Tag Archives: historical fiction

How to Rebuild Pemberley After a Fire? + the Release of “Mr. Darcy and the Designing Woman” + a Giveaway

Last Monday, my latest Austen-related book, Mr. Darcy and the Designing Woman, released. It has been the work of many days, and those of you who have read it already know there was a great deal of research involved to … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, book release, books, British history, buildings and structures, eBooks, estates, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, history, Living in the Regency, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, reading habits, Regency era, Regency romance, research, Vagary, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Trompe L’oeil & Grisaille in Historic Houses + an Excerpt from “Mr. Darcy and the Designing Woman” and a Giveaway!

To write “Mr. Darcy and the Designing Woman,” I had to learn the “technical” architectural terms for many architectural effects I enjoy viewing in historic houses and buildings. Two such terms are “trompe L’oeil,” and the other is “grisaille.” Trompe-l’œil (French for … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, art, book excerpts, book release, British history, buildings and structures, eBooks, excerpt, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, reading, reading habits, real life tales, Regency era, Regency romance, research, tradtions, Vagary, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Mystery and Suspense Month: The Mysterious Death of Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery on Sale Until November 5

THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF MR. DARCY was originally published on February 18, 2013. It is a cozy mystery set in Dorset, and it is a real thriller. There are witches and resurrectionists and a mass murderer, oh my!!! I hope … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, British history, Dorset, excerpt, Georgian England, Georgian Era, heroines, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, legends, mystery, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, real life tales, Regency era, research, suspense, Vagary, witchcraft acts, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mystery and Suspense Month: The Mysterious Death of Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery on Sale Until November 5

Mystery and Suspense Month: The Disappearance of Georgiana Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery on Sale Until November 5

When writing any mystery, the author cannot just have a murderer and a victim. He/She must also have suspects, red herrings (false clues), motives, and deception. There must be a balance between the suspense and the story’s pace must be … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, British history, excerpt, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, legends, legends and myths, mystery, Pride and Prejudice, reading, real life tales, Regency era, Regency romance, research, suspense, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mystery and Suspense Month: Angel Comes to the Devil’s Keep: Book 1 of the Twins’ Trilogy on Sale Until November 5

ALL BOOKS FEATURED THIS MONTH ARE ON SALE IN THE eBOOK VERSION FOR $1.39. GRAB THEM WHILE THE PRICE IS RIGHT. THE SALE ENDS SUNDAY, 5 NOVEMBER, 2023. Angel Comes to the Devil’s Keep was originally released by Black Opal … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, book release, eBooks, excerpt, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, marriage, mystery, publishing, Regency romance, suspense, trilogy, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Happy 5th Book Birthday to “Lord Radcliffe’s Best Friend”

“Lord Radcliffe’s Best Friend” was originally part of the anthology A Regency Christmas Together. The idea behind the stories in the anthology was the hero and heroine are “trapped” together at Christmas. The “trapping” could be anything from being snowed in … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, book release, Christmas, eBooks, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, publishing, reading, Regency era, Regency romance, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Happy 5th Book Birthday to “Lord Radcliffe’s Best Friend”

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