Pets during the Victorian Era

By: Isabel Roman

During most of history dogs weren't exactly considered pets. I'm sure there were exeptions, but then again, there always are.Dogs were working animals who could get on with the household enough for some friendly play during off hours. But as pets? As with so many things during the 1800s this, too changed. Dogs as pets became not only the fashion but a family dog (as opposed to a working dog) as well.

From Victoriana

For a fashionable woman in Victorian England a pet miniature dog was as indispensable as an opera box or presentation at court.  She was nobody without her pet who accompanied her wherever she went, and was fed and housed, according to canine requirements, as daintily as the heir to the title and estates.  In spite of the devotion of mistresses to their dogs, however, it must be admitted that they were extremely fickle in their attachments, as the fashion in lapdogs changed as rapidly as that in gowns and bonnets. 

During one London season, the favorite miniature dog had been the small animal known as the Schipperke, mainly because its hair was short and black. Long-haired dogs in drawing-rooms and boudoirs were found to be incompatible because white hairs on furniture and gowns were absolutely distressing. Even a poodle was found to be a nuisance, and required its own valet or maid to keep it in condition.

 “Lapdog” was the old-fashioned name for the miniature dogs called toys, and quaintly indicated where the line was drawn between household animals. They were dogs small enough to be held in the lap, and they were emphatically pets for the parlor, requiring the care of the lady herself, or of a well-trained maid.

It goes on about which kind of dogs, but I’m sure Labs and German Shepards weren’t allowed. They were outside dogs, not yappers.

Isabel Roman is the pseudonym used by writing team Christine Koehler and Marisa Velez. Their Victorian Druids series has been featured on The Home Shopping Network and is available in bookstores everywhere. Currently they're working on a Prohibition-era series and wondering why time flies so quickly. Visit the Isabel Roman blog!

The Children of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald

By: Isabel Roman

In this case the child of. Frances Scott "Scottie" Fitzgerald (October 26, 1921 – June 16, 1986) was the only child of Zelda Sayre and F. Scott Fitzgerald. She is buried next to her parents at St. Mary's Catholic Church Cemetery in Rockville, Maryland.

Couldn't find much about her, but since I didn't know she existed before my search, I learned everything there was on the internet! Everything in this blog is from either the Wiki article or the IMDB page.

Upon her birth, Zelda reportedly said that she hoped Frances would be a "beautiful little fool." In The Great Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan says this at the birth of her daughter. Ah, fiction from life.

A writer, political activist, patron of the arts, and newspaper reporter, serving on the staffs of Time, The New Yorker, The Democratic Digest, and The Northern Virginia Sun, where she was chief political writer. She also wrote for The New York Times and The Washington Post. Also a playwright, composer, producer of musicals, and a Democratic Party activist.

Author of three books: 'Don't Quote Me' (about the women of the Washington press); 'The Romantic Egotists' (a pictorial biography of her parents); and 'An Alabama Journal 1977', (written after her return to Montgomery in 1973).

Married twice, she had four children (this from the wiki article-IMDB claims 3 from the second marriage, difficult to corroborate anything on her!)

Isabel Roman is the pseudonym used by writing team Christine Koehler and Marisa Velez. Their Victorian Druids series has been featured on The Home Shopping Network and is available in bookstores everywhere. Currently they're working on a Prohibition-era series and wondering why time flies so quickly. Visit the Isabel Roman blog!

The Entertainers: George M. Cohan

By: Isabel Roman

George Michael Cohan became the stuff theatrical legends are made of, so it shouldn't be surprising that he instigated a few of those legends, including one surrounding his birth date.

That's from a biography page about him, the first line. Even in his version of Yankee Doodle Dandy (song not film), there's a line about born on the fourth of July. He's known as the father of the American musical comedy and 'the man who owned Broadway'.

George started in vaudeville, first traveling around the US then preforming on Broadway before making the jump from vaudeville to 'legitmate' stage. In 1899 he married Ethel Levey, a fellow vaudeville singer and comedienne and their first child, Georgette, was born in 1900. In 1907 he and Ethel divorced and George married Agnes Mary Nolan-they had 3 children: Mary, Helen, and George

Several of his first Broadway shows bombed on Broadway but toured successfully across America. However it wasn't until he met and partnered with Sam Harris that things really looked up for George and family.

Some of the most well-known hits from that partnership are I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy, Give my Regards to Broadway, Over There, and You're a Grand Old Flag.

