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Word Wenches | Historical authors blog - History
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Word Wenches: Capturing the Castle
Nicola here. There are a lot of old buildings in the UK and a lot of different names for historic types of buildings, whether it’s a castle, manor, hall, tower, mansion or cottage. A castle, though, conjures up very particular ideas of what a building looks like. The dictionary definition is “a fortified building as in medieval Europe” or “a large, magnificent house especially if the home of a prince or noble.” However, I think fortifications – crenelations, towers, turrets etc are essential for it to be a proper castle. Often a castle, which has been around for hundreds of...
Word Wenches: When the power goes
Anne here pondering about weather and power and light... Recently it seems like people all over the world are having extreme weather, often accompanied by power blackouts. Whether it's blizzards and ice-storms, record heat waves, lightning strikes, wildfires, hurricanes, cyclones or floods, generally they have one think in common — no power. (Image by eyasu-etsub on Unplash.) We're so dependent on electricity that we take it completely for granted — until it goes. And then, suddenly, you realize how very dependent we've become on it for all sorts of things and I don't just mean for serious things, though one...
Word Wenches: Heyer and a Quiz
Anne here, announcing that Jennifer Kloester's new book,The Novels of Georgette Heyer is out as an e-book. I'm not sure whether or when it will be published as a paper book, but when I know, you'll know. In the meantime, I'm entertaining you (I hope) with a quiz about some of Georgette Heyer's books. The usual rules apply — note down your answers with a pen and paper and at the end, there's a link to the answers. 1) Who called his uncle a "platter-faced old fidget”? a) Sir Tristram Shield b) Viscount Sheringham c) Ferdy Fakenham d) Pelham Winwood...
Word Wenches: What We're Reading!
Christina here and it’s time for our monthly roundup of what we’ve been reading! As always, we have a very varied selection and hope you will find something you like the sound of. And please add to our must-have lists in the comments below by letting us know what you have enjoyed as well. We’ve got our credit cards at the ready! We’re starting off with Patricia:- SPACE JUNK: HOUSTON, WE HAVE A HOTTIE by Sara L. Hudson. I wasn’t going to report on this one because it’s half hot sex, so I skimmed a whole lot. The sex scenes...
Word Wenches: The RWAustralia Conference
Anne here, and last week I went to the first in-person conference I’ve been to since Covid hit in 2020 — the Romance Writers of Australia conference, which this year was held in Sydney. I even had a sliver of a view of the Sydney Harbour bridge from my hotel room. It felt quite odd, meeting and mingling with so many people after such a long time in relative isolation, but it was also very stimulating. I caught up with so many friends I hadn’t seen in several years, and met some new ones, which was lovely. I arrived in...
Word Wenches: Gone Fishing!
Andrea here, musing about family and some of the little memories that serve as touchstones from past to present, reminding us of fun moments that created connections and camaraderie. This past weekend, my older brother and his son chartered a boat to go fishing out at the end of Long Island Sound, where it opens in the the Atlantic Ocean—a father-son experience that they have done over the years since my nephew was a little boy. (He is now all grown up!) The plan was for them to fish all day and then rendezvous with me and my my sister-in-law...
Word Wenches: 21 Daft Days
Susan here. Two hundred and one years ago this week, in August 1822, King George IV arrived in Scotland, landing at Leith Harbor and making his way into Edinburgh. The huge fanfare included not just thousands of people lining the streets to cheer and watch, but began with a greeting party of scores of dignitaries that included the Lord Provost of Edinburgh and civic officials, dukes, earls, peers of rank, clan chiefs, as well as Sir Walter Scott, who had organized much of the celebration that took place over the days of the king’s visit. King George IV Lands at...
Word Wenches: A Grand Adventure
Christina here. Have you ever travelled somewhere without any expectations whatsoever, just willing to go with the flow, explore and see what you find? That’s exactly what I did the weekend before last. Yes, I have been out travelling yet again – lately it feels as if I live out of suitcase permanently! – but this time it wasn’t for research or family purposes. My husband, elder daughter and I wanted to go to a specific concert which happened to be held in Brussels in Belgium. So we decided to take the opportunity to have a long weekend there to...
Word Wenches: Emoting over Books
Nicola here. I’m in deadline territory so I’ve dusted down and added to a blog piece from 9 years ago on a topic that really interests me – books that make us cry. This is intended to be a cheerful blog, not a miserable one. It’s not about the latest craze in what has been dubbed “sad girl books” which are apparently about millennial women who are unhappy in their lives. I haven’t read any and the present time isn’t the right moment for me to start. No, it’s about authentic emotion and the way that can touch us. A...
Word Wenches: When Tweaking isn't enough!
