Eliza Knight's Blog, page 63

A Scottish Christmas by Sky Purrington

Today I'm excited to welcome guest author Sky Purrington to History Undresed! She has a special holiday treat for us--a bit of history on Christmas in Scotland. Enjoy and happy holidays!


A Scottish Christmasby Sky Purrington
Hi Everyone! I'm thrilled to be visiting ElizaKnight's, History Undressed blog. Ihope that everyone is enjoying their holiday season so far. It's hard tobelieve that Santa will be coming down the ol' chimney in a few short days. For those of you unfamiliar, I write a cross genreof paranormal and fantasy romance. While I have titles covering everything fromvampires to ghost hunters, by far my favorite works include those written abouttime-traveling Highlanders. Like Eliza, I'm crazy about history, especiallyScottish history. I suppose that's why I can't sit still in one time period. Before I go any further I'd like to host a Christmascontest. One lucky commenter will win an E-bundle of my 'The MacLomain Series' This includes one short story and three fullnovels. Prize will be either offered in E-book fashion or can be 'gifted'straight to your Amazon Kindle.I thought for this visit to keep in Yuletide formand share some age old Scottish Christmas history and traditions. When I did alittle extra research for this blog post I discovered something interesting,and a little sad. Christmas was banned in Scotland for FOUR HUNDREDyears!Accordingto Rampant Scotland.com , "After the Church Reformation in the 16th century,the celebration of Christmas was frowned on by the Kirk, which regarded it as a"Popish festival". Mass was banned in Scotland at that time and"Christmas" or "Christ's Mass" was included in that. Thereare records of charges being brought against people for keeping"Yule" as it was called in Scotland. Amazingly, this dour,joy-crushing attitude lasted for 400 years. Until the 1960s, Christmas Day wasa normal working day for most people in Scotland."Oh,religion does have a way of changing the rules on occasion, doesn't it? In theMacLomain Series, my Highlanders accept both the old pagan ways as well asembrace the new God so there's no stress in my medieval clan! Then again,they're wizards. I suppose magic helps smooth things out. *winks* Solet's talk first about pre-400 years of no Christmas. Those were theglorious days when the Yuletide celebrations lasted from December 25thto January 6th. The Scots word "Yule" comes from the OldNorse "jól, which was a midwinter pagan celebration of the winter solstice.Believe it or not, the celebrations are thedirect results of the Vikings when they first came to Scotland. They were allabout celebrating conquest and plunder. However, their original version of thismid-winter festival lasted a whopping twenty-four days. Yep, those boys knewhow to party! Naturally, the overindulgence launched a mammoth feast on the eveof Yule.According to Friends of Scotland.gov.uk, "TheVikings stuffed their faces with vast quantities of food and drink after whichthey stumbled off into the winter night to light a huge bonfire in the goddess'honour. Today, fire and light plays a major part in Yule celebrations in manyareas of Scotland from Biggar to Shetland. When William of Normandy conquered England in 1066 the English PrincessMargaret fled north and was shipwrecked on the Scottish coast. Her Christianinfluence helped turn the previously pagan Yuletide season into a celebrationof the birth of Jesus Christ." Some fun facts… ~Many ancient superstitions and rites heldsignificance for Scots during the Middle Ages. For example, decorating houseswith evergreen trees and mistletoe. Our modern trees are newer versions of thisancient pagan idea that the evergreen tree represented a celebration of therenewal of life, while Celtic peoples long considered mistletoe to have magicpowers. It was said to have the ability to heal wounds and increase fertility. ~InScotland a sprig of mistletoe continues to be hung from ceilings and in doorwaysto bring luck and ward off evil spirits. Kisses are welcome too!~Christmascards are said to have been invented in Edinburgh, Scotland in themid-nineteenth century.Thehistory of Christmas in Scotland is rich and closely tied with many of the traditionsof England, especially in more modern times. But some are unique to Scotland.Many households decorate their evergreen (particularly holly) with strips oftheir tartan. Also, it's a 'must' to have a short bread on your holiday table,whether it be Scottish Black Pun, Dundee Cake, Scottish Shortbread (bannock) orMaisie Magennis Dumpling.Ihope you enjoyed learning more about Scotland at Christmas, HistoryUndressed. Though Christmas wasn't directly at the heart of it, I spentseveral years researching and writing about Scotland. To this day, no countryhas touched my heart like she has. If you enjoy Scottish time-travel, my 'TheMacLomain Series' is currently being offered at .99 CENTS PER NOVEL for alimited time. Though The King's Druidess (shorter tale) leads out thepack, I thought to share the blurb from Fate's Monolith (The MacLomainSeries- Book 1).Wishingyou all a very Happy Holiday Season!BestRegards,Sky Abit about Fate's Monolith…AriannaBroun, a Scottish born colonial American has been haunted by the reoccurringdream of a phantom Scottish warrior. Her infatuation with the dream intensifiesuntil All Hallows' Eve, when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest.After several bizarre encounters she runs to her safe haven deep in the woods.When dawn comes too early, Arianna is eager to go home. But fate has otherplans.LairdIain MacLomain has long awaited the arrival of his promised bride. She claimsto not be the woman intended for him but she fits the description given him ofher, all fire and defiance. That defiance will end up costing them everythingand rips them apart. However, a Scottish Chieftain with magic at his disposalis capable of most anything. Will he hold Arianna in his arms again or is shelost to him forever? Only time will tell.TheMacLomain Series is available at Amazon and Barnes & NobleLearnmore about Sky Purington at her Website 


