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Friday, September 26, 2014

USFS Backs-Off Threat of Photo Fees

As a follow-up to a posting from earlier today, I just found out that the U.S. Forest Service is backing away from a threat to impose fees on photographers who take photos on national forest lands. In a press release issued late last night, U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell stated: “The US Forest Service remains committed to the First Amendment. To be clear, provisions in the draft directive do not apply to news gathering or activities.

He also goes on to state: "The fact is, the directive pertains to commercial photography and filming only – if you’re there to gather news or take recreational photographs, no permit would be required. We take your First Amendment rights very seriously. We’re looking forward to talking with journalists and concerned citizens to help allay some of the concerns we’ve been hearing and clarify what’s covered by this proposed directive.”

The statements are the result of an apparent firestorm from a recently proposed, but vaguely-worded rule, that some have interpreted to mean that the USFS would be imposing fees on professional media, as well as amateur photographers, for taking photos on national forest lands. This had some First Amendment advocates alarmed.

The USFS press release further clarifies the intent of the rule with this statement:
The proposal does not change the rules for visitors or recreational photographers. Generally, professional and amateur photographers will not need a permit unless they use models, actors or props; work in areas where the public is generally not allowed; or cause additional administrative costs.
However, neither Tidwell or the press release makes clear how, or if bloggers would be impacted in anyway. Although I do think bloggers would ultimately be part of the exemption, it's not entirely certain to me.

To read the full press release, please click here.

Hiking in Glacier National Park

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Monday, November 17, 2008

Valley Of The Grouchy Hillbilly Mom

I'm tired. Tired of...

trying to clean that uncleanable film off my white board

kids who ask a question that you just answered

having some kind of chicken for lunch every day

getting up at 5:00 a.m.

the tech nazi sneaking in though my LOCKED door and leaving an elitist note on my keyboard that I am not secure, and that a student could have hacked my Gradebook. Last time I checked, students couldn't get into my locked room. I wish all I had to do was roam the halls, break into rooms, and leave elitist notes.

kids losing their books and expecting ME to do something about it

trying to use a copy machine that is The Devil in disguise, what with making me tear FIVE pieces of paper out of FIVE different parts of the ol' conveyor belt thingy

loud mouths that sit three inches away from each other, yet yell at the top of their lungs in conversation

failers who are given time to complete an assignment and turn it in, but are the ONLY ones in class that DON'T turn it in

students touching when they know better, like hugging in the classroom while I have to stand in the doorway between classes, not between paramours, but between garden-variety friends

immature noisemakers

boring tale-tellers

lunch-tray leavers

stacks of papers on my desk

tight-pants wearers

Most of all, I'm tired of not liking my job very much this year.
Will this school year never end?

On a brighter note, Happy Birthday yesterday to Mabel.
She's gonna have to wait on that gift.

msj09027 said...

For whiteboard cleaning and restoring try canuba car wax. It will remove the old whiteboard markings and leave the finish like a new whiteboard.

Hillbilly Mom said...

I will look into that. We have been getting by on baby wipes and the occasional scrubbing with Fantastik. That stuff is FANTASTIC! But I don't want to use it every day.

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Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Welcome Deebadaba

Our gardener and his wife, Tom and Martha, either foolhardy or clever at delegating, had told Hillary and me that they’d be honored if we would name their baby. A week before we returned from our trip, Martha had the baby in a typical African style, with an ease that infuriated Hillary.

I remember when we were ready, practicing the drive from our house to the hospital, our parents calling every hour or two to check in on how we were doing. We had rehearsed and practiced every step. We had taken classes and had a bag packed by the door with clothes, snacks and toiletries like we were voyaging on the QE2. We had carefully honed our “birth plan” on how every detail should unfold. Hillary was in labor for 12 hours, and everything in our world, rather the whole world, came to a grinding halt, as well it should, so Hillary could give birth. We spent two nights in the hospital, carefully attended by around-the-clock nurses who saw to our every need, with doctors continuously checking in.

Martha and Tom, on the other hand, grabbed a cab to Muhimbili Hospital last Friday morning. She had three hours of labor, a new son, and was home that afternoon. Nothing to it. And then they sat around for a week taking care of “baby”, since we hadn’t offered up a name.

Tom presented the hospital bill to me afterwards. It was a grand total of $115 and included $50 for delivery and $50 for doctors’ fees. Just like going out for a nice dinner in the U.S. No big deal.

We had decided that rather than just name the kid, since that had the potential to create all sorts of negotiating havoc in our marriage, we would offer a short list from which they could choose. Bodie also wanted to offer up a few names. We prepared our list and Bodie offered up his: Cee-cee, Deebadaba, Sno Sna, Max and Diego. (Which reminded me that our nephew, Noah, was more rightfully named Rocket Boy Weinstein by his brothers.)

We presented the names – the real list and Bodie’s list – to Tom and Martha. Tom read each option to Martha. Minutes passed. Tom poured over the list and was quiet. Martha was quiet. We realized they thought they had to choose one of each. They finally smiled, clearly with relief, when we explained that Bodie’s names were to be funny. I could imagine their wondering how they would explain to their relatives in Malawi why their beautiful son had a name fabricated by a three-year-old.

Of the names on the list, the OT names offered up (Isaac and Jacob) had already been taken by one of their brothers or sisters. Neither Henry nor Edward was picked. Welcome to the world, Christian. To us, you will always be Deebadaba.

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February 25, 2011

Dotnet Quiz - 2011 - Free online Technical Event

Participate in DotnetQuiz to Win an Apple IPAD .
I am organizing general dotnet quiz at Beyondrelational.com for the dotnettechnology.
This quiz contains questions related to VB.NET, C#, Entity Framework, ADO.NET, MVC, Design patterns, MVVM, Silverlight, WPF, WCF.

Test your DotNet knowledge from 31 reputed MVPS and Community Leaders who are passionate for the technology from all over the world win, Cool goodies as prizes. I am organizing online DotnetQuiz that includes MVPS from various streams and community leaders that tests your knowledge on different technologies. You can discuss, explain and understand the Concepts or misconceptions in the community in depth while trying to answer a question.

Dotnet Quiz consists of 31 questions, managed by 31 quiz masters who are experts in Dotnet. Each quiz master will ask one question and will moderate the discussions , answers will identify the winner of each quiz. Each answer that is correct will get a certain score (between 1 and 10, where 10 is the best) the scores of all the 31 questions will be added up to identify the final winner."
I have some of my favorite people as Quiz masters. This is the great chance to share and spread the knowledge in the community. Interested professionals in the particular area can participate in the quiz. Details are here.

Grab the questions and answer them before they get closed.

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ANU Hall Tickets 2012

ANU Hall Tickets 2012
Acharya Nagarjuna University Degree Examinations Hall Tickets 2012 discharged for schools. One can get their  Hall  Tickets for BA, BSC, BCA, BBM, BBMH, RES, VOC examinations.

Hall Tickets are should in the event that you will show up for Acharya Nagarjuna University degree Exam 2012 which you download from ANU homepage of Distance Education B.ed (regular) and Degree examination.

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Iggy Azalea Talks Sound Of ‘The New Classic’; Why T.I. Won’t Executive Produce It & Features

Iggy Azalea’s tour made a stop in Berlin, Germany recently where 16 Bars had the chance to sit down with her for a chat. The Grand Hustle femcee explains growing up in Australia and moving to Miami at the age of 16. She talks about her influences and what kind of sound we can expect from her upcoming debut album The New Classic as well wanting to record with Missy Elliott.

Iggy also reveals that T.I. won’t be executive producing the album, as originally planned and reveals some of the collaborations she is about to do including Diplo, Steve Aoki and Flosstradamus.

