Grace Elliot's Blog: 'Familiar Felines.' , page 29

The Secrets Behind 'Marocco' - the devil's horse.

A week ago I posted about the true story of Marocco, the 17th century, performing horse whose act was so good that he was accused of witchcraft. At the time his feats were so exceptional that some believed the only way they were possible was through witchcraft. During the lifetime of his act, Marocco's trainer, William Banks, declined to explain how the tricks were done : - even to the point of getting Marocco to kiss a crucifix (and prove his skill was derived from the Holy Spirit, rather than the devil) instead of explain the truth.

It was after Banks retired from show business and set up a tavern that he eventually relented. He agreed to share his secrets with an early hippologist, Mr Gervase Markham, as a testament to the intelligence of his horse. Markham considered Banks' information as of the utmost importance and devoted a chapter to it in his 1607 edition of his book Cavelaire .
"an explanation of the excellence of a horses understanding and how to teach them to doe trickes like Bankes."

It transpired that Banks bought Marocco as a foal and from that day allowed no one else but him to exercise, feed, fuss or groom the colt. He treated the animal with great kindness at all times and soon the horse started following his master like a dog. During training lessons, if Marocco performed well, he was rewarded with his favourite bread. If he did badly he was given no food that day in order to sharpen his attention on the following day.
Using this system of rewards Banks taught the horse to raise a foreleg on the command "Up!" and by raising and lowering a rod indicated how many times he was to strike his hoof.
'Giving him a bit of bread til he be so perfit that, as you lift up your rod, so he will moved his foot to the ground."

Then Marocco learnt to do without the rod, becoming alert as soon as the word 'Up!' was mentioned.  Banks then used facial expressions to tell Marocco how often to stamp his foot.
"it is a rule in the nature of horses, that they have an especial regard to the eye, face and countenance of their keepers." 
Once this trick was perfected it was an easy step to ask the horse to tell him how many knaves, or harlots, were in the audience that day.
For tricks such as returning a glove to a member of the audience, Banks first taught Marocco to retrieve like a dog. Then he pointed his rod to an assistant and rewards the horse for going to him instead. If he approached the wrong assistant Banks said "Be wise!" and once he chose correctly "So, boy!"  Eventually Marocco became so skilled he could do without the verbal commands and be guided solely by Banks' face. As Markham, who had seen the act numerous times, remarked:
"Marocco never removed his eyes from his master's face."


After Marocco's retirement, Banks never trained another horse, but their were many successors in show business. One such was the little horse, Billy, the star of Astely's circus in the late 18th century. Billy could dance, boil tea and serve it like a waiter. However when the circus went bankrupt, Billy was sold to a tradesman who put in harness pulling a cart. Some years later, one of the circus performers recognised the dusty, rundown horse and when he clicked his fingers, little Billy started tapping his foreleg.
Billy was repurchased and re-entered the circus life, where he performed for many years. He died at the great age of 42…and his skin was made into a huge thunder-drum, used for special effects at the circus. A sad end for a talented horse.
No records exist of how Marocco ended his days.

Welcome! Author - Rebecca L Frencl.

[image error] Author, Rebecca L Frencl.  Grace : Welcome to fellow Solstice author, Rebecca L Frencl, who joins me here today. I've been looking forward to a good chat with  you, Rebecca, and so without further ado, please introduce yourself to the readers.
(PS For those readers waiting to learn how William Banks taught Marocco to do his tricks -as mentionned in the last blog post - please visit next Sunday. Thank you. G x)
Hi, Grace, my name is Rebecca L.Frencl. Thanks so much for having me here today. I appreciate the opportunity to talk to a fellow Solstice author. I've been writing for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid my favorite toy was a toy typewriter. I wonder if my students would even know what a typewriter is if they saw one?

(Me to! As a little girl I was given a 'petite typewriter' for Christmas, and hammered the life of out it.)

I wanted to write and I wanted to teach. For the last fourteen years I've been able to do both. I'll be starting my 15th year of teaching 8th grade in the Chicago suburbs next year. It's wonderful that I've been able to do both of the things I love. Over the last several years I've also become more of an activist. I have become very active in the teacher's union at the local, region and state level. It's something I never really thought about all those years ago when I first started teaching, but I've started to really appreciate the fact that our rights need to be safe-guarded for future generations. So, I guess I'm a mom, a teacher who runs the union and four extracurricular activities and writer, so I'm pretty busy. Honestly, when I have too much time on my hands I'm not really sure what to do with myself! 
On the personal front, I've been married to my high school sweetheart for the last thirteen years. He was my prom date many years ago. We have a little girl, Brianna, who's way too clever for my own good. She's going to give me a run for my money when she gets a little older. She's turning four soon and already has mastered the eye roll and, "Mom!" I also have two spoiled rotten puppies. Vinny is my old man. He's a beagle/shepherd mutt we rescued 11 years ago. His little brother Guido is a beagle who was abandoned 6 years ago.
[image error] Guido and Vinny.I love my job, all of my jobs—mom, teacher, writer and union rabble rouser.

