"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

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Springtime Activities

At Easter I travelled to a part of the US where spring was fully unfurled and history is alive. It was a holiday rather than a research trip, but I had opportunities for book promotion.



Beautiful Savannah!


One of Savannah's many squares.

One of the city's many historic houses

Faux bois panelling in the dining room

Bonaventure Cemetery

Camellia  blossom



I've lately done more blogging at English Historical Fiction Writers than I've done here. Some links to the latest:

Mistress of More Variety: Actress Susanna Verbruggen

English Garden History: Spring Guide

Valentine's Day History


And I offered some book reviews on a book blogging site:

Author Margaret Porter’s Five Top Reads


Enjoying wild roses
Spring has come to New England, after a relatively mild winter. I've been quite busy in my gardens, where the bulbs and early flowers are blooming happily. And the birds are busy!









Saturday, February 06, 2016

Old Year, New Year

It proved difficult to carry on blogging here, in the midst of book touring, travels, and history blogging at my own Shaping the Facts as well as at the group blog English Historical Fiction Authors.
 
Since I last posted, I've:
 
Visited more bookstores.
 
 
 
Travelled to the UK, taking in Liverpool, Manchester, and London as I traced the footsteps of new characters. As usual, I spent time with friends--and a direct descendant of Diana and Charles from A Pledge of Better Times--attended a fantastic play set in the world of 18th century theatre (just like my next book), and visited a great number of museums and art galleries.
  
Waiting for a train
 
Merseyside Love Locks in Liverpool
 
Mrs Gaskell's Writing Desk, Manchester
 
Costume Gallery, Manchester
 
St Martin in the Field, London
 
Wonderful production!
 
 Celebrated Thanksgiving with our English friend, who joined us for an American feast day.
 
The stuffed turkey roll
 
 Hosted a Christmas Carolling party for neighbours and friends.
 
The Musicians
 
Some of our 30 party guests
 
 
 Enjoyed a beautiful--but not White--Christmas.
 
The Tree
 
The Girls
 
Welcomed the First Real Snowfall. And subsequent ones.
 
First Snow.
 
Second Snow.
 
Third Snow--yesterday.

 
It has been a remarkably un-snowy start to 2016.
 
The big news in our region is the First in the Nation Presidential Primary. We are besieged by candidates and campaign volunteers...until Tuesday night, when the voting results are announced and the whole political circus moves on to other states. This happens every four years. It can be fun, and exciting, but by the time it concludes we are very relieved!
 
I intend to resume personal blogging, and hope to turn up more often here than in these many months past. No promises. But I will try!