The random—and not so random—musings of a quirky Regency romance writer.
No one with that many people in her head can possibly be normal...

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

~Regency Wednesday~ Cut

Simple definition post today, my lovely readers. A very common term found in many Regency novels is 

CUT or cut direct 

This refers to a public snub. If someone cuts you during the daily promenade or at a ball, it means they pretend they didn't even see you, though they clearly did. An ordinary cut could sometimes be explained away in just that manner. "They didn't see me." 

A cut direct, however, was a little harder to explain away. If someone makes eye contact, making you aware that they've seen you, and then turns away with no acknowledgement, you've been given the cut direct. 

A snub like this was most effective when given as publicly as possible. The more people who know of your humiliation, the better...for the cutter.* 

One book mentioned that the "cut" was supposed to be used by young misses to depress the advances of unwanted or persistent suitors. 

Makes sense to me. 

Happy reading, writing, and blogging!! 

Oh, don't forget to enter my blogiversary book giveaway. One person will receive over 25 eBooks from TreasureLine Publishing. Get your entry in by midnight (eastern time) tomorrow. Winner will be announced April 1, no fooling! Click here for the entry post.

*This is the definition as I understand it. If anyone has a more "exact" definition, please share. :o)

Friday, March 25, 2011

Happy Blogiversary to ME!!!

It's time to CELEBRATE!

Two years ago, March 24, I started this blog. At that time I was self-published, had four released titles, and was a total unknown in the romance novel community. 

Two years later, I am happily published with a small press, have six released titles (one of which will be picked up and reprinted by my current publisher), and I am steadily making a name for myself as an author of deep, well-written romances in the traditional style. 

All in all, it's been a fun journey and I want to celebrate this milestone in true book blog fashion with... 

AN ENORMOUS EBOOK GIVEAWAY!!! 

The prize: 
I have a "pile" of eBooks, generously donated by TreasureLine Books & Publishing. ONE VERY FORTUNATE WINNER will get TreasureLine's entire eBook catalog! A "virtual" TreasureChest of books! 

As a special bonus, I will throw in copies of each of my titles currently not with TreasureLine Publishing (except Heartless). Certain unreleased TreasureLine titles will also be included.* 

THAT'S OVER 25 EBOOKS! 

These books vary in genre so there is something for everyone. There are some bestselling authors and some lesser known authors in the mix. 

Genres included: 
  • romance 
  • fantasy 
  • Christian horror 
  • nonfiction & memoirs 
  • poetry 
  • short story collections 
  • thriller 
  • paranormal 
Authors included:


How to enter: 
Leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite genre or the genre above that intrigues you the most. Be sure to include your email so I can easily contact you if you win. Please follow this blog if you don't already; it is a blog celebration giveaway, after all.

If you want, click any of the author names above to step over to their blog (a few are websites) and give them a follow too. Not required, but they would love to have you, I'm sure. All links open in a new tab or window, depending on your browser settings. 

Who qualifies: 
Anyone aged 18 and older (due to the very adult content in a few of these books). These are eBooks, so no matter where you live, you can enter this drawing.** 

Deadline: 
Comments must be posted by 11:59 PM (eastern time), March 31. Winner will be announced April 1 (and there will be no joke or prank involved, just FYI). Winner will be selected using Random.org.

Disclaimers: 
*Unreleased title download codes will be provided to the winner at the time of the books' releases. 
**Winner must be willing and able to download from Smashwords.com.

~Photo Friday~ Jack Frost


8:00 AM 
February 8, 2011 
Michigan, USA 

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

~Regency Wednesday~ Random Cant Day, Part 2

Due to an irritating cold that includes a raging headache, today's (late) Regency Wednesday post will be some more random cant from the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. On a wonderful side note, this book is available for free download in the Amazon Kindle store. If you're a Regency author or just a lover of words, I highly recommend you download this book. 