1 stereo2 stereos3 stereos4 stereos5 stereos


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Thursday, April 28, 2011

It's Spendid, really!

Imagine me saying that title with a British accent....because that's how I feel right's almost time for the ROYAL WEDDING!  You bet your best fabric I'm getting up at 3 a.m. tomorrow to watch it!  30 years ago, when I was a wee age of 12, I got up with my best friend, Andrea, to watch Charles and Diana's gala.  I'll just come out with it - I'm a groupie.  I know, it's outdated and stuffy, this whole royalty thing.  Silly, maybe.  But I just ate it all up at the age of 12, and throughout my teen years, collected every book & magazine that featured the royal family (they're still in a box in my attic)  I was actually more ga-ga over Prince Edward - much better looking than Charles, in my opinion.

 And here I am, 30 years later, getting up in the middle of the night to watch William and Kate.  And tomorrow, at the store, I'll be exhausted....but it's all worth it!

And if you still think it's just silly, watch this:

Sunday, April 17, 2011

The Haute Tote

So I've been making this bag for years - I've sold it, given it as a gift, and occasionally make one for myself.  I finally decided to just teach it - Saturday afternoon, 5 gals gathered with me in the lounge and they were my guinea pigs....I had written up a tutorial, and along the way we edited, omitted, added and tweaked.  Thank you to all of you as you were patient with me!  Here are their bags:
 Mother and daughter Serefina & Elizabeth:
Ann is still finishing hers.....picture to come!  I loved loved loved teaching this bag....and will be offering more classes in the near future!  Working on getting new classes on the website (tonight if I'm ambitious enough)....including the Siren Sundress, little girls' t-shirt dress, ballet slippers, a beginner quilt-as-you-go class, t-shirt quilt, and more more more!

Monday, April 4, 2011

Sick Days

While she sleeps (under the quilt made by my husband's Aunt Theresa) and the antibiotic starts working on the ear infection that kept her (and me) up most of last night.....
 I sit and knit the last of my new summer sweater - adding the final binding to the neckline, then sewing up the side seams.  So nice to have a day of unexpected quiet.


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Friday, September 30, 2011

Coming up next week...

Have you ever wondered where the fan came from? It's such a small, seemingly insignificant, part of a lady's costume that is really only used to push air around in a stifling ballroom or heated salon. Or was it? Come and join us on Monday and Cassandra Samuel will fill you in on the language of the fan and how with a flick of a lady's wrist, she could communicate all she wanted and so much more...

Monday, September 26, 2011

What is an Ancient Historical Romance, Anyway?

Since my debut historical romance, Forbidden, was published last year I’ve had quite a few people tell me it sounds fascinating – but what exactly do I mean by ancient historical romance?

Well, ancient history is the period known as Classical Antiquity, the beginning of recorded Greek history in about 776 BC. It also roughly coincides with the traditional founding of Rome in 753 BC. Western scholars use the fall of the Roman Empire in AD 476 as the end of ancient European history and the start of the Middle Ages.

Forbidden is set in AD 50 in Cymru (ancient Wales). The Romans invaded Britain in AD 43 and it took them seven years before they invaded the western peninsula, where they faced fierce resistance from the local tribes. But Rome wanted the gold and other precious minerals Cymru had to offer – and Rome wasn’t going to let a primitive little province of the Empire get away with rebellion.

My hero, Maximus, is a Roman Centurion, a patrician and loyal to his Emperor and Rome. When he discovers his heroine, Carys, (who’s been spying on his bathing rituals for the last three months, the little minx!) he’s instantly captivated. Who is this woman and why hasn’t she been seen in any of the villages the Legion has vanquished?

Carys is, in fact, a Druid princess and acolyte of the Goddess of Wisdom, Cerridwen. She and the rest of her clan of Druids escaped into a magical enclave before the Romans invaded, and are waiting for a sign from their gods before they attack their enemy. But despite knowing this Roman would strike her dead if he knew who – what – she is, Carys is irresistibly drawn to him.

Claudius, the Roman Emperor at the time, hated Druids with a passion and wanted all trace of them wiped out across his Empire. Happily for me, this tied in nicely with my plot! I now had historical back up for my Romans’ determination to hunt down and eliminate any Druid who had escaped them during the initial invasion.

But why was Claudius so determined to eradicate the Druids?

While there’s plenty of written and archeological evidence when it comes to the Romans, unfortunately there’s very little when it comes to the Druids. Caesar explains this lack of documentary evidence when talking of the Gaulish Druids: “they consider it improper to entrust their studies to writing.”

But here’s what we do know about them. They were widely respected as the priests of Celtic society, held responsibilities for lawmaking, were the keepers of knowledge and wisdom and were known as magicians. They were also, according to the Romans, the rallying force behind the rebellious tribes that inhabited Cymru and the Druidic stronghold on the Isle of Mon (now known as the Isle of Anglesey, off the west coast of Wales).

The Romans saw Druidism as a serious menace against the might of their Empire, and Claudius was convinced that as long as Druids remained in Britannia then rebellion and resistance would continue to flourish among the tribes.

This period of history is so rich with inherent conflict that as a romance writer I find it hard to resist! In Forbidden, Maximus has been charged by his Emperor to eliminate all Druids. And Carys, the Druid princess he falls in love with, is one of Rome’s bitterest enemies. Together they have to overcome the prejudice of their preconceived notions, their warring cultures and their vindictive gods if their forbidden love is to survive.

You can read the first chapter of Forbidden here - over 18s only, please!

Friday, September 23, 2011

Winners Blog

We’re drawing in on the end of the second week here at Historical Hearts and let me say what a whirlwind adventure it has been already. Thanks so much to everyone who stopped by during the week and took the time to comment. We really appreciate all of your support and shenanigans.

Next week you’re in for a treat as Christina Phillips explores Ancient Historical Romance and why the Emperor Claudius hated the Druids so much. And then the week after that we find out more about the history of fans with Cassandra Samuels.

To recap our launch week we had over four hundred comments and gave away a stack of awesome prizes. The winners drawn and/or decided by a one quarter Scottish twelve year old, names picked out of a hat, Scottish hubbie, best answer and first answer.

Here they are;

Day 1

Tamara Gill
Winners - To Sin with Scandal and A Captain's Order - A Duke's Command - ebooks
Nikki Logan
Winners - Bookmarks
Joan Kilby
Keziah Hill
Nikki Logan
Helen Sibbet
Kelly Ethan

Suzie Love

Sheridan Kent

Day 2

Allison Butler
Winners – Catherine and Danielle

Christina Phillips
Winner – Helen

Erin Grace
Lace Book Mark..... Iona Jones
First Chap crit .... Dana
Synopsis crit......Joanna Lloyd

Day 3

Alison Stuart
Winner – Marilyn

Mary deHaas
Winners – Anonymous, Marilyn and Eleni

Dana Scully
Winner - Roseanne

Day 4

Annie Seaton
Winner – Kelly Ethan

Elle Finlay
Winners – Vivian Davis and Kat Sheridan

Cassandra Samuels
Winner – Joanna Lloyd

Danielle Lisle

Day 5

Cheryl Leigh
Winner – Helen

Sandie Hudson

Winner – Robin

Maggi Anderson
Winner – Kelly Ethan

Bronwyn Stuart

Winners – Helen and Annie

Now, if you haven’t been notified by one of us then we don’t have your details so leave a comment here with your details and your prize giver will get in contact with you or you can email me bronwynstuart2001 at yahoo dot com dot au

Congrats and please stop by again to discover more about our worlds.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Author Interview: Jeannie Lin

Written by Danielle Lisle.
Jeannie Lin, wow! This woman has opened my mind to a whole new world of Historical Romance and she’s doing it with the Tang Dynasty in the background.