LADY SEDUCTRESS'S BALL Release Day and Blog Postings

Happy Monday! Less than a week until Christmas! But one of my gifts has come early, and that is the release of my novella, LADY SEDUTRESS'S BALL, a Regency erotic romance, with Carina Press!


In celebration of my release today, I'm blogging at Fresh Fiction on how I think cookies are a lot like books J Stop by and visit! (and enter for a chance to win a copy of LADY SEDUCTRESS'S BALL!) http://freshfiction.com/page.php?id=3844 And I will be blogging at several other places this week as well!


Tuesday:
Novel ThoughtsCarina Press BlogWednesday:
Romancing the BookThursday:
Victoria Gray Romance

Lots of chances to win prizes!


Blurb:


Invitation to Pleasure


As the wife of the elderly Earl of March, Olivia Covington has never known the intimacies of the bedroom. Though her curiosity is piqued by the shocking whispers of society ladies, she is too wary of causing scandal to indulge in an affair. But Tristan Knightley, Earl of Newcastle, tempts her to throw off propriety.


Tristan wants Olivia for his own, and has sworn off all others until he can rid himself of the obsession. He is sure once he has a taste, he will tire of her, and can return to his rakish existence. Unable to wait to have her in his bed, he invites her for a tryst at Lady Seductress's Ball...


24,000 words


LADY SEDUCTRESS'S BALL has already gotten great reviews! Click here to read 9 reviews, averaging 4/5 Stars: http://bit.ly/uslJNe


Carina Buy Link: http://bit.ly/rs3v8f ($2.69)
Amazon: http://amzn.to/uNxWQl ($2.99)
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/sHY6z1 ($2.99)
Apple: http://bit.ly/uGoIaJ ($2.99)

Have a Nook? Need a Cheap/Free Read?

Do you have a Nook? Looking for a book to read? An awesome new website featuring daily deals--cheap reads, free reads and even books to splurge on!  Got quite a few historicals up there this week! Check it out! http://www.nooklovers.com


Cheers,
Eliza

Searching for Camelot in the Dark Ages by Persia Woolley

Today I am pleased to introduce you to historical author, Persia Woolley, author of the Guinevere Triology, which Sourcebooks Landmark has re-issued (originally written in the 1980's). Leave a comment to win a paperback copy of Guinevere, the Legend in Autumn  ! (1 winner/US & Canada only) Enjoy!