Cent-per-Cent. An usurer. 
Fiddle Faddle. Trifling discourse, nonsense. A mere fiddle faddle fellow; a trifler. 
Heel Tap. A peg in the heel of a shoe, taken out when it is finished. A person leaving any liquor in his glass, is frequently called upon by the toast-master to take off his heel-tap. 
Natty Lads. Young thieves or pickpockets. 
Scapegrace. A wild, dissolute fellow. 

Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!

*All definitions taken verbatim from the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

Sunday, March 20, 2011

The Big Reveal

So here is the official cover for Honor, my soon-to-be released Regency romance. (I know, since the cover vote, the "big" reveal isn't quite so climactic, is it? lol) 

I don't have a release date yet, but watch for this one soon from TreasureLine Publishing

Blurb:

Lady Verena Westbridge would rather die than marry. When her father accepts the depraved Percival Winters on her behalf, flight seems her only option and entering into menial service the perfect hiding place. Resigning herself to serving her own kind for the rest of her life, she naively believes she is safe.

Lord Connor Northwicke arrives at a house party and rescues a young housemaid from the unwelcome advances of a brute. Feeling the need to be near her, he offers her friendship. But her disguise is undone and he must save her from her own father by doing the very thing she fears most. He must marry her.

But as Verena's past emerges in bits and pieces, fear threatens to overcome love. Verena must fight for her marriage...and her sanity.

Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!

Saturday, March 19, 2011

For the Love of Gothic Romance

I began my love of romances with Victoria Holt, one of the queens of romantic suspense/Gothic romance. I devoured her books as a pre-teen/teenager and after I married, collected them. (To be totally, frighteningly honest, I collect all printings of Victoria Holt books, not just a copy of each title. Freaky weird, right?) 

After reading every Victoria Holt at least once (some more), I can honestly say my favorite will forever be On the Night of the Seventh Moon, but The Spring of the Tiger (pictured here) is my second favorite. 

Besides Victoria Holt (who also wrote as Jean Plaidy and Philippa Carr), I adored the Zebra Gothic line that was out several years ago. Does anyone remember those? I have a respectable pile of them. 

Of the Zebra Gothics authors, Clara Wimberly is one of my favorites. The first book I read by her was The Ghostly Screams of Stormhaven (pictured here). (I am a HUGE fan of these old Gothic covers: scary, dark house/castle in the background; frightened girl running from said house, her face contorted with terror. I LOVE IT!!!) Stormhaven is one of those books that I will never forget.

And I can't forget to mention Madeleine Brent and Carola Salisbury as favorite Gothic authors. The thing that ties these two authors inextricably together (other than a phenomenal storytelling ability) is that they're both men. Yup. Men.

Brent's Moonraker's Bride made me laugh, cry, cheer, and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. Fabulous!

Salisbury's Winter Bride had the most shocking twist at the end. Even now, years since I've read it, I shiver thinking about it. 

In my own writing, I've always been influenced by the classic Gothic themes even though I tend to shy away from the actual ghosts and the "innocent" heroine. My heroines are a little less perfect than the ones in so many Gothics, or most romances, for that matter. 

While going through some of the books I wrote, I realized that one of my earliest ones—one that will probably never see publication—ends in quite a Gothic manner, complete with crazy woman leaping from—or falling from—a high window. Wow. Almost makes me wanna dig it back out and tweak it a bit. Maybe I will. Maybe I'll post it as a free read.

All that aside, if you are a fan of Gothic romance/romantic suspense, there is a group on Goodreads you should check out: Gothicked (Gothic Novel Lovers). It's a friendly group with chats about popular Gothic authors as well as lesser known ones. There are also Gothic giveaways on the Gothicked blog.

That's all for now (sorry for the super long post). Until next time, happy reading, writing, and blogging!! 