Grace: The cover of 'Ribbons of Moonlight' is powerful and evocative, please tell us a little about the book.  Ribbons of Moonlight is a time travel historical that actually started out as a personal challenge. I'd read the poem "The Highwayman" by Alfred Noyes years ago when I was in 8th grade. When I teach narrative poetry I've always taught that poem. I always loved it, always thought that someone should write a book about it. When I was in college I heard the Loreena McKennit song version of the poem, loved that too. It wasn't until about 8 years ago or so that I realized that no one was going to write a book about it, so I would. I'd never written a romance before. I usually write fantasy, lots of magic, lots of save the world from the big baddie. Historical romance was going to be a departure for me. Could I do it? I was happy to discover that I could, though I admit it was tougher than I thought it would be. Fun, though. My newest work in progress is another romance.
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Grace: Rebecca, how did you feel when you learnt that RIBBONS OF MOONLIGHT was to be published?
Rebecca: There was a happy dance involved at the end of it, I admit. I'd been burned in the past by a publishing company that folded without paying me a dime, so when I first got the email telling me that Solstice wanted to publish RIBBONS, I was cautiously optimistic. I admit after the initial shock the first thing I did was check out the company on the message boards and Writer Beware. It came up clear so then I read the contract about four times, asked several questions, ran it by a lawyer and finally signed. Then I called one of my oldest friends in the world and told her. Clare and I had always shared publishing dreams so it made sense that after I told my husband Brian, I'd tell Clare.

Grace: There is a lot of competition for readers' attention these days. What is different about 'Ribbons' that makes people want to read it?
Rebecca: One of the things that I think is unique of my book is the "story behind the story" idea. It takes a classic tragic poem and looks at the "real" story. If you like the idea behind "Wicked" you'll like RIBBONS OF MOONLIGHT.

 Grace: It seems eBooks are taking off in a big way. What is your opinion on eBooks vs. traditional paperbacks?
Rebecca: I'm new to eBooks. RIBBONS was available in ecopy on February 13th, but I didn't decide which eReader I wanted until the end of May. I finally decided on a Kindle. I can really see the appeal of an eReader, especially for travelling. It's so much easier that packing six or seven books in the carryon—especially with how expensive the baggage fees are lately. However, there's something to be said to actually be able to hold your book in your hands. I admit I stalked the mailman waiting for my print copies and I think it nearly needed to be pried out of my hands.

Grace: If you need to escape from the cares of the world for a while, what do you do?
Rebecca: Other than read? I love to read—all sorts of different genres. I love mysteries, horror, science fiction, fantasy and, of course, romance. I don't like realistic fiction, though. I also love to garden in the spring and summer. I started a vegetable garden last year not knowing if I'd like it and now I mother my garden outrageously. During the school year I'm pretty busy with home, school, extra-curricular activities and union duties, but when I need to get away I like a good "happily ever after" movie or I escape to my kitchen. I love to bake and cook. My mom and grandma taught me how to cook and I love to dive into my tiny kitchen to make spaghetti gravy, meatballs, lasagna or any number of cookies. Needless to say my husband and daughter are always willing to try out my experiments. I also love to scrapbook. Traditional paper scrapbooking. Some people scrapbook because they take pictures, I take pictures because I like to scrapbook.
[image error] Rebecca's vegetable garden.Grace: What is the kindest act anyone has ever done for you?

Rebecca: I think small kindnesses make life wonderful. I remember when I broke my elbow during the February 2nd blizzard this past winter. I had to walk around with a sling for the next couple of weeks, my students babied me. They made sure the doors were opened, I never had to carry anything, they even got me my coffee so I wouldn't have to walk in the crowded hallways and get bumped. My husband frequently comes home with roses for me for no reason and my daughter loves to "help" me clean the house. There's also nothing like a warm puppy snuggling up against you on a cold winter morning when you're feeling blah. Didn't Charles Shultz say, "Happiness is a warm puppy?" Well, Snoopy was a beagle like Guido and Vinny.
Grace: Have you heard of 'Room 101' – the room where an object once placed disappears forever…I wish all alarm clocks went there! What 5 things would you put in Room 101 and why?


