<< Back To Home Page Anna's Blog Book Updates - February - February 6, 2012 So, I know it’s been forever since I posted a blog. Mostly because I’m up against a deadline for Lady Darby Book 2 – my first major deadline since landing my publishing contract. I’m trying not to freak out about it, because, let’s just face it, that’s not pretty. Not to mention that it doesn’t help me actually get the thing written or edited. If anything, it slows me down. So, I’ve been working hard to maintain my equilibr... Click Here To Read More >> What I'm Reading Now: The Duke Is Mine by Eloisa James - January 10, 2012 The Duke Is Mine by Eloisa James It's no secret that Eloisa James is one of my favorite authors.  I love how she weaves Shakespeare and literature into her plots, and with her most recent series she utilizes fairy tales.  First she tackled a retelling of Cinderella, and then Beauty and the Beast (with a hero who was distinctly House-like as the Beast).  With The Duke is Mine she utilizes "The Princess and the Pea", thus the many mattresses on the cover.  James surp... Click Here To Read More >> Resolutions - January 2, 2012 2012 – a new year – and, personally, one I’m very excited about. Namely because The Anatomist’s Wife, Lady Darby Book 1, will be published in November. But, also, there’s just something about a new year that excites you with all its possibilities. Will this be the year when (fill in the blank) happens?  I don’t know about you, but every year I make resolutions. Sometimes they’re big and sometimes they’re small. I achi... Click Here To Read More >> What I'm Reading Now: Vienna Waltz by Teresa Grant - December 22, 2011 Vienna Waltz by Teresa Grant I absolutely loved this novel by new-to-me author Teresa Grant (aka Tracy Grant).  Set in 1814 during the Congress of Vienna, where the leaders of Europe gather to decide the fate of the continent after Napoleon's abdication, it's awash with actual history, and the mysteries Ms. Grant manages to weave among the attendees, both real and imagined, are intriguing and realistic.  It's been quite some time since I was so riveted by a story.  Ms. ... Click Here To Read More >> Happy Birthday, Miss Austen! - December 15, 2011   Today is Jane Austen’s birthday. She was born on December 16, 1775, which makes her 236 years young. Or, at least, she would be if she were still alive. Sometimes I wish she really had been a vampire or werewolf, or one of the other immortal creatures that modern-day authors have ascribed to her in recent years for their own series. Think of all the wonderful books she would have written by now. She lived but 41 ½ short years, and yet she wrote six... Click Here To Read More >> What I'm Reading Now: Coming Home For Christmas by Carla Kelly - December 15, 2011 Coming Home For Christmas by Carla Kelly  These three short stories featuring three generations of the same family and set during three military conflicts (the Napoleonic Wars, the Crimean War, and the Indian Wars) will warm your spirits this holiday season.  No one writes like Carla Kelly.  Her characters are warm, engaging, and real, and she truly makes history come alive.  So curl up by the Christmas tree, and enjoy this collection of her novellas.  They will be cert... Click Here To Read More >> In which I’m in the mood to embarrass myself… - December 7, 2011 Or, why you should never mix up the words pus and puss… Somehow I injured my finger last night. I burnt it or bashed it or otherwise wounded it. It aches and is oozing pus from the side of my fingernail. I mentioned this on Twitter, embarrassingly misspelling "pus" as “puss,” which reminded me of an unfortunate incident from fifth grade.   I was a member of one of our school’s Odyssey of the Mind teams, a creative problem-solving competit... Click Here To Read More >> It's Not Easy Being Green... - December 4, 2011 She's at in again, so I just had to repost this blog from December 2009... By and large, our tiger cat is very good, even at Christmas time when all of the shiny decorations must pose a mighty temptation. She doesn’t try to climb the Christmas tree, or chew the electric cords, or bat the ornaments. She ignores the ribbons and bows and stockings. But there’s something about the greenery that whets her appetite.  She chews on the lower branches of our tree an... Click Here To Read More >> What I'm Reading Now: The Red Door by Charles Todd - November 29, 2011 The Red Door by Charles Todd I enjoyed this twelfth installment in the Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery series.  I stumbled upon the series earlier this year when I was doing research on WWI and have happily gobbled them up one by one.  There is one more to read before the fourteenth novel is released in early January.  The mysteries are always interesting, and Rutledge remains intriguing.  However, I have felt his personal development, as well as that of his personal life hav... Click Here To Read More >> Book Updates - Nov 2011 - November 17, 2011 Well, it’s been about two months since I made my last update, so I thought I should fill everyone in on what’s happening.  Production on Lady Darby Book 1 is now in full swing. The Copy Department at Berkley Publishing has written some lovely copy for the book, as well as come up with a fantastic title – The Anatomist’s Wife. I love it! It’s something I probably never would have come up with myself, but it’s absolutely perfect, and ever so... Click Here To Read More >> What I'm Reading Now: Until There Was You by Kristan Higgins - November 17, 2011 Until There Was You by Kristan Higgins I thoroughly enjoyed Higgins' latest, but then again, I always enjoy her books.  And I always know what to expect - nice-girl heroines who are just a little bit quirky, handsome heroes who are bit rough around the edges and often underestimated, and a cute pet sidekick, usually a dog, set in small town New England.  The combination is positively charming.  It's no wonder Higgins has already won two Rita Awards.  I al... Click Here To Read More >> What I'm Reading Now: The September Queen by Gillian Bagwell - November 10, 2011 The September Queen by Gillian Bagwell Until I heard about this novel, I didn't even know the historical figure Jane Lane had existed.  I knew of the Royal Miracle, King Charles II flight from England after his disastrous loss at the Battle of Worcester, but I never knew the details of his escape, or that a simple gentlewoman helped to make it possible.  It took tremendous courage, and a little bit of wrecklessness on her part, but without her extreme sacrifice and ... Click Here To Read More >> Writing Tip: Keep It Simple - November 9, 2011 A common mistake made by new writers is that they must use lots of words. They think that the more complicated the sentence, the bigger the vocabulary, the more detailed the description, the better the story will be. Alas, that is not the case. It is much more difficult, but far more effective to write fewer words. You should never use two words when one will do.  One reason that many beginning writers think they need to be so longwinded is because they were taught to d... Click Here To Read More >> What I'm Reading Now: Shadows in Scarlet by Lillian Stewart Carl - November 8, 2011 Shadows in Scarlet by Lillian Stewart Carl I recently stumbled upon Lillian Stewart Carl thanks to the suggestion of a fellow author, and, I must say, I'm thrilled to have a new talented writer to glom.  She writes in several genres, including romantic suspense, as seen in the novel highlighted here.  Shadows in Scarlet is a ghost story, among other things, a sub-genre I rarely read because it can be difficult to handle well.  Stewart Carl handles it with aplo... Click Here To Read More >> Writing Tip: Leave a Little Mystery - November 7, 2011 One of the things I had the most difficulty learning, but made all the difference in the world to my writing, was to leave a little mystery to my characters. I wanted to info dump, telling the reader everything about my characters—who they were and what they wanted—at the very beginning. I couldn’t seem to grasp how boring this was to readers, like reading an encyclopedia entry. It also takes away a great deal of the suspense.  You want readers to be asking... Click Here To Read More >> Writing Tip: The Power of POV - Choose Wisely - November 2, 2011 Point-of-View - it’s an element of writing that authors are hyper-conscious of, and, if done well, of which the reader is not even aware. First-person or third-person? Omniscient or limited? A single POV or multiple POVs? One POV per chapter or “head-hopping” through the scene? Every story an author writes they must make these decisions, for there isn’t one right answer. There are opinions on what the “correct” way to handle POV i... Click Here To Read More >> Writing Tips: Write What You Love - November 1, 2011 Write what you love.  I know it’s been said before…many, many times. And every time I hear it, it seems like it should be obvious - knowing what you love. But it wasn’t for me.    I certainly had an idea. I knew what I liked to read. But I didn’t know what the exact cocktail of elements was to fit my voice and my imagination.   Fortunately, when I first returned to writing after college, I didn’t fall into the dangerous ... Click Here To Read More >> What I'm Reading Now: A Crimson Warning by Tasha Alexander - October 29, 2011 A Crimson Warning by Tasha Alexander Alexander is one of my favorite authors of historical mysteries.  Her plots are always intelligent and interesting, and her locations often exotic.  In her latest installment in the Lady Emily series, she returns us to London and throws us into the whirl and intrigue of British high society.  This, her 6th book, is an excellent addition to the series, and could certainly stand on its own - but why would readers want to miss out on al... Click Here To Read More >> What I'm Reading Now: The Last Time I Saw Paris by Lynn Sheene - October 19, 2011 The Last Time I Saw Paris by Lynn Sheene Nazi-occupied Paris comes alive in Sheene's debut novel.  