The bio-pic Yankee Doodle Dandy, was derived from Cohan's trademark The Yankee Doodle Boy.

Isabel Roman is the pseudonym used by writing team Christine Koehler and Marisa Velez. Their Victorian Druids series has been featured on The Home Shopping Network and is available in bookstores everywhere. Currently they're working on a Prohibition-era series and wondering why time flies so quickly. Visit the Isabel Roman blog!

Crime & Law Enforcement: Word War One

By: Isabel Roman

Unless you watch a military TV shows, war movies, or read up extensively on the subject, you’re not likely to know what happens when soldiers commit crimes. Do we think of our soldiers committing crimes? Or do we hold them in such high esteem?

The US has the UCMJ: Uniform Code of Military Justice established under the Constitution in 1789, Article I, Section 8. It’s very long and very detailed. Feel free to read about it here.

For the purposes of this blog, I’m taking from British Military Crime & Punishment 1914-1918. It's concise, easy to read, and in everyday wordage, as opposed to military and legal jargon. Plus it has this nifty table and a bunch of cool stats.

Table of offences tried by Court Martial Charge Maximum penalty
Shamefully delivering up a garrison to the enemy Death
Shamefully casting away arms in the presence of the enemy Death
Misbehaving before the enemy in such a manner as to show cowardice Death
Leaving the ranks on pretence of taking wounded men to the rear Penal Servitude
Wilfully destroying property without orders Penal Servitude
Leaving his CO to go in search of plunder Death
Forcing a safeguard Death
Forcing a soldier when acting as sentinel Death
Doing violence to a person bringing provisions to the forces Death
Committing an offence against the person of a resident in the country in which he was serving Death
Breaking into a house in search of plunder Death
By discharging firearms intentionally occasioning false alarms on the march Death
When acting as a sentinel on active service sleeping at his post Death
By discharging firearms negligently occasioning false alarms in camp Cashiering or imprisonment
Causing a mutiny in the forces, or endeavouring to persuade persons in HM forces to join in a mutiny Death
Striking his superior officer Death
Offering violence or using threatening language to his superior officer Penal servitude
Disobeying in such a manner as to show a wilful defiance of authority, a lawful command given personally by his superior officer Death
Disobeying a lawful command given by his superior officer Penal servitude
When concerned in a quarrel, refusing to obey an officer who ordered him into arrest Cashiering
Striking a person in whose custody he was placed Cashiering or imprisonment
Deserting HM service, or attempting to desert Death
Fraudulent enlistment First offence imprisonment; second penal servitude
Assisting a person subject to military law to desert Imprisonment
Behaving in a scandalous manner unbecoming the character of an officer and a gentleman Cashiering
When charged with the care of public money, embezzling the same Penal servitude
When charged with the care of public goods, misapplying the same (applicable to Quartermasters) Penal servitude
Wilfully maiming himself with intent to render himself unfit for service Imprisonment
Drunkenness Cashiering or imprisonment
Committing the offence of murder Death

Notes to this table: (1) offences where cashiering is shown as maximum punishment applied to officers only; (2) in order to enable a court-martial to award a field punishment, it was essential to allege 'when on active service'.

In all, 5,952 officers and 298,310 other ranks were court-martialled- just over 3% of the total of men who joined the army. Of those tried, 89% were convicted; 8% acquitted; the rest were either convicted without the conviction being confirmed or with it being subsequently quashed. Of those convicted, 30% were for absence without leave; 15% for drunkenness;14% for desertion (although only 3% were actually in the field at the time); 11% for insubordination; 11% for loss of army property, and the remaining 19% for various other crimes. The main punishments applied were : 3 months detention in a military compound - 24%; Field Punishment Number 1 - 22%; Fines - 12%; 6 months detention - 10%; reduction in rank - 10%; Field Punishment Number 2 - 8%.

3.080 men (1.1% of those convicted) were sentenced to death. Of these, 89% were reprieved and the sentence converted to a different one. 346 men were executed. Their crimes included desertion - 266; murder - 37; cowardice in the face of the enemy - 18; quitting their post - 7; striking or showing violence to their superiors - 6; disobedience - 5; mutiny - 3; sleeping at post - 2; casting away arms - 2. Of the 346, 91 were already under a suspended sentence from an earlier conviction (40 of these a suspended death sentence).