1. All homework excuses—though I actually did have one student come in with a shredded assignment in a plastic bag. His puppy actually had eaten it!
2. Puppy Mills—I think dogs should be rescued not purchased. Cats too, though I've never owned one (I'm terribly allergic.)
3. Movies that celebrate idiocy and thuggish behavior—kids need real role models!
4. Video games that lure kids into ignoring the real world and having real friends.
 5. I think I'll keep the 5th one in reserve
Grace : Thank you so much, Rebecca, for joining me today. It's been lovely hearing more about you and your writing life - I wish you every success with 'Ribbons of Moonlight' - I'm lucky enough to have a copy and it's next on my TBR list! Before you go, can you everyone how they can purchase 'Ribbons of Moonlight'?
Rebecca:RIBBONS OF MOONLIGHT can, of course, be ordered from Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Ribbons-Moonlight-Rebecca-L-Frencl/dp/1461133548/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309271222&sr=8-1
Or on the Solstice website for ebook:
http://www.solsticepublishing.com/products/Ribbons-of-Moonlight-%252d%252d%252d-PDF-EBOOK.html
OR for print
https://www.createspace.com/3604292

 My blog "Not All Who Wander Are Lost" is at: http://rebeccalfrencl.blogspot.com/
I also have a fan facebook page—stop by and visit!https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rebecca-L-Frencl/115163871892050
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The Horse Accused of Witchcraft.

A modern day dancing horse.
During my delvings into things historical (researching my next book, 'Eulogy's Secret') this true story caught my attention and I decided to share it with you. It is the tale of a 16th century horse trainer, William Banks, and his dancing horse, Marocco – an act so good that they were accused of witchcraft!
Living in Elizabethan England, William Banks is the earliest recorded horse trainer. It seems likely that Banks started life as a retainer of the Earl of Essex, working in his stables, and Banks is first mentioned in 1591 as visiting Shrewsbury fair with a white performing horse.


 It seems the success of this mare, (who could count money, bow and curtsy, and pick out different colours) whetted Banks appetite for animal training as he then sold everything he owned, bought a small bay horse, Marocco, (named after a type of saddle) and moved to London. Marocco was small, lithe, muscular and intelligent. Legend has it that Banks shod Marocco in silver, but his daring paid off as the horse was an immediate success. Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I painted to commerate victory over the Spanish Armada.
Banks taught Marocco to dance on two or four legs, return a glove to a specific member of the crowd, bow to the Queen of England but refuse to bow to the King of Spain (England's deadliest enemy), count the value of a coin with his hoof, and even play dead so effectively that members of the audience burst into tears. Part of Marocco's appeal was that he was that he was a cheeky; he could urinate on request and play tricks such as:-

"Discern a maid from a maulkin."
Banks would order his horse to bring him a chaste virgin from the audience, and then a harlot from the streets. By the mid 1590's Banks was a wealthy man and pamphlets circulated country wide celebrating Marocco.
"Ballad shewing the strange qualities of a young nag called Morocco."
But if it's possible, Banks' act was too good. Whilst on tour, visiting Oxford and Shrewsbury audiences began to mutter about witchcraft: that Banks was a sorcerer and Marocco his familiar. So Banks returned to safer ground in London.
But in his absence London had changed. Banks no longer had the only performing animal act and Marocco was being out done by the novelty of camels and elephants. Ever the showman Banks hit on a great idea for a publicity stunt. He led Marocco up the 1,000 step spiral staircase to the original (pre-fire of London) St Pauls Cathedral, to dance on the roof. Amazed, crowds stood in the street below staring up to see the horse "on top of Powles."
The original (pre-fire of London) St Pauls Cathedral.
Seeking new and bigger audiences Banks took Marocco to France. It seemed the horse knew different colours and was able to give a key, to a member of the crowd wearing a purple, red, blue or green dress. But this was too much for the French and both Banks and Marocco were arrested on charge of sorcery, on threat of being burnt alive. The resourceful Banks eventually proved their innocence by asking Marocco to kiss a crucifix. After this, their accusers declared that the horse was inspired by the Holy Spirit, and freed the both.
After this experience Banks return to England and it is not known if Marocco was retired, or died in harness. Mentions of the pair stop around 1606 and Banks never trained another horse, but used the money accrued during his showman days to open a tavern.
 

(My midweek post reveals how Marocco did his tricks.)

Welcome! Carole Gill - guest author.

Today I'm delighted to welcome author, Carole Gill, to the blog.
Carole has written several novels, and her latest release 'The House on Blackstone Moor' is set in 19th century England and is a dark tale of devil worship, madness, obsession and vampirism.
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/33847