*For those of my blog readers who prefer "clean" romances, Victoria Holt is totally clean and all the Clara Wimberly Gothics I've read (5-6) are also clean. Madeleine Brent and Carola Salisbury also qualify as clean romance but a few of them can be a bit violent. 
**Book title links go to Amazon. (And yes, if you make a purchase through any of these links, I'll get a commission. That doesn't mean you have to.)
***No, I haven't been paid to love any of these authors/books. No, I do not personally know the authors (I wish!). No, I have not been paid by the Gothicked group mods and no, I am not one of the Gothicked group mods.

Friday, March 18, 2011

~Photo Friday~ Fringe

I'm sick of winter so here is a glimpse of spring (from last year, unfortunately). 


Wednesday, March 16, 2011

~Regency Wednesday~ 1815 Advertisements (Part 1)

In a continuation of my 1815 posts (in honor of the upcoming release of Honor), here are some advertisements from the January 1815 edition of Ackermann's Repository. Enjoy! 




"DIAMONDS AND PEARLS. 
Denis Jacob 
 Begs leave to inform the Public, that he gives the full value, in ready money, for DIAMONDS and PEARLS, at No. 57, Margaret street, Cavendish-square. 
N.B. Several second-hand articles to be disposed of."*

(Pawnbroker?) 




"BURGESS'S
ESSENCE OF ANCHOVIES!!!
 The acknowledged reputation of BURGESS's ESSENCE OF ANCHOVIES having induced many persons to impose a spurious kind upon shopkeepers and others, Mr. Burgess thinks it his duty to guard the public against the numerous impositions daily practised, of an article offered to their notice under various deceptions for his; he requests his friends and the public in general, to remark particularly, taht the Original and Superior Essence of Anchovies continues to be made by him, and has the following label upon each bottle (John Burgess and Son, Original and Superior Essence of Anchovies, No. 107, Strand, corner of the Savoy Steps, London). Shopkeepers and others who are offered an article as Mr. Burgess's make, are requested to observe, that the label corresponds with the above.
 London, July, 1814."*

(Until I dug a little deeper, I thought: Is this perfume? LOL! No, it's for cooking! Duh!) 




"PATENT FILTERING MACHINE.
 Stephenson's Patent Filtering Machines are portable, never our of repair, and are the best invention ever produced for purifying water, at the unexampled rate of 200 gallons per day, rendering the water beautifully transparent.
 T.S. begs leave to offer his grateful acknowledgments to the Nobility, Gentry, and Public, for their distinguished patronage, and offers his invention at the following prices:—1st, or large size, £10.10s. purifies at the rate of 200 gallons per day; 2d size, £7.7s. at 100 ditto; and 3d size, £5.5s. at 50 do.
 To be seen at work in his Manufactory, No. 6, Mortimer-street, Cavendish-square, and at the Bar of the Jerusalem Coffee-House, Cooper's-court, Cornhill."* 

(I would LOVE to see this patent filtering machine. Imagine, it renders the water BEAUTIFULLY TRANSPARENT. Oh my.) 


Until next time, happy reading, writing, and blogging!!!

*Taken verbatim from Ackermann's Repository, 1815, page 377.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Clean Romances Giveaway Winners

The winners have been announced! Head over to Goodreads to see if you're one of them. If you're not in the group yet, why not join so you can enter the 800 member romance giveaway when the time comes? We do this every 200 members or so and we're already at 649. :o) 


Congrats, winners!! Enjoy your "sweet" reads! lol 

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

~Regency Wednesday~ 1815 Window Dressing


My upcoming release, Honor (click HERE* for more info on that), starts in the latter part of 1815. Here is a plate from the January 1815 edition of Ackermann's Repository, and the accompanying explanation/description.



