Friday Links:9/30/11

-
                                                        TGIF

A varied bunch of links this week.

On Writing
7 Ways to Improve Your Writing Tone

Sacrificing Plot and Character Motivation for Fun

History/ Downton Abbey-related Links
Does Historical Accuracy Spoil a Good Story?

Dowagers and Widows in 19th C. England

The real Sir Richard Carlisle and the birth of the tabloid press

Modern Day Life


Local Newspapers: Do You Read Them Anymore?

Recession takes big toll on young adults

Comments

Post a Comment

Thank you so much for your comments and thoughts. Check back soon. I reply to all comments. Happy reading!

Popular posts from this blog

Interview with House of Falling Embers author Krystal Jane Ruin!

-
Image
My friend Krystal Jane Ruin released her fourth book on October 1st and I finally finished reading it a few days ago! As per tradition, I asked her a few questions about the story!

House of Falling Embers is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Google Play, and other online retailers!


Once upon a time there was a witch. She was a kind witch, but that didn’t matter. The people were afraid, and fear often turns to hatred. When Artemis was thirteen, her best friend Aris was swallowed by the crumbling house they found in the woods. Like a coward, she abandoned him to the horror within. She moved away. She tried to forget. But when she finds herself back in her old neighborhood after college, the ghosts—and her guilt—are waiting. A charred figure stalks her dreams, and someone, or something, haunts her from the trees. Going back into the woods might be the only way to save her sanity. Because nine years later, the house is still there. Still waiting. Still restless. On with the interview! 1. Ca…
Read more

Stately, Country English Houses

-
Image
My plot bunny--which has been hopping around since about October, I think--is sort of shaping up to be a historical fiction/alternate history/contemporary dual storyline/time slip/romantic elements kind of mishmash thing.

As my friend Krystal Jane Ruin says, it's turning into a FrankenIdea.

I don't have a ton worked out about said Plot Bunneh--I don't even have characters' names yet--but I do know that the story revolves around an English country house. Or stately home, if you prefer. I'll go with country house because I don't think the house in my Plot Bunny is a huge palace-like mansion which is what "stately home" says to me.

Part of being a period and costume drama nerd are the buildings that those dramas take place in and sometimes, those buildings are beautiful, rambling, grand old homes nestled in the English countryside. It might be because I'm a history nerd or because I've read too many novels where characters have estates with coun…
Read more

Dueling, Or: Men Are Stupid

-
Image
I am a pretty deep Hamilfan, y'know? I saw Hamilton in 2015 (still bragging), I watched the PBS Hamilton documentary twice, I'm currently reading the annotated Hamilton: The Revolution book on my Phone's Kindle app.

My nieces have recently gotten into Hamilton, but not because of me. Niece #1, aged 10, got to see Hamilton on Broadway with her aunt for her birthday. When the nieces went to visit friends this summer, said friends' children listened obsessively to the Hamilton cast album in their car. They came back knowing the songs and being excited about Hamilton's story, like so many others.

Their parents even took them to Weehawken, a New Jersey town across the Hudson from Manhattan, where Hamilton and Burr's fateful duel happened in 1804.


And I'm up to the "Ten Duel Commandments" chapter in the Hamilton book. And it's been a while since I've ranted about something historical.

It's long been my estimation that dueling is incredibly s…
Read more