[image error] Author, Carole Gill. Grace : So without further ado, tell me Carole, i n what ways do you think working in a hospital that had been historically a workhouse and asylum in Victorian times has helped you add realism to The House on Blackstone Moor? Carole: Well there are two madhouses depicted in the novel so it certainly helped to have worked in a place that was in the past an asylum. I found I could picture the people and situations there. The dining room for example had been the chapel and that led me to think of a chapel on the grounds of an insane asylum. The mind boggles, this was the 19th Century and the madhouses depicted in my novel took in paupers—so one can picture all sorts of scenarios. It certainly did help to work in such a place and I'm so happy I did. Grace: What are some sources of inspiration that you used to help you create the setting and tone for your book? Carole: Well I don't live terribly far from the Bronte Parsonage or the moors that surround Haworth. As a matter of fact I became obsessed with Top Withens which is a ruined farmhouse that some say might have been Emily Bronte's inspiration for Wuthering Heights. The general setting of Yorkshire with its windswept moors and its howling winds—well that is very inspiring. I walk my dogs on moorland every day and find myself inspired all the time!I think every writer finds inspiration wherever he/she lives. And when that comes through in the writing, the fiction becomes real and alive! As for tone, I do a lot of reading and research and have read scores of books on governesses and madhouses, on Yorkshire and its history too. I don't think one can be too prepared.Grace: I have vivid recollections of visiting the Bronte parsonage, as a child. It was more museum than home, but even then, there was something magical, mystical even, about the place and surrounding moors that still give me shivers. [image error] Excerpt from The House on Blackstone Moor He waited until I was exhausted whereupon he began his tale. "Please, Rose, I must now tell you things I want you to understand. You deserve to have the truth and you shall have it. You see Rose; there are many worlds within worlds and even magical species that dwell within those worlds. There are things beyond what you know…" He paused then to gaze at me, as if willing me to understand. I began to shake my head. It sounded insane. "It is a long story, but one you must hear, I'm afraid." He moved closer to me. "Rose I want to speak to you to show you things which will answer all your concerns.""All of my concerns?"He nodded.I bit my lip. If I had longed for all the truth, I also feared it. My world was turning in a different direction now and I felt the movement. There were in these next moments an end and a beginning. I would not understand the profound significance of any of this for a quite while."The story I shall tell you is a story as old as time, my story. You will, I hope, understand all that I tell you, but first there are things you will see that will shock and horrify you. You see my dear; you are already becoming something different. It has been happening slowly and will continue to follow its slow but steady course until it is entirely accomplished. [image error] Grace: Thank you so much for visiting today, Carole. I see that you are not afraid to touch on issues such as child abuse in 'The House on Blackstone Moor,' - truly a story of good versus evil. If you have any questions or comments for Carole, I'm sure she'd love to chat.
Just leave a comment below.
Grace x

Bisset's 'Cat Orchestra' and other performing cats.

[image error] A modern-day cat act (Image courtesy of elisasjourneys.com) Bisset's 'Cat Orchestra' and Other Performing Cats.
I haven't posted about cats for a while, so to put that right here is some historical trivia about performing cats.
In the mid 18th century, Scotsman Samuel Bisset read about the success of an animal act, 'The Thinking Horse' and decided to have a go himself. His first foray into animal training involved a monkey who he taught to ride a pony, and dance with a dog. But Bisset astutely realised that novelty was the key to success and hit on the idea of training that least trainable of all animals – the cat!  [image error] A dulcimer (Image courtesy of dougberch.com) Bisset's 'Amazing Cat Orchestra' soon became the talk of London; performances of cats strumming dulcimers and singing in high pitched meouws, were held at his house, and was seemingly very popular with the public. As the 'Eccentric Magazine' wrote:'In such a city as London, these feats could not fail of making some noise, his house was every day crowded.'In 1758 the master showman, Pinchbeck, suggested Bisset expand and hire an exhibition room in the Haymarket. 'The Cats' Opera' opened with such entertainments as…. cats strumming dulcimers and mewing, a monkey dancing with a dog and a hare that walked on his back legs whilst beating a drum. This show was also a success and earnt Mr Bisset over a thousand pounds – testament to the eccentricity of the English.   [image error] image courtesy of weedom.com
However not all cat acts did so well. In the following century a Danish conjurer, Pederson brought a feline act to London. The animal part of his show involved two docile cats that allowed pigeons to perch on their heads. However, the magic of the act was dispelled when Pederson naively admitted in a newspaper interview, that an important part of the act was a plentiful supply of pigeons, since his cats were no always as docile as they seemed!
[image error] Image courtesy of slurpy.org

Welcome! P J Jones - author of a spoof romance novel called...errr....'Romance Novel.'

Today I'm delighted to welcome author PJ Jones to the blog.
The rather unusual cover of 'Romance Novel' cannot fail to catch the eye...and with this in mind, I asked PJ how her humourous take on the romance genre has been recieved so far.
PS- As part of her awesome blog tour, PJ is kindly offering a $20 Amazon eVoucher to one lucky person who leaves a comment during the tour - the name to be drawn at random - so why not leave a comment for a chance to win?
Over to you PJ!