The story is gripping and touching, filled with details I never knew about the sufferings of Parisians during WWII.  If you like Paris, World War II, or just a good story of transformation and survival even in the darkest times, you will enjoy this book.  May 1940: Fleeing a glamorous Manhattan life built on lies, Claire Harris arrives in Paris with a romantic vision of starting an... Click Here To Read More >> Nerd Alert! - October 10, 2011 Sometimes I truly am such a nerd.  I got so excited Saturday to receive a shipment of research books I had placed about a week ago.  The second half of the order should arrive today, which means I have my ears peeled for the distinct hum and murmur of the mail truck driving down our street and pausing at each batch of mailboxes.  Now, who doesn't enjoy receiving a package in the mail, expected or not?  But I have a feeling that not everyone gets so enthusi... Click Here To Read More >> Begin as you intend to go on... - October 7, 2011 So, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately about the more public aspects of my writing career—the social networking sites - Facebook and Twitter, the design of my website, my blog—all the things that will connect me to my readers on a day-to-day basis. And I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s best to begin as I intend to go on. This means that even though my number of followers and friends is still relatively low, and largely comprised of actual friends... Click Here To Read More >> What I'm Reading Now: The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley - October 3, 2011 The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley  I've been waiting months for Kearsley's newest to release in the US.  I preordered the ebook, and when Saturday (release day) rolled around, I turned on my Kindle first thing and downloaded it.  I'm about half way through, and, of course, loving it.  Kearsley is a gifted writer--someone with the rare gift to make the impossible truly seem possible.  I'm not certain this novel will be my favorite by her (a slot currentl... Click Here To Read More >> What I'm Reading Now: Haunted Ground by Erin Hart - September 26, 2011 Haunted Ground by Erin Hart Haunted Ground is the first book I have read by Erin Hart, but it certainly won't be the last.  The Irish location, the authentic small-village feel, the multi-layered mysteries, and the cast of credible suspects all kept me hooked until the very end. Two farmers cutting turf in the west of Ireland make a grisly discovery—the perfectly preserved severed head of a beautiful young woman with long red hair. Called out to the bog to investigate, Irish archeol... Click Here To Read More >> A few more Confessions - September 22, 2011 Sometimes… ...I use my cat as my own personal pillow-pet. Even though she hates it. And only suffers through it for about 30 seconds. I still try to trap her and cuddle her. But as everyone knows, cats don’t like to be restrained. They want an escape route.    ...I don’t return items to their proper location in the store after I decide I don’t want them. It’s just so much easier to ditch them on a convenient shelf then to ... Click Here To Read More >> Updates - Sep 2011 - September 19, 2011 So happy autumn is almost officially here. It’s my favorite season, and I’ve already been enjoying the cooler temperatures and the lovely scents that seem to carry on the breeze. I’ve broken out the jeans, jackets, and boots, and scrounged through the closets for my fall-themed decor. Now I’m looking forward to the leaves changing and the autumn fare—like pumpkin bread and apple crisp.  On to the updates: I’ve made some changes to the... Click Here To Read More >> Fall TV - September 19, 2011 It’s that time of year again—the week when the fall season of TV shows debuts. Finally. I’m not exactly an avid television watcher, but even I was getting sick of all the reruns. I’ve also been looking forward to checking out some of the new shows that the networks seem to have been hyping since January. But, unfortunately, although this week will be crammed with TV watching, by next week most of the new shows will have fallen by the wayside, failing t... Click Here To Read More >> What I'm Reading Now: Faro's Daughter & Venetia by Georgette Heyer - September 11, 2011 Faro's Daughter by Georgette Heyer - and - Venetia by Georgette Heyer I'm on a bit of a Georgette Heyer reading kick.  There's simply no author who writes Regencies better.  When I need to immerse myself in the language and mores of that time period, I turn to Heyer, and thoroughly enjoy myself.   Beautiful Deborah Grantham, mistress of her aunt's elegant gaming house, must find a way to restore herself and her aunt to respectability, preferably without acce... Click Here To Read More >> Confession: I don't like to cook. - September 11, 2011 I don’t like to cook. I can cook, or rather follow a recipe, but I don’t like to. There are several reasons for this. For one, I gag at the sight of raw meat. I know, it’s pitiful, but I am one of those people who prefer to pretend their main course didn’t actually come from a chicken or a cow or a pig, that it just somehow magically appeared as is. Handling it raw sort of shatters this illusion. Particularly if I’m forced to dig my hands i... Click Here To Read More >> What I'm Reading Now: A Rather Remarkable Homecoming by C.A. Belmond - September 8, 2011 A Rather Remarkable Homecoming by C.A. Belmond I am a big fan of C.A. Belmond's "Rather" series.  They are light and fun, and she always transports her readers to the most interesting destinations.  This fourth entry in the series is no exception.  The book certainly stands on its own, but for anyone new to the series I would still recommend beginning with Book 1, A Rather Lovely Inheritance, or you'll miss out on all the enjoyment of watching Penny ... Click Here To Read More >> Beachy Head - The Other White Cliffs - repost - September 7, 2011 Day 2 began with a drive up to Beachy Head. Located on the white chalk cliffs, much like the white cliffs of Dover, just west of Eastbourne, Beachy Head is truly a sight to see, especially on a brilliant, sunny day with the deep blue of the English Channel sparkling below you. Beachy Head lighthouse stands proudly at the base of the 530 ft cliffs, a warning to ships sailing to close to shore. The South Downs Way, a popular hiking trail, begins at Beachy Head, and continues along t... Click Here To Read More >> Research Topic - Harris's List of Covent Garden Ladies - September 6, 2011 I recently stumbled upon an article about this ultimate little black book. It’s a sort-of definitive guide for gentlemen about the town looking for a lovely lady’s company. A fallen, lovely lady’s company.  During the mid to late Georgian period, between the years of 1757 to 1795, Harris’s List of Covent Garden Ladies was published annually as a directory of prostitutes in the Covent Garden area of London. It was a small, pocketbook with listings for ... Click Here To Read More >> What I'm Reading Now: Silk Is For Seduction by Loretta Chase - September 2, 2011 Silk Is For Seduction by Loretta Chase It's a romance this time around - one by the divine Loretta Chase.  There is something magical about the way she breathes life to her characters.  Each body movement, each piece of dialogue is so well-crafted, that I feel they are standing next to me.  She takes a character type you think you already know and completely turns it on its head, making them genuine and human and unique.  And the clothes descriptions in Silk Is For Seduction... Click Here To Read More >> Confession: Sometimes...I skip to the end. - August 31, 2011 Sometimes…I skip to the end. Of a book. A movie. Sometimes I like to know what’s going to happen before it happens.    In some cases, it’s because I want to know whether the story is going disturb me, and whether I want to spend 2 to 8 hours of my time invested in the plot. Other times, it’s simply a matter of enjoyment. If I know what’s coming, sometimes I actually like the storyline better, particularly if there is a significant a... Click Here To Read More >> What I'm Reading Now: The Dark Enquiry by Deanna Raybourn - August 24, 2011 The Dark Enquiry by Deanna Raybourn It's no surprise why Raybourn is one of my favorite authors.  Her characters are engaging, her plot twists intriguing, and her prose is as rich and delectable as a warm chocolate souffle.  Her first book, the first in the Lady Julia Grey Series, Silent in the Grave is still my favorite--I find it hard to imagine topping that perfectly crafted story--but The Dark Enquiry, LJG Book 5, is a solid addition to the series.  The author is ta... Click Here To Read More >> Research Topic - Elizabeth Parsons Ware Packard - August 22, 2011 While doing research on Monday, I stumbled across an interesting person in American history - Elizabeth Parsons Ware Packard.  Mrs. Packard was married to Reverand Theopilus Packard in 1839, and they had six children together.  In June of 1860, Mr. Packard, a strict Calvinist minister, decided his wife was "slightly insane" and had her committed to the insane asylum in Jacksonville, Illinois.  Mrs. Packard was not informed of this decision until the county sheriff c... Click Here To Read More >> Lady Darby Series Updates - August 22, 2011 Well, contracts have been signed, and I should be receiving edits for Lady Darby Book 1 from my editor any day now, as they are due back to her by mid-October, so production of Book 1 is well under way. I have also been given more definite publishing dates for the books. Book 1 is set for November 2012, and I’m told that is pretty set in stone. My best bet is that the release date will either be just before Halloween (Oct 30th) or Election Day (Nov 6th), because publishing r... Click Here To Read More >> Confession: Sometimes...I pretend I'm really cool - August 19, 2011 Sometimes…I pretend I’m really cool. Driving through town on a beautiful day with the windows down, my sunglasses on and the wind blowing through my hair, and music blasting out of the car speakers. It has to be something loud and fast—something that really gets my blood pumping—something that gets me dancing in my seat and drumming my fingers against the steering wheel.    