are authors of Regencies novels (but not necessarily authors of Jane Austen Fan Fiction novels). These are often people who have … Continue reading →

Posted in books, British history, buildings and structures, Church of England, customs and tradiitons, finance, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, hero, heroines, historical fiction, history, Inheritance, laws of the land, Living in the Regency, marriage, marriage customs, marriage licenses, medicine, military, political stance, real life tales, Regency era, Regency romance, research, servant life, toys and games, travel, writing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Franklin Syndicate, a Scam That Serves as the Basis of “Mr. Darcy’s Bargain”

When I came upon the idea of a “bargain” between Darcy and Elizabeth, I required an impetus to bring them together in my vagary, Mr. Darcy’s Bargain. That impetus was a scam perpetrated on the citizens of Meryton by none other … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, British history, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, hero, heroines, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, laws of the land, Living in the Regency, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, reading habits, real life tales, Regency era, research, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Franklin Syndicate, a Scam That Serves as the Basis of “Mr. Darcy’s Bargain”

Crossing the Irish Sea in the Early 1800s, Not for the Faint of Heart

I have written several books of late that feature my characters traveling to Ireland from different points in England. One of the more recent ones was my Taming Lord Truist, the second book of the Strong Women Duo that accompanied … Continue reading →

Posted in aristocracy, British history, British Navy, customs and tradiitons, Dragonblade Publishers, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, hero, heroines, historical fiction, history, Ireland, Living in the Regency, publishing, real life tales, Regency era, Regency personalities, Regency romance, research, travel, writing | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Crossing the Irish Sea in the Early 1800s, Not for the Faint of Heart

“Darcy’s Passions” Excerpt – As Elizabeth’s Betrothed, Darcy Dines at Longbourn

Back in 2012, I was part of a project where a group of authors revisited Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and retold scenes from the points of view of the other characters. This excerpt revisits the later part of Austen’s classic. This is … Continue reading →

Posted in aristocracy, book excerpts, book release, excerpt, Georgian England, Georgian Era, heroines, historical fiction, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, marriage customs, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, reading, Regency era, Regency personalities, Regency romance, Vagary, writing | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

The First to Purchase Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility” Was Prince George IV, a Man For Whom Austen Held Little Respect

I am relatively confident that many of you who read this blog already know this: The New York Times in 2018 had this interesting piece on the discovery by a University of Pennsylvania Ph.D student, which has thrilled Austen scholars. … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, George IV, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, publishing, real life tales, Regency era, research, royalty, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The First to Purchase Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility” Was Prince George IV, a Man For Whom Austen Held Little Respect

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

Belle Gunness, Serial Killer, the Basis for the Villain in the Conclusion of My Dragonblade Mystery/Suspense Series

Belle Gunness could lay claim to being the first female serial killer of modern times. Her story has fascinated me for many years. She was known to attract a large number of husbands and suitors, and she would quickly dispatch … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, book release, Dragonblade Publishers, eBooks, historical fiction, history, marriage, mystery, publishing, real life tales, research, suspense, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Belle Gunness, Serial Killer, the Basis for the Villain in the Conclusion of My Dragonblade Mystery/Suspense Series