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How this very different 'romance novel' has been received

In my past life, I'd published five romances, all of which received great reviews. This time around, my premonitions about how well ROMANCE NOVEL would be received ranged from cautious optimism to doubtful disparagement. Though close friends and critique partners encouraged me to publish ROMANCE NOVEL, I was still doubtful that everyone else would 'get it'.
Luckily, so far, most people have gotten my  unorthodox and sometimes crude sense of humor. In addition to the awesome critic reviews, RN has also picked up some great reader reviews and some  AWESOME personal letters from readers who seriously ROCK.
One such reader actually called me 'brilliant'. Really? Me brilliant? In all honesty, I'd always envisioned myself as someone of average intelligence whose brain occasionally farts out sage nuggets of boorish, though somewhat comical, one-liners. Though I'm not rushing to fill out that MENSA application, I truly appreciate the compliment, and will certainly store it away in my memory to use whenever I need to win an argument against my husband.
So in a really long, drawn-out, painful, complicated round-about way of saying things, yes, ROMANCE NOVEL has been received very well thus far. Why thank you, Grace, for asking. And just to prove I wasn't blowing smoke up your fannies in this vague and rambling interview, here's some SUPER-AWESOME links to some SUPER-AWESOME critics who loved ROMANCE NOVEL.  Thanks to everyone who stopped by today, and thanks, readers, for loving RN and totally making me feel all sparkly inside and out, just like a vampire, only way more sparkly. PJ
http://yougottareadreviews.blogspot.com/2011/05/review-romance-novel-by-pj-jones.htmlhttp://www.amazon.com/Romance-Novel-ebook/dp/B004UMOWWQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1308956346&sr=8-1 http://www.nightowlromance.com/nor/Reviews/Diana-Coyle-reviews-Romance-Novel-by-PJ-Jones.aspxhttp://www.favoritethingever.com/2011/05/swooning-smella-and-her-heaving-bosom/
[image error] AUTHOR BIO:
PJ Jones began writing Romance Novel in the spring of 2009 when she was seriously ill, thinking that this book would be her last dying legacy for mankind. After you read this book, you will probably wonder if she was trying to seal her fate in hell. Who knows? But PJ Jones has conquered her illness and is much better now. But you probably don't care, as long as her writing is funny. PJ Jones is also an avid reader of real romance novels. So why does she poke fun of them? Consider it comic relief.AND FOR YOUR DELIGHT AND DELECTATION HERE IS AN EXCERPT:"I wouldn't drink that poison if I were you." He spoke with a slight accent, reminding Smella of a lonely soul from another place, another time. Or maybe just a British guy trying to sound like he was from nineteenth century Boston. Smella's eyes widened. Her gaze shot to the beer, then back to the stranger. "What poison?""You can't pin anything on me!" The bartender hollered while stumbling backward, before falling against a shelf of beer mugs.Locked in the stranger's dark gaze, Smella ignored the sound of crashing glass. She was more interested in his perfectly kissable blood red lips and the cold, impenetrable aura that radiated off his stony features.  "Alcohol destroys your kidneys." The stranger flashed a subdued smile, revealing pearly white, jagged teeth.   "You're right." Turning down her lips in disgust, Smella pushed away the offending glass. "Thank you for berating my choice of beverage. Throughout this novel, you may occasionally behave like a total control freak, but I know you are only concerned for my well-being, and because I am a woman, obviously I'm too stupid to act in my own best interest." Somewhere in the darkest recesses of her mind, she thought she heard the obese bartender scream, "Help me! I'm bleeding everywhere!" But she refused to let him ruin the romantic tension that she was trying to build with the tall pasty stranger. Leaning toward him, she playfully batted long lashes while twirling a lock of hair around her finger.  But the stranger didn't respond to her flirtation. He was too busy pinching his nose and making a gagging sound. She scooted back. "What's the matter?" "Nothing." He spoke through a wheeze. "I have to go."In a flash, he was gone. Smella was confused, bewildered, frightened, rejected, vulnerable, hurt, self-conscious and irritated. But never mind her PMS.She was more concerned about her awkward encounter with the kind stranger. 
[image error] AND FINALLY....if you would like to know more, here are some links.

Links you want to include: http://pjjonesramblings.blogspot.com/My FB page:http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100002264026213
GRACE: - Thank you for visiting PJ! Romance Novel certainly looks an excellent holiday read - as long as you dont mind people staring because you're laughing so hard!Dont forget - leave a comment for a chance to win an eVoucher!Gx

Writing to Me is .....Escapism.

Today's post is in conjunction with the Blog-A-Licious Blog Tour a fantastic blog hop that brings together bloggers of all genres, backgrounds and locations. In today's hop, the blog featured before, Grace Elliot-author, is http://remembernewvember.blogspot.com
The blog featured after, Grace Elliot- author, is the captivating http://blogaliciousblogs.blogspot.com  Do stop by and say hello plus some of us are having giveaways and contests. Enjoy! 
[image error] Widget and friend - more of Widget later......
Writing to Me is…Escapism.
The theme of this week's Blog-A-Licious Blog Tour is "Writing to me is…."  Many adjectives spring to mind when I think about what writing means to me: addictive, essential, rewarding, frustrating…but the one that stands head and shoulders above the rest is 'Escapism.'Let me explain. Life is hectic. I'm a working mother with two teenage sons. My job as a veterinarian is both intellectually and emotionally demanding. Veterinary medicine requires logical thinking and deduction, no flights of fancy or imagination, but cold, hard scientific facts in order to reach a diagnosis. And then I must translate those conclusions into words that a distressed client can understand without being baffled by long words.