By Mary Jo Today I'm happy to have my long-time friend and fellow cat lover Kathy Lynn Emerson here to talk about making an old book new again, and why she's done that in this case. It's a delicious insight into how authors think, and why we do the things we do. As for the cats, note the author photo, plus the candid snap below of Kathy and kitty napping together. <G> First, about Kathy: Kathy Lynn Emerson (aka Kaitlyn Dunnett and Kate Emerson) has had sixty-four books traditionally published and has self published others. She won the Agatha Award...
Word Wenches: Puppets
Anne here. Today’s topic was inspired by my friend Jenny who is a photographer. She recently donated a collection of her photos to the Victorian Arts Archive. (The photo on the right is not Jenny's — it's by Robert Zunikoff from Unsplash) Jenny's collection covered twelve years of performances of a children's theatre called “Polyglot Puppet Theatre", which was established to produce plays for children. Designed to have multilingual and experiential approaches to engage children in creative play, it still tours schools today. The company also created some enormous puppets for international plays such as "King Kong”, "Walking with Dinosaurs”...
Word Wenches: The British Museum and the History of its Special Library
Andrea here, due to a family health issue, I’m posting an “oldie but goodie” past blog today in which I’m musing on two of my favorite subjects: libraries and museums. And as it so happens, the British Museum in London—an amazingly wonderful institution that always makes my heart go pitty-pat—has a fascinating story in its history that combines the two! It all begins with Sir Hans Sloane, who donated his vast collections of “interesting stuff” (a true cabinet of curiosities of 71,000 items—you can see one of the drawers to the right) to King George II and the country in...
Word Wenches: Spelling it out in Viking Times
Christina here. I’m on holiday at the moment, so I’ve dug up a post that previously appeared on my friend and fellow author Anna Belfrage’s blog. Hope you don’t mind the recycling! The word ”runes” is very evocative, isn’t it? It immediately conjures up images of fearsome Vikings, picture stones adorned with slithering snakes and dragons, as well as mysterious fortune-tellers or seeresses. Because runes weren’t just used for writing – they were also talismans against evil, part of secret rituals and carved into bits of wood or bark as protection. Magical! The great thing about runes is that they...
Word Wenches: Interview with Jaclyn Reding
Susan here - we are so pleased to welcome friend and author Jaclyn Reding to Word Wenches today to talk about her upcoming books and some of the very interesting inspirations for her writing. Be sure to scroll down to read this fun interview and a story excerpt -- and then take a moment to comment for a chance to win a copy of her latest release, The Pretender! Jaclyn Reding’s award-winning, bestselling historical and contemporary romance novels have been translated into nearly a dozen languages. A National Readers' Choice Awards finalist, and Romance Writers of America RITA Award nominee,...
Word Wenches: What We're Reading
by Mary Jo Our Word Wench WWR posts are always popular, and our July reads start with Nicola Cornick: Nicola here. My favourite read this month was Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson, which is set in London in the 1920s in the glittering and criminal world of the Soho clubs. I picked it up because the story, about the Croker family and their entertainment empire was inspired by that of the infamous nightclub owner Kate Meyrick, several of whose daughters married into the aristocracy, including the Craven family. The book perfectly captures the complicated and glamorous world of 1920s...
Word Wenches: Down the Rabbit-hole
Anne here. I sent the wenches down a rabbit-hole last week. It was for something quite small, really, but I thought it might give you an idea of the kind of rabbit-holes we wenches regularly dive down in the quest for historical accuracy. I was writing a scene where the heroine, who’s hot and tired is alone and on foot in the countryside. She is cooling her aching feet in a little stream, when she meets a handsome itinerant, who comes to fill a bucket and a small pot in the stream. The water in the bucket is for his...
Word Wenches:
An Interview with Diane Gaston By Mary Jo Diane Gaston and I are both long-term members of Washington Romance Writers and sister Regency addicts, so it's a pleasure to welcome her to the Word Wenches! Yesterday was the release of her newest book, The Lady Behind the Masquerade. Diane, will you tell us something about the story? Diane Gaston: The Lady Behind the Masquerade, Book 2 in a two book series, A Family of Scandals, tells the story of Marcus Wolfdon, “Wolf,” who is the younger brother of Eliza, the heroine of Book 1, Secretly Bound to the Marquess. When...
Word Wenches:
An Interview with Diane Gaston By Mary Jo Diane Gaston and I are both long-term members of Washington Romance Writers and sister Regency addicts, so it's a pleasure to welcome her to the Word Wenches! Yesterday was the release of her newest book, The Lady Behind the Masquerade. Diane, will you tell us something about the story? Diane Gaston: The Lady Behind the Masquerade, Book 2 in a two book series, A Family of Scandals, tells the story of Marcus Wolfdon, “Wolf,” who is the younger brother of Eliza, the heroine of Book 1, Secretly Bound to the Marquess. When...
