Lydia Michaels's Blog, page 5
February 21, 2018
My Dream Reading Room
Many of my readers know I have an almost carnal obsession with bookshelves and reading nooks. What book lover doesn’t? I love books, the scent of the pages, the weight in my hands, and the beauty of a collection on display. When I see a beautiful library I stop and admire it like a work of priceless art, because paper and ink are my preferred media and they should be displayed as the masterpieces they often are.
While my home tends to be simplistic in favor of comfort and function, I am a lover of old houses, especially ones that have their own stories to tell. I was raised in such a home—a stunning 1752 farmhouse tucked away in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. So it’s no surprise that when I was asked to imagine my ideal reading room my mind immediately went there.
Most people love their childhood house because no other place will ever hold more nostalgia. My love for my childhood home is so pervasive and unfading, to me the house is much more than a beautiful structure. It’s a piece of time, a holder of secrets, echoes of memories, laughter, love, and even tears. It isn’t simply a pretty house, it is and will always be the place I think of first when I hear the word home.
Coined “big house” on social media, those of you who read my McCullough Mountain series might recognize the term from those books, which were greatly infused with sentimental feelings I drew from my big house in Bucks County. Readers of McCullough Mountain often tell me they want to live in the “big house” because there’s something magical about the way it’s described, a sort of emotion evoked that creates a yearning for home and a sense of familiarity. Though the two houses are different by design, the long wooden dinner table, the tongue and groove flooring, the gathering places tucked within, those are all things inspired by my childhood home. It is simply a house like no other.
Once a part of Bloomsdale Farm, owned by Landreth Seed Company, still in existence today, the house was built to withstand the test of time. I often say it’s like Tara, the fictitious plantation from Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind—and like Tara, the “big house” has a story of its own.
After the Revolutionary War, POW Alexander Graydon retired at the Big House to write his memoirs, staring out the same windows I’ve looked from, countless times. In 1989, Colonial Homes did a feature on the house, capturing a bit of the beauty visitors see at first glance. Generations have lived and died in that home, babies were born there, families were raised, and memories continue to be made.
Over the years, additions have been added, but the antiquated charm remains. Deep-set windows flood the home with natural light despite the thick, stone façade. Gaping fireplaces warm the house on drafty days. Antique furniture and art give guests the sensation they’re literally passing through time when they visit.
Somewhat lost in the grandiose renovations is a small sitting room at the far end of the house. It has a charming fireplace as its centerfold, directly across from the wide-open entryway. A narrow, floor to ceiling window facing the backyard is one of four windows in the room, spilling natural light into every corner during the day. With its original hardwood floors, colonial moldings, and marble hearth (cracked from the time my father thought he could burn our dried out Christmas tree), this room, with its quietly removed location, was destined to be a library.
I picture this room a warm and welcoming hideaway from the chaos of daily life, a place where a fire is always burning and stained glass lamps accent each surface. A cozy Persian carpet would rest on the floor, plush with intricate designs, a welcoming escape for little ones to quietly read or a lazy dog to rest and warm my feet.
Facing the fireplace would be two button back wing chairs, draped in soft, faded quilts. Arhaus has a unique selection of winged chairs and other living room pieces that remind me of this style*. Ottomans would be a must for those enthralling stories that require a good deal of comfort to survive. A tufted chaise, curved like a traditional fainting couch would rest invitingly in the corner for readers to stretch out and relax with the books that threaten to make a reader swoon.
Because I’m also a writer, there should be a writing desk tucked in the corner, something timelessly beautiful and one of a kind. I imagine an early 20th century Louis XV with floral inlay, gilded accents, and clawed feet. One ornate accent table, round with a butter smooth leather top, would display a first edition of the memoirs of Alexander Graydon to pay homage to the creative minds that once created there. The fireplace mantle would display first editions of my favorite—what I consider—classics such as J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan [originally titled Peter and Wendy c. 1911] and Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre. But let us not forget the walls.
