La Belle France

As I mentioned previously, I have the delight of working with Joanna Bourne on her new book. It’s been a most enjoyable experience, partly because it gave me a chance to brush up on my French history. I’ve found some very useful books that I’ve listed in the “Sources” section. Some of them, especially Dancing to [...]

Contemporary voice in a historical novel – from the Eloisa James & Julia Quinn BB

I’m currently writing a romance set in 1821 and I’ve been getting conflicting advice from people who are also writers, but who don’t necessarily read/write in this genre. I’ve gotten reviews that the dialogue and internal thinking is spot-on, but others feel that my characters are too “modern” in their thinking. My question for you [...]

A nice way to start the holiday weekend.

[Also posted on the Editor & Researcher page]
Courtney Milan wrote this about me:
Franzeca is thorough, intelligent, and well-informed.  She is like a one-woman army of research assistants, and she comes equipped with an exhaustive knowledge of historical times, an unerring sense for period language, and a copy-editor’s feel for smooth prose.  She is a perfectionist, [...]

A Regency Harvest Celebration

October 6:  Last  Saturday night  I attended a Regency Harvest Celebration in Eugene. I was accompanied by fellow editor Jo-Jo and my neighbor Rene, and we all wore our closest approximations of Regency finery. The fete was organized by the Oregon Regency Society, and was just fantastic. There was a wonderful dinner with autumn fruits, [...]

Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles

On Friday, August 1st, a group of attendees at the RWA went on a very special roadtrip. We were escorted by the charming and knowledgeable writer and Beau Monde program coordinator Kalen Hughes to visit a tiny lace and textile museum/retail shop in Berkeley, the Lacis Museum. Kalen directed us through the BART (Bay Area [...]

Words

Find out how Joanna responded to these:
p 239. & elsewhere “front room.” It’s in OED, but in early reference simply indicates the more attractive rooms in the front of a structure, probably for public use. I don’t think it refers to the large gathering place in a contemporary house. “Sitting Room” or even “parlor” would [...]

Final Notes

(These were initially posted on Romancenovel.tv in Summer 2007.  I’m reposting them here, as they are no longer available there.)
Well, it’s been a marvelous week. I’ve enjoyed all the questions and comments from everyone. I’ll check back over the next couple days to see if there are any more questions, comments or solutions to the [...]

Six More Reference Books

(These were initially posted on Romancenovel.tv in Summer 2007.  I’m reposting them here, as they are no longer available there.)
Here’s another half-dozen of books that I’ve found particularly helpful. Again, they were all purchased on-line, and used.
I’d like to mention here The Regency Companion by Sharon H. Laudermilk and Teresa Hamlin. If ever a book [...]

Final Research Project

(These were initially posted on Romancenovel.tv in Summer 2007.  I’m reposting them here, as they are no longer available there.)
Okay! All you nascent researchers are so clever that I’ll give you another project to research. And this time, I’ll give you No Clues!
So I found this fascinating story when I was researching horseracing for EJ’s [...]

Also…

http://www.londonancestor.com/leighs/coffee.htm
Sending your characters out for coffee or a beer? No Starbucks, but ample other places for them to hang out.
http://www.british-trees.com/guide/home.htm
Regarding earlier landscape project; definitive guide to native British trees; avoid non-indigenous plantings.
http://www.24carat.co.uk/denominationsframe.html
Best resource I’ve seen on British coins–what denominations were issued when, under whose reign, and what were they worth.