I’ll confess and admit I knew nothing about this period in time, until I opened BUTTERFLY SWORDS and Jeannie and her characters carried me away to a time like no other. My extent of knowledge on any type of Asianonic history was limited to Monkey Magic, a poorly dubbed child’s martial arts TV Show that I adored as a youth, and The Last Samurai starring the couch hopping Tom Cruise. I am fairly confident in saying none of these took place in the Tang Dynasty.

For those of you, who like me, have little knowledge on this time in history, let me attempt to educate you.

The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China during 618-907AD. In the 7th and 8th century it was estimated to have a population in the region of 50 million and later in the 9th century increased to 80 million. With its large and ever growing population base, the dynasty was able to raise armies of hundreds of thousands of troops to contend with nomadic powers in dominating Inner Asia and the lucrative trade routes along the Silk Road. The Tang Dynasty also had a powerful cultural influence over neighboring areas such as those in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. So in essence, it was a powerful time in Chinese history. Though not everything was rosy sailing throughout the Tang’s history, but as an overview, The Tang Dynasty was one of the most evolved and dominating civilizations of the Middle Age. Even women came to have an important role in government offices, something Jeannie pays tribute to in her books.

BUTTERFLY SWORDS, published by Harlequin in October 2010, was the first installment of Jeannie’s Tang Dynasty series. This month sees the release of the next installment, THE DRAGON AND THE PEARL. The former Emperor’s consort, Ling Suyin, is renowned for her beauty and being the ultimate seductress. With a desire to know her life, quietly alone, she’s thrown into disarray when the most ruthless warlord in the region comes and steals her away.

Li Tao lives life by the sword, and is trapped in the treacherous, lethal world of politics. The alluring Ling Suyin is at the center of the web. He must uncover her mystery without falling under her spell. Is she the woman who can entrance the man behind the legend?

Jeannie Lin has been kind enough to join us today and has gone under the microscope to answer some tough questions. Buwhaha!

Danielle: What was it about the Tang Dynasty that appealed to you so much as a writer? Both your novels in this series, BUTTERFLY SWORDS and THE DRAGON AND THE PEARL, so vividly capture the time in my mind. I can’t help being curious about the driving force behind the time and setting for you.

Jeannie: I remember watching these epic costume dramas about Empress Wu and her daughter, Princess Taiping when I was younger so the Tang Dynasty has always been a muse for me. As I began to research Chinese history, what really drew me in was the ideal of meritocracy that existed during this period. There are many stories of remarkable and powerful women, and though they weren’t the norm, they were in many ways a product of their time and not complete anomalies. The Tang Dynasty was when the civil exam system gained the most influence. This meant that a person could hope to rise from his station in life through hard work and education. There are many Tang Dynasty short stories and poems celebrating this sort of rags to riches achievement. At the same time, it was a time of war and political strife. I feel like the Tang Dynasty with its wealth and emphasis on art and culture provides the refinement of Regency times combined with the danger and adventure of medieval times. It’s a period where I can truly believe that two people from different worlds can realistically fight for love and win.

In terms of visualizing the time, there are so many images of the Tang Dynasty in paintings and the look and feel of it influenced so much popular media (at least Asian media) that it was easy to re-create it in my mind.

Danielle: In THE DRAGON AND THE PEARL, simply from the excerpt alone, (clink here to visit Jeannie’s site and read) I feel many deep layers toward both the former Emperor’s consort, Ling Suyin and the ruthless warlord, Li Tao. When creating these two characters (or any other for that matter), is there a particular type of hero or heroine you feel you lean towards as a writer? For example, the damaged soul, scorned by a failed relationship, destined for a life lived in bitterness or the shameless rogue, who’s driven by his ‘nether-region’.

Jeannie: Ling Suyin and Li Tao both appeared in BUTTERFLY SWORDS, so I had a chance to delve into their characters a bit before embarking on their romance. For heroines, I’m always drawn to empowered females who have found a way to really work their sphere of influence to its maximum potential. For Li Tao, I never wanted him to apologize for being a villain. I wanted him to have the same hardness he had shown in BUTTERFLY SWORDS, yet still somehow be redeemed. My heroes tend to have a fatalistic point of view, even go so far as having a death wish. I think this comes from the Chinese heroes I draw inspiration from. They’re very strong in their convictions, even if it leads to their own destruction. In THE DRAGON AND THE PEARL, I was additionally fascinated by taking two people who were larger than life and making them human. They’re the types of characters who are often depicted in big, tragic epics, but it’s not always about warfare and intrigue. It was interesting to see how they would deal with basic human drives such as love, acceptance and security.

Danielle: What is it about writing historicals that you love so much? Is it the time, the place, the people or a combination of all three?

Jeannie: Tee hee...history was my weakest subject in school, but history classes never gave me the context to connect and make sense of historical events.

Something about looking back into the past to reflect upon the present appeals to me. As a result, my characters are undeniably historical in attitude and culture, yet visualized through a modern lens. Some readers may not believe this seeing how independent the characters seem, but writings completed during the Tang Dynasty show such desire to achieve and find romantic love. Also a lot of ideas people have about historical Chinese culture come from depictions of the Qing Dynasty (1644 to 1912) or post-imperial China which is a completely different ballgame. I personally don’t believe people of the past and people of the present are as disparate as some would claim. In Asian culture, where there’s such an emphasis on our ancestors and our past, I can see a clear connection from the empowered women who were my ancestors with their small defiances to the strong, independent women in my family today. Modern people didn’t evolve in a linear fashion to become better, smarter, more civilized people.

Perhaps it’s also that thinking of contemporary storylines always starts to remind me of my day job, my bills, and my daily worries. It doesn’t free me to really let my imagination run wild. :)

Danielle: PIECES OF PAPER (click here to buy!) is another of your amazing works based in Tokyo and explores questions of identity and connectedness in the digital age. While it is not set in the Tang Dynasty, nor an historical (don’t worry my fellow historical lovers – it’s really good and goes toward a worthy cause!), you are donating all author profits to the relief effort in Japan. Can you tell us what motivated you to release this story and donate the proceeds?

Jeannie: Wow, surprised to see this mentioned here! This story is actually a semi-autobiographical re-telling of a pivotal time in my life when I worked in Korea and visited Tokyo for a weekend. I leave it up to the reader to try to determine what parts were true.

It was the first time I had been to Asia and I was sort of thrown into the deep since it wasn’t a vacation. I commuted to work each morning, pushed my way into the subway, grabbed lunch from little food stands I passed on the streets, and haggled for good prices in a language I could barely speak. Those short few months dug up so many thoughts I never realized were inside me. I reflected on my family and my past and also had to make some big decisions about my future. It’s a time in my life that I’ve returned to, again and again, and that’s why I wrote that story. I had been hanging onto it forever and had considering posting it as a free read or self-publishing it for a while. Then the earthquakes hit Japan and my thoughts revolved around the people I’d met who lived there and the streets and train stations I had wandered. If you believe in such a thing, it felt like fate to publish it and donate the proceeds to the Red Cross.

Danielle: When you’re not busy working on your next masterpiece, what is sitting on your bookshelfor coffee table, waiting for you to pick up and read?

Jeannie: I’m trying very hard to divide my reading between my print book TBR and my Kindle TBR because the print pile was getting unruly. Right now I’m reading The Scarlet Pimpernel on my Kindle as sort of a reference work for my next project...which by the way is NOT set in France. I think Joanna Bourne has that one in the bag. (By the way, I HIGHLY recommend her upcoming historical romance, THE BLACK HAWK. I read an advance copy and it totally rocked my world. :) )

Danielle: Jeannie, do you have a question for our readers? One lucky commenter will win a copy of THE DRAGON AND THE PEARL!