I love the way the sun kisses my skin, the way it glistens off my hair, making i... Click Here To Read More >> What I'm Reading Now: Envious Casca by Georgette Heyer - August 17, 2011 Envious Casca by Georgette Heyer A marvelous mystery!  Filled with all the elements Heyer's readers have come to expect - insightful characterization and witty dialogue.  This is not the first book I've read by Heyer, being a fan of Regency Romances, but is the first of her mystery thrillers I have picked up.  It certainly won't be the last.  A holiday party takes on a sinister aspect when the colorful assortment of guests discovers there is a killer in their midst. The own... Click Here To Read More >> Confession: Sometimes...I don't listen very well - August 16, 2011 Sometimes...I don't listen very well. And I never realize it until after the fact.  I take great pride in being a good listener. In knowing how to do it the “right” way. In being an active-listener, and repeating what the speaker said to make sure I truly heard and understand them. In letting them vent their hurts or frustrations, and empathizing while not always offering a solution, because I know sometimes people just want someone to listen.    But... Click Here To Read More >> Back to School Rituals and the County Fair - August 8, 2011 When I heard that my nieces and nephew in Alabama were returning to school today, all I could think was, “So Early!” And then I discovered that some of the schools in my area were starting later this week, even though most of the districts in this section of the Midwest wait until late August because not all of their buildings have air conditioning. However, more and more of the buildings are being updated, and more and more of the districts are returning to school earlier ... Click Here To Read More >> Family - August 1, 2011 Last week was a busy one for me, with family from out-of-town visiting. My brother and his new bride drove down from Toledo, and another brother and his wife and 3-year-old daughter came up from Sidney, Ohio to join my husband and I, my parents, and my two college-aged siblings who still live with Mom and Dad during the summer. In fact, the only people missing from our large family gathering were my brother who lives in South Carolina and his wife. This has been a summer of gather... Click Here To Read More >> Back-to-School Drama - July 29, 2011   It’s late July, and that means…back-to school sales!    Although I don’t yet have children, I still take advantage of the deals to stock up on office supplies for the year. (When else can you regularly buy notebooks for 20 cents or less a piece?) Meandering through the packed aisles at Target, I couldn’t help but smile at the children’s excitement as they selected their school supplies. I was pleasantly reminded of the back-to-sch... Click Here To Read More >> A Reader For Life - July 19, 2011   I read a blog this morning (http://www.likesbooks.com/blog/) about whether readers are born or made, whether we can raise our kids to be readers or if genetically they are just born that way. It got me thinking about my own journey as a lover of books.    Genetically speaking, reading is in my blood. Both of my parents love to read, though my dad did so much less often when I was a child than he does now. Several of my grandparents loved to read, especially my ... Click Here To Read More >> Can you take the heat? - July 18, 2011 I hate heat. Hate it. Loathe it. And high humidity is even worse. This is one of the reasons I live in the Midwest—the northern portion of the Midwest. There are weeks like this one when the temps reach 100, and the heat index climbs over 110, but they are few and far between.  I spent two years in midstate South Carolina and seven years in middle Tennessee. Believe me, I understand what true heat is. And beautiful as it is there in the early spring... Click Here To Read More >> Winnie the Pooh, where are you? - Repost - July 15, 2011 My maternal grandfather had a wonderful imagination and a flair for the dramatic. From my earliest childhood memories, I can remember him reading my siblings, cousins and I stories such as The Three Billy Goats Gruff, complete with voices, or joining us in a rousing board game. But by far, our most favorite activity shared with Grandpa was searching for Winnie the Pooh. My grandparents lived in rural northeast Indiana on a large plot of open land that stretched back a quarter of a mil... Click Here To Read More >> Basting a Redhead - June 20, 2011 I love being tan! There are few things like sporting a healthy bronze glow to your legs and arms to instantly make you feel more beautiful and slimmer. Especially, when those legs and arms are normally palest ivory with pink undertones and speckled with freckles.  As a natural redhead of distinct northern European descent, I do not tan. Not without the help of a bronzing product. In sunlight I burn, lobster red. And if I’m unfortunate enough to fry my appenda... Click Here To Read More >> There is a loneliness... - June 17, 2011 There is a loneliness…to being the oldest sister. To being surrounded by brothers. To having a sister who was always too young to understand what I was going through.  There is a loneliness…to always being the most responsible, the most independent. To being the second child, but the first to take risks, leave home, strike out on their own. There is a loneliness…to being so secretive. To being afraid to share my hurts and admit my failings. To... Click Here To Read More >> Of Dreams and Fireflies - May 4, 2011 “Wake, my child.” I lie still, feeling the vestiges of sleep slip off me. Warm air presses gently against my skin and the sweet smell of grass and dandelions tickles my nostrils. A chorus of crickets surrounds me and somewhere off in the distance to my right I can hear the lone bass of a bullfrog.    “Wake, my child.”   I blink open my eyes, staring at the dark heavens above me. Stars sprinkle the sky, twinkling down at me like benevolen... Click Here To Read More >> When a Man Smiles... - April 20, 2011 What is it about the curl of a man’s lips, the softening of his features, the sparkle in his pupils, the laugh lines at the corner of his eyes that makes a woman weak? Be it from the man across the bar or the breakfast table, the man cradling our arm as we march down the aisle or the little guy holding our hand as we guide them across the street. There is just something utterly captivating about watching the transformation that overcomes a man’s face when he grins in genuin... Click Here To Read More >> The Lonely Road - April 15, 2011 Several years ago when I was talking to my mother about my childhood, I was shocked to learn I had developed a very independent streak at an early age. By the time I turned one, she said, I had begun to insist on doing things myself and no longer wanted to be cuddled. This naturally upset her, as I think it would any mother who wants to hug and squeeze their children.  I knew that I had always had a stubborn-streak, often wanting to teach myself things rather than learn the old-f... Click Here To Read More >> Pushing My Hot Buttons - March 29, 2011 We all have them. Hot buttons. Subjects we don’t like to discuss, or watch, or read about because they either annoy us, anger us, or disturb us. They are perhaps an author’s worst enemy, because everyone’s hot buttons are different, and try as you might to avoid them, chances are you won’t manage it. And if you do manage to steer clear of them, you may have a novel weak as milksop and just as uninteresting. So, it’s best to simply accept the... Click Here To Read More >> The Roaming Writer - March 24, 2011 There’s nothing so sacred to a writer as a good writing space. Once we find one—be it at home, a coffee shop, a library, wherever—we tend to return to it over and over again until productivity in that space falls off. In other words, until the mojo wears off. It may seem superstitious, like carrying a lucky penny or refusing to wash your socks during your team’s tournament run, but, in my mind, it’s nothing but practical.  It can be difficult to bloc... Click Here To Read More >> Patience - the Non-Virtue - March 21, 2011 I’ve recently discovered that patience is not a virtue I possess. Though, who decided it was ever a quality to be admired, I’m not certain. And it seems neither is anyone else. Most popularly the saying is attributed to a Chinese proverb, the full quote being: Patience is a virtue Possess it if you can Seldom found in woman Never found in man So, it seems that this higher ability we are all aspiring to is admittedly all but impossible, and the joke is on the rest ... Click Here To Read More >> In which I do a little rambling and praise women... - February 7, 2011 So, most of you know about the recent bout of excitement in my life, as I received three offers of representation from literary agents in one week. For an author who had gotten rejection after rejection on her previous four complete manuscripts, I was blown over by the response to my most recent novel Half Sick of Shadows. I felt confident that it was good enough to be published and was willing to fight for it as such, but believing in something and finally seeing the results of that b... Click Here To Read More >> The most annoying sounds in the world... - January 19, 2011 Although, I have to agree that the usual suspects do indeed fit the bill when it comes to annoying noises—things such as nails on a chalkboard, dripping water, woodpeckers—I would like to put forth a few less commonly touted audial disturbances. For instance, irritating cell phone rings and text message alerts, especially in the hands of a teenager who receives the posts at a rate of once every 60 seconds while at the dinner table. Or the din of the fan on a desktop hard dr... Click Here To Read More >> Historical Wife Swap - January 17, 2011 Growing up, I attended a Lutheran Church, and as a child, for the longest time I thought the father of the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther, was also the father of Martin Luther King, Jr.  