Mariel Grey's Blog, page 2
January 29, 2016
All Things French. In England?
A reviewer for my newest book, A Gentleman’s Surrender, posed a fair question which made me think to post this article.
***Spoiler***
It is revealed later in the book that my heroine, Monique, was born in France before the war with England began in 1793. The reviewer wondered why people in England would not have questioned the French spelling of my heroine’s name, which in English, would typically be spelled as “Monica.” The reason, as I will now explain, is that the English nobility were enamored with all things French.
***End Spoiler***
The French have long been noted for their stylish flair, and that was true even during the Regency period of England (the corresponding time in France is referred to as the Empire period). The aristocracy’s obsession with French culture and art during the Regency is evident even in the French words by which the fashionable referred to themselves. The terms, the ton, bon ton, haute ton, or beau monde, are synonymous with Society during the Regency. I should point out, however, that this love of French culture did not necessarily extend to the common folk, whose anti-French sentiment probably stemmed from the nobility’s very love for it.
Fashionable young gentleman embarked upon a Grand Tour to see the world and experience other cultures before settling down, and their experiences doubtless added to this obsession. Paris was one of, if not the, most popular destinations until war was declared. Though trips to France were halted during wartime, they quickly resumed once peace prevailed. Speaking French fluently as a second language was practically a requirement among the nobility, unless, Heaven forbid, you be castigated as unpolished or uneducated. You have to think it was something of a paradox that business might be conducted in the tongue of the enemy.
And all of those marvelous French wines and champagnes! Bordeaux (or claret) and burgundy. Hermitage from the Rhône region south of Lyon. The wonderful wines from the Champagne region of France. Cognac and other fine French brandies. French cigars for the men to enjoy with their brandy. All luxuries the well heeled enjoyed. And all from France.
For the upper crust, what lady didn’t crave beautiful silk from Lyons, or delicate lace from Alencon, Arras, Dieppe and Le Puy? Women’s styles were influenced by France and by 1802, all women in vogue were wearing what we would call the Empire style gown (as in French Empire) made popular by Marie Antoinette. The cravats dandies like Beau Brummell wore had their origins in 17th century France.
Even French furniture was desirable. George IV, the Prince Regent, redesigned the Carlton House to showcase his enormous collection of fine French furnishings, which was rather contradictory since England was at war with France.
Are you seeing a trend here? English society adored everything French. So what happened when a war broke out and the beloved items were banned from being imported? Why, it gave rise to a huge industry of smuggling. The upper class wasn’t about let a little thing like a war deprive them of their indulgences! The topic of war time smuggling could consume numerous posts, but with France beckoning just across the English Channel, you can imagine.
During a brief period of peace under the Treaty of Amiens in 1802, the English Channel was overrun with people heading to Paris to legally purchase all the French items they coveted. Charles James Fox, a Whig leader, together with a group of people which included the Duchess of Devonshire, were the first to arrive in France after the peace (which only lasted about 14 months). Lady Conyngham, the later mistress of George IV, was toasted as the most beautiful woman in Paris at the time. Being presented at Court to Napoleon was all the rage, even though the ink had barely dried on the treaty!
So, the bottom line is, all things French were fine and dandy during the Regency, never mind there that they were at war with France. A bit ironic.
***Spoiler***
It is revealed later in the book that my heroine, Monique, was born in France before the war with England began in 1793. The reviewer wondered why people in England would not have questioned the French spelling of my heroine’s name, which in English, would typically be spelled as “Monica.” The reason, as I will now explain, is that the English nobility were enamored with all things French.
***End Spoiler***
The French have long been noted for their stylish flair, and that was true even during the Regency period of England (the corresponding time in France is referred to as the Empire period). The aristocracy’s obsession with French culture and art during the Regency is evident even in the French words by which the fashionable referred to themselves. The terms, the ton, bon ton, haute ton, or beau monde, are synonymous with Society during the Regency. I should point out, however, that this love of French culture did not necessarily extend to the common folk, whose anti-French sentiment probably stemmed from the nobility’s very love for it.
Fashionable young gentleman embarked upon a Grand Tour to see the world and experience other cultures before settling down, and their experiences doubtless added to this obsession. Paris was one of, if not the, most popular destinations until war was declared. Though trips to France were halted during wartime, they quickly resumed once peace prevailed. Speaking French fluently as a second language was practically a requirement among the nobility, unless, Heaven forbid, you be castigated as unpolished or uneducated. You have to think it was something of a paradox that business might be conducted in the tongue of the enemy.
