Regency Words

When I started reading Regency Historicals one of the things I most loved was the language, so when I began writing them, I wanted to use that language effectively and authentically.

But mostly I loved the idea of playing with "Regency" words.

Here is a list of ten of my favorite Regency words and phrases with their definitions:

1. That is the outside of enough
I love this phrase. It is so expressive. In our modern day world we would say, "That's too much," but it doesn't quite convey the same exasperation.

2. Roundaboutation.

Another very descriptive word, meaning just what it says--talking around a subject, not getting to the point.

3. Cut line.

My hero's use this line all the time. It means "Come to the point" I know its origins are nautical, but I searched and searched and could not find a reference for it (but I still like it!).

4. Faradiddle.

I just love how this sounds on the tongue. It means a nonsense, a falsehood or lie.

5. Have your wits gone begging?

If you google this phrase, you get quotes from Georgette Heyer's books. It means, "What are you thinking?" or "Are you out of your mind?"

6. Bacon-brained.

While I'm one the subject of brains and wits. This one means foolish or stupid, but is much more fun to use.

7. Attack of the blue-devils.

I love this one. It means depression, but, again, it conveys the meaning in such a descriptive way.

8. Touched in the upper works or Queer in the attic.

Both of these mean crazy or insane.

9. Disguised.

I always use this as a "trifle disguised." It means slightly drunk.

10. Pockets to let.

Love this one, too. It means having no money. We'd say "He's broke."

What Regency words or phrases do you love (or hate)? Do you have any that you are puzzled by? I'll try to explain them if I can.

Here are some Regency Word sites:

Regency Lexicon

25 Regency Words and Phrases

Regency Glossary

You can still get my September book, Chivalrous Captain, Rebel Mistress at online stores and as an ebook. It was recently reviewed in the Chicago Tribune and on Long and Short Reviews. Visit me on Mondays at Risky Regencies and Thursdays at Diane's Blog. I'll be back here the third Wednesday in November. See you then!

(You'll also see this blog on eHarlequin Harlequin Historical Authors Blog)

Silk and Scandal continues...

It's finally my turn. After standing on the sidelines, cheering on the other "Continuistas", it's my book in the "Silk and Scandal" series out on the shelves.

It's been a unique experience for me. Normally, writing a book is a very solitary occupation, but taking part in the creation of this continuity series has been a team event - right from the moment the editors introduced us to each other, and we started brainstorming.

With three authors living in the States, and three in the UK, we did think it would be a good idea to get together in a sort of training camp, like most participants in team events do (Antigua was our favoured destination!). But in the end, we had to content ourselves with a Yahoo group, and go through our "warming up" period in cyberspace.

Once we got our green light from editorial, and began writing, we had to constantly check and double check with each other, to make sure nobody went haring off in the wrong direction. Normally, we wouldn't have to consider how what we write might impinge on another writer's creation, but during this project we all had to watch that a careless phrase or inaccurate description did not cause any other team member to trip up.

Though this might sound proscriptive, actually, this stage of the process was a real blast. I couldn't wait to open up my inbox each day. The other ladies gave encouragement, advice, brilliant ideas as to how to solve plot points, and most of all, displayed a sense of humour that kept us all going as we faced every new hurdle.

We chatted constantly about the characters we were creating, their backgrounds, settings - well, absolutely everything - so that by the time we had all finished, I felt as though I had not just written one book, but taken part in the creation of all eight in the series.

But now the time for public scrutiny of my own story has come, and I feel a bit like a runner in a relay race, waiting to grab the baton, and run my section of the race. So far, the earlier contributors to the series have done a fantastic job of giving clues, introducing key characters, and furthering the overarching story with each successive episode.

To continue the relay race metaphor - Gayle Wilson has handed over to me with great aplomb, hinting at an English half sister for the gypsy leader, Stephano...

That English half sister turns out to be Imogen Hebden, the heroine of my own story. Her father was Kit Hebden, whose murder in 1794 ripped apart the three families whose stories unfold throughout the "Silk and Scandal" series.

Not only do I want to run my part in the race with efficiency, I am also deperately hoping I don't fumble the baton. I want to be able to hand on the story, in good order, to Margaret McPhee, who will be telling the sixth installment of the continuity series. I know she will run her stage with grace and style - I've read her work before, and trust completely in her writing ability.

But...what will the readers make of my Imogen....

