Category Archives: writing

During the Regency, Could a Female Run an Estate in the Absence of the Male Heir?

Recently, one of my author friends sent me her Work in Progress manuscript for me to comment on what she had written to that point. She and I often bounce ideas off each other. Although beautifully written, making me sorry … Continue reading

Posted in British history, family, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, Inheritance, Living in the Regency, marriage, Napoleonic Wars, Pride and Prejudice, Realm series, research, titles of aristocracy, Vagary, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

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

Celebrating the Release of “Regency Summer Scandals,” featuring my story “Loving Lord Lindmore” + a Giveaway

Regency Summer Scandals, the latest in our summer anthologies from Dreamstone Publishing released yesterday. Today, I would like to give you a taste of my story in the anthology, which is entitled “Loving Lord Lindmore.” Meet my Main Characters: Matthew … Continue reading

Posted in anthology, aristocracy, book excerpts, book release, books, Dreamstone Publishing, eBooks, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, heroines, historical fiction, Living in the Regency, publishing, reading, reading habits, Regency era, Regency romance, romance, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Happy 13th Book Birthday to “The Phantom of Pemberley: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery”

On July 1, 2010, Ulysses Press released The Phantom of Pemberley: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery. It was the first of my cozy mysteries, and it remains a favorite. In 2019, I received the rights to all my Ulysses Press titles back from the company. I have periodically been rereleasing them with new covers and to new readers.

I would love to share something of the historical tidbit that is the key to solving the mystery, but, what fun would that be for all those who love a good mystery and think themselves capable of spotting the clues early on. Moreover, as I skipped kindergarten (and a few other grades), I never learned to share properly. LOL! The whole “solving the mystery thing” revolves around one key clue all the characters miss. Hopefully, you will you be wiser than they are. Continue reading

Posted in Austen Authors, book excerpts, book release, British history, excerpt, George Wickham, Georgian England, Georgian Era, heroines, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, legends, legends and myths, marriage, mystery, paranormal, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, reading habits, Regency era, royalty, spooky tales, suspense, tall tales, Ulysses Press, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Celebrating the Release of “Regency Summer Scandals” Anthology + a Giveaway

In my latest tale, Loving Lord Lindmore, my heroine has some hoydenish tendencies, for the stories in the A Regency Summer Scandal Anthology, are all about scandals and who commits them. Lady Cora has been taught to use a knife … Continue reading

Posted in anthology, book release, British history, Dreamstone Publishing, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, history, Living in the Regency, medieval, publishing, Regency era, Regency romance, research, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Guardianships During the Regency

So, who or what determined whether a person was a fit guardian? Guardianship during the Regency era had its strictures. For example, guardianship was not hereditary. If a guardian dies, someone had to apply to the Court in Chancery to be appointed the minor child’s next guardian. All children over the age of 14 had a right to suggest the person he or she wanted as guardian. Quite often two or three guardians were named in case one of them died before the child reached his/her majority. At one time, the guardians were the child’s godparents—2 males and 1 female for a male child and 2 females and 1 male for a female. The mother and her brother were often named. However, the mother lost her rights as guardian if she remarried. Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, book release, excerpt, family, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, heroines, historical fiction, Inheritance, Living in the Regency, publishing, reading habits, Regency era, Regency romance, romance, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Honourable East India Company + the Release of “The Earl’s English Rose” + a Giveaway

The vast majority of men who went into East India Company employment had some family/friend connection who assisted them to become established. Such is why we often read how the hero has a distant relative who is a Director of the East India Company and assists him to earn a position with the firm. Alternatively, the hero of one’s tale could have been in military service; by the Regency era, the East India Company had its own private army and navy in India, with English officers and mostly Indian ‘sepoys’ (privates).

The man might be required to work in London for several years, likely something to do with their warehouses – as a writer or secretary or clerk, perhaps. Or he could work directly for East India House, possibly as a secretary to one of the directors. I found one mention (in The East India Company’s London Workers) of a minor aristocrat working as a warehouse laborer, although this would be very very uncommon (and probably unbefitting of a romance novel hero). Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, book release, British history, eBooks, excerpt, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, publishing, Regency era, Regency romance, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Happy 4th Book Birthday to “Letters from Home”!!!

I particularly loved this story for I am a military brat and wife, and I adore a strong military hero. Major Lord Simon Lanford is just such a man. He is the “spare” in the Regency adage of “an heir … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, book release, British history, eBooks, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, Living in the Regency, marriage, military, primogenture, publishing, reading habits, Regency romance, romance, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Geography of the Earth in Specific “Terms”

Of late, I have been exploring words of which I was not familiar and in a variety of topics. Today, I bring you words dealing with geography. Many we are hearing something of on a daily basis on TV with many sounding the alarm for climate change. Mother Earth. Whose demise we can foresee. Most of us know, for example, something of a rainforest, a valley, topography, a mountain, a lagoon, and even a fjord (thank you to Disney for adding this word to kids’ vocabulary via “Frozen”). Yet, of late, I have heard some geographical terms of which I was not so familiar, as well as some I had not considered for more years than I can to confess. Perhaps you, also, could use a refresher course. Some of these I knew. Some are new to me and perhaps to you. Continue reading

Posted in word origins, word play, writing | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Geography of the Earth in Specific “Terms”