This made for some very confusing Sunday School lessons and a curiousity as to how Martin Luther's son someone also became a king.  And in my typical stubborn, independent way, I refused to ask the necessary questions to straighten out this conundrum, lest I look stupid or ignorant.&nb... Click Here To Read More >> It's all Greek to me... - January 14, 2011 You asked: Which UK location had the funniest accent? I have a particular affinity for the UK and their accents, so I don’t know that any of them struck me as particularly funny, but there were a few that stuck out significantly in one way or another.  The employees at our hotel and the restaurant we ate at in Glasgow win the prize for the most difficult to understand. I pride myself on my ability to comprehend most UK accents, courtesy of numerous viewings of British films and... Click Here To Read More >> The path less traveled... - January 12, 2011 You asked: I know you went to some really famous landmarks and other "not so touristy" places. Were the tourist locales simply one-in-a-million or do you think more travelers should check out the places less-traveled? First off, I should say that many of the touristy places are so well visited for a reason. Many of these hot spots are interesting landmarks that every traveler to the UK should check out, either for their beauty, their cultural or historical significance, or simply... Click Here To Read More >> A Good, Driving Beat... - January 8, 2011 Maybe it’s my effervescent soul bubbling over, my overactive auditory nerves, or my cheerleading roots showing themselves. Maybe it’s all of those things combined, or none of them at all. The only thing I know is that I have a love obsession with dance and techno music, anything with a beat fast enough, bouncy enough, driving enough to get my heart racing and my feet jumping. It makes me smile. It makes me motivated. And, oh so obviously, it makes me want to ... Click Here To Read More >> The Worth of Christmas - December 21, 2010 About this time every year I find myself scrambling for an emotional connection, a proper appreciation for what is about to happen on the holiest night of the year. It’s not a matter of unbelief, or skepticism for the holiday. I have as much faith and holiday spirit as most, if not more. But somehow amidst all the decorating and baking and wrapping and caroling, inside I fall flat. Outwardly I smile and celebrate, but inwardly I’m trying to understand my inability... Click Here To Read More >> London - December 19, 2010 I was so excited to step off the train at Paddington Station and arrive in London. Our taxi driver was talkative and friendly, pointing out the sights we drove past on the way to our excellent hotel location directly across Westminster Bridge from Big Ben. After checking in, we set off across Westminster Bridge, snapping pictures of Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the Statue of Boudicca, and the London Eye as we walked. Strolling past the government buildings lining Whitehall, ... Click Here To Read More >> Stratford-upon-Avon - December 19, 2010 The village of Stratford-upon-Avon is, of course, best known as the birthplace of William Shakespeare, and most of its tourist attractions are geared around the life of the bard. A tour of selected locations can take you through his life, starting with his birthplace on Henley Street, then on to the 15th century half-timbered Grammar School in Church Street, which he attended. Most famous of all is Anne Hathaway’s cottage, home of the woman he was to marry. New Place, on Cha... Click Here To Read More >> The Peak District - December 19, 2010 Our day in the Peak District was pretty much a wash out because of the gloomy weather. We left York late and had difficulty with the GPS, but we eventually found our way to Castleton. Lovely Castleton lies in Winnats Pass, a spectacular gash in the landscape, below the romantic ruins of 11th century Peveril Castle, which gave Castleton its name. The old stone village is close to dramatic caves from which minerals such as Blue John, a unique local purple fluorspar, has been mined f... Click Here To Read More >> York - December 19, 2010 England’s second city between 1100 and 1500, York, has a colorful and rich history, which is utilized to its fullest in the city’s numerous and diverse tourist destinations. “A medieval city constructed on top of a Roman one, it was first built in AD 71, when it became capital of the northern province and was known as Eboracum. It was here that Constantine the Great was made emperor in 306, and reorganized Britain into four provinces. A hundred years later, the R... Click Here To Read More >> Whitby & the North Yorkshire Moors - December 13, 2010 The weather during our day in the North Yorkshire Moors was horrid – rainy, gloomy, and so foggy that we could barely see thirty feet in front of us. Not exactly ideal for taking in the beauty of the countryside, particularly since we couldn’t even see it. However, our harrowing drive through the hilly and remote moors did give me a sense of how eerie and dangerous such a location could be for someone walking off the beaten path. It was no wonder that people became los... Click Here To Read More >> Hadrian's Wall - December 13, 2010 Hadrian’s Wall is one of England’s most thought-provoking sights. “In about AD 122, during the reign of Emperor Hadrian, the Romans built this great stone wall. Its actual purpose is still debated. While Rome ruled Britain for 400 years, it never quite ruled its people. The wall may have been used for any number of reasons: to define the northern edge of the empire, to protect Roman Britain from invading Scottish clans (or at least cut down on pesky border r... Click Here To Read More >> Alnwick Castle - December 13, 2010 Our next stop was to Alnwick Castle, recently made famous for its use in the Harry Potter films. The castle is located along the River Aln, in the attractive market town of Alnwick, with its compact warren of cobbled streets, old stone buildings and narrow alleys. It is a great fortress. “Described by the Victorians as the “Windsor of the north”, it is the main seat of the Duke of Northumberland, whose family, the Percys, have lived here since 1309. This bor... Click Here To Read More >> Bamburgh Castle - December 13, 2010 After a refreshing night’s sleep, we set out for Bamburgh Castle, located along the eastern coast of England in Northumberland. “Due to Northumbria’s history of hostility against the Scots, there are more strongholds and castles there than in any other part of England. Most were built from the 11th to the 15th centuries by local warlords, as was Bamburgh’s red sandstone castle. Its coastal position had been fortified since prehistoric times, but the first m... Click Here To Read More >> Berwick-upon-Tweed - Our Hidden Gem - December 13, 2010 Our next overnight stop was in England’s most northernmost town, Berwick-upon-Tweed. The town and its area was central to the border war between Scotland and England for centuries, finally changing hands for the final time in 1482 to the English. Berwick is best known for its numerous historic bridges over the River Tweed, the defensive ramparts surrounding the heart of the city, and the 18th and 19th century guard houses and barracks available for touring.  Our bed-and-b... Click Here To Read More >> The Borders Region of Scotland - December 10, 2010 Upon leaving Edinburgh, we headed south towards the Borders region of Scotland. Throughout history, this region was notoriously unsettled, with raiding parties from both England and Scotland venturing into the others land to steal cattle, damage property, and stir up trouble. A large number of abbeys were located here, and over the centuries they were built and rebuilt time and again after successive English invasions, until Henry VIII ordered them all razed during his destructive &ldq... Click Here To Read More >> Edinburgh, Scotland - December 9, 2010 The Scottish capital of Edinburgh was everything I dreamed it would be and more. Rainy and overcast skies set the stage beautifully, casting the romantic, melancholy city in its best light, or lack there of. Solemn gray buildings stacked on top of each other dominated the old town, while lovely, but uniform Georgian townhouses stood proudly side-by-side in new town. The city’s dour exterior and stately classical architecture sheltered well the warm, beating heart of this vib... Click Here To Read More >> Whisky & Shakespeare - December 8, 2010 Upon leaving Culloden Moor, we began our journey south, pausing at the tourist town of Pitlochry, famous its whisky and its hillwalking. A short drive from town lay the Bell’s Blair Atholl Distillery, where we stopped to take a tour of the buildings and sample a dram of some of their best whisky. I enjoyed learning about the process of making whisky more than I had anticipated, and I discovered that quality whisky does truly water your eyes, burn your throat and set a fire in you... Click Here To Read More >> Inverness & Culloden Moor - December 7, 2010 We continued east along Loch Ness and then the River Ness to our destination for the night - Inverness. Inverness is the only city in the north of Scotland, and its charm is its normalcy. Situated around the base of its pink stone castle—which is now a courthouse, not a tourist attraction—Inverness is filled with interesting shops and an eclectic assortment of restaurants. The bustling pedestrian downtown and riverside paths, make it ideal for romantic strolls and seri... Click Here To Read More >> Loch Ness & Urquhart Castle - December 6, 2010 The drive east through the Highlands and along the Caledonian Canal to Loch Ness was beautiful. Winding through steep hills and passed trickling streams, the road zigs and zags as it follows one of the most well worn paths in the Highlands, and it is alive with the souls of the travelers of yesterday, their voices and bagpipes echoing off the mountainsides.                    