Jeannie: Since it’s a historical blog, I wonder what truly draws you to a period as a reader? Is it the way of life during that time—the details of daily life, the clothes, the etiquette and customs? Or is it more overarching details like the political climate and society? Or is it to discover more about a time and place you’re unfamiliar with?

If you want to be in the running to win a copy of Jeannie’s newest release, comment below, answering her question and don’t forget to leave your email so I can contact you if you’re the lucky winner.

I would like to thank Jeannie for her time today. It was my hope that everyone reading this blog post can now clearly see, there is more to historical romance than first meets the eye.

For any further information of Jeannie or her books, please visit her website.

Danielle XXOO
Danielle is a romance writer who can be contacted at her website, facebook or twitter accounts.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Historical Hearts Launch Party - Day 5

Hi! I’m Bronwyn Stuart and I write Regency Romance. I first started writing about 7 years ago when I read a particularly unsatisfying historical romance one night when working the night shift at a security company. Like so many others, I thought, I can do this better! If they bought this romance and it’s crap, surely I can write one that will be ten times better and sell it. Boy was I wrong. But that’s a story for another time. Today I want to share with you why I write Regency romance when there are so many other time periods and genres out there in the big wide world of fiction.

I can’t remember the first book I read. There were so many. I do remember the first one that really made my brain tick. I’m not sure if it was the horror or the way the book was written and now I can’t even remember the title but it was the book that the movie The Village of the Damned was based on. You know the one with a younger Nicole Kidman? Where all the people in the town fall asleep and can’t recall whole hours. Then all the women get pregnant and have babies with crazy hair and eyes that can do strange things with strange powers. I loved that book! I’m not sure if I read it now what I would think but back when I was 14 I thought it was the bomb! The first historical author I fell in love with was Candace Camp. I loved Stephanie Laurens and Johanna Lindsey too but the author I went out of my way to find was Candace Camp (maybe it was because mum already had all the others). I really enjoyed her humour and her characters.

I got off track (big surprise there). What got me started with Regency wasn’t the world itself or any one book. It’s what you could do with that world. You have everything from chimney sweeps and mudlarks to princes, princesses and kings. And you can pretty much have any level of emotion. Eloisa James makes me laugh like no other author but it’s Anna Campbell who really draws me into her dark, emotional, meaty stories. So I decided to write that. They say ‘write what you know’. I didn’t live in the 1800’s. I don’t know what it’s like to wear three petticoats, a heavy gown, two coats, gloves, hats, and all the other accoutrements of the era but I’ve read enough to get a good idea. I have a good imagination and so I use it. That’s it. I’d like to say it’s simple but this is the hardest thing I’ve ever done (and I have two kids) but I love it. If I didn’t love it, I wouldn’t do it. I also dabble in the occasional contemporary but it’s always the Regency world I come back to. It’s like I’m drawn there over and over and over. Even my reading pile has more historical than any other genre. It’s hard to explain in words but there it is.

So what do you love? I don’t want to know the first book you read (most people lie about that anyway. Mine was probably The Little Engine Who Could.) I want to know the first author who really struck a chord in you. Do you write like them or in the genre they do? But the first prize winner is going to be the first one to give me the name and author of the village of the damned book (I don’t think it’s called that) and not a movie book but the original one and a link either to Kindle or Book depository so I can buy it =) The first one to go to all that effort gets a contest critique of 3 chapters up to 30 pages. If you don’t want the critique, just leave me a comment with your favourite chord striking author and I’ll pop your name in a hat and get one of my kids to draw a winner. You’ll get a copy of Candace Camp’s Scandalous.

Thanks for coming by today and stay tuned for more historical tid-bits that delight us, and we hope, you too.

Good Luck!

It's the last day of the Historical Hearts blog launch but the fun isn't over yet!

I'm Cheryl Leigh and I love all historical periods, especially the eighteenth century, which is where I set my as-yet-unpublished historical adventure romances. With a background in interior design, it's no wonder I'm drawn to the elegance of the Georgian era. Ah, the symmetry of Georgian buildings, exquisitely carved furniture, rich fabrics, gowns - oh, the gowns! - landscaped gardens, masked balls, music, art, literature, and, of course, men in breeches. *grin*

The Georgian period was not all beauty and glittering ballrooms. Crime, drunkenness and gambling abounded. Fewer strictures gave men and women the opportunity for liaisons with less censure from society. Though a decadent age, it was also a time of enlightenment as well as revolutions - agricultural, industrial and political. All great fodder for historical authors!

In the coming weeks, I'll be sharing snippets of history - Georgian and more - from my travels. To celebrate our blog launch, I'm giving one randomly picked commenter a box of note cards, embellished with fabulous shoes, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and stored in a cute shoebox, together with a small note pad to jot down story ideas ... or shopping lists. Just tell me what is your favorite historical period and why?

Good Luck!

Hi all, I’m Sandie Hudson, and I write Regency and Australian Historical romance. My love of history start with the stories my Dad would tell me about my ancestors. I’ve done extensive research into the lives of my ancestors and hope to one day be able to use that information in one of my novels.

Why write Regency? I love Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer. I love the beauty of the era, the sense of romance, but most of all I love the heroes and heroines I’ve on the pages of many of my now favourite authors, including our own Anna Campbell, Anne Gracie and Elizabeth Rolls.

You can visit my website to find out more about the novels I’m working on as well as my heroes and heroines.

To help celebrate the last day of Historical Hearts launch week I’m offering a copy of Deanna Raybourn’s ‘Dark Road to Darjeeling’ and a heart shape trinket box. My question:

What was the smash hit Showtime TV series, Anne Gracie, novelized?

Good Luck!

Hi, I'm Maggi Andersen. I write sensual historical romance where dark-haired heroes meet their match in feisty heroines. Add a dash of adventure, a murder or two, a mystery or an intrigue. What better time to set them than the Georgian period. It offers so much for a writer.
When I think of the Regency era, Jane Austen and Mr. Darcy come to mind. While it’s certainly nice to think of Darcy – emerging from the lake with his wet shirt plastered to his broad chest for instance – the Georgian era offered much. It was a fascinating period in history, in which the French Revolution changed the world.
The Regency was a time of both opulence and abject poverty. Of economic and social change: the Napoleonic wars, the power struggle for the Americas, and the Industrial revolution when people began to desert the country and crowd into the cities.
Lord Byron became a celebrity with his dark romantic poetry, and Beau Brummell defined and shaped fashion into a period of simplistic elegance. Men abandoned brocades and lace for linen trousers, overcoats with breeches and boots, and women abandoned corsets for high wasted, thin gauzy dresses.
A spend-thrift aesthete known for his scandalous affairs, George IV, the Prince of Wales was made Regent in 1811after his father was declared too mad to rein. Prinnie presided over the elegant society of the ton, the so called upper ten thousand, who defined themselves by an incredibly formal etiquette code which set them apart from the rising middle class.
I delight in finding ways my characters can break those rules and not only get away with it, but live happily ever after. Together of course.

I am offering a choice of two of my books, either e-book or print, for the first to visit my website and name the title of my book coming in October to New Concepts Publishing.

Good Luck!

Note: For your chance to win today's prizes, when answering the trivia questions or replying, please leave your name, email address and what draw you'd like to enter. Of course, you are more than welcome to enter all prize draws up for grabs. Good Luck!

Historical Hearts Launch Party - Who's up for day 5?

Want to win some wonderful prizes and meet the talented
Historical Hearts ladies kicking off day 5 on the Blog?
Then don't forget to drop in for a full day of gossip, fun and prizes at:

16 September 2011

Historical Hearts ladies eager to meet you on our fifth and final day are...

Bronwyn Stuart
Cheryl Leigh
Sandie Hudson
Maggi Andersen

Love to see you there!!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Historical Hearts Launch Party - Day 4

Dear Reader

I am so glad you have found your way to our Historical Hearts Blog. I’m Annie Seaton and I love all things historical. I write Steampunk romance.

