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...

Friday, April 29, 2011

~Photo Friday~ Old


A few of my Regency books. These are all reprints, of course, but they were all originally published during the British Regency. The Byron "collection" technically wasn't, but all the poems in it were. This is one of my all-time favorite photos that I've taken. 

Thursday, April 28, 2011

For the Record

In a continuation of a previous For the Record, here's another possible phishing scam that may (might?) not have occurred to you: 

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FOR THE RECORD 

The latest status game to hit the facebook scene (borrowed verbatim from a friend's page): 

"What is your royal wedding guest name? Start with Lord or Lady. Your first name is one of your grandparents' names. Your surname is the name of your first pet. Your feifdom is "of" followed by the name of the street you grew up on." 

Sounds innocuous and a bit fun, right? It's exactly the type of thing to tempt me, considering my love for British history. However, consider that at least two of the "answers" for this are also the answers for common security questions. First pet and the street you grew up on are both questions I've seen as possible security questions. I realize not everyone chooses these particular ones, but some people do. Consider this if/when you decide to copy and repost this one. 

*Disclaimer: I'm not saying this definitely IS a phishing scam. This is just my observation. Take it or leave it. 

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

~Regency Wednesday~ Random Cant Day, Part 3

Every once in a while, I pull my trusty Regency slang dictionary (1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue) from my bookshelf and post a few randomly chosen words here, for your reading pleasure. This is part three. Enjoy! 

Caper Merchant. A dancing master, or hop merchant. 
Ferret. A tradesman who sells goods to young unthrift heirs, at excessive rates, and then continually duns them for the debt. 
Glimstick. A candlestick. Cant 
Grog. Rum and water. 
Topping Cheat. The gallows. Cant 

*Taken verbatim from 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, available for free download from Amazon's Kindle store

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Call for Beta Readers : Heartless

What's a beta reader? Just like beta testing a program or product, manuscripts should be tested too. Readers are lined up to read an unpublished work and search for plot holes, typos, loose threads, and things like that.

That being said, I need readers for Heartless, readers who are unafraid to tell me (nicely, of course; no call for rudeness) what's keeping the book from being a 5-star read. (The book was previously self-published but has been picked up by TreasureLine Publishing.)

The blurb from the first edition:

They married in haste. Would she repent at leisure?

Finding herself abandoned after the death of her father, Leandra Harcourt takes a chance on a dark stranger at a small inn. Married, she learns about her husband during his extended absences, discovering more truth and mystery than she ever could have dreamed.

The Duke of Derringer is feared and reviled wherever he goes; he is a man not to be crossed. Finding himself suddenly in need of a wife only interferes with the plans he has already set in motion. Vowing to marry the first woman he meets, he stumbles upon Leandra Harcourt, desperate and alone.

With only sporadic visits home, Derringer finds his wife intriguing, baffling, and oddly desirable. In her prosaic attitude and calm demeanor, he discovers a peacefulness that he's never known in his life and knows he will never find again. While facing a nameless assassin, his search for his missing cousin intensifies. Little does he realize that in reaching his goal, his enemies may reach theirs, endangering his new bride as well.

For more info about the book itself, you can check out my blog, The Heartless Duke.


If you'd like to volunteer as a beta reader, please comment here with your email address and your qualifications (reader, writer, editor, proofreader, or any combination thereof--I'd like a variety). If you'd rather not leave your email addy here, drop me a line at jaimeygrant{at}yahoo{dot}com or private message me through facebook or Goodreads (don't forget to include your email address and qualifications if you choose one of these ways to contact me). A DOC file will be sent to you, along with instructions. I will be accepting volunteers until May 7.

If you've already read Heartless and thought of a few tweaks, feel free to send me an email detailing the things that bothered you.

And as a special thank you, all volunteers* (including those who have already read it and send me an email with their complaints) will be sent a code to download the new edition for free from Smashwords.com, when it's released. Additionally, all volunteers will be entered to win a signed paperback of the new edition.

Any questions? Please ask. :o)

Thank you and happy reading!!

*You must complete the "assignment" to qualify for the free download and be entered to win the signed paperback.  

Friday, April 22, 2011

~Photo Friday~ Lingering

Since winter seems content to linger here in Michigan, here's a pic to remind us all how beautiful this season can be. 

February 23, 2011
Michigan, USA 

Thursday, April 21, 2011

For the Record

In an ongoing effort to speak my mind, here's another installment in my new blog series. This one's especially snarky and possibly offensive. You've been warned... 

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FOR THE RECORD 

Anyone who actually WANTS to watch a girl kill herself probably deserves the computer virus they contract. I mean, seriously!? C'mon people! 

And let it be known that phishing scams are prevalent on facebook (duh). Where you were born is a VERY common security question. Whether or not a phisher can actually use this information is immaterial. Why give them the opportunity to try? 

OK, so the phishing complaint is probably no big deal. Still, are there actually people out there who WANT to see someone kill him or herself? Is it just morbid curiosity or something far more sinister? 