As we approached Loch Ness, the forests thickened,... Click Here To Read More >> So, how was the food? - December 2, 2010 I’ve been asked this many times since our return from the UK, and I have to admit, I’m not doing a very good job of answering it. It’s not that we didn’t eat, because we certainly did, though I did manage to lose 6lbs – yay! And it’s not that we never ate well, we did that, too. I just didn’t do a very good job of documenting it. We meant to take pictures, but besides some lousy shots from our afternoon tea in York, we forgot.  ... Click Here To Read More >> Eilean Donan Castle - November 29, 2010 Eilean Donan Castle is located near the town of Dornie, just east of the Skye Bridge. “This gloriously romantic castle is reached by an arched stone bridge and sits on a rocky island, settled in the 6th century by Saint Donan. The castle was built much later, to defend against invading Vikings. It is probably the most photographed castle in Scotland, however Eilean Donan was rebuilt on its splendid islet site between 1912 and 1932, after lying in ruins since the Jacobite Ris... Click Here To Read More >> The Isle of Skye - The Misty Isle - November 29, 2010 Our journey to the Isle of Skye was beset with difficulties, and even upon arrival we found it difficult to enjoy because of the terrible weather. Skye certainly demonstrated its nickname, “The Misty Isle”. It was almost impossible to see more than a fifty feet beyond the winding, barren roads. We stopped for a late lunch in Portree, Skye’s largest village, with a population of about 3,000 people. This functional settlement has a small, but lovely, working h... Click Here To Read More >> Glencoe - The Weeping Glen - November 29, 2010 We started the day with a good Scottish breakfast and a lovely chat with our hostess at our B&B and then set off north towards the Isle of Skye. Just outside of Oban, we stopped at the ruins of Dunstaffnage Castle, one of Scotland’s oldest stone fortifications, to take photos. “This castle was built in the 13th century to defend against marauding Norsemen, and was the stronghold of the MacDougall lords until it fell to the kings of Scotland. Centuries later, Flora ... Click Here To Read More >> Oban, Scotland - November 29, 2010 We drove into Oban during the bustle of mid-afternoon, just after the misty rain clouds that had pestered us all morning began to clear and the sun emerged, drawing the locals and tourists alike outside to stroll along the esplanade. Oban is an attractive tourist town along the western shore of the Scottish mainland, as well as a busy working port where fishing boats troll the sea alongside passenger ferries running to the Hebridean islands. The town has been dubbed the “gateway ... Click Here To Read More >> Dunadd Hilltop Fortress to Carnassarie Castle - November 29, 2010 Driving south along Loch Fyne from Inveraray, we rounded the peninsula and headed back north along the main roads, passing the Dunadd Hilltop Fortress of Dalriada on the left. “Few places are as atmospheric for Scots, or descendants of Scots, as Dunadd. This hilltop fortress enjoys panoramic views and was once the capital of the kingdom of Dalriada and the coronation site of the first Scottish kings.”  Continuing on, we passed through the tiny village of Kilmartin sit... Click Here To Read More >> Scotland - Loch Lomond to Inveraray - November 18, 2010 We spent our first night in Scotland in a hotel just south of Glasgow. The weather was crisp and cool the next morning, with light rain showers on and off throughout the day, and mists in the higher Highland passes. We set off north, driving along the shores of the famous Loch Lomond. At twenty-four miles long, Loch Lomond is second in size only to Loch Ness. It is well-known mostly because of its easy proximity to Glasgow and the beloved folk song praising its bonnie, bonnie... Click Here To Read More >> The Northern Lake District - November 18, 2010 Continuing north through the Lake District, we pulled off on a rough, one-lane road winding up into the hills east of Keswick in search of the Castlerigg Stone Circle. This prehistoric stone circle is not as large or famous as Stonehenge and Avebury, but it is certainly situated in the most magically beautiful setting of the three. The Lake District’s verdant hills and sharp, blue skies surround the remote monument. Cumbrian folklore claims that the famous great stones were ... Click Here To Read More >> Working our way north through the Lake District - November 17, 2010 Woke after an excellent night’s sleep excited to begin our day exploring the Lake District. I had made a serious miscalculation in only scheduling one day in our itinerary to visit this area. My husband and I would love to return there again some day and spend several days hiking the surrounding hills and cruising the lakes. Our first stop was to the Lake District National Park Visitor Centre housed in a stately old lakeside mansion built along the eastern shore of Lake Winderme... Click Here To Read More >> Powis Castle - November 16, 2010 Set in the picturesque countryside of the Severn Valley, the stunning Powis Castle perches on the hillside above the village of Welshpool. “Originally a 13th century fort, it is the only Welsh castle to have remained a residence from the medieval to the modern period. The castle is entered through one of few surviving medieval features: a gateway built in 1283 by Owain de la Pole.  “The castle’s golden age was in Elizabethan times, when it was acquired by the He... Click Here To Read More >> Stokesay Castle - November 15, 2010 Leaving Ludlow, we drove north to Stokesay Castle. This castle was located in a lovely setting just off a main road, among the wooded hills of the Welsh Marches. Being more of a fortified manor house, Stokesay was different than most of the other castles we visited in Britain. Rather than stark, it was inviting, like a country cottage overgrown with ivy and clematis. Its moated garden burst with colorful blooms spilling over into the adjacent graveyard of the old church next ... Click Here To Read More >> Ludlow - November 8, 2010 We spent the night in a hotel just outside of the market town of Ludlow, based in the heart of the Welsh Marches. The next morning we drove into the town center and strolled through the medieval streets. We followed the trail along the River Teme around the walls of the ruined Ludlow Castle. The castle was damaged during the Civil War and then abandoned in 1689. Comus, a court masque using music and drama and a precursor of opera, by John Milton was first performed here in 16... Click Here To Read More >> Tintern Abbey - November 8, 2010 A few miles down the River Wye from Chepstow lays the famous ruins of Tintern Abbey. Immortalized by the famous sonnet, Lines composed a few miles above Tintern Abbey, by William Wordsworth, and the sketches and paintings by JMW Turner, it is arguably the most visited sights in Wales and western England, and has remained so since the 18th century. Perhaps it is its romantic setting among the lush hills of the Wye Valley, or the majesty of its ruins, or the chanting of the long dead mon... Click Here To Read More >> Chepstow Castle - November 8, 2010 The village of Chepstow in east Wales was among the best-preserved towns we visited in the UK. Its streets and buildings still maintain their medieval character, paved in stone and tight and winding. On our drive through the village we took a wrong turn and found ourselves blocked 100 yards down a narrow alley. I had to reverse our way back out of it, heart-pumping all the way, worried that I would scrape the sides of our rental car against the jagged stone walls rising up on both... Click Here To Read More >> Dunster Castle - November 8, 2010 Perched on a hilltop and surrounded by terraced gardens, turreted Norman-style Dunster Castle was home to the Luttrell family for 600 years until 1976 when the property was turned over to the National Trust for preservation. The current castle was built on the site of Norman stronghold granted to William de Mohun of Normandy by William the Conqueror shortly after the Norman conquest of England in 1066. A 13th-century gateway is all that remains of this original fortress. The castl... Click Here To Read More >> Lynton & Exmoor - November 8, 2010 Soaked and rumpled from hiking in the rain at Tintagel, we made our way north over the mist-shrouded roads to the village of Lynton. Lynton lies on the steep, tree-covered cliffs at the northwestern edge of Exmoor, while the village of Lynmouth rests on the bottom of the slope down by the sea. Lynton is a small, mainly Victorian village perched on the clifftop 130m above, looking out to sea across the Bristol Channel to the Welsh Coast. Our Bed-and-Breakfast stood on the main stre... Click Here To Read More >> King Arthur's Crib - Tintagel Castle - November 4, 2010 Driving north through Cornwall, the weather steadily began to deteriorate as we made our way to Tintagel. The rain began as we exited the motorway and headed towards the coast, and then the fog rolled in. Rarely have I driven through a mist so dense, setting so close to ground like a curtain of white. As terrible as it was for driving, and uncomfortable as we were walking in it, the weather was absolutely ideal for the destination where we were headed.  The village of Tintag... Click Here To Read More >> A Night Out at the Minack Theatre - November 4, 2010 On our evening in Cornwall, we drove to the southern end of the Penwith Peninsula to the village of Porthcurno to take in a show at the Minack Theatre (www.minack.com). The Minack is Britain’s equivalent to an ancient Greek theatre, hewn out of the granite cliffs 200 feet above the waves. With the sea as a backdrop, the theatre, created by Miss Rowena Cade in 1931, has an incomparable setting. We were awed by the beauty of the theatre and the sea beyond, and thoroughly enjoy... Click Here To Read More >> The Rugged Coastline of Cornwall - November 3, 2010 Cornwall was easily one of my favorite destinations we visited in the UK, as I expected it to be. There are just so many mysterious legends and intriguing bits of history swirling about the storm-tossed coastline and the desolate stretches of moor in this county. We spent most of our time in the most westerly Penwith Peninsula, exploring the coast and tiny villages.  