"It was imprudent of us, in the first place, to become authors. We could have become something regular, but we managed not to.
We were lucky, but we were also determined." Roy Blount Jr

"I don’t change the facts to enhance the drama. I think of it the other way round, the drama has got to fit the facts,
and it’s your job as a writer to find the shape in real life."
Hilary Mantel

Monday, January 26, 2015

The de Vere Family in the 17th Century

For information about the illustrious family of Lady Diana de Vere, female protagonist of A Pledge of Better Times, visit my blog post at English Historical Fiction Authors: The de Vere Family in the 17th Century.



Diana, 1694

Diana's father, Aubrey de Vere, 20th Earl of Oxford

Diana's mother, Countess of Oxford


Diana's grandfather, Robert, 19th Earl of Oxford



Saturday, January 10, 2015

The New Year



So far, the best description of 2015 is ... cold! Extremely frigid temperatures and windchill in the -25F degree range overnight.  We've had ice, to coat the lavender (above) and front hedge (below)




 And snow has fallen, giving my 18th century lady a white cap, tucker, and apron.

 

Indoors, I've filled hyacinth glasses with chilled bulbs, which will soon lend fragrance and colour to the sitting room/library.


In our bedroom upstairs, the Rosa chinensis mutabilis is so content with its location in a sunny window that it has put forth a bud . . . I hope it will bloom!


We're not in the liturgical season of Epiphany . . .


Anticipation of my April book launch is rising, with the arrival of the bound galleys/Advanced Reading Copies!