I have worked at the same practice for twelve years and have known many of the patients since they were puppies or kittens.When they become ill, this is extra pressure because I feel I know them like my own pets. The temptation is to then 'take work home with me' and dwell on difficult cases once I've left the surgery, with exhausting results. I've learnt the hard way that everyone needs time to relax and switch off…and for me this is where writing comes in.  [image error] Widget demonstrating that relaxation takes dedication and tenacity (a skill, she says, that few humans possess.)
I started writing five years ago, after a school reunion. People I hadn't seen for twenty years asked if I still wrote stories, (my English homework was regularly read out to the class.) In a 'Eureka' moments, I remembered the satisfaction and escapism of crafting a story, went home and started writing. I've never looked back since. Always an avid reader, to rediscover the joy of crafting my own world is escapism without price! I have a photographic memory and visualize a scene in my head and then transfer it to the page – an almost meditative process. Mentally placing myself in Regency England, mixing with the characters and feeling their peril has trained me to let go of the worries of the present day, rest and refresh. It's amazing how much more energy I have when I don't waste it brooding over the day and worrying about the one ahead. [image error] Obviously I've disturbed Widget's 'Chi' by getting up!
So for me writing is an escape from everyday cares….plus I get to spend more time with Widget (one of my five cats.) She thoroughly approves of my writing habit because she snuggles up to my leg. I'd like to think it was love, but I suspect it's just that I'm warm…but hey, you can't have everything!
Don't forget, the next stop on the Blog-A-Licious tour is the lovely Pandora's blog at:http://blogaliciousblogs.blogspot.com
Thanks for visiting!See you again soon, G x

Anna Maclean - author of 'Louisa and the Missing Heiress.'

Today I'm thrilled to host author, Anna Maclean. Her latest book 'Louisa and the Missing Heiress' has the unusual hook of having a writer, who is a household name, as heroine. Anna is also offering a $20 eVoucher to one lucky person who leaves a comment during her book tour. So without further ado I'll hand over to Anna to reveal a little known side to Louisa May Alcott.

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The Secret World of Louisa May Alcott

One of the joys of writing about Louisa May Alcott is that there is so much about her many people don't know!  Say Louisa May Alcott, and most people think  of Little Women.  But in fact, Louisa had a long and good career before she wrote that book for children. She wrote 'blood and thunder' stories, often under a non de plume or  simply as 'anonymous.'  They were stories full of very grown-up adventures, romances and gothic tales.  Because they were somewhat racy for the time (and because she was a lady from a good family) she didn't write them under the name of Louisa May Alcott…but they are hers, and very distinctive.            Louisa couldn't publish racy materials under own name for another important reason people often aren't aware of:  she and her family sometimes broke the law, in their fight against slavery and so it was important not to call attention to herself in a controversial way.  In Boston, before the Civil War, it was illegal to harbor and assist run-away slaves, and the Alcott's often assisted slaves who were making their way to safety in Canada. If they were caught, they could be fined five hundred dollars (a huge sum, for them) or even imprisoned.  So, it was important to live somewhat quietly and without undue attention, especially on the parts of the daughters of the family. Women were expected to know their place, and that was at home.            Those were two parts of Louisa I wanted to introduce to people when I began writing Louisa and the Missing Heiress:  the author with an  imagination full of characters, some of them shady and of dubious character, and the abolitionist and believer in women's rights, ready to risk her safety and security for others and for justice.            Louisa was a 'good' daughter,  very similar to Jo March, but when we read Jo March closely we see the rebellion, the stubbornness, the determination to be independent rather than become a wife.  Those are very much Louisa's qualities.  We may think we know Louisa May Alcott, but she had great depth and I think much of her life is still unknown to us.  She had to work so hard to preserve her good reputation and her family's safety there must have been much she kept hidden.             Little Women certainly was a spring board for Louisa and the Missing Heiress, but I decided very quickly not to stop with that initial image of the dutiful daughters gathered around the family hearth, supporting each other and their mother when their father is away.  I wanted to take Louisa into some of those areas she didn't write about as Lousia May Alcott, into families where not all children are loved or treated well, where doing good sometimes requires breaking the law, where some pretty awful things happen to innocent people.  In other words, into the true world rather than the rich and lovely and usually benign world she constructed in her children's novels.  Louisa knew how to write to comfort and entertain children; but she also knew how to write to amuse adults and further a political goal.  That was the Louisa I worked with, the one I wanted to introduce to readers.

