This week’s blog post idea comes from Kim Handysides. Kim writes: “Every New Year’s Day, I make my family write down goals/aspirations for the coming year and put them in a shoebox. Before they write the New Year letter to themselves, they read the previous year’s letters. Usually out loud to each other. We talk about each other’s achievements, trials and hopes for the future. How do you (or how would you like to) celebrate New Year’s?” If you’ve joined me from Katie O'Connor, welcome!
I’ve never been much for New Year’s resolutions. Setting goals is a good thing, I know, but mine are often doomed to disaster if I make them arbitrarily, instead of when I feel a strong commitment. But it is certainly a good time to look back and see how things went, what we should change, where we need to focus our energies. I wish everyone a pleasant and productive 2015! Hopefully Dani Jace has something more interesting for you. Hop on over! Dani Jace http://www.danijace.com
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I’ve come across the most, er, interesting facts while researching A Kiss for Miss Kingsley. I’ve chuckled at some, grimaced at others, and had WTF (White Turkey Feathers) moments with others. I can’t help shake my head and ponder what it really would have been like to live a few centuries ago. Some beliefs and practices were rather astonishing, if not downright macabre. Here’s my list of the top ten most atrocious:
There you have it! I bet you are so grateful those practices have been abolishes. Well, most of them have. I’ll leave you to guess which ones are still being used. Interesting in learning more about "A Kiss for Miss Kingsley"? Here's a taste: Olivia Kingsley didn’t expect to fall in love and receive a secret marriage proposal two weeks into her first Season. However, one dance with Allen Wimpleton, heir to a viscountcy, and her fate is sealed. Or so she thinks until her eccentric and ailing father, unaware of Allen’s proposal, announces he’s moving the family to the Caribbean for a year. In two days. Allen begs Olivia to elope to Scotland, knowing her father will refuse his offer of marriage after such a brief acquaintance with Olivia. Having recently lost her mother, and fearing for her father’s health, she refuses, pleading with Allen to wait for her until she returns to England. Angry at her hesitancy, and unaware of her father’s ill health, Allen demands she choose—him or her father. Heartbroken at his callousness, but thankful he’s revealed his true nature before she married him, Olivia turns her back on their love. The year becomes three, enough time for her broken heart to heal, and after her father dies, Olivia returns to England. Coming face to face with Allen, she realizes she never purged him from her heart and once again the flames of love ignite, but is it too late? Does Olivia have any hope of winning Allen’s heart once more, or has he found another?
As we head into the holiday season, Sarah Hegger has challenged us to write "All I want for Christmas … " It could be a memoir, a thought, a wish list or flash fiction. If you joined me from Eden Ashe, welcome! Here is my short, but hopefully sweet, contribution to this week's blog hop. ALL through the dark winter nights I wait with joyful anticipation WANTing only the time of togetherness. FOR when family and friends gather, I know it is CHRISTMAS. What do you think? I'd love to read your comments. Then click on through to Jeana E. Mann for the next stop on our hop! Tomorrow, I'll be hosting fellow Romance Writer Weekly author Collette Cameron. She's sharing some of the more icky, er, interesting research she discovered while writing her new short story, "A Kiss for Miss Kingsley" (I love that title). Come back and visit, won't you? Here's an excerpt - sounds great, doesn't it? EXCERPT “This is a monumental mistake.” Fingering the ruby pendant hanging at her neck, Olivia Kingsley peeked out the window as the conveyance rounded the corner onto Berkeley Square. Carriage upon carriage, like great shiny beetles, lined up beside an ostentatious manor. Guests in their evening finery swarmed before the grand entrance and on the stairs as they waited their turn to enter Viscount and Viscountess Wimpleton’s home. Trepidation dried her mouth and tightened her chest. Yes, attending the ball was a featherbrained solicitation for disaster. No good could come of it. God’s toenails, what was I thinking, agreeing to Auntie Muriel’s addlepated scheme? Olivia flattened against the sky-blue squab in the corner of her aunt’s coach and vehemently shook her head. “I cannot do it.” A curl came loose, plopping onto Olivia’s forehead. Bother. She shoved the annoying tendril beneath a pin, having no doubt the tresses would work their way free before evening’s end. Patting the circlet of rubies adorning her hair, she assured herself the band remained secure. Her pulse beat an erratic staccato, and she searched for a plausible excuse for refusing to attend the ball after all. “I ... We,” she wiggled her gloved fingers at her brother, Bradford, lounging on the opposite seat, appearing as contented as their fat cat, Socrates, after lapping a saucer of cream, “were not invited.” Terribly gauche, that. Showing up at a haut ton function, no invitation in hand. “Nonsense, darling. It’s perfectly acceptable for you to accompany me.” Aunt Muriel, the Duchess of Daventry, patted Olivia’s knee with her plump hand. “Lady Wimpleton is one of my dearest friends. Why, we had our come-out together, and I’m positive had she known that you and Bradford had recently returned to England, she would have extended an invitation herself.” Not if she knew the volatile way her son and I parted company, she wouldn’t have. We all love a bit of romance at Christmastime! This week on our blog hop, we've been challenged to tell our favorite Christmas story—whether a book, a movie or a true-life romance.