SEARCHINGFOR CAMELOT IN THE DARK AGES BRITAINby Persia Woolley


What apleasure it is to write for the History Undressed readers!


When I setout to do a realistic, historically accurate version of Camelot, told in firstperson by Guinevere, I figured it would mean about six months of research andsix of writing. My first two books--both non-fiction--had taken that long so Ithought a novel would also. Instead I spent 11 years researching and writing theGuinevere Trilogy and loved every moment of it.


It began in1980 with a lot of reading and included four trips to Britain, all of themmanaged on a shoestring. My itinerary was a blend of where I needed to go forthe story and how far away the nearest hostel was. Whenever possible thedifferent stories are set in their legendary domains--Gawain goes into theWirral to meet his fate with the Green Man and Igraine has her life-changingencounter with Uther at Tintagel. But where stories could not be geographicallyplaced I spread them out all over Britain as Arthur and Gwen would have maderegular progresses throughout the realm, cementing alliances, checking cropsand assessing defenses.


My longesttrip lasted four weeks and extended from London up to Hadrian's Wall then slowlydown to Old Sarum. It was at that ancient chalk hillfort that a widow whowalked her dog there twice a day pointed out that in Gwen's time there wouldn'thave been a single strand of ivy allowed to grow on the steep sides of thebank-and-ditch, lest it give marauders a handhold for launching an attack. As aresult the white chalk mound would have been visible for many miles, rising up outof the plain. That description and setting was reason enough for me to move thewedding from Winchester to Sarum.


Theshortest trip came after I'd spent a week on a journalists junket betweenGlasgow and Edinburgh. We were wined and dined every night but as mycompatriots were winging back to the States I was extending my ticket foranother week, trading my professional clothes for wool pants and parka andrunning for the last bus to Carlisle in the rain!


On thosetrips my wardrobe was strictly functional (pants, shirt and sweater) as everythinghad fit in my backpack. Hostels are only open at night, so my days were spentclimbing over Roman ruins and Celtic hillforts, poking about small museums orworking my way along Hadrian's Wall. The discovery of a hermit's cave nearWarkworth Castle fit so well with Lance's spiritual nature, it was logical tomake that charming spot Joyous Gard.
 
The peoplewere wonderfully friendly, and I'm much indebted to the cleaning lady who talkedabout a Neolithic site near Threlkeld Knotts where people occasionally lived intothe Dark Ages. Or the bus driver who explained that what I was looking for onthe River Eden could be found down the path behind the farm we were just comingup to. He let me off with the understanding that when he came back in 45minutes he'd pick me up again if he could see me coming toward the road;otherwise I'd have to hike back to the nearest town on my own.


By the end ofthe project I had hauled or sent home roughly 1,000 books, maps, pamphlets andhandouts from museums that covered everything from flora and fauna to how tohang wild game, most of which requires a number of days to become edible byhumans. Added to that were all the books bought here in the States, often fromobscure catalogs which carried very scholarly texts on arcane subjects.


Probably themost unique publication in my bedside reading was the thesis of a studenttracing the patterns of taxation by both the Romans and the Saxons on thewagons carrying salt to the interior of the island. The student reasoned thatif the people in 650 A.D. had the same taxation hubs as those in 400 A.D. onecould surmise that the routes had been at least partially open through theintervening years.


From thereit was an easy step to having Arthur and Gwen discuss how to get the locals tokeep the roads cleared in return for the safe delivery of the salt they needed.


I sometimesjoke that I'm a frustrated architect who only writes novels because I can makea living at it. That is true as far as it goes, though the living is often asmuch feathers as fowl. But the lure of houses, barns, forts, holy places and townlayouts inevitably creeps into my work.


