Share the Love

Maya Rodale and Ann Bleakley, two historical romance writers, have started Share the Love to bring romance novels to women in crisis.

"After all,' says Maya, "they are not merely love stories and are certainly not rescue fantasies. They are rich narratives of women overcoming conflict, discovering their own power, falling in love, and being rewarded with optimistic, emotionally satisfying endings. And shouldn’t all women enjoy the same treasure of words filled with inspiration and empowerment—or, if nothing else, a pleasant diversion from day to day life?"

"Mass-market paperbacks are considered to be inexpensive," says Ann, "but are still not in the budget for everyone who might enjoy them. How better to encourage literacy—an incredibly valuable skill that benefits not just women but the families they support—than by providing engaging reading material? Doesn’t everyone deserve the pleasure of a good story with a happy-ending?"

Do you want to Share the Love? Here’s how you can participate:
1. Get a box (USPS turns out to be cheapest).
2. Start filling it with romance novels you’ve read, but don’t imagine re-reading.
3. Send the box to one of the following locations.

Regency Gowns by Kalen Hughes

Exciting news! I am thrilled to announce that author Kalen Hughes, an expert on historical fashion, is leading detailed workshops and discussions of extant (i.e. real, not reproduction) Regency Fashions on Candice Hern's message board. Did I mention, tons of pictures???

First up: Round Gowns.

Added 10/17:
2. Apron-Front Gowns
3. Fabrics

Added 10/18:
4. Getting dressed (undergarment layers to outer dress)
5. Definition of extant

Please stop by and take a look. Kalen is also willing to answer any questions, so if you're curious about Regency fashion, take advantage of this opportunity to pick an expert's brain!

Happy Birthday, Noah Webster!

Cacography as documented in its first use in Thomas Blount's Glossographia (1656) refers to bad spelling or ill writing. This is something that lexicographers for eons before and eons after tried to correct in the unwashed masses.

One such living in the American counterpart of the Georgian-Regency period was Noah Webster (1758–1843). Another admonisher was wordsmith Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790).

When Webster was ten years old, Franklin published his unpopular Scheme for a New Alphabet and a Reformed Mode of Spelling, which recommended that the alphabet be remodeed. Under Franklin's plan, six new letters would be added, and all thirty-two would function phonetically. Franklin argued, "As our alphabet now stands, the bad spelling, or what is called so, is generally the best."

Years later, Webster offered a simplified solution but, like Franklin's proposal, it was roundly ridiculed and rejected.

Webster did, however, pioneer the deletion of unnecessary letters from certain words, such as the 'U' from neighbour, colour, and honour and the 'K' from musick, publick, and mechanick, thereby setting American English irrevocably on a path divergent from its parent language.

"England and America are two nations separated by a common language." —George Bernard Shaw

So, Romanistas...
Which other words did Webster set out to "improve"? Which ones are you favs?

Super Tuesday Loot

September 30 was Super Tuesday in Romancelandia. Many of 2008's hotly anticipated books by mega stars were all released on one single day. Life doesn't get better than this for a committed reader.

My favorite bookseller manages a Borders in a town 30 miles away. It opens at 10 o'clock every day. I was there at 9:53am that morning. While I wasn't quite spreadeagled across the locked double glass doors, perhaps I was wearing a pitiful expression. She bustled right out and opened early.

"Glad you came out here today, Keira," said Andrea. "Half your list of favorite authors have books out today. Check the bookshelf behind the counter where I've set those aside for you."

"Andrea, you're a marvel," I enthused. "In addition to the ones on your list, I have a few new-to-me authors to try and anything else you can convince me is worth my reading time." This was in the days before the economic crash. My reading addiction knew no bounds.

This is what I picked up...

SCANDALIZING THE TON by Diane Gaston
IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT by Candice Hern et al
A HOMESPUN REGENCY CHRISTMAS by Amanda McCabe et al
SEDUCE ME BY SUNRISE by Lisa Kleypas
THE LOST DUKE OF WYNDHAM by Julia Quinn
MR. CAVENDISH, I PRESUME by Julia Quinn
SECRET DESIRES OF A GENTLEMAN by Laura Lee Guhrke
PRICE of DESIRE by Jo Goodman
THE WILD SIGHT by Loucinda McGary
IRREVERSIBLE by Liz Maverick
WOLF TO THE SLAUGHTER by Ruth Rendell

In addition to...

My Lady Notorious by Jo Beverley
Secrets of the Night by Jo Beverley
Unmasked by Nicola Cornick
Warrior's Lady by Gerri Russell
The Scarlet Spy by Andrea Pickens
One Forbidden Evening by Jo Goodman
A Place to Call Home by Deborah Smith
Lucky Charm by Carly Phillips
The Art of Romance: Harlequin Mills & Boon Cover Designs

I've finished reading the first six of the seventeen already. OMG! Swoon-worthy good. CAVENDISH #1 is on the NYT bestsellers' list, SUNRISE #2, and NIGHT #20.