[image error] Author - Anna Maclean.
Artist's biographyJeanne Mackin is the author of several novels:  The Sweet By and By (St. Martin's Press), Dreams of Empire (Kensington Books), The Queen's War (St. Martin's Press), and The Frenchwoman (St. Martin's Press).   She has published short fiction and creative nonfiction in several journals and periodicals including  American Letters and Commentary and SNReview. She is also the author of the Cornell Book of Herbs and Edible Flowers (Cornell University publications)  and co-editor of  The Norton Book of Love (W.W. Norton),  and wrote art columns for newspapers as well as feature articles for several arts magazines.  She was the recipient of a creative writing fellowship from the American Antiquarian Society and her journalism has won awards from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, in Washington, D.C.  She teaches creative writing at Goddard College in Vermont, has taught or conducted workshops in Pennsylvania, Hawaii and New York and has traveled extensively in Europe.  She lives with her husband, Steve Poleskie,  in upstate New York.
Website: http://www.annamaclean.net/Book Link: http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9781101506141,00.html?Louisa_and_the_Missing_Heiress_Anna_Maclean
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From Louisa and The Missing Heiress by Anna Maclean


The clock chimed four-thirty. I sighed and stirred, tapping my foot more quickly under the concealing hem of my brown linsey-woolsey skirts. Where was our hostess? Surely she could have tried on every hat in Boston by now.  Had she forgotten? Dot had never been the quickest mind – she had wept over fractions and torn her hair over South American rivers – but to completely forget her own welcome-home tea party!            I looked outside the room into the hall.  The huge, ornate coat tree was close enough to the parlor that every time I looked in that direction and saw Mr. Wortham's velvet coat hanging there on its hook, I had the eerie sense that someone else was standing there, watching.  Something strange, hostile, dangerous, floated through that house where newlyweds should have been so happy.            Much as I wished to see Dot, I decided it was time to leave. Abba was waiting for me at home with a basket of clothing to clean and mend for the women's shelter and other tasks with which society could not be bothered.  Mr. Wortham was standing at the bay window, looking out into the street.  I went to him.            "I do hope Dot is all right.  This is not like her."            "I fear a year in Europe may have changed her," he said.  "It is liberating to travel, you know."  But he was frowning and his dark eyes seemed darker than usual.

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Thank you, Anna, for visiting today. I wish you every success with your latest book which looks very exciting! Dont forget to leave a comment for a chance to win that voucher!

Pidgeon Fancier - bird related historical trivia.


[image error] The Song Thrush (courtesy of Arthur Grosset.)

According to a recent RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) survey, many of  Britain's native birds are in decline. Changes in farming and horticulture have deprived birds such as the song-thrush of its favourite foods – slugs and snails, leading to a decline in  numbers. However this is not the first time that native birds have had a lean time. In Victorian times bird keeping was a popular hobby amongst city communities. Native birds such as thrushes, bullfinches and goldfinches were trapped at night in country villages and sent by train to the suburbs to be sold in markets at Greenwich, Hounslow and Woolwich.
Bullfinches and goldfinches were especially popular, since they could be trained to sing and fetch a high
price, several shillings each, whilst larks sold for six to eight pence a piece. There was even a market for
 dowdy birds such as house sparrows- once they were disguised with paint –sadly when they preened they died of lead poisoning. Even more unpleasant was the craze in the 1890's for 'flying' greenfinches. These birds were sold for half a penny each, with a cotton thread tied to a leg. The idea was to bet on which bird could fly in circles longest before it dropped dead of exhaustion.
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Keeping caged birds was widespread, even amongst prisoners held at the Tower of London. One prisoner wrote 'An Epitaph on a Goldfinch,' on the death of his pet bird,
'Buried June 23, 1794 by a fellow prisoner in the Tower of London.'
The Spitalfields weavers of the 1840's also prized their birds. The breeding of fancy pigeons and canaries; Almond tumblers, Pouting horseman and Nuns, was taken very seriously. Bird shows were highly competitive, matching the fashion amongst wealthier classes for dog shows. It could be a dodgy business - the prize winning pigeons at a show in Islington had had their throats stitched back to improve their appearance – the perpetrators were found out and prosecuted.
London's pigeons are descended from those that escaped from dove cotes in medieval times, to roost amongst the cities ledges and towers. In 1277 a man is recorded as falling from the belfry of St Stephens, Walbrook whilst trying to raid a pigeons nest and in 1385 the Bishop of London complained of 'malignant persons' who threw stones at pigeons resting in city churches.
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Nowadays, birds that interact and be part of a family, like parrots, are popular. An African Grey, Sunny, was the mascot of HMS Lancaster. The ship's crew taught him an impressive vocabulary including an armoury of expletives so extensive he has to be hidden in a broom cupboard when dignitaries visit. His catch phrases included –
'You ain't seen me, right?' and
'Zulus, thousands of 'em!'
Another parrot owner was W S Gilbert –  who wrote the words to accompany Sir Arthur Sullivan's music. He owned a particularly fine parrot, reputedly the best talker in England. When a guest commented on the appearance of a second parrot in his hallway, Gilbert replied:'The other parrot, who is a novice, belongs to Doctor Playfair. He is reading up with my bird, who takes pupils.' [image error]
However, pet birds were not necessarily popular with everyone. George Bernard Shaw was given a caged canary, which he heartily disliked, calling it a 'little green brute.' He was delighted when the bird was stolen, and equally disappointed when a friend replaced it. His comment was;'I'm a vegetarian and can't eat it, and its too small to eat me.'
[image error] Author and playwright, George Bernard Shaw.