It's one ofthe reasons I made my Gwen a northern Celt who has to go south to marry thatking, whether she wants to or not. Not only would Arthur have picked a bridefrom among the tribes whose rebellion he'd crushed, I as the author wanted herto be an outsider so she sees everything with fresh eyes and notes it for thereader.

Coming from the north she would have grown up with  wattle-and-daub round houses as well as crannogs(houses built over water) on lakes in southern Scotland. And she would have heardabout the brochs of Gawain's home turf. The deserted Roman buildings would havebeen usable and often their locations are phenomenal, such as those atRavenglass or Hardknott Pass.


Evidence ofthese structures is generally found in archaeological reports and sometimes onthe Ordinance Survey maps of Britain. Whenever possible I went to sites that werebeing developed by experimental archaeologists, such as Butser Farm inHampshire which had an example of the Celtic roundhouse. I see on the net thatit's been moved, but am sure wherever it is, there are birds still nesting inits thatch.  


There wasalso the Saxon settlement of West Stowe. I well remember that gray and drippingday, and expensive cab fare--without a car one has to hire a fellow for severalhours so he will wait and bring you back to public transportation. Compared tothe ease with which one can call both places up on computers nowadays, I can'thelp feeling both primitive and antiquated! But I got to sit in thosebuildings, to watch the way the shadows fell and stare at the ceilings, theeaves, the trenches dug to drain the rain away...you just can't do that on yourcomputer!


Now, withGoogle Earth and Wikipedia and every town's tourist board touting their localattractions, it feels as if one might do the research without ever leavinghome. But nothing can replace actually standing where your characters did, bethat on the wall around Chester or the headland of Tintagel or the top of theTor at Glastonbury. To smell that wind, to squint into that sunset, to watch aflock of starlings bank and sweep across that sky is one of the great perks ofwriting historical fiction...at least for me, and I suspect every other suchnovelist.  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Persia Woolley is the author of the Guinevere Trilogy: Child of the Northern Spring, Queen of the Summer Stars, and Guinevere: the Legend in Autumn, as well as How to Write and Sell Historical Fiction. She lives in Northern California. 

Visit the author:


WebsiteFacebook 
ABOUT THE BOOK
Guinevere, the Legend in Autumn by Persia Woolley (Historical Fiction)
The conclusion to a celebrated Arthurian trilogy based on more than a decade of research, Guinevere, the Legend in Autumn is a startlingly original recreation of the tale of Arthur and Guinevere, seen from the perspective of a likeable, realistic Guinevere, a Queen who deserves to become a legend.
Surrounded by traitors, trapped by destiny, Britain's spirited Queen Guinevere recounts the last, dramatic years of Camelot. At King Arthur's side, she reigned over the fabled heroes of the Round Table as her heartbreaking honesty, courage, and integrity were challenged by those she loved most. Torn between duty and desire as he rescued his Queen, condemned to the stake for treason, Lancelot swept her away as she bartered her soul to save Arthur and Camelot from the furies of fate. This is Arthurian epic at its best–filled with romance, adventure, authentic Dark Ages detail, and wonderfully human people.