Plate 2. FASHIONABLE FURNITURE. 
Library Window Curtain. 
It is a common defect in building, attributable to the tax upon windows, that a sufficient number of them are not introduced for the purposes of cheerfulness; and there are many rooms lighted by so few, and the dimensions of them so small, that not only an insufficient supply of light is admitted, but the windows are too narrow, and their dressings too circumscribed to form proportions suited to the apartments. The annexed plate represents a window of this kind, with the added architectural finishings, by which it is so increased as to have the proportion of a Palladian or Venetian one, and a design for a curtain suitable to it is introduced in a style adapted to a library or eating-room. It is a design very applicable to some rooms which have but one window in each.** 

*All links open in a new window or tab, depending on your browser's settings. 
**Taken verbatim from Ackermann's Repository, January 1815, page 55.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Read an Ebook Week (March 6-12, 2011)...Continued

Wow. Not only is Redemption FREE this week, but TreasureLine has enrolled Deception for 50% OFF, too!! Get over to Smashwords and take advantage of these deals! The promotion ends March 12.* 

Don't forget to take a look around at some of the other books available for 25, 50, 75, and 100% off in the Read an Ebook Week site-wide promotion.

Deception:
England 1818. Determined to find love, Aurora Glendenning hides her wealth and status, wanting a man to love her for her...one who will overlook her mistakes. When she meets Levi, Lord Greville, she thinks her prayers have been answered. There's just one problem: he needs wealth to right his wrongs. Can love make everything all right in this tale with so many lies and unanswered questions?

Redemption:
1821. Lady Jenny is the pampered, beloved daughter of a duke. Becoming a little jaded after several Seasons, Jenny flirts shamelessly with the newest rogue to grace London, Dare Prestwich. The situation gets out of hand, Dare flees, and Jenny must face judgmental Society alone. The one left to pick up the pieces is Dare's twin, Miles, who is in love with Jenny's twin, Gwen. Oh, the scandal.

*Pictures link to the respective books at Smashwords. All links will open in a new tab or window, depending on your browser settings.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Website Overhaul




I forgot to mention the major overhaul I gave my website last week. If you wanna compare old and new, here's the old site, hosted by Google: https://sites.google.com/site/jaimeygrant/; and the new, hosted by weebly: www.jaimeygrant.com. So tell me honestly. Improvement, yes? 



I also updated the logo/header for my art site. What do you think? Don't forget to bookmark www.anauthorsart.com if you're in the market for a book cover design or promotional materials, or even if you just like to check out book covers (like I do). I have a "fan" page too, if facebook is the place for you.
http://www.facebook.com/anauthorsart 

Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!


Read an Ebook Week (March 6-12, 2011)

Redemption is up for FREE download at Smashwords! Go snap it up before it's too late! Read an Ebook Week ends March 12. There are a ton of other great titles up for grabs too, so go check it out. You won't be disappointed!

Ebook Description
1821. Lady Jenny is the pampered, beloved daughter of a duke. Becoming a little jaded after several Seasons, Jenny flirts shamelessly with the newest rogue to grace London, Dare Prestwich. The situation gets out of hand, Dare flees, and Jenny must face judgmental Society alone. The one left to pick up the pieces is Dare's twin, Miles, who is in love with Jenny's twin, Gwen. Oh, the scandal.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Good Clean Fun

Every few hundred new members or so, the Clean Romances group on Goodreads celebrates in the best way possible. 

A MASSIVE BOOK GIVEAWAY!!! 

We've reached 600 members (Thank you, all!!) and are having the giveaway again. Nineteen titles are up for grabs, some paperback, some eBook, some historical, some fantasy, some contemporary, ALL ROMANCE. Every one in the list falls into the "clean" category, also known as traditional-style. (Think Jane Austen or Georgette Heyer. In fact, one of our members generously donated a Heyer for the giveaway!) 

To get in on all the fun, simply pop on over to the giveaway thread and put your name in the hat. It's that easy. I'll make it even easier by linking you directly to the entry thread. :o) 


*Free Goodreads membership required. 

Call for Beta Readers

Do you like to read? Of course you do! Well, here's your chance to read some new books before they even hit the shelves. 

My publisher, TreasureLine Books & Publishing, is looking for beta readers. If you're interested, email Linda at TreasureLinePublishing@gmail.com. Be sure to include the genre(s) you prefer. 

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