When I learned that the Duke and Duchess of Kent and their baby daughter, (Princess Alexandrina Victoria, the future Queen Victoria) visited Sidmouth—the town where my ON DEVONSHIRE SHORES series is set and in the same year I set the first book, I knew I wanted to include them in Book Two, A Winter by the Sea. The royal couple and their entourage rented Woolbrook Cottage (on the same lane … [Read more...]

This past Saturday, I spoke (via Zoom) to the New York Metropolitan chapter of the Jane Austen Society of North America. The topic was “The Pleasures and Perils of Travel in Jane Austen’s time.” I have not spoken on this topic in several years, so it was a good refresher to revisit all that research again. I originally researched travel and coaching inns to write my series, Tales From … [Read more...]

My husband and I watched and enjoyed the Scottish crime series, Shetland (warning: some violence and language). Early on in the series, the likeable hero, DI Jimmy Perez (played by Douglas Henshall, shown here), begins wearing a distinctive wool coat, or peacoat, which was later sold at auction and raised more than £2,700 for a school in Glasgow. I really liked the character and the coat, so my … [Read more...]

In the Inspirational Regency Readers group on FB, I recently shared some hymns that were written during or around the Regency period (the late 18th century through the early 19th century--the time my books are set). I thought I would share some here as well. These hymns have stood the test of time and are still sung in many churches today. We know the authors were human and imperfect (aren’t we … [Read more...]

Today is Boxing Day, a holiday you may or may not be familiar with, depending on where you live. Boxing Day is celebrated on December 26th in Great Britain and in closely-connected countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, etc. In Great Britain, Boxing Day is also St. Stephen’s Day, a day to commemorate the first Christian martyr. The name “Boxing Day” comes from the tradition of … [Read more...]