Word Wenches: En Garde—Meet the Chevalier de Saint-Georges!
Andrea here, under frantic deadline, so I am re-posting an older blog that is worth revisiting due to an exciting new movie that released last month. Read on! I’m musing on how our fresh perspectives on history continue to weave such exciting new threads into the tapestry of the past. I love learning about extraordinary people whose stories never got told in the traditional narratives, especially when it’s someone whose life intersects with the Regency era. So I was absolutely enthralled by an article in the New York Times on Joseph Bolougne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges. (image: Public domain, via Wikimedia...
Word Wenches: En Garde—Meet the Chevalier de Saint-Georges!
Andrea here, under frantic deadline, so I am re-posting an older blog that is worth revisiting due to an exciting new movie that released last month. Read on! I’m musing on how our fresh perspectives on history continue to weave such exciting new threads into the tapestry of the past. I love learning about extraordinary people whose stories never got told in the traditional narratives, especially when it’s someone whose life intersects with the Regency era. So I was absolutely enthralled by an article in the New York Times on Joseph Bolougne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges. (image: Public domain, via Wikimedia...
Word Wenches: Meeting Readers
Christina here. Authors are mostly solitary creatures, holed up in our lair with just our characters for company, and snarling at anyone who interrupts us when we’re in the writing zone. But sometimes we need to get out and see people, and one of the very best things is meeting readers. Having someone buy your books or tell you that they enjoyed one of your stories is lovely, and although getting messages like that on social media is always appreciated, meeting readers face to face is even better. So when I got the opportunity to join a big book signing...
Word Wenches: The Warrior Poet/M&M Hero
Susan here – in last week’s blog on the topic of grumpy heroes, I mentioned the Warrior Poet heroic type. Years ago, Mary Jo and I, along with friend and writer Eileen Charbonneau, did workshop panels that explored the Warrior Poet hero—we also called him the M&M hero. Our multi-media presentation included a panel discussion, images, music, gift baskets—and chocolate, of course! The term “Warrior Poet” originates with an archetypal hero found in ancient Irish society and literature. Traditionally the Fianna, the elite warrior heroes of Irish legend, were trained as both warriors and poets. Poets as well as warriors...
Word Wenches: Newsletter Winner
Anne here. As you may know, every month one of the Wenches gives away a book to someone who subscribes to our monthly newsletter. This month the giveaway book is The Laird's Bride. It's a Scottish novella, set in the early Regency era, with a convenient marriage. (You can click on the cover image to see some of the reviews.) A hot-headed vow to marry the first woman he sees, a meeting in a muddy bog, a hasty marriage between strangers, and a bride who demands to be courted — after the wedding. And the winner is Julie H. She...
Word Wenches: Ask A Wench - Who's Grumpy?
“Why, Grumpy… You do care.” Snow White discovers Grumpy’s compassionate side. Nicola here, introducing this month’s Ask A Wench and a topic that has caused much discussion among the Wenches lately. (Photograph: Wikimedia Commons: Alex Patel). “Adjectives to describe heroes have changed over the years. "Grumpy" seems to be popular these days. What does this mean to you? Are there other such adjectives you've liked or hated for heroes?” Christina here and I don’t actually mind grumpy heroes, if they have a reason for being that way. Recently, I’ve read quite a few contemporary stories and the grumpy heroes usually...
Word Wenches: Let's Party!
Andrea here, madly scribbling away on Wrexford & Sloane Book 8, which is due in mid-August. Yes, yes, I know, Book 7 isn’t out until the end of September, but deadlines are set WAY in advance of publication . . . and I need to switch on jet propulsion to get to the finish line on time. (Oh, wait, there was no jet propulsion in the Regency era! Do you think my editor will accept the excuse that steam engines are to blame for not huffing and puffing hard enough? Heh, heh.) (image courtesy of Yale British Art Center) Getting...
Word Wenches: Epilogues
Anne here. Recently several readers commented to me that they wished I had written an epilogue for my Scottish novella, The Laird’s Bride, and one asked me why I hadn’t, because I normally do. And you know what? I had no answer for her. I think it was partly because I had expanded a short-ish story into a longer novella, and I don’t think I’ve ever written an epilogue for a novella. It certainly wasn’t because I don’t like epilogues — because I generally do. I suspect it simply never occurred to me—I wrote that story years ago. But now...
