Category Archives: writing

Creation of “A Christmas Carol,” a Guest Post from Colin Rowland

This post originally appeared on the Austen Authors’ blog on December 14, 2021. Enjoy! Because Christmas is little less than a week from today, I decided to share the story behind the creation of Charles Dickens’ masterpiece, a work as … Continue reading

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A Widow’s Rights? What Was English Law on the Matter? + Release of “His Christmas Violet: A Regency Second Chance Romance”

In my tale, His Christmas Violet, Lady Violet Graham, is a widow. Being a widow at the time, particularly, women in the aristocracy or gentry class, provided a woman more freedom than she ever could expect in remarrying. She would customarily … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, book release, British history, customs and tradiitons, eBooks, family, Georgian England, Georgian Era, heroines, historical fiction, holidays, Living in the Regency, marriage, marriage customs, publishing, reading habits, Regency era, Regency romance, romance, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A Widow’s Rights? What Was English Law on the Matter? + Release of “His Christmas Violet: A Regency Second Chance Romance”

Female Inheritance and the Release of “His Christmas Violet, a Regency Second Chance Romance”

Under English law, women were subordinate to their husbands. It was expected that the woman was under the “protection and influence of her husband, her baron, or lord.” The law stated the old adage of “two shall become one.” She … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, book release, books, British history, customs and tradiitons, eBooks, excerpt, family, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, heroines, historical fiction, Living in the Regency, marriage, marriage customs, publishing, reading habits, Regency era, Regency romance, research, romance, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Female Inheritance and the Release of “His Christmas Violet, a Regency Second Chance Romance”

Happy 11th Book Birthday to “Christmas at Pemberley: A Pride and Prejudice Holiday Vagary, Told Through the Eyes of All Who Knew It”

December must mark a Christmas romance. ®Hallmark does it. Therefore, this month I mean to highlight a few if the Christmas tales I have written over the years. “Christmas at Pemberley” was the first. It is a sweet tale, but … Continue reading

Posted in Austen Authors, book excerpts, books, British history, Christmas, excerpt, family, George Wickham, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Jane Austen, mystery, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, reading habits, Regency era, Regency romance, romance, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Words that “Snarl” and Words that “Purr”

My undergraduate degree was a comprehensive major (no minor) that covered English, speech, journalism, and theatre. As such, many years ago, I came across these terms: snarl-words and purr-words in a book on rhetoric that was one of my textbooks. … Continue reading

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Egyptians and Birthstones, and the Release of Bell, Book, and Wardrobe + a Giveaway

On December 1, 2022, Dreamstone Publishing will release our latest Christmas anthology, this one entitled A Regency Christmas Doubled, for it is all about twins. Double your pleasure! My tale, Bell, Book, and Wardrobe is one of the tales. In … Continue reading

Posted in anthology, book excerpts, book release, British history, Dreamstone Publishing, excerpt, George IV, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, holidays, publishing, reading habits, real life tales, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Egyptians and Birthstones, and the Release of Bell, Book, and Wardrobe + a Giveaway

Menai Suspension Bridge + the Release of “Bell, Book, and Wardrobe” + a Giveaway

On December 1, 2022, A Regency Christmas Doubled, an anthology with romantic stories all about twins will be released. My story, Bell, Book, and Wardrobe, is one of the four delightful tales to read on a cold December night. My … Continue reading

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The Battle of Prome and the Upcoming Release of “Bell, Book, and Wardrobe” + a Giveaway

Bell, Book, and Wardrobe is part of the A Regency Christmas Doubled Regency romance anthology, four delightful tales all about twins, being released December 1, 2022, by Dreamstone Publishing. My hero of Bell, Book, and Wardrobe is a British colonel … Continue reading

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Happy 10th Book Birthday to “Second Chances: The Courtship Wars”!!!!

Most of you know me as a Regency romance/mystery/romantic suspense writer, but I have dabbled in a few contemporary romances. One of those turns 10 years old today. One morning in 2008, I was watching the Today Show, and Dr. Laura … Continue reading

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Happy 7th Book Birthday to “Elizabeth Bennet’s Excellent Adventure: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary”!!!

Elizabeth Bennet’s Excellent Adventure is another of my Pride and Prejudice vagaries. For those of you unfamiliar with the “variation” genre, the author changes one key event in the original story line and sends the tale in a different (often … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, historical fiction, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, marriage, marriage customs, Regency era, Regency romance, Vagary, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 46 Comments