Isabel Roman is the pseudonym used by writing team Christine Koehler and Marisa Velez. Their Victorian Druids series has been featured on The Home Shopping Network and is available in bookstores everywhere. Currently they're working on a Prohibition-era series and wondering why time flies so quickly. Visit the Isabel Roman blog!

Movie Adaptations: Rafael Sabatini

By Isabel Roman

Rafael Sabatini--not many know the name but if you're a fan of the black-and-white classic movies, you know his work: Captain Blood, The Sea Hawk, Scaramouche.

Scaramouche was his most famous work and on his gravestone reads: "He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad."

Once he devoted himself to writing full-time, Rafael produced a book a year. In addition, he was an active short story writer. Through the years he built a loyal but not necessarily large readership. By the decade of the 1910s he was producing some fine work, including The Sea Hawk (1915).

However, he only became an "overnight success" (after 25 years of writing) with Scaramouche in 1921 and Captain Blood in 1922.

Captain Blood, The Sea Hawk, Scaramouche: Sabatini's most famous works have been adapted many times. How faithful were they? Faithfulness vaires, but Scaramouche the character has been taken and twisted into a stock character, the jester one might say.

Scaramouche:
Scaramouche (1923 film)
Scaramouche (1952 film)

The Sea Hawk:
The Sea Hawk (1924 film starring Milton Sills)
The Sea Hawk (1940 film starring Errol Flynn and absolutely nothing like the book!)

Captain Blood:
Captain Blood (1924 film)
Captain Blood (1935 film with the incomparable Errol Flynn)
The Fortunes of Captain Blood (1950 film)
Captain Pirate (1952 film)
Odyssey of Captain Blood (1991 film)
Captain Blood (2006 full cast audio production from The Colonial Radio Theatre on the Air, released by Blackstone Audio)

Isabel Roman is the pseudonym used by writing team Christine Koehler and Marisa Velez. Their Victorian Druids series has been featured on The Home Shopping Network and is available in bookstores everywhere. Currently they're working on a Prohibition-era series and wondering why time flies so quickly. Visit the Isabel Roman blog!

Real Life Heroes: Sgt. Alvin C. York

By Isabel Roman

Those who take their celebrity status and use it for good always have my admiration. Let's not even go into today's so-called celebrities--it's a joke.

Alvin Cullum York (December 13, 1887–September 2, 1964) was one of the most decorated American soldiers in World War I. He received the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine gun nest, taking out 32 machine guns, killing 28 German soldiers and capturing 132 others. This action occurred during the U.S.-led portion of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in France, which was part of a broader Allied offensive masterminded by Marshal Ferdinand Foch to breach the Hindenburg line and ultimately force the opposing German forces to capitulate.

All that is well and good, but why do I really admire him? In the 1920s, York formed the Alvin C. York Foundation with the mission of increasing education opportunities in his region of Tennessee. Plans called for a non-sectarian institution providing vocational training to be called the York Agricultural Institute. York concentrated on fund-raising, though he disappointed audiences who wanted to hear about the Argonne when he instead explained that "I occupied one space in a fifty mile front. I saw so little it hardly seems worthwhile discussing it. I'm trying to forget the war in the interest of the mountain boys and girls that I grew up among."

It opened in December 1929. As the Great Depression deepened, the state government failed to provide promised funds, and York mortgaged his farm to fund bus transportation for students. Even after he was ousted as President in 1936 by political and bureaucratic rivals, he continued to donate money.

How can you not admire a man who saw what he saw and did what he did and all he cared about was helping his community become more educated?

Tragic Tales: Victoria & Albert

By Isabel Roman

I was going to do something much less well known but scheduled myself for the Tuesday after RWA. Now it's 8am on Monday and do I have anything? Nope. This'll teach me!

Prince Albert (1819-1861), the consort of Queen Victoria. Theirs was a love affair that enchants us even now. Witness the success of the movie, The Young Victoria. Even though the people of Great Britain didn't really like Albert, and he wasn't granted the title of Prince Consort until 17 years after his marriage to Victoria, he was extremely intelligent and far-thinking.

Without him, we wouldn't have had The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations of 1851. He was an excellent diplomat and statesman, as well as someone who valued the history of his adopted country.