As a child, one of my favorite movies was the 1971 film, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. In this movie, there’s a song, The Candy Man Can, where the children rush into the local candy shop and are treated to a theatrical performance by the Candy Man. While I love chocolate, I love the setting of this song even more. The candy shop is set up like an old-fashioned apothecary with deep, cherry stained shelves, slightly worn by time. The moldings are notched with wooden sconces and—my favorite part—there is a ladder that rolls from one side of the room to the other, the track curving along the perimeter of every shelf. This is how books should be displayed and true bibliophiles would rush in like children seeking the last golden ticket.
Eye catching treasures would be hidden throughout the room as well. I collect antique typewriters, and the windowsills in this room are just wide enough to display them properly. Tiny inkwells would sit on the lip of every paned window, reflecting sunlight. But the beauty of this room is that there are no televisions, no clocks, and no boundaries. It is a time machine, a dream maker, a place where magic beans can be found and hearts are at the mercy of the greatest heroes ever written.
It’s hard to imagine such a perfect place could ever exist. We see these types of fantasy rooms on Pinterest and television, but never imagine actually having them our homes. Perhaps one day I will possess such a room, a place where I can travel through time and forget the worries of ordinary days. Wouldn’t that be lovely? I think any true book lover can empathize with such a dream.
I’d love to hear what your fantasy reading room looks like. Do you want the library Beast bestowed on Belle? Or perhaps you want something bigger like the archives Samwell discovered in the Citadel on Game of Thrones. Or maybe you only want a nook, a secret corner full of pillows near a window where you can steal away on a rainy day.
Tell me your perfect reading room and perhaps one day the fairytale of owning such a room will come true!
The post My Dream Reading Room appeared first on Lydia Michaels Books.
September 5, 2017
It’s Time to SURRENDER!
Have you pre-ordered your copy yet?
It’s finally here!
After three long years, the Patras Family is back!
See what Lucian and Scout have been up to. Where has Parker been hiding? How is Slade holding up? Are Toni and Shamus still together? And most importantly, what is Isadora Patras hiding?
Surrender Games starts September 26, 2017 with
SACRIFICE OF THE PAWN,
Isadora Patras’s story, and continues on October 24, 2017 with
QUEEN OF THE KNIGHT.
I promise, if you loved The Surrender Trilogy, you won’t want to missThe Surrender Games Series!
Pre-Order your copy now!
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Apple iBooks
Kobo
Autographed Print
Join Lydia Michaels for the Surrender Games Release Party on Facebook!
Loads of giveaways!
To attend, join the Facebook group, Read Between the Wines here.
Check in on 9/26 for giveaways!
Enter as many as you want and win!
Hope to see you there!
BUY NOW
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August 23, 2017
SURRENDER GAMES Blitz & ARC Sign Ups!
Are you ready?
The Patras family returns & they’re breaking into a brand new series, Surrender Games!
The series begins with Lucian Patras’s eldest sister, Isa. Isadora Patras lives a life of secrets and her story is two books: Sacrifice of the Pawn and Queen of the Knight.
If you’re a blogger and interested in joining the
Surrender Games Book Blitz or reading an advance copy,
please sign up here!
Readers, make sure you add Sacrifice of the Pawn to your Goodreads TBR and you can pre-order your copy now!
Blitz & Arc Sign Up Form
Goodreads Link
Amazon Pre-Order Link
The post SURRENDER GAMES Blitz & ARC Sign Ups! appeared first on Lydia Michaels Books.
March 25, 2017
The Patras Family is BACK!
Well, get ready for a trip back to Folsom!
September 2017, the Patras family returns in a special novel,
QUEEN OF THE KNIGHT!
Pass the word around! Find out how Lucian, Scout, Isadora, Toni, Shamus, and even Parker and Slade are doing since we last saw them!More details coming soon!
The post The Patras Family is BACK! appeared first on Lydia Michaels Books.
February 27, 2017
Release Party on Facebook! *Giveaways!*
Don’t miss the fun! Hop over to the
#DOS Facebook Release Party
&
join in some great Giveaways!
Hope to see you there!
February 28, 2017
8:00-10:00 pm EST
TAKE ME THERE!
The post Release Party on Facebook! *Giveaways!* appeared first on Lydia Michaels Books.
February 24, 2017
LIVE Q & A on Facebook TONIGHT with Lydia!
on Facebook TONIGHT!
Guest appearances from Gayle Donnelly & Robyn MacKenzie!
