Named after the small village of Gwennap located just outside Redruth in Cornwall, the Gwennap Pit came into existence as a natural depression formed by a collapse into an abandoned underground mine shaft. The massive pit was a chaotic cavity of stone and earth in a disorderly array. How long it existed as such is… Read the full blog post …
Easter is just around the corner, and along with bunnies, chocolate, religious observations, and colorful hats, everyone immediately thinks of eggs. Especially if hard-boiling and coloring for an Easter egg hunt, inevitably there will be extra eggs to do something with. Perhaps avoid using those eggs that have languished in the sunny yard until found… Read the full blog post …
The first day of Spring is next week, Sunday March 20 to be exact, and Easter is soon thereafter. So we all know what that means: Egg Hunts and Picnics! Here in Kentucky we literally had three inches of snow on March 12, but the birds kept on chirping, and with Kentucky weather the weirdest… Read the full blog post …
We are delighted to once again welcome to the blog one of our favorite Austenesque authors, the incredible LONA MANNING. As she has in her previous four guest blogs on Austen Authors (links below), Lona always uncovers a unique topic to share with our lucky readers. Today, a study of Susan Price, the younger sister… Read the full blog post …
Yesterday was Valentine’s Day, so I suppose that means the love-holiday is technically over. Or better yet, as I believe, everyday should be focused on love, particularly for those of us who do write “romance” stories. I put the “romance” in quotes because I am aware that every author perceives their novels differently. . .… Read the full blog post …
The word salon has been around since at least 1664, derived from the Italian salone or French sala, meaning “a reception room or great hall.” The indication was for a particular part of a house, a room or several rooms, where people gathered together. The English equivalent would be the drawing room or parlor. The… Read the full blog post …
Valentine’s Day is approaching, as a quick trip to literally any store of any type will reveal, in case you are like me and forget the calendar dates! Therefore, romance is in the air and thus it is logical to turn to our most beloved romantic novelist: Jane Austen. And, yes, she IS an author… Read the full blog post …
Way back in early 2010, my editor asked me to write a Pride and Prejudice themed novella centered on Christmas. The plan was for my novella to accompany two other short stories for a release that upcoming holiday season. I was given the freedom to write whatever I wanted, meaning I did not have to… Read the full blog post …
Here in the United States of America, we are smack in the middle of a BIG holiday week. Thanksgiving has always been my second favorite holiday after Christmas. As a relatively simple holiday involving food, and maybe football, but little else, Thanksgiving does not require as much pre-planning as Christmas. Nevertheless, it is definitely in… Read the full blog post …
Yes, today is my birthday. I am now 59 years old, meaning I was born in 1962. Strange to think I will be 60 next year when I truly do not feel that old. Well, some days I do, to be honest, but generally speaking my body is doing all right and my brain functions… Read the full blog post …
An entire period is titled for him, so who was he exactly? The Prince of Wales ruled as Regent in his father’s stead for a mere nine years, and was King for only ten years. Why has so much history revolved around his short reign? GEORGE AUGUSTUS FREDERICK was born at St. James’s Palace in… Read the full blog post …
Last month I wrote about the history of silhouettes, or shadow portraits. As I noted in that article, some silhouettes were proportional or close to the actual size of the person whose profile was being traced. However, as an artistic form with a low cost as a main contributing factor, most silhouettes were small, many… Read the full blog post …
For hundreds of years, until the invention of the camera, the only quick and cheap method of immortalizing a loved one was through a shade, also referred to as a shadow portrait. As opposed to more decorative and expensive forms of portraiture like painting or sculpture, a shade was a simple and inexpensive alternative readily available for… Read the full blog post …