And all of those marvelous French wines and champagnes! Bordeaux (or claret) and burgundy. Hermitage from the Rhône region south of Lyon. The wonderful wines from the Champagne region of France. Cognac and other fine French brandies. French cigars for the men to enjoy with their brandy. All luxuries the well heeled enjoyed. And all from France.
For the upper crust, what lady didn’t crave beautiful silk from Lyons, or delicate lace from Alencon, Arras, Dieppe and Le Puy? Women’s styles were influenced by France and by 1802, all women in vogue were wearing what we would call the Empire style gown (as in French Empire) made popular by Marie Antoinette. The cravats dandies like Beau Brummell wore had their origins in 17th century France.
Even French furniture was desirable. George IV, the Prince Regent, redesigned the Carlton House to showcase his enormous collection of fine French furnishings, which was rather contradictory since England was at war with France.
Are you seeing a trend here? English society adored everything French. So what happened when a war broke out and the beloved items were banned from being imported? Why, it gave rise to a huge industry of smuggling. The upper class wasn’t about let a little thing like a war deprive them of their indulgences! The topic of war time smuggling could consume numerous posts, but with France beckoning just across the English Channel, you can imagine.
During a brief period of peace under the Treaty of Amiens in 1802, the English Channel was overrun with people heading to Paris to legally purchase all the French items they coveted. Charles James Fox, a Whig leader, together with a group of people which included the Duchess of Devonshire, were the first to arrive in France after the peace (which only lasted about 14 months). Lady Conyngham, the later mistress of George IV, was toasted as the most beautiful woman in Paris at the time. Being presented at Court to Napoleon was all the rage, even though the ink had barely dried on the treaty!
So, the bottom line is, all things French were fine and dandy during the Regency, never mind there that they were at war with France. A bit ironic.
December 22, 2015
Make my day by making yours this Christmas and holiday season
One of my favorite blog topics is about kindness. You never know when a minor gesture on your part can have a profound impact on someone else.
I know a lot of us do things intentionally for people. We may participate in the Toys for Tots program at Christmas or help out with a civic or church project during the year. This past week, a stranger paid hundreds of thousands of dollars toward the layaway accounts at several Walmart stores in Ohio and Florida. We’re aware of those intentional acts of kindness. What about the ones you may never learn about?
Many years ago I worked in a car dealership. One day a woman who cleaned our bathrooms revealed to me that I had helped her through a difficult time because I smiled at her and spoke to her, reminding her of her daughter who had recently died.
My husband was on the phone with me a few days ago. A co-worker later told him he had overheard our conversation and learned something. The man told my husband that the kind and loving way he had spoken to me had taught him something about the way he should behave in his own relationships.
Both of these instances were just minor, routine events in our day, and yet they affected others in ways in which we never have dreamed. We became aware of those occurrences only because the people involved chose to share them with us. That rarely happens.
This time of the year is happy for many, sad or stressful for others. People are under financial pressure to get the “right” gifts for their loved ones. They are dealing with crowds, finances, longer work hours. Others may be dealing with the loss of a loved one, or face the prospect of another holiday alone.
Being nice to someone doesn’t have to cost anything. Refrain from giving the finger to the person in traffic who was behaving like a jerk and try not to be one yourself. The waitress who gave you lousy service might have had one table too many or was up all night with a sick child (tip her nicely anyway- it doesn’t cost extra to do what you would have normally done). That surly cashier might have been dealing with rude and cranky people all day (smile at him anyway and be different from everyone else). A distracted sales person might have just discovered his wife lost her job (just patiently ask your question again until you get your answer).
You never know what is going on in the lives of others, and small gestures could make someone else’s day. Better yet, there are large bodies of research which document that when we do something kind for others, it releases a myriad of chemicals in our own bodies which make us happier and healthier too (don’t believe me, check out some links below, though there are thousands more just like them).
You’ve probably seen the commercials which depict a person doing something nice, someone witnessing it, and then doing something nice for someone else. It’s based on a truism. Research has shown that merely witnessing an act of kindness makes us feel better.
So, what are you waiting for? In this rush, rush, rush time of year, take a minute to be nice to someone else. Bake them cookies. Hold the door. Help them with their packages (hey, maybe one of those is for you!). In making their day, you might just make yours.
http://www.choosehelp.com/news/emotio...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-r...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/priya-a...
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/heal...
https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/...
I know a lot of us do things intentionally for people. We may participate in the Toys for Tots program at Christmas or help out with a civic or church project during the year. This past week, a stranger paid hundreds of thousands of dollars toward the layaway accounts at several Walmart stores in Ohio and Florida. We’re aware of those intentional acts of kindness. What about the ones you may never learn about?