Yes, Dear Reader, There is a Santa Claus by Victoria Gray

Yes,Dear Reader, There is a Santa Claus
ByVictoria Gray
I indulge in a love affair every year at Christmas time withan older man who has a bit of a weight problem and truly never heard of theAtkins diet, but he's a flashy dresser with an even flashier means oftransportation. He's generous, possibly to a fault, and I don't usually go fora big, ZZ-Top style beard, but he's the exception. My home is filled withimages of this man – his face is even on my Christmas ornaments. My husbanddoesn't mind my interest. He's not in the least bit jealous. In fact, my darlinghusband, a man who reminds me more than a little bit of Clark Griswold,searched Ebay to find an old, somewhat cheesy plastic rendering of him that wasfirst crafted in the sixties. So, who is this mystery man?
You guessed it – Santa Claus, that jolly resident of theNorth Pole who now attracts NORAD's interest every Christmas Eve. Long beforeSanta's sleigh was tracked on radar, Santa became an indelible part of Americanculture. A century before Macy's Thanksgiving parade ushered in the Christmasseason, the poem A Visit from SaintNicholas introduced the image of Santa Claus that many Americans cherish.From the young toddler sitting on Santa's lap to the homeowner competing withhis neighbor to have the grandest light display in the neighborhood, the imageof a jolly old man with a white beard, red suit, and reindeer at the readybrings to mind the joy and warmth of Christmas.
Amazingly, Santa's image became a vital part of America'sChristmas tradition during the Civil War. Cartoonist Thomas Nast's portrayal ofSanta on the cover of the January 3, 1863 edition of Harper's Weekly depictedSanta seated on his sleigh, complete with hat and beard,  presenting gifts to Union soldiers on thebattlefield. Three decades later, an eight-year-old girl, Virginia O'Hanlon,wrote a letter to the New York Sun that spawned one of the most famouseditorials in history, Francis Church's response. Church, a former Civil Warcorrespondent who'd seen man's inhumanity to man in vivid terms, responded withthe immortal line, Yes, Virginia, thereis a Santa Claus. His touching, philosophical response viewed the existenceof Santa in terms of love and goodness and giving.
One of my most enduring images of Santa emerged from theclassic movie Miracle on 34thStreet. The classic film charmed generations. Remade decades later, thepremise was the same – Santa is real, if only in our hearts. What a lovelymessage to remember during the holiday season.
What images bring Christmas to mind most vividly for you? Doesmistletoe bring back memories of a treasured kiss, or would cookies for Santastir memories of Christmas past? What signs of Christmas touch your heart?
*~*~*~*

Leave a comment for a chance to win my new release, Surrender to Your Touch. One commenterwill be chosen to win a free pdf of the novel.Surrenderto Your Touch isavailable from Amazon.com: E-book or Print,

and

The Wild RosePress:  E-book and Print

I hope readerswill stop by my website and my blog, www.victoriagrayromance.com ; www.victoriagrayromance.blogspot.com .

I'd love foryou to friend me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

A Darcy for Everyone!

I am a huge fan of Jane Austen and JA Fan-fic, so I thought I'd pass along this email I received from Sourcebooks! 
Cheers and Happy Birthday Jane!
*****
A Darcy for Everyone! Sourcebooks Celebrates Jane Austen's Birthday! From Tuesday December 13th – Friday December 30th the following eBooks will be priced at $1.99 at all online e-tailers. Whether you like Darcy as a tortured vampire, a modern day rock star, a Texas rancher or anything and everything in between! There truly is a Darcy for everyone! A Darcy Christmas – Carolyn Eberhart, Sharon Lathan and Amanda Grange Darcys & the Bingleys – Marsha Altman Darcy's Voyage – Kara Louise Fitzwilliam Darcy, Rock Star – Heather Lynn Rigaud The Man Who Loved Pride and Prejudice – Abigail Reynolds Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One – Sharon Lathan Mr. Darcy Goes Overboard – Belinda Roberts Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife – Linda Berdoll Mr. Darcy, Vampyre – Amanda Grange Pemberley Chronicles – Rebecca Ann Collins Pemberley Ranch – Jack Caldwell Searching for Pemberley – Mary Lydon Simonsen Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy – Sara Angelini Darcy and Fitzwilliam – Karen V. Wasylowski You can find all of the titles and information here: http://www.sourcebooks.com/readers/browse-our-lists/ebook-specials/1884-a-darcy-for-everyone.html

Colin Falconer Introduces His Novel: HAREM

Welcome back to History Undresesd today, Colin Falconer! Today he's talking with us about a bit of fascinating history behind his re-release, HAREM. Leave a comment for a chance to win an ebook copy of HAREM.  Enjoy!


