Last October I turned 50. My sixth decade began with shingles on my face and in my eye, which took about 6 months to vanquish. I gained ten pounds and was diagnosed with high blood pressure, started a new law firm, and finished a book, so it’s safe to say there have been ups and downs. A Read More
Writing History Blog
New Blog Series! Victorian Food
So lately I have been watching the early seasons of The Great British Bake-Off. Of the five seasons aired so far, only the last three made it to network TV in the US, but the first two are available on YouTube, and they are so worth the watch. Each episode contains historical snippets about particular Read More
Book Blast Friday: Cover Reveal!
Happy Friday, everyone! I’m sure you’ve all been waiting with breathless anticipation–or possibly not–but finally, the time has come to reveal my beautiful cover for my third book featuring the Tenwick family. Tempting Mr. Jordan is set six years after my first book, Stirring Up the Viscount, and features Jonathan Tenwick’s younger sister, Julia, all grown up. After four unsuccessful London seasons, Read More
Summer Vacation, Victorian-Style, AND Two Giveaways!
We’re starting our weekend early at the blog today, just because–it’s summer! I always think of summer as a lazy, quiet time, with long evenings spent on the patio with a glass of wine, vacations in locales exotic, familiar, and somewhere in between, and schlepping the kid to day camp. Naturally, his favorite camp is a 25 Read More
Historical Cover Reveal–Tricia Schneider
Happy Friday, kids! For Book Blast Friday (I know, I haven’t done one in a while), I’m doing a cover reveal for fellow Wild Rose historical author Tricia Schneider. Check out her gorgeous new cover for her upcoming release, The Pirate’s Lady! Captain Marco Dante was captured and sentenced to hang two years ago, Read More
Author Interview: DeeDee Lane
So it’s been awhile since I’ve done an author interview, but I’m jumping back into the fray with a special Thursday edition of an interview with fellow Wild Rose author DeeDee Lane. DeeDee’s latest release, My Law Man, is a time travel novella set in the Old West. Welcome, DeeDee! Hi Marin and All, My name Read More
Happy Independence Day!
So this weekend marks the 240th anniversary of the USA’s declaration of independence from Great Britain. We Americans celebrate in a variety of ways, primarily by eating grilled meat and red, white, and blue desserts, and watching fireworks. In my neighborhood, people start trying to maim themselves with fireworks on July 1 and continue through Read More
Happy Father’s Day!
Wishing all the fathers out there the happiest of Father’s Days. And because I am far too lazy today to write two blog posts, I will direct you to my post about Victorian fathers at Heart-Shaped Glasses. I hope you’ll take a moment to stop by.
Victorian Fashion
I am not a fashion maven. I am a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl, unless I’m wearing Chico’s Travelers Collection, which look stylish but feel like pajamas. (Need I say more?) I have one favorite pair of shoes for each season and I wear them until they fall apart, at which time I spend hours online Read More
Conquering Fear
Yesterday I spent the day with writer friends from the Northeast Ohio chapter of RWA, participating in a workshop presented by Bob Mayer. He spoke about many things in his six-hour talk, including turning ideas into stories, recognizing and developing conflict (my biggest problem, perhaps), outlining and plotting, characters’ needs and flaws, and story arcs. But for some Read More