Many years ago I worked in a car dealership. One day a woman who cleaned our bathrooms revealed to me that I had helped her through a difficult time because I smiled at her and spoke to her, reminding her of her daughter who had recently died.
My husband was on the phone with me a few days ago. A co-worker later told him he had overheard our conversation and learned something. The man told my husband that the kind and loving way he had spoken to me had taught him something about the way he should behave in his own relationships.
Both of these instances were just minor, routine events in our day, and yet they affected others in ways in which we never have dreamed. We became aware of those occurrences only because the people involved chose to share them with us. That rarely happens.
This time of the year is happy for many, sad or stressful for others. People are under financial pressure to get the “right” gifts for their loved ones. They are dealing with crowds, finances, longer work hours. Others may be dealing with the loss of a loved one, or face the prospect of another holiday alone.
Being nice to someone doesn’t have to cost anything. Refrain from giving the finger to the person in traffic who was behaving like a jerk and try not to be one yourself. The waitress who gave you lousy service might have had one table too many or was up all night with a sick child (tip her nicely anyway- it doesn’t cost extra to do what you would have normally done). That surly cashier might have been dealing with rude and cranky people all day (smile at him anyway and be different from everyone else). A distracted sales person might have just discovered his wife lost her job (just patiently ask your question again until you get your answer).
You never know what is going on in the lives of others, and small gestures could make someone else’s day. Better yet, there are large bodies of research which document that when we do something kind for others, it releases a myriad of chemicals in our own bodies which make us happier and healthier too (don’t believe me, check out some links below, though there are thousands more just like them).
You’ve probably seen the commercials which depict a person doing something nice, someone witnessing it, and then doing something nice for someone else. It’s based on a truism. Research has shown that merely witnessing an act of kindness makes us feel better.
So, what are you waiting for? In this rush, rush, rush time of year, take a minute to be nice to someone else. Bake them cookies. Hold the door. Help them with their packages (hey, maybe one of those is for you!). In making their day, you might just make yours.
http://www.choosehelp.com/news/emotio...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-r...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/priya-a...
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/heal...
https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/...
December 6, 2015
Choosing a title when you're not royalty
Maybe you found this blog post because the title piqued your interest. As an author, that’s what we try and do. Amazing as it may sound, selecting a title consisting of only a few words for a book can be almost as difficult as writing it.
Choosing a title is a tough proposition. The object is to have the title reflect tone or content in some way. You’ve spent hours, days, or months agonizing over one. You finally distill what you think is the perfect name, only to do an internet search and find that one or more books already carry that label. Sigh. It’s back to the drawing board.
If I had it to do all over again, I would have named “Surrender of Trust,” the first book of my Surrender series, differently. I like the name, and I think it is appropriate to the content. The reason I would have chosen another title involves a different kind of trust: reader trust.
I’ve been told by a few readers that, based on the title, they thought the story would be more within the Christian romance genre. The novel, a historical set in the extended Regency time period, contains some very mild sexual content, which, while not graphic, still takes it squarely out of that category. The name, for some, set up a different expectation as to how the story would be written, which in turn, violated their trust.
Bearing that in mind, I made a departure from the title I initially intended to use for the second book of the Surrender series. It is now called “A Gentleman’s Surrender,” and is due to be released January 1, 2016.
Will I ever rename the first book of the series? I don’t know. I’ve toyed with the thought, but it was hard enough deciding on the title in the first place without trying to create a new moniker. Besides, I’m a boater. Mariners are a superstitious lot. We all know that changing the name of a boat is really serious business courting disaster and bad luck. So, with that thought, I think I’ll just leave it the way it is.
Choosing a title is a tough proposition. The object is to have the title reflect tone or content in some way. You’ve spent hours, days, or months agonizing over one. You finally distill what you think is the perfect name, only to do an internet search and find that one or more books already carry that label. Sigh. It’s back to the drawing board.
If I had it to do all over again, I would have named “Surrender of Trust,” the first book of my Surrender series, differently. I like the name, and I think it is appropriate to the content. The reason I would have chosen another title involves a different kind of trust: reader trust.
I’ve been told by a few readers that, based on the title, they thought the story would be more within the Christian romance genre. The novel, a historical set in the extended Regency time period, contains some very mild sexual content, which, while not graphic, still takes it squarely out of that category. The name, for some, set up a different expectation as to how the story would be written, which in turn, violated their trust.
Bearing that in mind, I made a departure from the title I initially intended to use for the second book of the Surrender series. It is now called “A Gentleman’s Surrender,” and is due to be released January 1, 2016.