So, Romanistas...
What books have you read this month? Is your reading 'habit' just as out-of-control as mine? (Tell me I'm not alone!)

If Home Were To Be England...

Drawing inspiration from Anna Sugden of Romance Banditas’s list of what moving home to England for her was like and from Amanda McCabe of Risky Regencies’s list of her sightseeing plans of England, here’s my list of what I would do if I had the opportunity to call England home for once in my lifetime for a few moments (read that as: months).

First the assumptions. I would have to be a lady of a certain age and certain independent means if I have to achieve this dream.

1. I can rent rooms at a hotel in London for a few weeks, at Oxford for a few weeks, then a few other sites, and finally settling in Bath.

2. Hang the unpacking. Sightseeing's going to be foremost on the agenda in London, and that's going to mean the Tower, the V&A Museum, the British Museum, the British Library, Hyde Park, Mayfair, London townhouses, watch Shakespeare at the Globe Theater, Sir John Soane's Museum, Devonshire House, Windsor Castle, and the list is endless. The only stopping point is going to come when I'm exhausted.

3. Then I'll hie myself off to Oxford and stay with my cousin. From that vantage point, I can reaquaint myself to the beauty and peace and splendor that's Oxford. Perhaps I can inviegle a couple history classes from their education outreach programs.

4. Derbyshire and the Peaks and Lake districts, then it's off to Bath and rooms at a bed & breakfast. This is where I hope to remain for the majority of my staying: working and writing.

5. Staying at a B&B and walking everywhere is an absolute must for me to integrate myself into the fabric of the place I'm in.

6. Buying groceries, eating local produce, delicious curry take-aways, talks with regulars who sit in the main church square...food and conversation make for good starts to friendships.

7. Working in a place increases the stake I have in the community. When I'm paying taxes, I start caring what those taxes support. Getting to know people I work with also means I care what their concerns are.

8. Similarly, attending the parish church on Sunday mornings and joining the choir further enmeshes my square into the town's quilt. I'm not a fan of organized religion, but music makes my heart sing.

9. Resume my building up my collection of Enid Blytons. My goal is to own every known EB book published by her (not by other authors in her name) before she passed away.

10. Squirelling away a lifetime's worth of memories, sights, smells, sensations, tastes, touches, sounds for when I return and miss England with a visceral ache.

So, Romanistas...
What would your dream location be? And would you like to permanently move there, or just for a while?

Was MIA, Back Now

Nope, I didn't levitate off the face of the earth (no matter what those ancient wise yogis thought). Hiding under a rock also isn't the explanation for my absence from this blog.

My first week off, I was in Milwaukee for a wedding. It was an emotional experience. Life was at its hardest and at its best when I was living there all those years ago. I was creative; I matured; I did many new, fun, and some scary things. Meeting up with the people who'd watched me grow up, and attending the wedding of a dear, dear cousin and one of the people I admire the most, was empowering and touching all rolled together.

The second week, I was off to San Diego to an ayurvedic retreat. That was an out-of-body experience: some good things, some puzzling, some definitely woo-woo. My takeaways were: twice daily meditation, yoga stretches, and eating a bigger, heavier lunch than dinner. The best part of the experience was the wonderful group of people I met. I laughed, definitely cried, and came away immensely comforted.

Every conference/event I attend, it's never the talks, perks, deals, etc. that make a difference to how much I value the experience. At the end of it, what I remember are the people. I go for the people, even some of whom I haven't met face-to-face yet and some whom I know only as names on a list. And I come away taking them with me in my heart.

The third week off was due to a bunch of "then life happens" stuff: school, activities, bills, chores (read: a Mt. Everest of laundry), food, etc. etc. etc. The weekend was devoted to Le Migraine.

Early this evening, I typed up this blog and then typed up one on Eric Maisel for tomorrow and was about to post them, but I got sidetracked and sorely tempted into watching part one (for the 1000th time) of North & South. (Longtime friends know how this story is going to end.) At the end of the first episode, I said only ten minutes of the 2nd episode. Before I knew it, I was hitting next for the third episode with a mere twinge or two of the conscience. At the end of the third one, I had had to watch the last episode. I mean, you wouldn't want me to toss and turn and not know if Richard Armitage ends up with the girl or not? I mean, you never know. At the 1000th viewing, I could get lucky. Well, never fear for my husband, my friends. RA got his girl, and I got to re-live one of the best love stories on film (a wet Darcy rising from the lake, notwithstanding.)