Our hotel was located in Sennen Cove, just a mile from Lands End, the most western point in England. The Old ... Click Here To Read More >> St Michael's Mount - November 2, 2010 We set out later than planned the morning we woke in Plymouth, driving to Cornwall and arriving just after midday. Our first stop in this beautiful, most-western county of England was at St Michael’s Mount (www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk). This castle and priory, founded in the 11th century by Edward the Confessor, is accessible by foot only at low tide. At other times, you must hire a small boat to take you across. The tide was as yet too high when we arrived, so we had to ... Click Here To Read More >> Plymouth, UK - November 1, 2010 After a full morning of exploring Dartmoor, we drove on into Plymouth. This tiny port from which Drake, Raleigh, the Pilgrim Fathers, Cook and Darwin all set sail on pioneering voyages has now grown to a substantial city, much of it boldly rebuilt after wartime bombing. After checking in to our hotel, we set out for the oldest section of the city of Plymouth, passing by the very modern-looking home of the National Marine Aquarium and crossing over the pedestrian bridge over the lock at... Click Here To Read More >> Dartmoor - October 29, 2010 On the first Saturday morning of our trip, we woke up feeling more refreshed than on any previous morning. Whether this was due to the fact that we had finally adjusted to the five-hour time change or because we slept in the most “American”-like hotel on our trip, I don’t know. Perhaps a little of both. We started the day bright and early, driving southwest from Exeter into Dartmoor National Park (www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk). My husband shot video as we drove i... Click Here To Read More >> Glastonbury - Where King Arthur, the Archangel Michael, and a Wiccan Can Become Friends - October 28, 2010 The medieval city of Glastonbury (www.glastonbury.co.uk) is awash with legend and religious symbolism. Close to its heart near the Market Cross, lies the majestic ruins of Glastonbury Abbey (www.glastonburyabbey.com), once one of the most powerful abbeys in the land, which was razed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539. Joseph of Arimathea is reputed to have come here as a missionary in AD 63, and a thorn in the Abbot’s kitchen is said to derive from his wooden staff... Click Here To Read More >> A Side Trip to Wells - October 27, 2010 From Bath, we drove the short distance to Wells, England’s smallest city, which lies in the shadow of the Mendip Hills. Wells gets its name from the springs that bubble up into a pool in the fine bishop’s garden at the moated 13th century Bishop’s Palace south of the Wells Cathedral. The Bishop’s Palace is still used today as the residence of the Bishop of Bath and Wells. The palace’s spring-fed moat was built in the 14th century in an effort to prote... Click Here To Read More >> The City of Bath - October 26, 2010 We arrived in Bath at rush hour on a late Friday afternoon – not exactly an auspicious introduction to this beautiful city set among the rolling green hills of the Avon valley. For those who journey there in the future, I recommend leaving the car behind. The streets were difficult to navigate and parking troublesome to find. We made the justifiable mistake of asking the receptionist at our hotel for directions to a nearby parking lot, which resulted in us driving around in ... Click Here To Read More >> Funniest Signs - October 25, 2010 At the beginning of our trip to the UK, my husband and I decided that one way we could enhance the enjoyment of our journey was by creating categories “Academy Awards” style and then searching the countryside for candidates. So, we set out looking for the “Most Atmospheric Castle,” the “Best Stretch of Coastline,” and the “Prettiest Village.” We also included superlatives such as “Most Humorous Overheard Comments,” “Grea... Click Here To Read More >> Avebury – Larger and More Ancient Than Stonehenge - October 21, 2010 Less than an hour north of Stonehenge lies the village of Avebury, the site of yet another great stone henge, however this one is both larger and more ancient than its more popular cousin, Stonehenge. Another plus to visiting the henge at Avebury is how close you can get to the stones. Rather than being cordoned off by ropes, you can actually walk up and touch the massive rocks.  Some of them are formed in humorous shapes, either from damage inflicted by humans or the wearing... Click Here To Read More >> The One You've Been Waiting For - Stonehenge - October 21, 2010 No historical sight in England is more iconic or well recognized than Stonehenge. And despite the hordes of tourists which traipse past it every year and the encroachment of traffic from a major road less than 300 yards from the sight, it does a wondrous job of still maintaining its aura of magic and mystery. The henge was constructed in a number of stages starting at about 3000 BD, and its practical and ritualistic importance can only be guessed at, however, the alignment of the stone... Click Here To Read More >> Old Sarum - October 20, 2010 Old Sarum, mentioned in my previous blog, lies on a hilltop 2 miles north of Salisbury. Throughout the ages, men chose this windswept summit as their settlement, from Iron-Age times, through control by Romans, Saxons, Danes, and then Normans.  Today, within a huge circular mound lie the foundations of the Norman castle and cathedral that once stood there. However, the holders of the castle and the clergy did not get along, so in 1220, the bishop elected to move the cathedral in... Click Here To Read More >> Salisbury, and I'm Not Talking About the Steak - October 19, 2010 Salisbury (and I’m not talking about the steak, though the hamburgers in the UK do taste a bit like it) is a village in Wiltshire probably best known for its proximity to the mega-tourist attraction Stonehenge. However, this city is truly a delightful place to visit on its own merits. My husband and I greatly enjoyed strolling the streets of the compact city center, snapping pictures of the interesting buildings and attractions. One of Britain’s best cathedral cities, ... Click Here To Read More >> Arundel Castle - October 18, 2010 Buzzing along the road between Eastbourne and Salisbury, we passed Arundel Castle. I had intended for us to take a peek inside, but time got away from us and we were unable to stop. This was a problem we frequently encountered, as I had packed our days full of too many sights when I planned the trip. There just wasn’t enough hours in the day to see everything I wanted to. A good problem to have.  Arundel Castle (www.arundelcastle.org) dates from the Norman conques... Click Here To Read More >> Beachy Head - The Other White Cliffs - October 12, 2010 Day 2 began with a drive up to Beachy Head. Located on the white chalk cliffs, much like the white cliffs of Dover, just west of Eastbourne, Beachy Head is truly a sight to see, especially on a brilliant, sunny day with the deep blue of the English Channel sparkling below you. Beachy Head lighthouse stands proudly at the base of the 530 ft cliffs, a warning to ships sailing to close to shore. The South Downs Way, a popular hiking trail, begins at Beachy Head, and continues along t... Click Here To Read More >> Rest For the Weary - October 12, 2010 Our first evening stopover was in Eastbourne, a Victorian seaside resort located in the heart of 1066 Country, only a few miles from Hastings and Battle Abbey where William the Conqueror landed and fought the first skirmish over Saxon-controlled England. Eastbourne was warm and beautiful. A promenade stretched along the beach, ideal for strolling. The streets were lined with flowers and crisp, white buildings. We stayed at The Royal Hotel, a lodging house dating from the... Click Here To Read More >> We Got Castles - UK Day 1 - October 12, 2010 Day 1 of our trip to the UK began with an unpleasant discovery – overnight flights are NOT conducive to slumber. We arrived at Gatwick Airport, which was a mess due to heavy construction, tired and groggy. But we made managed to summon our excitement to be standing on English soil. The trek through Customs was quick and easy, as was finding an ATM to give us British Pounds Sterling and collecting our luggage. We then set out to pick up our rental car, and... Click Here To Read More >> 9 Things I Learned From Driving in the UK - October 12, 2010 1.  GPS (or as the Brits call it - Sat Nav) is Required – The road signs in Britain are notoriously sparse, and those that are there can be quite confusing. So unless you want to get hopelessly lost and end up in Norway, and spend half your trip screaming at your copilot, buy a GPS preloaded with maps for the UK. It made our trip infinitely more enjoyable and far less stressful than it could have been otherwise. 2.  We got sheep, and cows, and goats… T... Click Here To Read More >> Winnie the Pooh, Where Are You - October 11, 2010 My maternal grandfather had a wonderful imagination and a flair for the dramatic. From my earliest childhood memories, I can remember him reading my siblings, cousins and I stories such as The Three Billy Goats Gruff, complete with voices, or joining us in a rousing board game. But by far, our most favorite activity shared with Grandpa was searching for Winnie the Pooh. My grandparents lived in rural northeast Indiana on a large plot of open land that stretched back a quarter of a mil... Click Here To Read More >> 'Dem Boots, 'Dem Boots - August 27, 2010 Those of you who know me understand how much I love boots.  