If you're joining me from Elizabeth Janette, welcome! I have real trouble with these “favourite” assignments. As you may have noticed last week, I cheated a bit, by giving my newest favourite Christmas song. How is it possible to choose from all the great music out there? I feel the same way this week. And so I'm going to cheat again. If you're expecting a romance story, sorry. Although the potential was definitely there, given slightly different circumstances (hmmm – that has me thinking about how to work this in to my next book...) My parents live just outside of town, in a house overlooking a small lake. This particular winter, about ten years ago or so, cold weather hit hard and fast, and there was very little snow. As a result, the entire lake froze solid so quickly that the surface was almost as smooth as a manicured ice rink. And with no blanket of snow, you could skate anywhere you wanted without trouble. That Christmas Eve, my husband and I with our three children headed to Gramma and Grampa's for dinner. Afterward, we all donned our skates and set out across the lake. The ice was so clear you could actually see through it—at least four feet down. Cracks and fissures were visible, but the ice was solid as concrete. Every once in a while a thundering boom would rumble under our feet, giving us a special, spooky thrill. The air was crisp and biting, not too cold, and the stars sparkled overhead. We skated right out to the middle, the scrape of blades on ice cutting through winter's dark silence. When we began our return, the twinkle of Christmas lights on the houses lining the shore beckoned us home. Back at my parents, we warmed up with hot chocolate then made our way to Midnight Mass, already steeped in the wonder of the season. It truly was one of my most memorable Christmas ever. Maybe J.J. Devine has something a little more romantic for you. Head on over and see! This week on the Romance Writers Weekly blog hop, we've been challenged to come up with our favourite Christmas song. If you joined me from Jeanne McDonald, welcome! I don't like these kinds of assignments, because there are so many amazing books, movies, songs, children, heroes, heroines – well, you get my drift. But while I was wandering Facebook, doing my best to put off writing this post, I came across this version of “Mary Did You Know?” by Pentatonix. I watched and listened with chills rippling up and down my arms, and couldn't resist sharing. For my family, the Catholic Christian tradition and faith is the deeper meaning of Christmas, and this song speaks beautifully to that.
Now, let's move on to see what Carolyn Spear's favourite is! It's that time of year - when even us non-bakers enjoy creating lovely treats for holiday parties! This week on Romance Writers Weekly, we're swapping cookie recipes. Get ready to copy/past an entire cookbook of favourites! If you've joined me from Xio Axelrod, welcome! This recipe is from one of my all-time favourite cookbook series, Company's Coming. They are a lovely, light, less sweet alternative to the rich, decadent desserts usual during the holiday season. Wonderful with coffee or tea! Pineapple Cookies ½ cup margarine, softened ½ cup sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla ½ cup crushed pineapple, drained 2 cups flour 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda ½ tsp salt 1 tbsp sugar ¼ tsp nutmeg (My daughter's note in our recipe book says that half of the above 2 ingredients is plenty) Cream butter and first amount of sugar together well. Beat in egg. Stir in vanilla and pineapple. Add flour, baking powder, soda and salt. Stir. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheet. Mix second amount of sugar and nutmeg together. Sprinkle on top of unbaked cookies. Bake in 375F oven for about 8 to 10 minutes. Makes about 3 dozen. Now it's on to Sarah Hegger to get yet another great cookie recipe!
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