Research, research and more research.

I am a non-fiction history junky. As a result, I enjoy reserch. I love it but I realize it isn't everyone's cup of tea. Last month, a writer friend of mine asked me to put together a list of some research books and websites I use. She shared the list with people at a workshop and I thought I'd share it with you. I hope you enjoy it and please feel free to comment with any other research resources you use.

Good History Series Books for Different time periods.

What Was life Like… – Covers all time periods. Time Life Books

A History of Private Life – Many volumes covering all time periods. Editor Phillippe Aries

A Writer’s Guide to Everyday Life in… – Writer’s Digest Books. Each book covers a different time period

Ancient Egypt

Anything by Joyce Tyldesley

Tudor England

Anything by Alison Weir, David Starkey or Antonia Fraser

Regency & Georgian England

The Regency Companion - Sharon Laudermilk & Teresa L. Hamlin

An Elegant Madness: High Society in Regency England – Venetia Murray

What Jane Austen Ate & Charles Dickens Knew: From Fox hunting to Whist – the Facts of Daily Life in 19^th Century England – Daniel Pool

Life in Georgian England – E.N. Williams

The Regency Reference Book by Emily Hend

Candice Hern’s Regency World - http://www.candicehern.com/regency.htm

Jane Austen Society - http://www.janeaustensoci.freeuk.com/

Jane Austen’s World - http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/social-customs-and-the-regency-world/

The Georgian Index - http://www.georgianindex.net/fd/

Edwardian & Victorian

To Marry an English Lord or, How Anglomania Really Got Started - Carol McD. Wallace, Gail MacColl Gail MacColl (Au› Visit Amazon's Gail MacColl Page

Home Sweet Home In the 19^th Century: A Nostalgic Hitory of Mechanical Contraptions that Made Life Easier in Grandmother’s Day -  Walter Buehr

Clothing

Museum of Costume in Bath http://www.museumofcostume.co.uk/

Kyoto Costume institute http://www.kci.or.jp/exhibitions/index_e.html

Survey of Historic Costume: A History of Western Dress by Phyllis G. Tortora & Keith Eubank  

The Heritage of Dress – Wilfred Mark Webb

Maps

www.oldmapsonline.org

Houses

Georgian & Regency House Explained by Trevor Yorke

The Royal Palaces of Tudor England – Simon Thurley

Dance

Dane A Very Social History – The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Medicine

Doctors on Horseback: Pioneers of American Medicine by James Thomas Flexner

Medicine: An Illustrated History by Albert S. Lyins M.D.

A Midwife’s Tale: The Life of Martha Balladard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812 – Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

Body Trauma: A Writer’s Guide to Wounds & Injuries – David W. Page M.D.

Beware the Ides of March!

Or you can embrace them and get in the mood with Mask of the Gladiator. It has all the emperor assassination, conspiracy and love you can handle from ancient Rome.

If you prefer a more traditional March holiday, check out my St. Patrick's Day novella, A Little Legal Luck. It is on sale at the Wild Rose Press for only $.89.

February's library events were a lot of fun and all the RWASD writers and I had a blast talking to readers and other writers.

March is shaping up to be a month of blogs. I'll be joining Barbara Vey's 5th anniversary party on the 9th where you'll have a chance to win a copy of Mask of the Gladiator. I hope to see you there!

Mask of the Gladiator is Now Available!!!

Mask of the Gladiator is now available! Please check it out on the Carina Press website.

You know you can't resist the excitement of ancient Rome!

Mark Your Calendars!

Happy New Year everyone! I'm starting this year with a bang. January 31st, my novella Mask of the Gladiator will be released from Carina Press. February is filled with a number of speaking events at local San Diego County libraries. If you are in the San Diego area on any of the dates below, please stop by and say "Hi!" In the meantime, have a great January!

Rancho San Diego Library - Friday February 10 at 11am

Santee Library - Tuesday February 21 at 6pm

La Mesa Library - Saturday February 25 at 1pm

Mistletoe Madness Winner

Congratulations Melissa Haggerty! You are the winner of Rock 'n' Roll Reunion from the Mistletoe Madness Blog Hop. I will email you a copy of the novella. Thank you to everyone who participated in both blog hops. I hope you all have a very merry New Year!

Virtual Advent Blog Hop

Welcome everyone. It's almost Christmas and hopefully all your presents are purchased, wrapped and under the tree, and your menu for Christmas Day is set. Now you can relax, sit back and watch the Christmas tree lights twinkle, enjoy some hot cocoa and maybe even curl up with a movie or two.

For me, it isn't the Christmas season until I watch A Charlie Brown Christmas but I also have some other favorites that are a little off the beaten path. I've compiled a short list of these films, some of which you might remember from your childhood. I hope you enjoy the list and find a new favorite to add to your holiday collection. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas. My sister and I used to watch this every year, so I was very excited when she told me it is streaming on Netflix. It is a heartwarming story with all the adorable muppets you expect from Jim Henson.


The Muppet Christmas Carol. I assure you, not every movie on this list will have muppets in it but I do love this version of Dickens. It stays pretty true to the novel but with a lot of cute characters and sight gags.

A Christmas in Connecticut. The 1945 Barbara Stanwyck version is a great, classic Hollywood holiday film. The plot is fun, the dialogue witty and the chemistry between the hero and heroine sparkles.

The Bishops Wife. This 1947 classic stars Cary Grant, David Niven and Loretta Young. Cary Grant is spectacular as usual as an angel who comes to help an Episcopal Bishop remember the important things in life.






A Tale of Two Cities. The 1935 version with Ronald Colman is excellent. Now, I realize it isn't a strictly Christmas movie and it can be a bit heavy at times, but some of the story does take place at Christmas. Ronald Coleman's portrayal of Sydney Carton is very moving and well worth watching.

'Tis the Season

Merry Christmas! I am participating in two holiday blog hops this December. The first is the Mistletoe Madness Blog Hop and Giveaway. Join me starting on December 16th for a chance to win a copy of my novella Rock 'n' Roll Reunion. Just leave a comment for a chance to win!

Then join me on December 23rd for my post on the Virtual Advent Tour. Look for my post on December 23rd.

And don't forget to follow the Romancing A Christmas Past story written by me and a talented group of Carina Press historical authors. RT Book Reviews Blog is following it, are you?

http://romancingthepast.blogspot.com/