Why I read Historical Romance by Michelle Styles

I will be the first to admit it. I love historical romance. It is my favourite genre and has been for a very long time. I first cut my teeth on Victoria Holt, Georgette Heyer and Barbara Michaels aka Elizabeth Peters. My earliest literary crush was on Rab from Esther Forbes Johnny Tremain. I wept buckets when he died. Sir Percy Blakeney in the Scarlet Pimpernel beat all the boys I knew hands down when I was *forced* to read him in 8th grade English. So it went. Then when I discovered Johanna Lindsey, Jennifer Blake and La Vryle Spencer, the deal was totally sealed.


I suppose it was inevitable that I became a historical novelist. I love history and want others to develop a love of history. I started off trying to write contemporary and hoped that some day I could write historical. The HMB editor I was working with suggested that I might be really good at writing ancient historical and the rest as they say is history. Thankfully the editors have agreed to indulge my love of history and let me write in different time periods.

A historical romance can be a way into history. But the primary reason I read historical is to escape into another world. They are fun page turning reads.

In a good historical read, no prior knowledge of the period is required. Just as you don’t have to know how the police run an investigation to enjoy romantic suspense or how corporate finance works to enjoy an office romance, you don’t have to know history to enjoy historical romance. Sometimes when I want to know about a new period or place, I read historical romance. Historical romance is also a broad church. Lots of periods, settings and story types. From romantic suspense to straight romance. From super sexy to sweet and every flavour in between.

As you can see from other blogs on the Harlequin Historical blog, the authors take their research very seriously. Actually for me, research is not a hard slog but the fun bit. Recently I’ve had to reread about Lord Hardwicke’s Marriage Act, and in pursuit of knowing more have read the earliest English travel guide to Egypt. Along the way I have also read about two bible hunting sisters from Glasgow whose adventure you couldn’t make up and how Florence Nightengale and Gustav Flaubert before they began their life’s work were both on the Nile in the winter of 1849 and how the experience shaped their lives. But the research only underpins the story. It is the growing relationship between the two main characters that drives the story. The history adds the flavouring. Of the research I do, maybe 10% gets in the book.

So what got you into reading historical? And if you haven’t tried one recently, why not?

Michelle Styles is the author of over 16 Historical Romances for Harlequin Mills & Boon Historical. Her next release in the UK will be The Viking's Captive Princess (Dec 10) and in US, A Question of Impropriety (Dec 10). She will also have an Online reading on e-harlequin starting 15 Nov. You can read more about her books on her website.

Hougoumont and Chivalrous Captain, Rebel Mistress

Diane Gaston here. In Chivalrous Captain, Rebel Mistress, my September release, Captain Allan Landon rescues Marian Pallant as the Battle of Waterloo is about to commence. He takes her to Hougoumont farm for safe keeping. It is rather like taking her from the frying pan into the fire.


Hougoumont was pivotal in the battle. It was essential to Wellington that the Hougoumont farm not be taken by the French, leaving Wellington’s entire right flank unprotected. British Foot Guards, a Netherlands Nassau battalion and German soldiers defended the walled in group of farm buildings. The Waterloo battle began with an attack on Hougoumont and the fighting there lasted all day. Before the battle was over Prince Jerome, Napoleon’s brother, had sent over 15,000 troops to the attack Hougoumont. Throughout it all, the Allies held.

One of the most enjoyable parts of writing historical romance is trying to fit the real history into the story. It is fun to insert real people into the story, like Colonel MacDonnell commanding Hougoumont’s defense. Or the huge ax-wielding French soldier who is one of the few enemy to break through the gates. When Marian helps to push the gates to Hougoumont closed, she is participating in a real event. When Allan looks out from where his Royal Scots regiment is fighting and sees the Hougoumont chateau burning, the timing was as exact as I could get it.

After the battle, Wellington said, “The success of the Battle of Waterloo turned on the closing of the gates (at Hougoumont).” It was my pleasure to place my characters exactly at that important event, that pivotal place in history.

Chivalrous Captain, Rebel Mistress is available for sale, both the paperback and the ebook. It is book #2 of my Three Soldiers Series, following Gallant Officer, Forbidden Lady. Next is Gabriel’s story. I’ll announce that book title and release date as soon as they are set.

I’ll be posting on this blog every third Wednesday of the month. For more from me, see my Risky Regencies blog every Monday or my Diane’s Blog every Thursday.

And now a question. Do you like to see real historical events threaded in to historical romances or are you content to have your historical built entirely on fictitious events?

*This blog also appears every third Wednesday on eHarlquin's Harlequin Historical Blog.