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

~Regency Wednesday~ Fashion for April 1818



English Evening Dress. 
Castillian robe of pearl grey sarsnet, elegantly trimmed with pink satin, interspersed with crape and velvet: the petticoat worn under the dress is finished by a border of fine lace, which just appears below the robe: the sleeves are of fine figured net, with serpentine waves of rolled pink satin, continued close to the wrist, from whence depend two broad frills of blond made to fall over the knuckles. A fichu of the finest net, left open in front, and surmounted by a deep Spanish ruff, standing up à-l' Elizabeth. Crown turban of white satin, net, and pearls, with tassels of the latter material, and crowned near the summit with a wreath of pink fancy flowers, and pearls. Pear pearl earrings, white crape fan, and white satin shoes. 


French Court Dress. 
White satin petticoat, trimmed round the border with a chevaux-de-frieze of crape, over which is a rich ornament of full blown roses; the sleeves full, and reaching near the elbow, terminating by two full rows of lace: the body made to display the bust, very low behind, and ornamented with crape en (eu?) chevaux-de-frieze. Train of royal purple or Prussian blue satin, superbly trimmed with fine broad lace, and lined throughout with white satin. The hair dressed round the face in ringlets à-la-Ninon, and entirely divided from the forehead; the hair raised in two rows of separate braids, twisted round with pearls; between these braids is a tiara of gold and pearls, to which are fastened the court lappets of the finest Brussels lace. Earrings and chain necklace of pearls, white satin shoes, and white kid gloves, ornamented at the tops with a rich embossment of white satin.

*Taken verbatim from La Belle Assemblée, April 1818, page 132.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

For the Record

I'm starting a new series of posts that I'm titling: For the Record. These posts will be random and vary in topic. They will be short, opinionated, and just a bit snarky (at times). Let us begin...

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FOR THE RECORD 

I don't like labels. I don't like calling my books sweet, clean, inoffensive, suitable for all ages, or anything else that implies who should be reading them. I can't determine who would like them or who would be completely offended by the content. I just can't know that. 

I can tell you that the sexual content is far less than what you'd find in the typical historical romance. I can tell you that some consider them (and have called them) clean. I can tell you that NO ONE has called them sweet. I can tell you they are character-driven, the characters are realistic (have flaws), and the themes are often dark. 

I tend to categorize my books as clean for the sake of sites like Smashwords, Amazon, Goodreads, and the like. For the most part, they are. But all things in life are subjective. One person's idea of clean can be another person's idea of moral depravity. That said...

Don't read romance if kissing offends you. (OK, mine have a bit more than kissing. Still.)

Thank you. My apologies that this first For the Record post ended up longer than "short." You may return to your regularly scheduled programing. 

Friday, April 15, 2011

~Photo Friday~ Spring


Crocuses and honeybees. Spring is definitely here. Finally. 
(April 9, 2011; Michigan, USA) 

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

~Regency Wednesday~ Batman


According to the 1835 edition of the Penny cyclopaedia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, Volume 4, a batman (pronounced bawman) was a person in charge of the cooking utensils and the horse used to convey them from place to place. There was one batman for every company in a regiment while in foreign service. 

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Woo-hoo!! It's OFFICIAL!!!

I've just received that coveted email (the one that comes long after the coveted "we want to publish your book" email)!! Honor has an official release date! YAY!! 

Watch for it May 19 from TreasureLine Publishing

Happy reading, writing, and blogging!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

~Regency Wednesday~ 1815 Evening Dress


From Ackermann's Repository, May 1815: 


EVENING DRESS. 
Pink satin frock, richly ornamented round the bottom with deep border of garnet yewer, headed with a festoon of flowers; the body and sleeves trimmed with double rows of white stain; a small border of flowers let in on the shoulder; a full plaiting of blond lace round the neck. Gloves white kid; shoes to correspond. The hair crossed, with full curls on the forehead and in the neck.* 

*Taken verbatim from Ackermann's Repository, 1815, page 297-8. 

Sunday, April 3, 2011

New and Crazy in My Blogging Scene

So the crazy part refers to me. Mostly. I started a whole new blog today, dedicated to one of my WIPs. Additionally, I updated a several other blogs, as they either had had no initial post or were severely out of date. Then I decided to revamp several of them as well. I've been a busy, busy girl today. 

Check out my blogs for...
...to see what's new with them. 

Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!

*All links open in a new tab or window, depending on your browser settings. 

Friday, April 1, 2011

Blogiversary WINNER

The results are in and the winner of more than 25 eBooks from TreasureLine Books & Publishing is .... 

Moore Family 

CONGRATULATIONS!! 

Watch your email for a message from me, (jaimeygrant{at}yahoo{dot}com)!

Thank you all so much for celebrating this milestone with me. Until next time, happy reading, writing, and blogging!!

*Winner was chosen using Random.org

~Photo Friday~ Color

Because I need a bit of color on this dreary and wet, but otherwise BEAUTIFUL, sunny day: 


Sweet Pea 
August 7, 2008 
Michigan, USA 

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