Tall, short; black, brown, purple; classy, biker-chic - I love them all.  And every year when autumn rolls around (hey, it's almost September - close enough), my mouth starts salivating.  I already have quite an impressive collection, but I can still find more pairs to love.  So, I must strictly limit myself to two purchases per season (or maybe three if there's just too awesome a sale/clearance). ... Click Here To Read More >> And Once Again, History Repeats Itself...Icelandic Volcano Eruptions - April 19, 2010 I imagine many of you heard about the volcanic eruption in Iceland last week, and how the plume of ash drifted across Europe grounding all flights for the foreseeable future. The moment I first saw this story on the news, I gasped because I had just done research on another Icelandic volcano eruption – the Laki Volcano, which erupted in 1783.  The first Laki fissure opened on June 8, 1783, sending a plume of gas and ash into the atmosphere. The emission of sulfuric aeroso... Click Here To Read More >> You Are What You...Write - February 26, 2010 I’ve had a working theory for some time now that you can tell where a fiction author’s interests lie by how lovingly she describes things.  Yes, lovingly.  That is the keyword here, for every writer has to describe the settings and characters of their novels.  However, when their work is viewed over time a pattern often emerges.  For example, I’ve come across several authors who seem to pay particular attention the flora and fauna in every setting and descri... Click Here To Read More >> March Book Picks - February 10, 2010 It should come as no surprise to most of you that I love books.  And as such, I normally have list of upcoming releases I am looking forward to reading.  I know many of you are avid readers as well, so I thought I would share my upcoming picks, and would also welcome your suggestions.  I tend to gravitate toward the Romance, Mystery and Women's Fiction, and Fantasy categories, but you will find my taste varies to include other titles from time to time.&nbs... Click Here To Read More >> Researching the Stone - February 1, 2010 Writing Historical Romance and Historical Mysteries, I do a great deal of research trying to get the period details correct. Most of the time I find this enjoyable. I chalk it up to a love of learning in general, especially for any subject pertaining to history. I also have a drive to get things just right—the period costumes, the social etiquette, the etymology of a word or phrase. Nothing thrills me more than discovering a historical event, the less well known the bet... Click Here To Read More >> An Ode To Snow - January 26, 2010 Winter has never been my favorite season, but I can appreciate its own particular brand of beauty, especially when it comes to snow. Is there anything quite like it? One moment it floats through the air in big fluffy flakes, surrounding you in a cloud of dandelion seeds, and the next it’s falling fast and furious, narrowing your world to a whiteout.  It descends from the sky in so many forms and speeds, it almost seems facetious to classify it with such a small, innocuous w... Click Here To Read More >> Five Useful Things I Learned From Watching Mythbusters - January 21, 2010 1 – Pirates quite possibly utilized eye patches so that they would not be blind when going from bright daylight into the near pitch black below deck on their ship. It would be all too easy for someone to hide in the shadows and leap out and kill you while your eyes adjusted to the darkness. The same principle is useful when using the restroom or other activities during the middle of the night. Keep one eye closed as you flip the light on and tend to your necessities.&nb... Click Here To Read More >> In Which We Learn an Interesting Fact About Paul Revere... - January 20, 2010 Did you know that the first documented postmortem dental identification on skeletal remains was made way back in 1776 by none other than Paul Revere? Many people realize Revere was a silversmith, but few know he was also a well-known dentist. He made the dental identification on the remains of Dr. Joseph Warren, a general killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Warren was buried after the battle by the British and shared a grave with another soldier. The grave was exhumed ten mo... Click Here To Read More >> In My Solitude - January 15, 2010 Writing is a very solitary profession.  It's not easy going into my office alone day in and day, with no one to talk to but my cat.  Writing does not require verbal communication or collaboration with others.  It requires you to do the work by yourself for months at a time and then hope the end product is good enough to be appreciated by others.  I'm lucky enough to work at home alongside my husband, so I'm not completely devoid of human contact all day.  But as we are b... Click Here To Read More >> The Young Victoria - January 13, 2010 My husband and I just saw a wonderful movie about the early life of Queen Victoria of Great Britain.  The Young Victoria portrays Queen Victoria's life in the years just before and after her ascension to the throne, as well as her romance with her husband Prince Albert.  Emily Blunt does a marvelous job playing the young monarch, and Rupert Friend excels in his portrayal of her husband.  I admit I have a soft spot for historicals, particularly when they are well cast an... Click Here To Read More >> Lord of the Rings - January 11, 2010 My husband and I recently decided to rewatch all of the Lord of the Rings trilogy again, extended edition, of course.  It's been some years since we've done so, and we were both surprised again by how good the movies are.  They have always been listed near the top of our favorites, but having been so long, we'd forgotten just how much we liked them.  At three to four hours a movie for the extended edition, they are not exactly light fair to be popped into the DVD player at anytime... Click Here To Read More >> Rummaging Through the Past - January 6, 2010 So I was cleaning out a closet the other day (the new year always sets me on the urge to purge) and I stumbled across a box of old stories and research papers. Most were from late Elementary and Junior High, but there were also a few from High School and College. I got a chuckle reading my first foray into mystery novels with the Chrissy Malibu Files (inspired by Nancy Drew, of course), as well as a story taken from the computer game and children’s game show Where In The World Is... Click Here To Read More >> Post-Holiday Blues - January 4, 2010 After the holidays are over - the gifts have been opened, loved ones hugged and sent on their way, and the hustle and bustle of busy schedules has settled back into the mundane - I often find I get a little blue. It’s difficult to return to my every day life after all the fun and excitement of December. On January 2nd (or 3rd, or 4th), when I discover I have to return to the real world, I drag my feet a little bit and sigh a lot. I wish presents still resided beneath my Chri... Click Here To Read More >> In the Bleak Midwinter... - December 21, 2009 Every year on December 21st (some times December 22nd) the northern hemisphere experiences Winter Solstice. Also called Midwinter Night, it is the shortest day and the longest night of the year. The higher the latitude, the more darkness, as parts of Alaska receive very little sunlight on this day. Cultures have marked and celebrated this day since ancient times, as evident by archeological sites such as Stonehenge in Britain and New Grange in Ireland, where sight-lines were laid ... Click Here To Read More >> Bake It Up - December 18, 2009 About a week before Christmas each year I get in the mood to do some serious baking. There’s just something about the holidays that makes me want to fill the house with the aroma of cookies and gingerbread, and fill my mouth with good eats. And then share them. Normally the goodies get dragged over to my parents’ house and devoured by my family. It makes me feel good when someone ooo’s or ah’s over a truffle or buckeye ball I made. Especially when... Click Here To Read More >> It's a Wrap! - December 15, 2009 So, many of you will probably think I’m crazy, but I love to wrap. That’s wrap with a w, not the music version. (Though I did do a rap in church when I was a teenager—but that’s another story.)  Anyway, I love to wrap—gifts. Nothing puts me in the holiday spirit more than swathing presents in pretty paper and a bow. Perhaps this is because as an older child my mother would recruit me to help wrap gifts for my five other siblings. (That&rsq... Click Here To Read More >> Twelve Days 'Til Christmas... - December 13, 2009 When I was younger, I believed the Twelve Days of Christmas, as referred to in the song of the same name, occurred before the holiday—thus from December 13th through the 25th. Later, I learned that the twelve days begin on Christmas and extend until Twelfth Night, January 5th. Twelfth Night, also called Epiphany Eve, is the traditional last day of the Christmas holiday festivities. It also marks the adoration of the Magi, and many cultures celebrate it as almost a second Chr... Click Here To Read More >> Peek A Boo Kitten - December 9, 2009 I'm sure many of you have already watched this clip, as its been discussed on several television shows, but I couldn't resist adding it my blog as well.  This adorable Peek A Boo Kitten makes me laugh every time.  Of course, I'm a sucker for cute cats, if you couldn't already tell.  I think I watched every version imaginable of the videos made of that ridiculous "I'm a kitty cat.  Meow, meow, meow..." song because my nieces and nephew love it.  Check... Click Here To Read More >> It's Not Easy Being Green... - December 7, 2009 By and large, our tiger cat is very good, even at Christmas time when all of the shiny decorations must pose a mighty temptation. She doesn’t try to climb the Christmas tree, or chew the electric cords, or bat the ornaments. She ignores the ribbons and bows and stockings. But there’s something about the greenery that whets her appetite.  