Welcome Killian McRae - guest author.

Today I'm delighted to welcome author, Killian Mc Rae, to my blog.



Born and raised in rural Michigan, Killian used the local library- a single room in a her village's firehouse- as an escape to visit distant worlds, meet brave heroes, learn of classic mythologies, and develop a lifelong love of learning and reading.



Though she had written three novels before graduating high school, she never thought of trying to publish until much later in life. 12.21.12 was her first published work, released in late 2010. A second work due out in Fall 2011, "A Love by Any Measure," is a historical romance set in 1860's Ireland. Killian is a member of Stanford University's Writer's Certificate program and PRO member of RWA. Her other interests include musicology and history. She currently lives in the San Francisco Bay area. 





Why history has spoiled me for fiction.(Killian writes.) I know, this is possibly the last admission you'd expect to see from an avid reader and writer of fiction. And not just fiction, but often fiction imbued with element of science fiction and the paranormal. Yet, I can't deny it. As far back as I can remember, history has fascinated me. Perhaps because I have never entirely felt at ease in my own time, I have sought out kindred spirits who speak to me through the memory of their experiences- from Ancient Egypt, to medieval France, and from Raj India all the way back to Olmec villages.  In high school, I identified far more with flower children than I did with Children of the Corn.In fiction, we try to craft a story that will evoke in the reader a guided empathy for the character and their conflicts. In the study of history, we are forced to make this connection by virtue of our shared human experience. How can I ever write a battle scene that could compare with the real events at the Battle of Kadesh, where Egypt crushed its last true rival, the Hittites, that allowed it to establish itself as a great empire? Could I ever write a love story with as many twists, spins, and conspirators as that between Suleiman the Great and Hurrem Sultana? And when our gaze turns evil, could I create a villain that could rival Alexander the Great or Ivan the Terrible?Which begs the question, why do I entertain fiction at all? And don't get me wrong. While my reading time falls between fiction and non-fiction pretty equally, I feel woefully under qualified to attempt to tell with any validity anything but the most trivial of anecdotes. Real life doesn't forget the edges like fiction does. In real life, when a roman solider was stabbed with a spear, he didn't make a painful grimace then fall dead. Often, he sat there, bleeding, wallowing in pools of blood not entirely his own, baking under the Mediterranean sun if he was lucky, or drenched in the rain if not, dying slowly while dozens or hundreds around him suffered the same.  To simplify the true scope of actual human experiences to fill a bullet point subject or make a vague illustration, I feel would be doing a disservice to human experience.Moreover, history is experienced by the many, while fiction generally tells of the few. In writing fiction, I feel I can embrace a small corner of that which is common to us all, and explore it. I'm looking at one rock on the edge of the stream, if you will, picking it up, and seeing how it skips if I toss it over the surface. Never could I, however, use all the rocks to

Killian's new release '12.21.12' looks intriguing. Here is the blurb:



Archaeologist Sheppard Smyth has staked his career and the honorable memory of his deceased wife and partner on proving his widely-panned theory: Cleopatra VII, last ruler of Ancient Egypt, was murdered. When a statue of the doomed queen is discovered in an Olmec excavation site in Mexico, Shep rushes to investigate and, hopefully, find the proof that has evaded him for so long. Soon, he finds himself in the middle of the rivalry between the sexy, enigmatic international thief, Victoria Kent, and infamous rumored Russian mobster, Dmitri Kronastia. Both hold pieces to the puzzle that will finally shed light on Cleopatra's death, as they vie for Shep's trust and assistance. As he is drawn further into their world of ancient gods, supernatural powers, and alternative history, little does Shep know that the fate of all humanity may hinge on his ability to discover the truth in between Victoria and Dmitris' fragmented claims and hidden identities. Working to decode the past while in order to save the future, Shep becomes a common pawn played by forces working to see out a quest older than the pyramids and cloaked by the Mayan prophecy of 12.21.12. 

And Killian treats us to an excerpt: With a sigh, he threw the greenbacks and one more meaningless night down on the bar.His cash was gone. He wasn't sure if he was still in possession of his keys. He could only vaguely remember where he'd parked the car when he'd gone for "just a drink or two" several hours before. Last call had come and gone. But, despite his best efforts, the memories remained. He should have known better; Christine's face was burned too far down in his soul for the alcohol to reach so deeply.The best Shep could hope for on these occasions was achieving numbness. He measured his success against his current situation. A guy sitting down the bar was eying him with repulsion like Shep was some vagabond off the street. Shep didn't give a damn. He hadn't showered in five days and even he noticed his own smell was less than pleasant. Who the hell cared? On the TV, some reporter was gabbing on and on about the Mayan calendar and the end of ... yada, yada, yada.Numbness achieved.