Christmas rapidly approaches, and I suspect no one who reads this blog will be surprised to see a post about Christmas in the Victorian era. Predictability is good, right? Although Christmas as we know it today does celebrate the birth of Jesus (even though there is evidence to suggest he was not born in December), Read More
Category: Marin McGinnis
Firefighting in the Victorian Era
In my first two novels, I burn down three buildings. This has provided a source of amusement to my critique partners. At our last critique group meeting, suggestions for marketing swag included matches (emblazoned with a suitably catchy saying, such as Light a Fire with Marin McGinnis) and candles that smell like burning wood. Ha. Anyway, as Read More
Drinking, Victorian Style
Everyone who’s ever read historical romance knows that there is very often alcohol featured somewhere. It’s typically consumed by the men in the story, although on occasion the heroine gets tipsy and does something stupid. Generally speaking, though, I prefer my heroines to be able to handle their liquor. Since my current heroine owns a pub in Read More
Writers Retreats
I have been quite remiss in posting lately, so apologies for that. The day job, writing, home life, etc. have taken most of my energy. But this past weekend I took some much needed “me” time and attended the annual retreat of the Northeast Ohio Romance Writers of America chapter. It’s always held at Punderson Read More
Revelations
So, today is my birthday–I won’t tell you which one–and I received the coolest present: Gorgeous, no? I love the soft, elegant romance of it. Many, many thanks to the talented cover artist, Debbie Taylor. I have to tell you, this whole cover business has been kind of weird. Theodora has been living in my head Read More
Dream a Little Dream
This morning I woke up after a dream–I dreamed today was Thanksgiving, and I had NO food and a houseful of people. My son had a dream as well; he told me that he dreamed about “an epic bed” which featured a mattress in a bath tub, floating on water. His dreams are always more Read More
Another visit to Akron
Akron’s been on my mind lately, as I’ve been there more in the past two weeks than I have in years. Okay, only twice, but still. Last week my husband and I went to a concert (Wilco, in case you were wondering) at the Akron Civic Theater, which is truly one of the oddest looking Read More
We’re going to the zoo, zoo, zoo…
I love zoos. I am glad that I still have a relatively small kid so I can go to the zoo without making excuses, but I would go even if I didn’t. We are blessed in Northeast Ohio to have not one but two great zoos: the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and the Akron Zoo. My Read More
In Praise of Deadlines
As you all know, given how loudly I shouted it from the rooftops, I recently signed a contract for my first book. This week I received a flurry of emails from the publisher and my editor, with tons of business-related stuff, marketing tips, and–ta da!–my first round of edits. I have been told by published Read More
A Victorian Era Time Capsule
Two weeks ago my family and I wandered westward for a family reunion and to visit some of my husband’s childhood haunts. On the way there my husband suddenly turned off the road into the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge. Turns out he spent many happy hours exploring there when he was a kid, and when Read More