Defending England From Napoleon

Highlighting Historical Romance with Constance Hussey who shares the facts behind The Lady of Hurling Bay. Historical romance is a fluid venue for writers. Some showcase the costume and culture of a particular period, while others build on or incorporate actual events in history. Both offer interesting and delightful stories of another world and time. […]

An Earl’s Daughter Hits Hard Times

Earl’s Granddaughter Reduced to Serving Wench, The Teatime Tattler April 1815 Spotted cleaning the halls of a provincial inn: an earl’s granddaughter. Lady Wxxx and Miss Hxxx confirmed to this reporter that Miss Patience Abney, currently toiling beside the lowest servants in The Queen’s Barque—seen sweeping, scrubbing and even emptying night soil—is in fact the […]

Big Doings This Week

A writer’s work is never done–even when she struggles to get to the writing of books. In 48 hours at the end of last week I published two blogs, scheduled a third, put out my newsletter, and partied with the Bluestocking Belles on Facebook for two hours. All that and I didn’t even get to […]

The Rain Doth Fall

I spent last week alternately languishing after being vaccinated and editing. No progress at all, alas. Yesterday I was priming the pump–rereading, rewriting, and inching forward in The Value of Pity, and also reading more about women on the autism spectrum, like Athena. This Wednesday I offer a crumb from The Tender Flood, my story […]

Claims to Peerage

…that titles were rarely rescinded, historically, even if the Crown made a mistake, because, well, the Crown didn’t make mistakes. According to Debrett’s, “When a hereditary peer dies, and his heir wishes to prove his claim to the title, he or she must provide suitable documentary evidence to the Crown Office of the House of […]

A Fortune in Pearls

When Kate escapes from her brother, she takes with her a pearl necklace, her inheritance from her mother. With this, she hopes to be able to establish herself in some sort of business. Now, this may sound unrealistic in this day and age. After all, you can buy a pearl necklace for less than a […]

The Valentine Hop

  Thanks for participating in the Valentine Hop! The Grand Prize winner is Traci Bell ♥¸.•*´? *•.¸♥¸.•*´*❣️**•.¸♥¸.•*´? *•.¸♥ The  winner of the prize for this stop on the HOP is Diana Aden. She elected to receive Fire& Frost ♥¸.•*´? *•.¸♥¸.•*´*❣️**•.¸♥¸.•*´? *•.¸♥   My story will remain here.   ♥¸.•*´? *•.¸♥¸.•*´*❣️**•.¸♥¸.•*´? *•.¸♥ Patience Abney and The […]

Traveling Actors during the Regency

  Highlighting the facts behind Historical Romance with Sofi Laporte on Traveling Theaters in the Regency era, and her book, Lucy and the Duke of Secrets. While the great theater houses in Drury Lane, Covent Garden, and Haymarket entertained the people of London, a network of travelling actors or strolling players took care of the […]

Holiday Gifts

Several retailers are being kept busy delivering boxes to my household lately—and many other houses as well. Like many of you, I’m all virtual this year. Gifts are arriving, gifts for family, yes, but also for those who’ve been serving us during the year: church folks and friends, rubbish collectors, letter carriers and so on. […]

Mother’s Day Joy

“It wasn’t a typical Mother’s Day, but I’ll take it.” I heard that more than once yesterday, and I felt the same. Our phone began ringing early Sunday morning, and the electronic cards came quickly as well. Joy on all sides! Friends reported the same. Most of us would have preferred hugs and family around […]