HARĒMHistory UndressedbyColin Falconer

The word 'Harēm'conjures an element of fantasy for most people; of women in gauzy veils drapedlanguorously beside steam baths against a background of incense and marble. Across between a high class bordello and a spa resort.  Most men are disappointed to learn that theOttoman harēm was in fact run by the Sultan's mother.  She had assumed the title of 'Valide Sultan'upon her son's ascension and thus became the most powerful woman in the OttomanEmpire. It was the ultimate achievement for a former concubine and slave. She wasnow head of a palace that had once been her prison, and also wielded enormousinfluence over her son's political decisions and by extension the Empire thathad enslaved her.   She also regulated the relations between himand his wives and children.   Do I dare say it? This caused friction.   Far from the indolent massage parlour ofmale fantasy, the harēm was in fact a hotbed of intrigue and ambition. All thewomen were in competition with each other; and every one of them wanted to bethe next Valide.
The Sultan was allowed just four principalfavourites but an unlimited number of concubines. Far fewer Sultans tookadvantage of this arrangement than you might think. Most Sultans preferredtheir favourites to a different girl every night.   The Australian actor Jack Thompson perhapsexplained the reason for this best. He lived with many years with twin sisters.Many men seemed to think this was an ideal arrangement and one reporterquestioned him about it. Jack answered: 'You know what it's like coming homeafter a night out and having to face one woman? Well imagine having to face two.'  The rank and file concubines were chosenfor their exceptional beauty and intelligence. Inside the world of the harēm theywere considered the contemporary equivalent to a 'one night stand.' Should shebe chosen for this honour and fail to arouse sufficient interest during theencounter, she might never see the Sultan again. But if she was asked backrepeatedly she became an iqbal, afavourite.    But pleasing the Sultan was only part of it;it was also essential to get pregnant with a male child so that she couldbecome one of the Sultan's 'wives'. Then, although technically still a slave herself, she was given her own apartments,slaves, and eunuchs.   She couldnow one day become the most powerful woman in the Empire - or finish her daysin a weighted sack at the bottom of the Bosphorus.  But theconcubines and kadins were only half the story. Eunuchswere the integral other half of the harēm.There is a myth that once a man has been castrated he loses his desire forwomen. Sadly, from my research, I learned that this is apparently not the case.It must have been truly torturous for these men to be surrounded by naked and exquisitelybeautiful women and still retain their yearning.  There were two sets of eunuchs; the whiteeunuchs came from the conquered Christian areas of Georgia, and Armenia, or asprisoners of war from Hungary and Germany.They were only partly castrated.   (Imagine what happens in lambing season -it was like that.)  The black eunuchs however were completely'shaven'. Most of these operations were performed at a Coptic monastery inEgypt. The boys were brought there from the Sudan as young boys. Their averageage was eight. The survival rate was ten per cent.  Enough said.  Should a eunuch survive this procedure andrise to become the Chief Black Eunuch he would then find himself the thirdhighest-ranking officer of the empire, after the Sultan and the Grand Vizierand functioned as the private messenger between the Sultan and his mother. Itwas also his appointed task to lead a new odalisque to the Sultan's bedchamber, and was the only"man" who could enter the harēm should there be any nocturnalemergencies.   Being in control of the Harēm and head of anet of spies in his fellow Black Eunuchs, he was deeply involved in almostevery palace intrigue and these men even gained power over the Vizier and theSultan himself.  The Chief White Eunuch was the head of the harēmbureaucracy and was supposed to have no contact with the harēm women, but thiswas not always the case in practice. As they were not completely 'shaven', theysometimes retained the ability to satisfy a lonely harēm  girl. A few years after Suleiman's death theywere banned from the Harēm completely as too many of the girls were fallingpregnant without the Sultan's assistance.   Far from being the fantasy place ofnineteenth century art, the harēm was in fact a sad and lonely place ofintrigue and deadly spite. For young women it must have been a terrible anddolorous place.  But oh, let me tell you; it was just afantastic background for a novel!  COLINFALCONER is the author of WHEN WE WERE GODS, ANASTASIA and many other books ofhistorical fiction. His work has been translated into seventeen languages. Hislatest novel SILK ROAD, was published in London last month by Corvus-Atlantic.  HAREM for Amazon US  HAREM for Amazon UK  Colin Falconer's blog