I live on the beautiful east coast of Australia, where I spend most of the day sitting in my writing chair, gazing at the ocean and dreaming up stories. I have found my niche writing steampunk, where strong heroines and brooding heroes fight together to make their alternative world a better place.

I have recently signed with Lyrical Press, and I am looking forward to seeing my first novella, Winter of the Passion Flower released in March 2012. I am currently working on my second steampunk project, Summer of the Moon Flower, a novel length follow up.

Steampunk? What is steampunk you ask? Sounds slightly steamy?

Steampunk as a literary genre began to gain popularity in the 1980s. It began as a subgenre of science fiction and fantasy, and developed as a rebellious response to the science fiction that preceded it. Steampunk includes the core elements of

· Steam power

· Alternate history settings (mostly Victorian/Edwardian era England, and sometimes the wild, wild west)

· SF/Fantasy elements

· Devices that reflect the period but are ahead of their time. For example, difference engines, airships, and all sorts of clockwork and steam powered devices

I will let you peek at a directional perambulator, a device in my upcoming steampunk novella (March 2012) as an example.

“Steam lift,” Indigo spoke loudly above the humming. “Precision movement defined by the cogs. The perambulator ascends, descends and moves sideways if needed."

Steampunk is warm, sassy, and larger than life. The new direction is now steampunk + romance and a major appeal is the historical setting, and a steampunk author can use familiar settings and times.

Steampunk romance has the potential to offer something familiar, yet different. Authors can stretch their creative wings. Sassy heroines can stretch the limits of Victorian dress codes...

Her signature red bustier topped an emerald green skirt embossed with the symbols of industry flowing around her ankles, neither satisfying air safety dress regulation for dirigible travel.

Both excerpts from Winter of the Passion Flower – Annie Seaton (Lyrical Press March 2012)

So welcome to our blog, come along and say hello. I have some beautiful postcards and elegant pens for the person who can list three steampunk romance novels in a comment below!

Enjoy our launch week, come back and visit again.
Good Luck!

Hello everyone. My name is Cassandra Samuels and I love everything Regency. The clothes, the manners, the people, the history, the entertainments, the clothes, the furniture, the music – did I mention the clothes? I think you get the picture and he looks a lot like Colin Firth. Hmmm I’ll let you think on that for a moment....

Right, onward! I am currently unpublished and writing – you guessed it – Regency Historical Romance. I love dashing Dukes, masterful Marquis’, enigmatic Earls and virile Viscounts – I mean who doesn’t? I love to write strong sassy ladies who give my heroes an adventure in love they never expected all with a touch of humor.

I will be blogging - Cassie’s Regency Tidbits. There will be interesting people of the period, historical trivia and other interesting things. My first blog will be about the language of the fan. It seems amazing that so much could be conveyed simply by placing your fan in a particular way. I hope you will enjoy my Regency tidbits’ and will let me know what you want to know about the Regency Period.

What do you like about the Regency era? As an incentive to creative answers there is a small prize up for grabs, an “I love Darcy” key ring all the way from the Jane Austen Tea House in Bath.

Good Luck!

G-day all! I'm Danielle Lisle. The girls of Historical Hearts have asked that I introduce myself. My first thought was to shake your hand, but the limits of cyberspace make it rather difficult. Instead, I’ll have to give you a hot and steamy mental image of what I read and love to write. Surely that will imprint me in your memory? Well, let’s see...

Men is skirts. In know it’s not all that sexy (well, perhaps it is if you swing that way) but stick with me and think of a Scottish warrior with a deep, thick accent (Gerard Butler *moan*) with bulging muscles, softly furred chest, his long, bulging and deliciously thick .... sword and eyes that could slay a woman’s soul. Oh yes, I have your attention. Now, this man in a skirt IS sexy!

Every writer writes for a different reason. I write stories of love, desire and passion, for a simple reason – I want to live it! Yep, I want to be that heroine, the damsel in distress who is saved by the hunky (and yes, sometimes damaged too) hero. I want him to whisk me away, cave man tactics and all, exposing me to the deep and dark passion of his soul. *sigh* Name me a woman who doesn’t want that?

You can likely gauge from my thought process in writing the above, that I write ‘naughty’ historical romances. Yep, I like it hot and there is nothing hotter than some hot and heavy passion leading the way to everlasting love.

I love reading all types historical’s as well. It’s not always romance, though granted most times it is. I find the path our ancestors have travelled to get the world to where it is today, remarkably fascinating. It is therefore my goal to have my stories as detailed and accurate as possible. Well, settings and events are at least. Everything else is totally my imagination. *cheeky grin*
Come on a whirlwind ride with me as I travel the strange and distant lands of our past and meet some very hunky men along the way.

Win Me!!!
Tell me what gets your blood flowing in the books you read. What is it about the hero or heroine that makes you refuse to put the book down regardless of the time of night? What is it that makes you say ‘to hell!’ with the pile of dishes in the sink or the dirty washing vying for your attention? All comments will go in the draw to win a copy of Judith Ivory’s, Angel in a Red Dress.

Good Luck!

Welcome to our Historical Hearts Blog. Hi I’m Elle Fynllay, one of your tour guides as we take the magical journey back through the mists of time. We’ll be passing back through Victorian time , stopping for a quite extensive view of the Regency period, back, back through the time of Cavaliers and Roundheads, deeper and deeper in to the mists to Medieval period and even deeper to the Time of the Romans and Druids.

My period is a medieval time where Kings, Lairds and heroes lusted for land, love and glory and their women lusted for…their alpha males, of course. My first novel “Siege of the Heart” is an alliance between an Anglo-Saxon Laird’s daughter and the Norman knight that brings his wealth and strength to the marriage but can the castle survive the turmoil between its fiery Lady and the Norman knight who has staked his wealth on a betrothal and can they both survive the treachery within the castle. There is more than one way to win a castle; through siege, battle or treachery. Who will win? Who will survive?

Back to modern times: The deeper we go in time the less we have evidence of the period. From the Medieval period we have manuscripts and a few drawings to refer to. In Regency, we often hear accounts of the plethora of ancestral paintings on the wall. Well Reader, look around you. How much of your history is on display? In this day and age of digital display there is little “Hard Copy“, that is, actual paintings or photographs of family that we can put our hands on. I have three silver finish photo frames, that will hold a 5’’x7” (13x18cm) photograph to give away to a reader who comments on their favourite time period and why.

Good Luck!

Note: For your chance to win today's prizes, when answering the trivia questions or replying, please leave your name, email address and what draw you'd like to enter. Of course, you are more than welcome to enter all prize draws up for grabs. Good Luck!

Historical Hearts Launch Party - Who's up for day 4?

Want to win some wonderful prizes and meet the talented
Historical Hearts ladies kicking off day 4 on the Blog?
Then don't forget to drop in for a full day of gossip, fun and prizes at:

15 September 2011

Historical Hearts ladies eager to meet you on our fourth day are...

Annie Seaton
Cassandra Samuels
Danielle Lisle
Elle Fynllay

Love to see you there!!


text:
Sunday, July 28, 2013

George, a name with a long and colourful history

With worldwide celebrations at the birth of George, Prince of Cambridge this week, it seems timely to go back and revisit the first of the Georges of the Regency Period with regency writer, Sasha Cottman
The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George, July 2013

George III ruled from 1760-1820. Unfortunately during the final years of his reign, his mental health collapsed and his eldest son, later to rule as George IV became Regent.

A deeply religious man, he married Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in 1761, meeting her for the first time on their wedding day and remained faithful to her for the rest of his life. The royal couple had 15 children, and their two eldest sons reigned in turn after their father’s death.

