Category Archives: writing

Colorful, Colored, and Colorless Words: Fixing Writing Errors

Posted on July 21, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

Do you recall the dreaded 500-words’ essay often assigned by English teachers? Do you also recall the sinking feeling of coming up with 500 words on a subject for which you held no opinion? Do you also recall writing something … Continue reading →

Posted in eBooks, editing, language choices, publishing, word choices, word play, writing | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Scotland’s Merrick Murder Hole and The Old Grey Man

Posted on July 4, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

  This article first appeared on the Dark Jane Austen Book Club Website on March 11, 2013.  The Disappearance of Georgiana Darcy Shackled in the dungeon of a macabre castle with no recollection of her past, a young woman finds … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Georgian England, Georgian Era, gothic and paranormal, Great Britain, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, legends and myths, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, mystery, Pride and Prejudice, real life tales, Regency era, Scotland, spooky tales, Ulysses Press, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Scotland’s Merrick Murder Hole and The Old Grey Man

“X” Does Not Always Mark the Spot

Posted on June 29, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

Recently, I spent a delightful morning counting words in Pride and Prejudice. Why? You may ask: Regina, do you not have enough to do with your retirement years than to sit around counting how many times Jane Austen used the word … Continue reading →

Posted in book excerpts, British history, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, writing | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Do You Know The Origin of These Words and Phrases?

Posted on June 16, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

Three Sheets to the Wind – Urban Dictionary defines this phrase to mean “to be explicitly drunk; inebriated.” The origin is likely found in practicality: Sheets actually refer to the ropes that are used to secure a ship’s sail. If the … Continue reading →

Posted in Age of Chaucer, Canterbury tales, etymology, history, Jane Austen, real life tales, tall tales, word origins, word play, writing | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Carolina Book Festival 2016

Posted on June 15, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

Book Signing Carolina Book Fest is a book signing taking place in the Queen City of Charlotte, North Carolina, on October 15, 2016. The book signing will be held at the Marriott City Center (100 West Trade Street) in downtown Charlotte from 10 AM … Continue reading →

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Welcome Suspense Writer, Tierney James, and the Latest Release in the Enigma Series

Posted on June 10, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

Today, I welcome fellow Black Opal Books Author, Tierney James, and news of her latest release. Tierney and I have included a short Q and A to introduce her and her Enigma mystery series.  I know you love to travel. … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Opal Books, blog hop, book release, books, eBooks, Guest Blog, Guest Post, mystery, suspense, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Welcome Suspense Writer, Tierney James, and the Latest Release in the Enigma Series

Do You Know These Words and Phrases?

Posted on May 24, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

Dead as a Doornail. The “doornail” is the plate or knocker upon which the hammer of a door knocker strikes. Phrases.org gives us this explanation on the origin of the phrase. In 1350,  William Langland used the phrase in a translation … Continue reading →

Posted in language choices, vocabulary, word choices, word origins, writing | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Celebrating the Release of “The Pemberley Ball: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary Novella” with an Excerpt + Giveaway

Posted on April 8, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

 “The Pemberley Ball” originally appeared in The Road to Pemberley: An Anthology of New Pride and Prejudice Stories, published by Ulysses Press in 2011. Each author whose work was included in the anthology received a one time payment (in lieu … Continue reading →

Posted in book excerpts, book release, customs and tradiitons, eBooks, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, marriage, marriage customs, marriage licenses, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, Regency era, Regency romance, romance, Uncategorized, Vagary, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Do You Know the Origin of These Words and Phrases?

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

Do You Know The Origin of These Words and Phrases? I have been editing again, as well as judging a few writing contests. The process had me searching out some of the least common words and phrases I encountered. Check … Continue reading →

Posted in editing, etymology, language choices, vocabulary, word choices, word origins, word play, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments