Ten Blog Picks for Blog Pick Friday

Today is Christmas Eve and we celebrate the birth of the Christ Child. And all over the world little ones are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Santa. So in the spirit of giving I'm supplyling you with some links to awesome pages I've enjoyed this year. Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I'm taking a break from blogging but will return on Tuesday, January 4th, 2011!

Writerly Gifts by BJ Hoff.

Here's to You by Rachelle Gardner

Jabez and Walmart by Mike Dellosso

Charmin and the Afterlife by Tamera Alexander

Blame It On Prince Albert by Debra Marvin at Inkwell Inspirations

Seeking Positive Influencers by Ruth Logan Herne at Seekerville

Ten Writing Tips From NaNoWriMo by James Scott Bell at The Kill Zone

Creating A Book Readers Can't Put Down by Jody Hedlund

The Time Has Come by Brandilyn Collins

Wedding Memories by Francine Rivers

Creating a Life Plan by Michael Hyatt

Celebrating the Regency Christmas

I haven't spent much time researching Christmas during the Regency so I thought I'd do some research now as we approach Christmas and give you a list of links you may find of interest.

Christmas Traditions, by Jo Beverley at Christmas in the Regency

Decorating 19th Century London with Holly at Jane Austens World and more.

Christmas at Carlton House Celebrating the Season in Regency Style, The Jane Austen Center. And don't miss The Legend of the Mistletoe

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Your Best Years/Max Lucado

A little encouragement as we look forward to Christmas.



When you look ahead to the future, what is it that you hope for?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JANE AUSTEN!/BLOG PICK FRIDAY

IT'S BLOG PICK FRIDAY AND VIC SANBORN OFFERS UP AN AWESOME POST THIS WEEK IN HONOR OF JANE AUSTEN. JANE IS 235! DON'T MISS THE PARTY!

What do you think Jane would wish for this year if she were here to blow out the candles? Besides a lot of help from her friends. :)



Researching the Regency

I've just recently finished my edits on my first novel, Secrets of the Heart, which is Book One of The Ravensmore Chronicles. I probably won't see it again until I get my galleys. It is an incredibly difficult task when writing a Regency novel to be certain you have all the forms of address correct and the use of titles. I rely heavily on people like Nancy Mayer, who truly is, "A most proper authority on all things Regency." Please follow this link to Nancy's website. Regency Researcher I first discovered Nancy on line when I joined the The Beau Monde specialty chapter of Romance Writers of America  a long, long time ago.

You would think after reading many, many Regency novels through the years that this part of completing a novel would be the least of my concerns. Not so. I'm always learning something new. I also recently discoverd Vic Sanborn's blog, Jane Austen's World

If you are interested in getting your facts straight, and I pray I have, then I highly recommend that you visit these sites and see what these very astute women have to say about the Regency era. Some of the things I've learned over the years that may interest you as you research your own Regency novel  include:

1. Why was a Regent necessary?  The short answer is that King George III went mad so his son made the decisions since he was no longer able to do so.
2. What were the years of the Regency? 1811-1820. However, some writers stretch that time period a bit.
3. What's a pelisse? A long fitted coat. Sometimes fur lined and then evolved into silk with no fur. The pelisse was inspired by military wear. I always thought the women wore a short jacket that was also called a pelisse. Perhaps someone visiting today can clear that up. :)
4. Who is this guy called, Beau Brummell? He was the fashion icon for the men and quite well known.

5. How do you tie a cravat? Very carefully. :)

                                                                   TheCravat
                              

                          

So what have you learned about the Regency? Ask a question and I'll try to answer. This could be very amusing. :)                                                                                                 

The Proof Is in the Pudding from Sunday Morning

If you always wondered how the English make that Christmas pudding, figgy and otherwise, you must check this out. Happy Sunday. And if any of you have ever tried this please tell us your experience. :)

The Proof is in the Pudding

James Scott Bell/Blog Pick Friday

If you have never met James Scott Bell and you want to learn to write you must get aquainted. He visited my agent Rachelle Gardner's Blog yesterday so that made my pick for the week really easy. They are both awesome.  Agents Got Heart

And you have to read his latest book on writing. Awesome!



                              
                                                                          
  And his latest novel.

                                                                 

Incandescent Power

I've been trying to figure out how I feel since finishing the final edits on my book that will be released in May 2011 from Strang/Realms. Book One of The Ravensmoore Chronicles: Secrets of the Heart. I wanted to document this first time experience of what it's like to finish a book that is scheduled for publication. It's kind of like a firework  Rorschach Test experience. Interpret your inner fireworks.



Yes, I'm relieved that I made it this far. But I can't quite figure out how I REALLY feel. I know that probably doesn't make any sense at all, but I thought this would be a kind of huge jumping for joy feeling. I'm happy, don't get me wrong, but . . .  it's like fireworks. Different ones go off and make all these pretty patterns, but they're not all beautiful. Some can make your ears and eyes hurt and others can jiggle your insides or make your heart pound. Kind of like the emotion of this experience. Weird. I know.

Did I just finish this revision?

Ohhh. Ahhh. Wow! Hmmm. Gee Whiz. Yikes! Shazaam! Uh-Oh, now I've got to do it again. Can I do it again? Sure. Maybe.
        

What do these firworks mean? They're pure emotion. Bright, and shining, and beautiful. Sometimes they just fizzle out after making a lot of noise. Some go really high, burst, and then disappear quickly, while others linger and leave their mark on the air.

                                                                        
                                                                    ~WOW~                                                                       

Brenda Ueland wrote a book called, If You Want To Write   http://www.amazon.com/If-You-Want-Write-Independence/dp/1935785575/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1291685048&sr=1-1

Her 8th summary point on page 178 says the following:

"Don't think of yourself as an intestinal tract and tangle of nerves in the skull, that will not work unless you drink coffee. Think of yourself as incandescent power, illuminated perhaps and forever talked to by God and his messengers. Remember how wonderful you are, what a miracle! Think if Tiffany's made a mosquito, how wonderful we would think it was!"

And that's what I want you to remember when you write. I don't care if it's your first paragraph or your 50th book. Remember how wonderful you are and then experience your own fireworks. Your own incandescent power.

So how do you describe those moments in your life that aren't easily described? What do they look like? How do they feel?

Snoopy vs. The Red Baron (Snoopy's Christmas)

One of my favorites. Remember this one?

Good news for ebooks/Kathryn Lilley's Post/My Blog Pick of the Week

Good news for ebooks: the 82-year-old mother test



http://killzoneauthors.blogspot.com/2010/11/good-news-for-ebooks-82-year-old-mother.html

I enjoyed this post a lot. I still don't own a Kindle but when I read Kathryn Lilley's post over at the Kill Zone this week I thought it might be time I buy one of these and maybe I should get one for my mom first.

Do you own a Kindle? Do you like it? Would you buy one for an elderly parent who has difficulty reading?