King George III, Coronation Portrait 1762
In 1761 he purchased Buckingham House as a private residence for Queen Charlotte. Over time the house would be have significant extensions made and eventually become Buckingham Palace. Queen Victoria was the first British monarch to live at Buckingham Palace in 1837.

King George III’s reign is synonymous with the loss of the American colonies during the American War of Independence. English settlers in the American colonies were not represented in the English parliament and discord grew with the imposition of direct taxes on the colonies without their consent.

With the colonies declaring themselves independent of Britain in 1774, armed conflict followed. Over time the American colonies formed alliances with France, Spain and Holland and support for British rule in America began to wane in England.

George III eventually signed the Treaties of Paris in 1782 and 1783 recognising the independence of the American states.

The madness to which he would eventually succumb had its first serious impact on his ability to reign in 1788 and by 1789 a bill to form a Regency had been prepared. The King would spend hours speaking non-stop, while foaming at the mouth. At times he was physically restrained by his physicians and give poultices to draw out the ‘evil humours.’  To most people’s surprise he recovered from this bout of madness and the bill to form a Regency was withdrawn from parliament.

In 1789 the French royal family was overthrown and the new Republic of France declared.  The eventual war with Napoleon and the British victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 saw George III’s popularity at home reach its peak.

Unfortunately the King’s health continued to deteriorate and the death of his youngest and favourite daughter Princess Amelia in 1810, is thought to have triggered his final bout of madness.  By 1811, the King had become permanently insane and Parliament passed the Regency Act, effectively handing power over to the Prince of Wales.

King George III spent the rest of his life in seclusion at Windsor Castle.

After his death in 1820 he was succeeded to the throne by his son George IV.

George III lived for over 81 years and reigned for 59 of them. Since then only Queen Victoria and the present Queen Elizabeth II have lived and reigned longer.

Sasha Cottman loves the Regency period and blogs about her attempts to recreate recipes from the 18th and 19th century on her website (with mixed success). Her web site is and her debut Regency historical, LETTER FROM A RAKE is available as an eBook from Penguin Books.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Napoleon Out For A Duck?

Cricket Tragic John Frederick Sackville 3rd Duke of Dorset

One of the great things about being a historical romance writer is, of course, the history.

Just like the ad for a prominent genealogy company, one click leads to another and then all of a sudden your historical fact check - just who was the British Ambassador to France in 1790? -  leads you to the fascinating story of the cricket tragic John Frederick Sackville the third Duke of Dorset.

Like his father and grandfather before him, John was cricket mad and made his life's mission to spread the great game to the four corners of the world.

But for the pesky interruption of the American War of Independence and the French Revolution, the world game could very well have been cricket instead of soccer - er sorry, that should be football.

Considered the quintessentially British game, cricket has flourished in just about all of England's former colonies - Canada being the only noted exception.

But long before baseball got a toe hold, cricket was the game to play - and to watch.

Cricket broke down class divides - it might have been played aristocrats but it was watched and enjoyed by people of all social classes who made a day out of hooting, hollering, drinking, betting and admiring the physical prowess of batsman and bowler alike.

But not everyone was appreciative of Sackville's efforts to bring the civilising game to America. In 2010 Christies sold for nearly $22,000 a 1778 a pamphlet criticising Sackville's dedication to the game while England lost the American colonies:

    'Far from the Cannon's Roar, they try at Cricket, Stead of their Country, to secure a Wicket'. The anonymous poet's lines were directed against the Duke of Dorset and Earl of Tankerville as Britain was embroiled in the third year of a disasterous war with her own colonies in North America. A facetious dedication to the two aristocrats expresses dismay at their preparations for a new cricket season. ''Tis said that Nero fiddled whilst Rome was burning. -- The conduct of your Lordships, seems nearly similar. -- for Godsake, fling away your Bats ....' The couplets that follow continue to emphasise how wrong it is for members of the ruling class to participate in a lower class sport which 'beardless Boys with Beggars share'.

Not that such criticism affected Sackville any. His appointment as British Ambassador to France in 1784 was a golden opportunity to introduce the game to France, and it seemed he was having a bit of success, even organising a game along Paris' famous thoroughfare The Champs-Elysees!

The Times reported on one such match in 1786:

    His Grace of Dorset was, as usual, the most distinguished for skill and activity. The French, however, cannot imitate us in such vigorous exertions of the body, so that we seldom see them enter the lists.

So keen he was on the game, that he was all ready to stage the world's first international test match against France. Leading English cricketers of the day ready to make the trip from Southampton when they received the news on August 10, 1779 that Paris had fallen to Revolutionaries.

There the hopes cricket becoming the world game died.

Elizabeth Ellen Carter isn't that fond of cricket, but she does love her history. Her web site is and her debut Regency historical, Moonstone Obsession set in 1790 will be out later this year with Etopia Press .

Monday, July 22, 2013

Aussie Road Trip Day #3

Welcome back to Maryde's Road trip in and around our Great Country Of Australia...

It's Day #3 We spent a leisurely morning at the dam fishing, walking and relaxing, before deciding to leave Dumaresq Dam after lunch and headed further north mid-afternoon. We arrived at Glenn Innes late and spent the night in a tourist park about 10 minute walk out of town.
  The following morning we walked into Glen Innes known as the Scottish Capital of Australia. We had driven through this Historic town twice before on our way to Brisbane but we'd never taken the time to stop and scout around.
  The township of Glen Innes came about in 1852, after the sale of the first lots of land. By 1858 there was a post office and court house.
Crofters Cottage
On both sides of the wide streets are wonderful buildings from the turn of the nineteenth century. Glen Innes is twin town to Pitlochry in Scotland.  Among the many heritage buildings there is also a crofter's cottage I loved the old buildings.

Town Hall
Standing Stones
 The Australian Standing Stones are a modern day tribute to the early Celtic settlers. The megalithic circle of stones is similar to those once used in ancient times and are the venue for the annual Celtic Festival held in Glen Innes on the first weekend in May.
The Standing stones are based
on the Ring_of_Brodgar in Orkney

I'd like to hear from anyone who may have Scottish relatives or family ties to Glen Innes.

Lovely old Houses
After strolling the streets and picking up necessary supplies for morning tea from the local Bakery, we left Glen Innes behind and drove further west. We passed through the town of Inverell, but this time we did not stop, as we were on our way to Copeton Dam.

 By Lunchtime we were driving across the dam wall and into Copeton Waters State Park. There were dozens of camping areas of varying degrees of comfortability. From delux cabins to basic amenities for those visitors who are self-contained, all you had to do was drive in and find your own spot. So we did ...
The National Park is so spacious that no-one needs to camp on anyone's doorstep, unless travelling together.
And for our overseas visitors there was an abundance of Aussie residents.
Afternoon visitors
We weren't without company of the human ... and animal kind

Still no fish in the dam - AGAIN -  so BBQ it was for tea. And as the afternoon waned the curious natives of the park came out in their droves to forage for dinner and pose for pictures. Even when we walked late in the evening the kangaroos were nibbling grass quite close to our van.
A fire was a relaxing way to end the day and we sat around till it died out. In the morning after breakfast, we packed up and left the park heading for the small town of Bingara on the Gwydir River, just a few hours drive away.

Monday, July 15, 2013

The Great Escape - Part 1 THE BATTLE OF WORCESTER

One of the world’s most thrilling “great escape” stories has to be the escape of Charles II after the defeat at the Battle of Worcester on September 3 1651. Just about every old house or inn on his route lays claim to having sheltered him and it has been the subject of many works of fiction (including the basis for my own BY THE SWORD).

The young Prince Charles had fled to the continent at the end of the first civil war (1645). There he kicked his heels at the court of his cousin, the young Louis XIV, very much the poor relation. His chance to return to England and regain his throne came in 1650 when the Scots, disenchanted by their former allies, invited him to Scotland. He was crowned King of Scotland as the Scots raised an army to defeat the English Parliamentarian forces. The Scots kept such tight control over their young King that his life was a misery and many of Charles’ most talented commanders were denied a role in this new army. After the Scots were roundly defeated at the Battle of Dunbar on September 3 1650, it is said Charles threw his hat in the air and laughed.

Undeterred by their defeat, the Scots Army marched into England. As they made their way down the west coast, Cromwell (the new commander of the Parliamentary forces since the resignation of Sir Thomas Fairfax) and his army raced down the East coast. They met at Worcester. The forces Charles had expected to flock to his banner did not eventuate. The King’s supporters in England had wearied of war and weighed down by debt and fines lacked the heart for another fight. The Earl of Derby bringing supporters from the Isle of Man was intercepted at Wigan and escaped with only a handful of men.

Charles dithered in Worcester as Cromwell closed in on him. At the age of twenty one he relied heavily on his advisors and their advice contradicted each other. The poor young King was harangued from every side…should they abandon Worcester and retreat into sympathetic Wales or stay and make a fight of it? The debates in The Commandery (a building that still exists in Worcester and is well worth a visit) raged on until it became too late to do anything but stand and face whatever Cromwell would throw at them.

Cromwell chose September 3 (the day of his victory in Scotland the year before) to launch his attack. The King’s forces failed to capitalise on Cromwell’s one moment of vulnerability when he sent half his forces across the River Severn to attack Worcester from the South while the main force attacked from the East. Watching the progress of the battle through a spy glass from the tower of Worcester Cathedral, dressed in his buff leather coat with a red sash and his Order of St. George around his neck, the young King ordered his forces out of the city to take on Cromwell in the field.

The Battle of Worcester
It was a bold move and leading his men, on foot, up the hill out of the Sidbury Gate, no one would question the King’s courage. He believed that General Leslie would appear with cavalry in support of his charge. Leslie failed him and after three hours of pitched battle, with Fort Royal lost, the King’s men began a mad retreat back inside the city. Sidbury Gate was blocked with an overturned cart, its animals dead in the traces. Undeterred the desparate royalists clawed their way back into the city as night fell with the parliamentary forces hot on their heels.

By chance Charles’ lodgings were in a house near St. Martin’s gate, the only gate still open to them (the house still exists - see Picture). Led by Lord Wilmot, a small, loyal band of his men, harried the shocked and desparate young King out of the city and north to an even more uncertain fate.

The fate of those who were captured after the battle makes a sad postscript. The Earl of Derby was beheaded, the Duke of Hamilton died of his wounds and the many rank and file of the Scottish Army were largely sent as "white slaves" to the Barbardos, Guyana or Virginia (ah yesl...the subject of another of my books THE KING'S MAN - can you tell this is one of my favourite subjects?).

Next month…THE GREAT ESCAPE Part 2: “Read on and Wonder…” (Thomas Blount in his introduction to Boscobel written in 1660)

SPECIAL OFFER:  Both THE KING'S MAN and BY THE SWORD are undergoing a sprucing up, owing to some formatting issues with both books. Until the reformatted versions are ready to go up, both books are available (as Cromwell said "warts and all") on sale at US$0.99. Click HERE

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

HH Good News!

Again our fantastically talented HH members
have some wonderful news to share.

So without further ado we congratulate...

Joanna Lloyd has signed her 2nd contract
with Crimson Romance
for her historical romance,
release date tba

Annie Seaton has signed her 8th contract with
Entangled Publishing
for her paranormal time slip novel,
release date tba
Maggi Andersen has signed a contract with
for the second book in her
Regency Spy series,
The Spies of Mayfair, Book 2
release date tba
Vonnie Hughes has signed
a three book deal with Musa Publishing
for her Regency series,
release date tba

HH member Danielle Lisle
has finaled in the
with her historical romance,
The winner will be announced
at the RWAust conference.
We'll keep you posted on her entry's outcome.
Alison Stuart has had a nomination
in the paranormal, futuristic and sci-fi category for,
We'll keep you posted on her entry's outcome.

Janet Woods world war romance trilogy
has now officially released in America!
are available now in print and e-book.
Meggie Elliot is a young woman of above average intelligence, and on the brink of adulthood. Living with her aunt and uncle in London at the outbreak of WW2 she’s intent on going to university, then pursuing a career in law. She is encouraged in this by her solicitor – a man she admires a little too much. Too old for her, he lets her know it.
Meggie follows her dream as best she can. In a burst of patriotism she joins the WRNS to do her bit for the war. Sent to work in a decoding unit she meets the dangerously exciting young aristocrat, Nicholas Cowan, who sweeps her off her feet.

1933. Esmé Carr leaves her closely-knit family behind and travels to Australia with her best friend, in search of adventure. There, the young women learn the value of friendship, and compromise as they support each other through the good and bad times, to eventually find love. Left behind in England is Esmé’s adolescent niece. Meggie Elliot has an imaginative and independent frame of mind, but there is mystery surrounding her birth – one she intends to unravel. And this, despite her mother’s warnings to let the past alone in an effort to protect her only daughter.

When the truth surfaces it’s not what Meggie wanted to hear, and it takes Esmé to reconcile the rift between mother and daughter.

One woman - two loves. 1918
If it's not enough that a girl from a good background is forced to work as a maid, Livia Carr is then violated by the master of the house and becomes pregnant.

Her only course is to marry the son of the house. Richard Sangster is an invalid, a world war one hero. He is not expected to live, and he offers Livia and the child legitimacy, as well has his name and estate. Livia grows to love Richard, and even though it's expected, his death comes as a great blow to her.
Tea Cooper is celebrating the release
of her two historical stories,
available from Breathless Press
Available from Harlequin Escape
both available now!

An unconventional woman clashes with colonial society in this spicy and sweet Australian-set historical romance.
His carefree bachelor days over, Christopher Matcham returns to Sydney to take responsibility for his mother, two stepsisters, and the family property. Fortune smiles on him when he is introduced to Matilda Sweet, a woman in need of work. Though unusual, Christopher senses that her fresh ideals and positive outlook can only benefit his sisters, so he hires her as a companion.
By the time they arrive at Christopher’s family home, the two are fast friends. But Matilda’s unorthodox ways and her convict heritage make her a second class citizen to the family. Christopher has responsibilities, and they include an advantageous match. A breeches-wearing, fish-pond-swimming, plain-talking convict’s daughter will never do. After all, romance is a luxury the upper classes cannot afford…

Abandoned at birth, Atalantê, protégé of the Goddess Artemis is forced into an untenable position by her estranged father, the King of Arcadia - renege on her vow of virginity or condemn her suitors to a sacrificial death. The aristocratic courtier Melanion, cannot believe anyone would be foolish enough to put their life on the line for the dirty little predator whose reputation for speed and cruelty is legendary. That is until he falls under the spell of her lapis lazuli eyes. Consumed by desire and jealousy he is determined to win Atalantê’s hand or die trying. He calls upon Aphrodite to assist him, little realizing that her noisome brat, Eros has the pair of them in his sights and is determined to inject a little spice into their lives. Spice that will devastate the path of true love and incur the wrath of the virgin Goddess.

Christina Phillips is celebrating the release
of her Regency vampire romance,
Available now from Ellora's Cave!
Tired of the thin-blooded aristocrats in 1815 London, Alexius yearns for better sport. He is drawn to a dark-haired seductress who shows no fear and refuses to obey his commands. Entranced by such novelty, he denies his bloodlust and decides to keep her to warm his bed.

Immortal vampire hunter Morana has never mistaken her prey before, but the dark stranger mesmerizes her, enticing her to forget everything but the dangerous pleasure she finds in his arms.

