Quiz 1770s

As you know already, I am a teacher–French and Spanish. Yet, I LOVE history. It is in my genes, so I desire to share, to converse, to write, to read, to experience historical events and ideas. Since I write historical fiction, different groups ask me to speak about my books and my research. Although speaking in front of my peers is out of my comfort zone, I say yes–to book clubs, DAR, libraries, etc.

Being a teacher at heart, I like to throw in a quiz to allow the listeners to participate in the historical era. I’ve included a few true/false items here. See how well you know 1770s colonial history.

1. The Rich Old Lady represented the colony of New York.
2. The East India Company delivered tea in brick form.
3. Members of the Petticoat Brigade distributed water to the poor.
4. Everyone in the colonies knew how to ride a horse.
5. Pineapples were a sign of wealth.
6. Charles Town was known as a city of religious freedom.
7. All men wore wigs.
8. The Sons of Liberty was an old society of lawyers in England.
9. The French language was taught to middle- and upper-class citizens.
10. Christmas trees and wreaths were used as decorations.

 

These are useful tidbits to know when reading my Revolutionary Faith books. Welcome to my fictional/historical world.

(Answers: 1. F (England) 2. T 3. F (women carrying weapons, food, etc to rebels) 4. F (not in the cities) 5. T 6. T 7. F (always those who refused) 8. F (colonists rebelling against Britain) 9. T 10. F (not until 1800s).

How did you do on the quiz? Share your response!

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Secrets and Patience

Below: My characters and me with our mouths closed, hiding a secret.

Have you ever wanted to talk about something when you didn’t have all the details? Or have you held a secret that begged to be told? The secret has a life of its own in a separate fantasy world. Is it real or is it really make believe? Well, I am at that place. There is so much I want to spill about my books and publication, but anything I might say would be part of my dream world. Therefore, I want to share what I can without crossing the fantasy line.

Hold Me Close and Surround Me, Books One and Two in the Revolutionary Faith series, are no longer available from my previous publisher. I pulled them in order for the books to be republished and released by my current publisher.  Although I think you can still find copies of the original books on Amazon, no new copies of that edition are being printed. I will miss the covers and the content, yet I’m so excited about the possibility of the new release and the publication of books three and four!

Below are hints of the new covers. They are beautifully designed by Roseanna White. Can’t wait for the formal reveal.

New covers, rewrites, new audiences, new potential…my excitement bubbles. I hope you will continue the journey with me. I promise to give you the information on release dates, giveaways, etc. I wish I could share a date, but I don’t have it to share. I just know everything is lining up for an announcement soon.

Stayed tuned and keep reading….

 

Quiet and Alone

On an average day I speak to and listen to over a hundred individuals. I’m a teacher who has 90 students. During the workday, I’m never alone. There is always noise–I need my classes to be that way since I teach Spanish. Communication is the goal! It is true when I am home the noise is not as varied, only my husband, kittens, and the TV.

Also, another tidbit about myself. I’ve never lived alone. I went straight from my parents’ house, to a dorm with a roommate, to my parents’, and then with my husband. That is many years of never truly being alone for any length of time.

Part of the reason I wanted to go on my three-day writer’s retreat by myself was to see once again if I could be alone and quiet. I’ve done it twice before on research trips. And somehow, I managed. Yet, I find I prefer to have people to talk with and listen to daily.

As an author, the act of writing is a solitary job. These three days without cooking, washing, and teaching gave me the time I needed to organize my papers, my ideas, and actually put some words on paper. I appreciated the quiet, the nature trails, the lake, the rain, the deer, and long hours to do some things that I love–writing and reading.

I’m home now where I should be, happy and rested with a plan for my writing, ever thankful for the hours to focus, regenerate my excitement, and set a few goals.

I asked a friend last night if she could go away for three days alone. She said she couldn’t. Could you? Where would you go and what would you do?

My Writer’s Retreat

Just me. Alone. With my research box, my computer, books, pens, and a great view. I am on fall break from teaching. I asked my husband for a getaway, and he couldn’t leave work. So, here I am in a comfy room with a view of a huge lake and nothing to do except what I want. Three nights and three days.

I’ve needed time like this to organize my thoughts and make some progress on my current writing project–Draw Me to Your Side, Revolutionary Faith Book Four. I’m so excited with high hopes and lofty ideas of progress.

Of course, I will use the scenery and perfect weather to motivate me. I will take at least two walks a day finding spots to write and think.  I’ll nap or rest with a good book when I feel the need. Oh, how I look forward to the freshwater fish and local dishes.

What will my writer’s retreat involve? Here are some of my (flexible) plans.

1. Organize my research box. This will take a few hours as I look through odd pieces of paper that at one time I thought important enough to jot down notes or save from odd resources.
2. Reread the chapters I have written, comparing them to my outline, focusing on my characters’ personalities and physical appearances.
   

   
3. Input my handwritten manuscript to my computer–I have about four chapters that haven’t been added to the 15,000 words already there. 
4. Write. Write. WRITE. I want to advance 4-5 chapters.
   

   
5. Make a schedule for writing once I return home. My novel will be 90,000-100,000 words, so I need to write the end in the next two months.                                                                                                                                                                                                             Well, happy week to you. I’m doing exactly what I want to for a few days.                                                                                                                                                                            If you could, what type of retreat would you take all by yourself?