Will I ever rename the first book of the series? I don’t know. I’ve toyed with the thought, but it was hard enough deciding on the title in the first place without trying to create a new moniker. Besides, I’m a boater. Mariners are a superstitious lot. We all know that changing the name of a boat is really serious business courting disaster and bad luck. So, with that thought, I think I’ll just leave it the way it is.
November 27, 2015
What do you mean I can't leave a bad review?
(Re-posted due to website feed issues)
As nice as it would be to ensure that every review posted for one of my books was positive, it wouldn’t be genuine. That, however, is essentially what some companies are doing. Either say something nice about them, or risk nasty legal consequences.
How can they do that? By inserting clauses into the terms and conditions you agree to when you purchase goods or services from them (you know, that legal jargon we so often agree to without ever actually reading it).
The practice came to light when a couple made a small online purchase from a retailer. The product never arrived, they cancelled the order, and left a negative review on a website. Imagine their surprise when several years later the company discovered the negative review and billed them a $3,500.00 "Non-Disparagement Fee" for violating the terms of sale. What!!!!
Needless to say, the pair didn’t pay the fee and the matter was turned over to a collections company, which negatively impacted their credit, and ended up in a court battle. The court ruled in the couple’s favor last year.
Fast forward. Congress is currently debating legislation which would essentially make these kinds of clauses null and void (yes, Virginia, your Congress might actually be working for you). It’s called The Consumer Review Freedom Act.
This is an issue that hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves. While this proposed Act may help in certain instances, if you search the internet for "leaving bad reviews, legal trouble," and the like, you’ll plenty of other scenarios which this will not address.
I am well aware that reviews are sometimes unjustified and/or are motivated by factors other than sharing accurate information (a fellow author received a 1 star review for "too much sex" in her novel. Ahem, this author writes only clean romance with 0 sex). Or there have been instances where companies paid money for negative reviews to be posted against rival companies.
While people should feel free to voice their opinions if they had a negative experience, they should not have free reign to be unfairly malicious.
How do we find the right balance? I don’t have an answer, but it’s an important question.
Below are links to the legislation, as well as a few others you may want to look at if you are interested.
In the meantime, feel free to buy my books. Oh, and before you hit the purchase button, please remember to agree to the terms and conditions. Thanks for your support.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-c...
http://www.grubstreet.com/2014/02/bad...#
http://ideas.time.com/2013/01/07/yelp...
http://consumerist.com/2014/06/26/kle...
As nice as it would be to ensure that every review posted for one of my books was positive, it wouldn’t be genuine. That, however, is essentially what some companies are doing. Either say something nice about them, or risk nasty legal consequences.
How can they do that? By inserting clauses into the terms and conditions you agree to when you purchase goods or services from them (you know, that legal jargon we so often agree to without ever actually reading it).
The practice came to light when a couple made a small online purchase from a retailer. The product never arrived, they cancelled the order, and left a negative review on a website. Imagine their surprise when several years later the company discovered the negative review and billed them a $3,500.00 "Non-Disparagement Fee" for violating the terms of sale. What!!!!
Needless to say, the pair didn’t pay the fee and the matter was turned over to a collections company, which negatively impacted their credit, and ended up in a court battle. The court ruled in the couple’s favor last year.
Fast forward. Congress is currently debating legislation which would essentially make these kinds of clauses null and void (yes, Virginia, your Congress might actually be working for you). It’s called The Consumer Review Freedom Act.
This is an issue that hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves. While this proposed Act may help in certain instances, if you search the internet for "leaving bad reviews, legal trouble," and the like, you’ll plenty of other scenarios which this will not address.
I am well aware that reviews are sometimes unjustified and/or are motivated by factors other than sharing accurate information (a fellow author received a 1 star review for "too much sex" in her novel. Ahem, this author writes only clean romance with 0 sex). Or there have been instances where companies paid money for negative reviews to be posted against rival companies.
While people should feel free to voice their opinions if they had a negative experience, they should not have free reign to be unfairly malicious.
How do we find the right balance? I don’t have an answer, but it’s an important question.
Below are links to the legislation, as well as a few others you may want to look at if you are interested.
In the meantime, feel free to buy my books. Oh, and before you hit the purchase button, please remember to agree to the terms and conditions. Thanks for your support.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-c...
http://www.grubstreet.com/2014/02/bad...#
http://ideas.time.com/2013/01/07/yelp...
http://consumerist.com/2014/06/26/kle...