GIVEAWAYS!
7:00pm EST
Broadcasting from the
Behind the Keys Writing Retreat
Wildwood, NJ
Join us!
The post LIVE Q & A on Facebook TONIGHT with Lydia! appeared first on Lydia Michaels Books.
February 7, 2017
NEW from Lydia Michaels on NetGalley!
We’re only a few weeks away from the long awaited Degrees of Separation Trilogy by Lydia Michaels & Allyson Young! If you’re a reviewer and want to get your hands on an early copy, book one, FORFEIT is now on NetGalley!Click here to grab your copy!
The post NEW from Lydia Michaels on NetGalley! appeared first on Lydia Michaels Books.
February 1, 2017
The Degrees of Separation Trilogy
I am so excited to announce the Degrees of Separation trilogy that starts this month!
I hope you help spread the word, because it is definitely a new trilogy deserving of some buzz! #DOS is an emotionally driven story about a happily married couple (living blissfully within a D/s relationship) who fall on hard times when Austin, December’s loving husband, loses control and addiction takes the lead. I’ll warn you now, this is no ordinary love story and Allyson Young and I have definitely broken the mold of traditional romance with this one. And yes, all three books come with a warning.
Here’s what you need to know…
Release Dates
(Click titles to view Pre-Order details on Amazon)
February 28
March 21
April 4
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE #DOS GIVEAWAY!
And if you’re a blogger and you would like an Advance Copy of the #DOS trilogy, Click here!
Allyson Young and I hope you enjoy what we’ve created! We can’t wait to share these amazing characters with you!
The post The Degrees of Separation Trilogy appeared first on Lydia Michaels Books.
January 11, 2017
NEW! Calamity Rayne Series by Lydia Michaels
This is a new romantic comedy series from Lydia Michaels that follows the lovable, sometimes awkward, Rayne Meyers in her journey to act her age and understand love. The series will be ongoing and available in PRINT & eBook.An awkward girl’s account of inexperience, sexual mishaps, and too much tequila…
Needing a change, Rayne Meyers—a.k.a. Calamity Rayne—sets out to be a personal assistant for one of the wealthiest families in the world. What could possibly go wrong? Inexperienced with sophisticated settings, she does her best not to screw things up too severely, except there’s one complication she didn’t foresee—her boss’s devastatingly charming son, Hale Davenport.
Hale is everything Rayne is not. He’s experienced, mature, and methodical about every part of his life. But when he meets his father’s new assistant, a woman nothing like the calculating females he’s used to, he is captivated and prepared to throw caution to the wind. Turns out, slightly awkward and sometimes silly sex might be exactly what his love life’s been missing and everything his heart didn’t see coming.
Order Your Copy Now!
Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo
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August 29, 2016
Returning to McCullough Mountain!
I’m happy to announce, after many requests from readers, the McCulloughs are returning! We are once again going back in time. HOW TO LOVE HER is a sweet prequel to the McCullough Mountain series that takes place in the 1990’s when Kate, the eldest McCullough sister, fell in love. We all know Anthony aka Ant, and wonder how he came to be part of this big Irish family, but now the truth is coming out!
Don’t miss Kate & Ant’s story this September 2016!
Also… A BIG McCULLOUGH BONUS!!!
You have two options to purchase
HOW TO LOVE HER!
You can read HOW TO LOVE HER as a “stand alone” ($2.99)
Or you can Bundle & Save with the McCullough Mountain Box Set Collectors Edition, containing 8 McCullough Stories, including HOLD ME FAST, Frank & Maureen’s story. ($7.99)
Kate McCullough has always been a good girl, but when one bad choice lands her in a heap of trouble, her entire life changes in the blink of an eye. If not for her accidental friendship with Anthony Marcelli, she’d be lost.
Captivated by her wild charm and natural beauty, Anthony pushes for more than friendship only to have Kate pull back. He’s determined to show her how great they could be as a couple, but she’s the strong-willed sort, and adamant that they should only be friends. Refusing to give up, he risks everything to prove her wrong—even if that means going toe-to-toe with the craziest McCullough of all—her father.
How to Love Her is a prequel to Sacred Waters that will take readers back in time and return them to a place they love—McCullough Mountain.