Word Wenches: A Taste of the Baltic
Nicola here. Last month I was fortunate enough to go on a cruise of Medieval Baltic Cities of the Hanseatic League with Fred Olsen cruises. We chose this particular cruise because the destinations were fascinating; I’ve been interested in the history of the Baltic region for decades and a number of my distant ancestors came from that area. This was the perfect opportunity to get a taste of the Baltic. Mary Jo has also blogged about her Baltic Cruse experience but a big difference for us was that these days the itinerary doesn't take in St Petersburg. Instead we got...
Word Wenches: Seeing the elephant!
This is an oldie but goody post from 2016 because I was just in the mood for lions and elephants! by Mary Jo September 8th, 2016, late in the evening, I pressed "Send" to email the manuscript of Once a Rebel to my editor. And the next morning we flew to Africa. I wrote 7K words that last day in order to have a semblance of an ending. I do not recommend this. <G> But the safari in Botswana was wonderful. Nothing like going off the grid when you've just finished a book! I'd had no particular awareness of Botswana...
Word Wenches: Stepping Back in Time Again
Christina here and I’ve been out and about again doing some research for the story I’m working on. As I think we’ve mentioned before on this blog, there really is nothing better for an author than being able to actually see or experience something for real. One of the best places to do that is at an outdoor museum, where they have reconstructed old buildings and environments so that the visitor can really experience what it would have been like to live there. Going to places like that feels like stepping back in time. Last week I found an excellent...
Word Wenches: What We are Reading
From cozy mysteries, grumpy billionaires and nerdy theoretical physicist looking for love to high-flying thrillers and our own Anne Gracie's Regency romance, the Wenches have been reading up a storm this month! Pat: I found a lot of good mysteries this month! Here's a couple: Double Twist (A Mia Murphy Mystery) Stephanie Rowe. Oh my, this was a fun one. Definitely not a cozy although we have a small town and a heroine restoring an old business, a marina. Mia Murphy grew up with a con for a mother, married a drug dealer, and once she gets free of all...
Word Wenches: Tomatoes!
by Mary Jo When I was a kid in Western New York, tomatoes were just another vegetable. I didn't grow them in my garden, and while there were plenty of farm stands with great produce, I don't remember tomatoes as being especially prominent. (Picture: Hyzeyfe Turcan)) Now I live in Maryland, where it is warmer and a there's a much longer growing season, and tomatoes are treated as almost a religious experience. People (justly) rhapsodize about the heavenly taste of perfectly ripe Eastern Shore tomatoes and swap tips on where to buy the very best tomatoes. Which is important because...
Word Wenches: Patchwork
Christina here. When I was a teenager, I had an American friend who used to work on patchwork quilts with her mother and two sisters as a group project every so often. It made the work go faster, and was also a lovely way for them to spend time together. I remember thinking I would love to try it sometime, but then I forgot about it. Quilting wasn’t a handicraft that was practised much in Sweden when I grew up, or at least I’d never seen it done, so I didn’t have a chance to learn how. (Plus I don’t...
Word Wenches: Winner
Anne here, popping in with a quick post to say that the winner of my Scottish novella, THE LAIRD'S BRIDE, is Teresa B. She'll be notified directly. Thanks to all of you who read the blog and left comments. And thanks also to those of you who've bought and read the novella and left reviews and/or ratings. Much appreciated.
Word Wenches: Imagination and Innovation
Andrea here, musing about imagination, which I do a lot, but today my focus is on how imagination sparks some people to come up with an idea that revolutionizes their world. Now, those of you familiar with my Wrexford & Sloane mystery series know that I’m very intrigued by momentous inventions that change the course of history, and use them as catalysts for my plots. Change is such an interesting concept, fraught with so many facets. Some people embrace change, finding the new possibilities exhilarating. And some people are frightened by by change, preferring the comfort of familiarity and doing...
Word Wenches: A Scottish Story
Anne here. As some of you already know, I’ve just put a Scottish novella up for sale on the various websites — The Laird’s Bride, in e-book and paperback. It’s the only Scottish story I’ve written. I was contracted for a short story of 12,000 words back in 2010, for the Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance (now out of print), and I wrote it hoping that those who bought it for the sake of the more well-known authors in the anthology might read my story and would like it enough to read my other books. And though a lot of...
Word Wenches: Decadent Peacocks
Christina here. As some of you will have seen from our last newsletter, Wench Nicola and I recently visited Newark Park, a lovely Tudor hunting lodge in the wilds of Gloucestershire. It had a beautiful, sprawling garden, and apart from the amazing views, one of the best things about it were the resident peacocks. Those majestic birds always look like they own a place, strutting around and uttering their mournful cries every so often. It occurred to me that when describing a historical setting in a book, adding peacocks to the background immediately conveys a sense of luxury and decadence....