Blog Archives

Women Warriors

8/30/2015

In my research for Forbidden to the Duke, I discovered another heroine I hadn't heard of.

Laskarina Bouboulina started her life in prison. Her father was a soldier, captured for his political beliefs, and Bouboulina inherited some of his spirit. Her backbone was made of stern stuff. When a strong person believes in something, she believes in it with her whole heart.

Bouboulina had a ship built, Agememnon, and used it to fight in the Greek war for independence.

But she didn't die due to the war. Sadly, in 1825, she was murdered because of a dispute over her child's marriage--which seems unthinkable. One report said she was shot in the night and no one was apprehended for the crime.

I wanted my heroine, Bellona, in Forbidden to the Duke, to have a hint of the warrior in her personality, but have the happy ending I felt Laskarina Bouboulina deserved.

Finding the Muse...

8/29/2015

Sometimes you just have to wake up early to see inspiration for the day.

But my muse seems to hide inside my keyboard, and is awakened by insistent tapping.

Taking a moment to practice photography, enjoy art, or be with friends helps inspire me, though.

When I saw the sunrise above, I had the camera already in my hand. In seconds the light changed and I snapped the photo.

It feels the same way when writing.

Keyboard at my fingertips, something flickers by and gets caught.

Augustus Brine-12 year old enlisted man

8/22/2015

When Augustus Brine, age 12, enlisted in the Royal Navy, he wasn't exactly going into the harsh seas alone. His father was the ship's admiral.

When I saw the original portrait of young Augustus Brine, I immediately thought of my character, Stubby, in a Captain and a Rogue.

Imagine the impact of walking into a museum, looking on the wall, and seeing a portrait of a person you'd imagined. Especially after searching the internet trying to find a picture that represented the character and finally settling on a picture that was close but not what you'd really imagined.

Stubby wouldn't have had such a sharp jacket, and his clothes would have been more tattered—but I am still in awe of the portrait.

The painting of Augustus by John Singleton Copley is from 1782, about 40 years before my novel's time frame.

(If you do an internet search on Augustus Brine in the images section, you'll be able to see lots of photos of Copley's painting.)

Blooming Bursts

8/22/2015

The flower on the left came from a bulb I recently bought. The middle flower is one of the only ones I have left from bulbs my mom gave me years ago. And the one on the right is bee balm.

When I Should 'a Been Writing a Blog...

8/19/2015

A photo from my walking trail.

Quilted Art

8/16/2015

Imagine a woman stitching along on a quilt, and not knowing that someday her work will end up on display in the same museum as a Strativarius, a Monet, and a Picasso, to name a few items at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The display of quilts in the Museum is fitting.

Compare the skill and time it takes to paint a portrait, and the skill and time it takes to make a spectacular appliqued or embroidered quilt with tiny blocks, particularly if it is a original design.

When I Think Deer...

8/14/2015

In one scene cut from my novel, Forbidden to the Duke, the heroine realizes she's not alone in the woods when someone scares a deer into her path. In my imagination, the deer was similar to the one above.

But it couldn't have been a white-tailed deer... They are native to my backyard, not the heroine's English countryside.

(Note: The doe pictured above is a frequent visitor to the plants in my yard.)