She chews on the lower branches of our tree and the greenery wrapped around the stair rail, seemingly unaware that it’s p... Click Here To Read More >> Don't Forget To Put Your Boot Out... - December 4, 2009 Don’t forget to put your boots or shoes out on Saturday night. December 6th is St. Nicholas Day. People in central Europe and some areas of the Midwest United States with a strong German heritage celebrate this festival. On the eve of December 5th, children set a boot out on the doorstep, by their bedroom door, or on the stairs, whatever the custom is in their region. Then St. Nicholas visits to see if they’ve been good and fills their boot with gifts and sweets.&... Click Here To Read More >> It's the most Stressful time of the year... - December 2, 2009 I know it’s ridiculous, but trying not to be my old type A, list-making, preplanning self is making me STRESSED. Normally by Thanksgiving I have at least half of my Christmas shopping done, and I finish the rest within a week of that. This year I made a promise not to do any shopping until after Turkey Day, not only so that I can enjoy the decorations and Christmas spirit in the stores, but also so that I didn’t drive my families nuts asking them what they wanted in like Se... Click Here To Read More >> Driving Me Crazy - November 30, 2009 I don’t mind long car trips, though I prefer to be the one doing most of the driving. It gives me time to think, and listen to music, and enjoy the countryside—be it the flat fields of Indiana, the mountains of Tennessee, or the rolling hills of pine trees in Alabama. Sure my back starts to hurt after awhile and you begin to get a little stir crazy being stuck in a car, but by and large it’s quite an enjoyable experience. What I hate are the other drivers on the ... Click Here To Read More >> Turkey Dinner - November 23, 2009 Right about now I start getting really excited about Thanksgiving dinner, particularly the centerpiece - the turkey.  I love turkey!  It is my absolute favorite meat.  And considering how the average American family only prepares a fresh cooked turkey on one day of the year, it's the only time I normally get to enjoy it.  Sure, I have turkey sandwiches made from lunch meat all year long, but it's not even close to the same.  I love the turkey on Thanksgiving Day and... Click Here To Read More >> Sisters, Sisters…There Were Never Such Devoted Sisters… - November 20, 2009 In honor of my sister’s birthday, I decided the perfect topic would of course be – sisters. Whenever I think of sisterhood, several famous families come to mind, but my favorites seem to spring from the pages of Jane Austen. Who doesn’t love the Bennet sisters or the Dashwood sisters, no matter their foibles? Whenever I read Pride and Prejudice, I wish I could step right into the pages, not only to meet Mr. Darcy, but to talk to the Bennet girls – Elizabeth... Click Here To Read More >> Milk - It Does a Body Good - November 18, 2009 When I was a child, my mother used to make us drink a glass of milk at every meal. At the time, I hated it. Especially at breakfast. (Milk never tastes good to me in the morning, except on cereal.) However, as the years have gone by, I’ve developed a new appreciation for my mom’s persistence. Beyond broken/sprained fingers, the only broken bone in my entire family was an arm. That’s quite an achievement considering I have five siblings, and most of... Click Here To Read More >> TMI on TWC - November 16, 2009 Those of you who have lived with me since my freshman year of college understand how much I love the weather, and in particular The Weather Channel. I love it so much, in fact, that one roommate commented upon how she always knew who had watched the tv last by which station it was left on. I admit my adoration is a bit extreme, but since I have several friends who are also weather fanatics, I don’t feel so bad.  For me, it’s not just about checking the forecast for my... Click Here To Read More >> Oh, Captain, My Captain... - November 11, 2009 Every year since 1954 the United States has celebrated Veterans Day to honor the brave and selfless men and women who have served in our armed forces. The holiday was originally approved in 1938 as Armistice Day to commemorate the signing of the armistice that ended World War I on November 11, 1918. Many Americans view this day as simply another random holiday, but I think it is important for everyone to stop and contemplate all of the sacrifices made by the members of our military sin... Click Here To Read More >> Dreaded Chores - November 10, 2009 I don’t know what it is, but I absolutely dread doing the dishes. I would rather clean the toilets than load the dishwasher. The nasty, food-encrusted plates and slimy goo fermenting in the bowls at the bottom of the sink make my stomach churn. I realize that if I would fill the dishwasher as the dishes get dirty rather than setting them in the sink I wouldn’t have this problem, but that would entail unloading the latest clean batch to do it. I don’t even li... Click Here To Read More >> Cats and Bathwater - November 9, 2009 My cat is strange. She has a nice, fresh bowl of water setting out on the kitchen floor and still she would prefer to drink the nasty, soap-scum-filled liquid at the bottom of our shower or bathtub after my husband or I bathe. When we open the bathroom door, Pita is waiting oh-so-patiently to come inside. She slips past us, rubbing herself against our legs as if to say “thank you” and then makes a beeline for the bathing apparatus still dripping water. There are d... Click Here To Read More >> The Need For Speed - November 9, 2009 What is it about speed limits and our need to exceed them? Most people I know are not speed demons. They don’t intentionally drive ten or more miles over the speed limit and race around town on a normal day. However, the vast majority of my friends, family, and acquaintances admit to driving between five and ten miles over—just enough that they won’t get pulled over, or if they do, will have a less likely chance of getting a ticket. I admit to doing the same... Click Here To Read More >> A Lust For Lists - November 7, 2009 Call me anal, Type A, or just plain crazy, but I love lists. There is nothing more satisfying than making a list, checking it twice, and crossing of the proscribed tasks or items one by one once they’ve been completed, purchased or structured. It gives me a sense of accomplishment, like I’ve truly achieved something. If it’s a truly important task, or I’ve exhausted a particularly trying list, it almost gives me a high to know it’s finished.  Li... Click Here To Read More >> Remember, Remember the Fifth of November... - November 4, 2009 For some reason, the UK holiday of Guy Fawkes Night fascinates me. Also called Bonfire Night, it is a celebration held primarily in the United Kingdom every year on the evening of November 5th. The whole point of the holiday is to commemorate the foiled Gunpowder Plot masterminded by a group of Catholic conspirators who planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London. Guy Fawkes and his friends were caught on November 5th, 1605 before they could manage to do any real damage.... Click Here To Read More >> A Christmas Carol In Print - November 2, 2009 For some it’s the music. For others, the movies, baking, or decorations really put them in the holiday spirit. For me, it’s the books.  Come autumn when all the new Christmas themed anthologies and single titles begin hitting the shelves, my fingers just itch to crack them open so I can lose myself in a holiday story. There is simply nothing like curling up in front of the Christmas tree with a good book and warm cup of cocoa (with mint, please) to pass a cold, s... Click Here To Read More >> In which I rhapsodize about a favorite song… - October 30, 2009 There is nothing like stumbling across an old favorite you have somehow forgotten, be it a sweater, a dessert, or a song. I was sorting through a stack of old CD’s recently and grinned with glee when I found a compilation of classical music I purchased in college. On the CD was a recording of Gretchen am Spinnrade (Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel) by Franz Schubert. I first heard the song in a Music History class and instantly fell in love with it. In fact, a close frien... Click Here To Read More >> Murphy's Law of Warranties and Contracts - October 29, 2009 It is a truth universally acknowledged that anything can and will break immediately after its warranty or contract expires. Case in point—my cell phone. My two-year contract with my cell phone company is about to run out, and my cell phone battery has suddenly decided not to keep its charge. Normally, if charged to full capacity, my phone will last nearly a week. Now, however, it looses its power in less than two days, and the charge life is steadily shortening with eac... Click Here To Read More >> Halloween Games Of Old - October 27, 2009 I was researching Halloween festivities during the 19th century, which beautifully coincides with the fact that Halloween is only three days away, and I stumbled across a great painting. Perhaps artistically it is of no great importance, but from a historical research standpoint it’s very informative. The painting is called Snap-Apple Night and it was created by an Irish artist named Daniel Maclise. Sources say the inspiration for the piece came from a Halloween party the pa... Click Here To Read More >> So, what are you going to write in your first blog? - October 25, 2009 As innocuous as this question seems, it has plagued me for weeks now. After all, no one wants to post their comments online for all of their friends, family, and even a few strangers to see, and realize they sound stupid, especially on their first attempt. So, I considered telling a story from my childhood or recounting a humorous anecdote. I even contemplated using my cat as the “guinea pig”, per se. Then I typed out an essay analyzing the issues facing women in ... Click Here To Read More >>

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