A fun little news article

Hi,
Just wanted to share that the local paper in my neck of the woods, the Pierce County Herald, did a nice feature on me this week. I've included the link below for anyone who wants to check it out. They got most of it righ, although some of the numbers are a bit off in places (like the contract wasn't for 5 books, it was for 3 and an undone or maybe two.) But we'll live with that.
http://www.puyallupherald.com/2010/09/08/5581
Bronwyn

A BUSMAN'S HOLIDAY - Sarah Mallory enjoys a little Regency Recreation

I spend my days writing historical romantic adventures, recreating the Georgian or Regency world with words, so when I wanted a break last weekend, what better than to indulge in a Regency Day?
Kedleston Hall is a lovely old house in Derbyshire,often used by TV and film companies for costume drama (including the recent films of Pride & Prejudice and The Duchess). They were staging a special Regency Day in the beautiful pleasure gardens, so we had a chance to enjoy some real Regency entertainments. There were the redcoats giving a display of drill and exercise, including firing their muskets and explaining how they routed the French at Waterloo), plus we could wander through their encampment and talk to the soldiers (eat your heart out, Lydia Bennett!). There was a re-enactment of the Battle of the Nile with a life-size figure of Nelson looking on while miniature English and French navies manoevred on a blue cloth.
We also listened to a hurdy-gurdy man playing popular songs of the day such as The Lass of Richmond Hill and other hits from Vauxhall pleasure gardens. As befits a successful entertainer he had a very pretty companion, an accomplished young lady who sang, played the harp and even the trumpet for the more military songs! Before the advent of radio and the i-pod this is the way most people heard and learned new songs at fairs and in the public pleasure gardens.

Then we wandered over to see Mr Punch getting the better of the dastardly Napoleon Bonaparte: it was such a treat to see a modern day audience of children enjoying Punch's antics – shouts of "wake up, Punch!" and "He's there behind you!" rang out at regular intervals. It may not be politically correct (Punch had started by burying his wife in the garden) but it was great fun.

The weather was lovely, so we could wander through the pleasure gardens and see Regency ladies and gentlemen taking refreshments in the orangery – and I think I even spotted one couple heading off for a tryst in the summer house!

This is all grist to the historical novelist's mill and even the weather was kind and a beautifully warm, sunny day showed the gardens at their best.

All novelists need inspiration, and while the Regency Day didn't fire my imagination with any plots, it did help to bring the settings alive – and showed the difficulties for ladies of trying to walk up a flight of stairs whilst carrying a fan and a reticule, holding up a parasol and lifting ones' skirts enough to clear the steps without exposing more than a glimpse of an ankle!

Great stuff! If you want to see pictures of the day, you can visit my website at http://www.sarahmallory.com/

SARAH MALLORY

A SENSE OF PLACE

Do you have to feel "familiar" with a setting in order to fully appreciate a story?

As a reader, if I pick up a book set in a locale with which I'm not familiar, I usually go scurrying to the internet to check mapquest and flickr, to get a sense of what the setting looks like. As a writer, I suffer from a similar compulsion. I just can't seem to get into writing my story until I can "see" the same scenery my characters do.

I've just posted a blog on the eharlequin community "Regency Silk and Scandal" page about that discovery process for my current release, THE SMUGGLER AND THE SOCIETY BRIDE. Check it out at http://community.eharlequin.com/content/regency-silk-and-scandal.

His Californian Countess is this Friday's Freebie at Eharlequin

His Californian Countess Kate Welsh's fantastic tale about romance and intrigue on board a clipper to California is this week's Freebie Friday. Buy 2 books from eharlequin and get Hsi Californian Countess free. Today (20 August only)
also at eharlequin and this time until 15 September:

Blogging about Untamed Rogue at Romconinc blog Aug. 18th

Hi all,

Stop by for our Untamed Rogue give away at the Romconinc historical blog. I'll be blogging there August 18th. It was great to meet so many readers at the Harlequin book signing at RWA! And thanks for loving the cover! Untamed Rogue is absolutely hot hot hot.

Bronwyn

Hot Historical Sale

The Eharlequin is having a 30% off sale of selected Hot Historicals. This is both in Print and in ebooks. The offer ends 31 August but it is your chance to stock up!!!

And the Winner is?

Last night three of our authors were nominated for the prestigious Daphne Du Maurier for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense in the published Division

Alaskan Renegade by Kate Bridges
From Waif to Gentleman's Wife, by Julia Justiss

And the winner: The Rake's Inherited Courtesan - by Ann Lethbridge

Here are the three finalists with editors Joanne Carr and Linda Fildew from Harlequin Mills and Boon

Having a great time at RWA!

Hi all,

Having a fabulous time with other Harlequin historical writers and editors et al at Nationals. We were spoiled today with a lovely tea at the Grand Floridian. Looking forward to the harlequin book signing tomorrow morning! Hope to see readers there. Among the excellent titles at the signing is Crispin's story, Untamed Rogue Scandalous Mistress.

Bronwyn