2015 ~ The Year In Review

It's time for the end of year blog post.... 

This year has been an emotional rollercoaster for me. I took a break from online life, which included social networks and blogging. I made a comeback mid-November and was touched by the outpouring of love and support I received from my friends, readers, and fans. It was humbling to see that even if I didn't think so, my presence made an impact in some people's lives. 

Due to a severe bout of depression, my gaming increased tenfold. I even started a gaming blog. Okay, that's not exactly true. I'd already started the blog, but this year I added a lot more to it. In a strange way, it helped me work a few things out in my head. Not many will understand that, but I know some of you will. That's enough. :) If you're into games and are curious, go ahead and check out the blog. It is public, but I basically have the thing turned "off" so to speak. Not sure I'm really ready to put my gaming self "out there" yet. So I do a lot of talking to.... myself. lol

Oddly, this was one of my best years for writing. My word count went over 110,000. Granted, that wasn't one story; more like eight different stories. Three of them got the coveted "the end" on their first drafts, though. One is a Regency short that will be published early in 2016. That one's been to beta readers already and the cover only needs a few more tweaks before it's officially revealed. 

I think that's it. Not much happened this year. Oh, yeah. I got a new laptop when an unfortunate accident destroyed my old one. Forgot to mention that. 

I'll be back tomorrow with my goals for 2016. Much ♥ to you, my faithful readers!

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥

There’s a jukebox in my head. It’s currently playing

♫♪ OneRepublic ~ Stop and Stare

~Regency Wednesday~ Toad Eater

For the final Regency Wednesday post of 2015, I've randomly selected another slang term from my 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Enjoy! ♥ 

TOAD EATER.

A poor female relation, and humble companion, or reduced gentlewoman, in a great family, the standing butt, on whom all kinds of practical jokes are played off, and all ill humours vented. This appellation is derived from a mountebank's servant, on whom all experiments used to be made in public by the doctor, his master; among which was the eating of toads, formerly supposed poisonous. Swallowing toads is here figuratively meant for swallowing or putting up with insults, as disagreeable to a person of feeling as toads to the stomach.*

*Taken verbatim from 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Get your free Kindle copy from Amazon HERE. 

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥

There’s a jukebox in my head. It’s currently playing

♫♪ Imagine Dragons ~ Bleeding Out

~Regency Wednesday~ Slug-A-Bed

Haven't done a slang definition in a while, huh? Here's a few I randomly selected from my handy 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Enjoy! ☺

SLUG-A-BED.

A drone, one that cannot rise in the morning. 

SLY BOOTS.

A cunning fellow, under the mask of simplicity.

SMABBLED, or SNABBLED.

Killed in battle.*

*Taken verbatim from the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Get your free kindle copy from Amazon HERE. 

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥

There’s a jukebox in my head. It’s currently playing

♫♪ Staind ~ Epiphany

~Regency Wednesday~ Bookbinder

It's been so long since we've had a Regency Wednesday, and I thought it was time. I probably won't be able to do this regularly, but I'll aim for every few weeks or so to share just a tidbit of Regency trivia for your enjoyment. 

For this edition of Regency Wednesday, let's take a look at another Regency profession.

The bookbinder.

  "BOOK-BINDING is the art of sewing together the sheets of a book and securing them with a back and side boards. Binding is distinguished from stitching, which is merely sewing leaves, without bands or backs; and from half-binding, which consists in securing the back only with leather, the pasteboard sides being covered with blue or marbled paper; whereas, in binding, both back and sides are covered with leather."*

It goes on to talk about the history of bookbinding and how there's no way to be sure exactly when it started. Very interesting reading. ☺

*Taken verbatim from The Book of English Trades, 1818, p. 29. Get the Google e-book HERE.

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥

There’s a jukebox in my head. It’s currently playing

♫♪ Staind ~ Epiphany

*SALE* Death Becomes Her

Something just kinda hit me and I decided to offer the digital edition of  Death Becomes Her for only $0.99 for a limited time. This is the slightly morbid (the heroine steals dead bodies for the anatomy schools) serial Regency romance I wrote for InD'tale Magazine over the course of a year.

But there's a bonus! This compilation includes a short story called The Devil She Knows that the magazine's readers didn't get to see. This is a story I wrote just for my readers and fans, a thank you just for being you. I hope you enjoy it! ♥

Get your copy from Amazon (US), Amazon (UK), Amazon (CA), Amazon (AU), Smashwords, B&N, Apple (iTunes), or Kobo. 

This offer is only good until Jan 1, 2016 so tell your friends and grab your discounted copy while you can! Have a wonderful rest of 2015, my lovelies! 

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥

There’s a jukebox in my head. It’s currently playing

♫♪ Imagine Dragons ~ It's Time

Taking a break...

It's been a while, hasn't it? I haven't dropped off the earth, or died, or anything equally dramatic. I'm taking a break. A really, really long one. From blogging, writing, cover design—basically, from everything except my family. I have written some since I disappeared, but the last few months have been virtually "written word" free. It's strange and I can't say that I like it. But things are settling down around here, so I hope to get back to writing again soon. The cover design, however, will remain on the backburner, with only a few exceptions. I am sorry about that, but something had to go.

That's all. I just wanted to let you know. I should have done so earlier than this, but I couldn't face things at first. This was a really tough decision. 

I might be making an online appearance November 10. My bestie's next book is coming out and that's the day of her book release party. I don't really want to miss that. She's so awesome! ♥ 

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥

There’s a jukebox in my head. It’s currently playing

♫♪ Imagine Dragons ~ Demons