Colin Falconer's website

Video of the Week! Horrible Histories -- The Tudors Song

Okay, yes by now you must realize I am a Horrible Histories junkie! I love these videos!  Enjoy :)

Callie Hutton Presents an Early 20th Century Interview with her Characters

Today History Undressed would like to welcome guest author Callie Hatton, who has written up a special interview with her hero and heroine from A Wife by Christmas!

August 11, 1906: The Guthrie Sentinel, NewCommunity News, Page Two

The Guthrie Sentinel is proud to introduce our readers toMr. Max Colbert, the new Principal of the Logan County High School.

Reporter: The former principal, Mr. David Robinson, had beenin that position for quite some time. Do you anticipate making changes now thatyou've taken on the job?

Mr. Colbert: I have gone through files Mr. Robinson leftbehind, and spoken to several teachers. It does appear some changes are needed,particularly with the staff.

Reporter: Will you be letting some teachers go?  Is that the changes you anticipate?

Mr. Colbert: Not at all. I'm re-thinking our list ofacceptable teacher activities. Several pursuits do not reflect well on theteaching community. It is important that we represent ourselves with dignityand decorum.

Reporter: Are there any activities in particular you wouldlike to see abandoned by your teachers?


Mr. Colbert:  One of our teachers is actively involved inWomen's Rights' movements, which is totally inappropriate for a teacher ofyoung minds. There are other things as well, which we'll deal with one at atime.

Reporter: Do you anticipate any problems with the changesyou plan?

Mr. Colbert: Not at all. I'm sure all the teachers will behappy to have a strong leader guiding them, and encouraging them to put forththeir best efforts both in and outside of the classroom.


Reporter: Well, we certainly wish you well in yourendeavor.  Thank you for joining ustoday.

Mr. Colbert:  Thankyou.  I look forward to a productiveyear.


August 11, 1906: The Guthrie Sentinel, Spotlighton Our Citizens, Page Three:

Today we interview Miss Ellie Henderson, History teacher atLogan County High School, and spokeswoman for Guthrie branch of The Women'sRights Movement.

Reporter: Miss Henderson, how does your activities with theMovement fit with your job as teacher?

Miss Henderson: Quite well, actually. Our Principal, Mr.Robinson, is very supportive of our activities. He encourages us to think forourselves and embrace whatever causes we see fit.

Reporter: Are you aware that Mr. Robinson has retired fromhis position at the high school?
Miss Henderson:  Iheard rumors to that effect at the end of last term, but I don't think it willmake any difference to our Movement.


Reporter: Suppose your new principal is not supportive ofyour activities?

Miss Henderson:  Idon't see that as a problem, sir. I'm sure our new principal will be just asaccommodating as Mr. Robinson has always been. Men are much more enlightened inthe new century.


Reporter:  If any ofour readers wish to join your organization, where can they find you?

Miss Henderson: We meet every Tuesday at the Library ateight o'clock. We welcome all those interested.

Reporter: Well, we certainly wish you well with theMovement, and your teaching career. Thank you for joining us today.