Neither one can deny the pull of the other, but there is something beyond the lust—a recognition neither can put a name to. The past and present collide and unless they discover the truth behind the lies, Death will triumph once more.
Sasha Cottman is celebrating the release
of her Regency romance,
Available July 10 from Destiny Romance!

The unconventional Miss Millie Ashton, recently arrived from India, finds England a cold and dismal place. The fashionable ladies of London society look down their noses at her and it isn't long before Millie is planning her return to the country she considers home.

When Millie befriends the high-spirited Lucy Radley, she also meets Lucy's handsome brother, 'Alex the Great' and things take a turn for the better. Alex, the Marquess of Brooke, is considered the most eligible bachelor in London, yet he appears fascinated by the independent Millie.

Annie Seaton is celebrating the release
of her latest contempory romance,
Available now from Entangled Publishing!

Free-spirited sex therapist Brianna Ballantine has four days to find a fiancé so she can inherit her birth mother’s Italian villa. Commitment is not on the agenda. Writing her sex therapy book and signing legal papers are. And once all is said and done, she’ll return home to Scotland.

For finance guru Tomas Richards, relationships have been a bad investment—give him stocks and shares any day. When Tomas offers a marriage of convenience to help Brianna secure her inheritance, the sizzle between the sheets promises an affair to remember, despite family complications at every turn.

But Tom must convince Brianna to stay, and make this Italian affair a lifelong commitment.
I would recommend you all go out and buy these
You'll enjoy each and every one of them.
I promise!
Alison Stuart has revealed the print cover
for her historical romance,
Isn't it beautiful! Love it, Alison!!
Congratulations everyone!
And until next time
happy reading.

Monday, July 8, 2013

The Politics of Architecture

Classic Georgian architecture. This example is in York.
Classic Georgian architecture. This example is in York.
Posted by Elizabeth Ellen Carter

Did you know that the choice of architecture in the 18th century may have revealed much about your political and philosophical leanings as it did your personal taste?

The two competing styles around this time were the Georgian/Neoclassical and the Gothic Revival.

When we think of the Georgian period in architecture we think of the cliff-fronted rectangular buildings, the windows and doors of which follow strict lines of symmetry.

The American Revolution may have cut political ties with England but they didn't sever architectural ones.

There are a large number of old and important homes in the United States that carry those specific design elements - classical Greek columns, cornice with dentiles over the windows and quoins - the masonary corner blocks standing proud which are so distinctive of the Georgian style.

The interest in all things classically Greek was very much at the heart of the 18th century Enlightenment movement and liberal political thought.
For the first 50 years of the Hanoverian dynasty the same Whig aristocracy that controlled the government also dictated artistic thought. The splendid architectural achievements of Sir Christopher Wren and his followers during the reigns of the three preceding Stuart monarchs were in the extravagant and monumental Baroque style of continental Europe, which the Whig aristocrats eventually judged to be of questionable taste.
The Enlightenment/French Revolution fuelled Greek revival is very much in evidence in the fashion depicted in this 1808 portrait
The Enlightenment/French Revolution fuelled Greek revivalism
Interest in Greek philosophic and classicist thought became the hallmarks of the 'rationalists' and 'intellectuals' of the time and thus neoclassism in architecture became emblemetic of modern republics of both the United States and France which is one of the reasons why examples government institutions such as courthouses are often symbolised by a Parthenon-style features.

No more evident was the popularity of neo-classism expressed but in fashion where the 18th century began with elaborate panniers, constrictive corsets and swathes of luxurious fabrics and ended with the simple lines, minimally decorated and humble fabrics of the Regency period - a fashion adopted from the French who in the Napoleonic era named it the Empire silhouette and from where we get the term empire waist which is still used in fashion terms today.

But there was another competing artistic and philosophical movement which arose at the time - the Gothic Revival. In architectural terms Gothic Revival turned to medieval architecture for its inspiration.

New homes were built to resemble small castles. Castellated towers and pointed turrets were built and decorated with elaborate pierced mouldings in wood, stone and iron - depending on the scale and the wealth of the client.

Medieval churches with their arched windows were another sources of inspiration. Interiors were richly and elborately decorated with wood panelling, coloured fabrics on the walls - later made popular with the introduction of mass produced wallpaper in the 19th century.

Strawberry Hill House, pictured here in 2012.
Strawberry Hill House, pictured here in 2012
A marvellous example of this form of architecture can be found in Strawberry Hill House in London where its owner Horace Walpole took a 17th century cottage and spent the next 20 years turning it into one of the most fascinating and fantastic examples of Gothic Revival architecture. The intellectual war for hearts and minds continued from the 18th century into the 19th and while the 'new republics' turned to the classical Greeks to provide the symbol of their philosophical intent. The 'old republics' particularly those of England and Germany, turned to the medieval Gothic for theirs.

One of the most striking and long lived examples of this is something that is instantly recognisable as symbol of London itself. The Palace of Westminister - home to the Big Ben clock and the Tower, recently renamed Elizabeth Tower in honour of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.

Although of much earlier history, the Old Palace was destroyed by fire in 1835 and contract for its reconstruction won by architect Charles Barry with his design for a building in the Perpendicular Gothic style.

An example of pre-Raphaelite romanticism.
Awww... How romantic! An example of pre-Raphaelite romanticism.
 The word 'Gothic' was originally an insult, associating the style with German tribes who had ransacked Rome bringing to an end to the antiquarian Empire and bringing forth the beginning of the mythmaking that erroneously reduced the innovation and culture of the medieval period to the epithet - 'dark ages'.

While Enlightenment philosophy has science and strict rationalism at its core, Romanticism embraced emotion and nature in its art and literature.

The idealism of the medieval period with its notions of civility, chivalry and romantic love were overlayed with explorations of mysticism and spirituality through art and literature the most readily recognisable being the Pre-Raphaelite movement of the mid-19th century.

Althought the philosophical rationale behind these styles has retreated to the field of the academic, their influence has been felt even into the 21st century with various revivals of Art Nouveau with its naturalistic and organic free flowing forms and Art Deco with its strict geometry and futuristic lines.

Elizabeth Ellen Carter's first novel, Moonstone Obsession set in England and France in 1790 is to be published by Etopia Press later this year. She is working on her second title Warrior's Surrender, set in the wilds of Northumbria in 1074 - post  Norman Conquest.


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tales from the road, part I

i'm writing now from beautiful (but ridiculously flat) davis, california, where the weather is still in the 70's. this is not a full post, just a brief update to let both of my readers know that i'm still alive.

portland was pretty dang awesome. it rained almost the entire time, but it was great to see geanna again, and to get to meet her family and some of her friends. i'm hoping to make it back sometime next year during a nicer season, to get a true taste of the city. more on that part of the trip later... probably this coming weekend, after i've gotten home and had some time to recover.

yesterday was interesting... i thought my flight left at 1:30, but it actually left around 1:05. which, unfortunately, was right about the time i was going through security. so that wasn't a whole lot of fun. but the folks from southwest were very helpful... i got on standby for the 2:55 flight, and luckily there ended up being an opening, otherwise i would have had to sit in the airport for another two hours till the next flight. although there was a margarita bar not far from where i was sitting, so it might not have been too boring.

anyways, rachel should be getting back from class pretty quick, and then we're off to dinner, so i'm off for now. i'll try to write again, but it probably won't happen until i'm home.


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History's Dumpster Mobile Link

History's Dumpster for Smartphones, Tablets and Old/Slow Computers http://historysdumpster.blogspot.com/?m=1

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Novelty Radios

1 comment:

  1. SPAM RADIO!!! WANT SPAM RADIO!!! Considering the state of commercials and infomercials on AM radio today: the perfect radio as metaphor.

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