November 19, 2015
Book Review: Christmas on Mimosa Lane by Anna DeStefano
(Sigh) I have been having feed issues between my blog and Goodreads for months, so I am manually posting blog posts for now.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and overall I felt like it was a good story. A word of caution, however. If you are looking for a light, fluffy story for the holiday season, this may not be for you. I will only briefly outline the plot as many other reviewers have done so in depth.
The story is told from multiple points of view: the heroine, Mallory, Peter Lombard, Polly Lombard, and a neighbor. This is a somewhat unusual structure for a romance of this length, but works due to the plot line.
Peter Lombard has been recently bereaved of his beloved wife and is struggling with his own emotional issues, as well as those of his six year old daughter, Polly. When Mallory, a new standoffish neighbor, moves next door, she puts up a festive Christmas tree. The tree draws Peter’s emotionally distraught child to her house, and serves as the catalyst for Mallory to become involved in Peter and Polly’s lives.
Mallory is dealing with her own emotional issues as a result of having been homeless as a child and living with a mother battling mental disease and alcoholism. Peter doesn’t want anyone interfering with his attempts to reconnect with this daughter, and Mallory doesn’t want to become emotionally attached to anyone, yet that is exactly what transpires.
The tale deals with issues of grief and guilt, combined with love lost and love found again. The emotional baggage which is intertwined with these emotions is also explored. I enjoyed the story, but did find it strained credibility to some degree that Peter became involved with Mallory so soon after his wife’s passing. I thought that perhaps there should have been a lengthier grieving process, though there is foundation laid in the story to explain that.
To me, the story’s ending is bittersweet, though, based on other reviews, most readers seem to feel it is happy. If you want to read a tale which takes some weighty topics and manages to make you feel good, then this is a book you might want to try.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and overall I felt like it was a good story. A word of caution, however. If you are looking for a light, fluffy story for the holiday season, this may not be for you. I will only briefly outline the plot as many other reviewers have done so in depth.
The story is told from multiple points of view: the heroine, Mallory, Peter Lombard, Polly Lombard, and a neighbor. This is a somewhat unusual structure for a romance of this length, but works due to the plot line.
Peter Lombard has been recently bereaved of his beloved wife and is struggling with his own emotional issues, as well as those of his six year old daughter, Polly. When Mallory, a new standoffish neighbor, moves next door, she puts up a festive Christmas tree. The tree draws Peter’s emotionally distraught child to her house, and serves as the catalyst for Mallory to become involved in Peter and Polly’s lives.
Mallory is dealing with her own emotional issues as a result of having been homeless as a child and living with a mother battling mental disease and alcoholism. Peter doesn’t want anyone interfering with his attempts to reconnect with this daughter, and Mallory doesn’t want to become emotionally attached to anyone, yet that is exactly what transpires.
The tale deals with issues of grief and guilt, combined with love lost and love found again. The emotional baggage which is intertwined with these emotions is also explored. I enjoyed the story, but did find it strained credibility to some degree that Peter became involved with Mallory so soon after his wife’s passing. I thought that perhaps there should have been a lengthier grieving process, though there is foundation laid in the story to explain that.
To me, the story’s ending is bittersweet, though, based on other reviews, most readers seem to feel it is happy. If you want to read a tale which takes some weighty topics and manages to make you feel good, then this is a book you might want to try.
April 11, 2015
Book Review: On Sunset Beach by Mariah Stewart
This is the first book I’ve read by Mariah Stewart, and this story is the eighth in her Chesapeake Diaries series. The tale opens with Grace’s diary entry about her son, Ford, returning home from a military stint in Africa. From what I gathered, Grace is somewhat psychic and her diary entries are the uniting […]
January 19, 2015
Life and writing in 3-D
I don’t know about you, but I’m trying to wrap my mind around these 3-D printers. It really boggles the imagination to see these machines at work and try to conceptualize the unlimited potential. And this applies not just to the industrial world, but for home use as well. Already there are a number of […]
January 2, 2015
New Year’s Wishing
Happy New Year! We’ve made it into 2015. Do I think 2015 will be any less hectic than 2014 was? No, I doubt it, though I can always hope. And I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I bet the same will hold true for you as well. For me, between work, […]
December 15, 2014
Book Review: Having the Cowboy’s Baby by Trish Milburn
After an unstable childhood, Skyler Harrington feels compelled to plan all aspects of her life down to the last detail. When her thirtieth birthday arrives, her friends all but trick her into a skydiving session as a surprise gift. Skydiving does not fit into her idea of an orderly, controlled life, and though at first […]
December 1, 2014
You can photoshop your photos, but you can
I just returned from Thanksgiving with the family and couldn
