Category Archives: writing

A Witch Bottle and the Writing of “The Mysterious Death of Mr. Darcy” + Excerpt

Incorporating Research into a Story Line Today, I thought I would spend some time on how I incorporated my research into Dorset’s superstitions and legends into the text of one of my Austen-inspired cozy mysteries. Enjoy the short history lesson … Continue reading →

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Something in the Air: Two Regency Romances

I have combined two of my 2019 long novellas in one volume. Something in the Air features “Courting Lord Whitmire: A May-December Romance” from the Regency Summer Escape anthology with “Last Woman Standing” from the A Regency Christmas Proposal anthology. … Continue reading →

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Myles Standish’s Career + the Release of “The Courtship of Lord Blackhurst” + a Giveaway

As my previous two posts on John Alden and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow have indicated, my most recent tale, “The Courtship of Lord Blackhurst” was inspired by Longfellow’s narrative poem, “The Courtship of Myles Standish.” Other than the knowledge of Standish … Continue reading →

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What Does Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Have to Do With the Release of “The Courtship of Lord Blackhurst”?

According to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: A Maine Historical Society Website, “Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was a commanding figure in the cultural life of nineteenth-century America. Born in Portland, Maine, in 1807, he became a national literary figure by the 1850s, and … Continue reading →

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John Alden and Celebrating the Release of “The Courtship of Lord Blackhurst” + Giveaway

My story, “The Courtship of Lord Blackhurst,” is part of the Regency anthology, Secrets and Soirees, being released 1 July 2020. It is heavily influenced by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “The Courtship of Miles Standish.” Many of the characters names, for … Continue reading →

Posted in America, American History, book excerpts, book release, Dreamstone Publishing, eBooks, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, reading, real life tales, Regency era, Regency romance, research, romance, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Smugglers in Kent, UK, a Plot Device for “Losing Lizzy: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary”

In my latest Austen-inspired story, Losing Lizzy: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary, smugglers in Kent were mentioned several times. Yet, what do we know of these smugglers? Daniel Defoe wrote a poem about smugglers in Deal, Kent, who turned the … Continue reading →

Posted in book release, British history, British Navy, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, Living in the UK, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, real life tales, Regency era, research, Vagary, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Smugglers in Kent, UK, a Plot Device for “Losing Lizzy: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary”

Misuse of Words Driving Me Crazy!

Of late, the news media has been driving me a bit batty with the various reporters misusing words either in their oral reporting or the blips crossing our screens. Do you, too, have a pet peeve when it comes to … Continue reading →

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Location, Location, Location, a Guest Post from Catherine Bilson

This post originally appeared on Austen Authors on 23 April 2020. Enjoy!  “It must be very agreeable to her to be settled within so easy a distance of her own family and friends.” “An easy distance do you call it? … Continue reading →

Posted in Austen Authors, British history, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Guest Post, historical fiction, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Pride and Prejudice, real life tales, Regency era, writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Luminous” Blog Tour ~ Worker Compensation Laws and the Radium Girls, a Guest Post from Samantha Wilcoxson

Many people do not realize how much we owe to the dial painters in 1920’s radium studios for our modern workers’ compensation laws. The idea that workers should be protected from harm and that companies were liable for damages to … Continue reading →

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Burntwick Island, Setting as Character in “Losing Lizzy: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary”

On Friday, we had a closer look at Deadman’s Island, and its part in the setting for Losing Lizzy: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary. Like Deadman’s Island, Burntwick can be found in the estuary of the River Medway in Kent. … Continue reading →

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