The Lives of Regency Women

Elizabeth Donne, fellow Bluestocking Belle, joins us this week to share facts about women’s lives she discovered while writing about the Ladies of Munro. Because Ladies of Munro is a series, my research for those five books turned up a TON (pardon the pun) of information, all of which would be impossible to share in […]

England and Roman Catholicism

For much of the eighteenth Century, Roman Catholics in England faced penalties for not attending Church of England services. They were also restricted from voting, holding public office (including as an officer in the army or a magistrate) or sitting in Parliament. The Papists Act 1778 allowed Catholics to own land, provided they took an […]

Riding a Wave

…and hoping I don’t hit rocks. My to do list is a mile long and I’m on my second coffee. Two big things this week: 1. Keep Honor at Heart moving 2. Review my schedule for Book Lovers Con in Vegas and pack. Some small ones in real life, too, before I go away. Honor […]

Even Villainy Requires Research

Rue Allyn joins us today to share her research into the British army commissariat, and the opportunities for villainy she found there. I’m currently working on a novella for a Bluestocking Belles group project. My novella is scheduled to launch in September of 2026. I had some difficulty coming up with story conflicts, until I […]

Joy of Joys

The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light… (Isaiah 9:1) We got a real snow Saturday–the fluffy kind that makes the world look enchanting. Thanks to the kindness of neighbors and family my driveway is clear and I can get out! Kindness is always light in the world. I also got candles […]

The Spanish Riding School

Sara Adrien joins us this week to discuss The Spanish Riding School and the story behind A Taste of Gold What was the rest of Europe like during the Regency-era? When crafting the opening chapters of A Taste of Gold, I wanted Vienna to shimmer with all the elegance, mystery, and gravitas that the period […]

Merry and Bright

In these shortest of days and darkest of nights, my three little trees light up at dusk. So do the timed candles in every window. Over the weekend, I filled my house with red ribbons, shiny things, and reminders of my faith. The latter are in the form of little nativity sets from around the […]

Finding Balance

There are at least two kinds of balance. The first, basic physical balance has been a problem lately. The nice folks at physical therapy have documented quite thoroughly that mine is not what it should be. First I didn’t do well on the exercises and walking tests, then they tested my vestibular system, aka the […]

British Gentlemen and Their Umbrellas

Jude Knight joins us this week with some facts behind the fiction in her novel, A Gift to the Heart. One of the iconic television series of my youth was a British espionage television series called The Avengers, staring Patrick McNee—bowler hatted, in a smart business suit, and armed with an umbrella, which he uses […]

Curveballs

Life throws things at us. Sometimes we don’t see them coming. Sometimes we swing and miss. Last week was like that. I have known for a while that my old version of Word for Mac was aging. It had not received an update in a year or two. I decided it was time to upgrade. […]