Miss Henderson:  Thankyou. I look forward to another year of instructing young people and openingtheir minds to the benefits of equal rights.
~~~~~~~~~~

Max Colbert and Ellie Henderson are about to start theschool year. By December, sparks are flying. Will they resolve theirdifferences? Or has the school become a battle ground between two stubborncombatants?
A Wife By Christmas, available now from Soul Mate Publishingwill answer those questions.  www.soulmatepublishing.com

Visit my website: www.calliehutton.comfor more information on the book, which is a sequel to A Run For Love, alsofrom Soul Mate Publishing and available now.


Excerpt:
Guthrie, OK
November, 1906

            Max Colbertglared at the woman perched on the edge of the chair across from him.  History teacher Ellie Henderson had been athorn in his side the size of the Oklahoma sky ever since he'd been appointedprincipal of Logan County High School three months ago.

            She sat there, humming. Humming! His gut twisted and he clenchedhis jaw.  Drat the woman for being sounconcerned while he fumed.  It wasimportant to get his emotions under control, needed his years of experience tokick in.  He took a deep breath andleaned forward.

            "Miss Henderson, your unapproved activitieshave gone too far. I am going to have to fire you."
            Ellie'sright eyebrow rose, meeting him glare for glare. "No. You can't."            "Yes I can,and I am." Blood rushed to his face.            She stoodand placed both palms on his desk, and leaned in. "I will tell my Uncle Jesse."            Max pushedhis chair back and got to his feet. He moved close enough to see the lightdusting of freckles across her nose. "It won't make any difference."            "It will ifyou plan to be Territorial Superintendent of Schools." They were now almostnose-to-nose.             Beads ofsweat broke out on his forehead. "I will get that job on my own merit.""Not without Senator Jesse Cochran's endorsement."  Her hazel eyes narrowed.His jaw tightened, his mouthworking as if to say something. Then like a rag doll, he collapsed into hisseat and leaned back, eyes closed. "Miss Henderson, you are a pebble in myshoe."            "And you,Mr. Colbert, are a horse's behind."             He openedone eye. She again sat primly on the edge of her seat, adjusting herskirts.  The two red dots on her cheeksthe only indication of her anger."You may leave now," he saidthrough gritted teeth.            Ellie bowedher head slightly. "As you wish." She stood, smoothed back the hair alwaysloose from her bun.  With head held high,she sailed from the room, closing the door softly. Her skirt stuck in the door.She re-opened it, yanked the skirt and banged the door shut.Max winced at the sound, his lefteye twitched.

 I hope you enjoyed this little taste of Ellie and Max. Iwould love to hear from you. One commenter will receive a free download of AWife By Christmas.
Callie Hutton

New Workshops Presented by Eliza Knight for 2012

"He said/She said" -- Writing Fictional Dialogue
(1/9/12 - 1/23/12)

Learn the mechanics of writing dialogue, and how to make your character's conversations pop.
Craft/mechanics of writing dialogueWhat to write and what not to writeWhat moves the story alongTags/action tagsMixing dialogue with action/narrativeMaking character GMC shine through speechViewing indivual personality traits/morals/values through speechWeaving backstory into dialogueDialectMultiple lessons, exercises and critiques provided each week. Your readers will be able to "hear" what your characters are saying.

&
 S.E.X. -- Writing the S.ensual E.vocative X.perience
(1/23/12 - 2/6/12)
Writing love scenes can be some of the hardest (no pun intended) prose to create. By the end of this workshop you'll know how to write love scenes like no other! (This workshop is intended for both mainstream romance and erotic romance writers, and writers of mainstream fiction!) In this workshop you'll learn:

Sensual language/body part termsHow to make your scenes come alive with sensory detailsWeaving emotion into love scenes (the scenes have to move the story along, no gratuitous sex!)Making each scene unique to the characters and the storyThe mechanics of the body (ie... anatomy & positions)Getting yourself in the "sex" mind-setDialogue in love scenesThe differences between mainstream romance and erotic romanceMultiple lessons, exercises and critiques provided each week.

***Warning! Be prepared... this class comes with an advisory. It will get dirty... It will be fun. It will be an interesting experience. You will write better sex.  Each workshop purchased individually is $15 or you can purchase both at a discounted rate of $25 . Click HERE to register.