But it's his death on December 14, 1861 that caused a shift in what is commonly referred to as The Victorian Era. Two things happened because of his death:

1. Victoria entered into mourning and never exited, thereby establishing a stringent mourning ritual that lasted decades.
2. England sprouted monuments to him that stand to this day, including the Victoria & Albert Museum.

The official cause of death was typhoid fever, though there were no other reported cases. There has been speculation that Albert died of stomach cancer.

Benjamin Disraeli, a future prime minister, declared, "With Prince Albert we have buried our Sovereign. This German Prince has governed England for twenty-one years with a wisdom and energy such as none of our kings has ever shown."

Weekly Announcements - 23 July 2010

Congratulations to Unusual Historicals reader E. D. Walker who just sold her paranormal historical, THE BEAUTY'S BEAST, to Noble Romance Publishing's Sweetheart Line. The story draws from fairy tale elements, as well as Marie de France's medieval lais, "Bisclavret." More details as they are announced.

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Jeannie Lin has the cover for her upcoming Harlequin Historicals Undone short story, "THE TAMING OF MEI LIN," which is set during the Tang Dynasty and linked to BUTTERFLY SWORDS. Click here to read more about it, including an excerpt.

When a corrupt local official wants to take Mei Lin as, not second, but third wife, she rebels and makes an outrageous declaration--she'll only marry a man if he can defeat her in a swordfight. She has managed to fend off the local thugs and village hopefuls, but then a tall, mysterious stranger comes into town...

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Next week is the RWA National Conference! You will find the following Unusual Historicals contributors in attendance: Zoe Archer, Lila DiPasqua, Blythe Gifford, Jeannie Lin, Carrie Lofty, Margaret Mallory, Isabel Roman, and Michelle Styles. Here are some workshops and events where you can find us:

Wednesday, July 28th, at the "Readers for Life" Booksigning: Blythe Gifford, Carrie Lofty, Margaret Mallory, and Michelle Styles.

Thursday, July 29th at 4:30: "The Tiny Art of Elevator Pitches: How to Craft Them and How to Use Them" with speaker Carrie Lofty. Learn techniques to creating an elevator pitch that is concise, effective, and memorable.

Friday, July 30th at 2:00: "Selling the Hard Sell" with speaker Jeannie Linn. An author who sold that hard-sell novel (BUTTERFLY SWORDS) discusses how she used marketing perspective to get from slush pile to sale.

Friday, July 30th at 3:15: "Beyond Britain: Writing, Selling and Promoting Unusual Historicals" with speakers Zoe Archer, Jade Lee, Carrie Lofty, Kevan Lyon, and Sherry Thomas. Join an agent and four authors who successfully sold books set in unusual times and places as they offer techniques and advice for those interested in writing unusual historicals.

Saturday, July 31st at 8:30AM: "Dress for Historical Success" with speakers Elisabeth Burke, Isobel Carr, Peg Herring, Coralie Jensen, Julia Justiss, Jade Lee, Jeannie Lin, Pam Nowak, and Judy Ridgley. Authors put in hundreds of hours researching the correct clothing styles for their stories. This fashion show features costumes from a variety of time periods and will educate attendees on how to achieve historical accuracy in costume.

Also make sure to stop in the publishers' signings for free books by many of our authors, and root for RITA-nominated contributors and former guests of Unusual Historicals: Carla Capshaw (Best First Book and Best Inspirational for THE GLADIATOR, set in ancient Rome), Margaret Mallory (Best Historical Romance for KNIGHT OF PLEASURE, set in medieval Wales), and Sherry Thomas (Best Historical Romance for NOT QUITE A HUSBAND, set in 1890s Kashmir). Best of luck, ladies!

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Join us Sunday when Steeple Hill Love Inspired author Carla Capshaw will be here to chat about her latest Roman-set inspirational romance, THE PROTECTOR. She'll be giving away a signed copy to one lucky commenter! Hope you join us then.

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We'll also draw the winner of Moira Rogers' A SAFE HARBOR, a paranormal romance set during the Great Depression. You still have time to leave a comment or question for your chance to win.

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Stay with us through the coming weeks when we'll be featuring the best unusual historical authors! Hope Tarr, Frances Hunter, Donna Russo Morin and Liz Fichera will be our guests. Join us!

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Remember, you don't have to be an Unusual Historicals contributor to submit good news to the weekend announcements. If it has to do with unusual historicals, we'd love to shout it out to the world! Send announcements to Carrie. See you next week...

What Surprised Me: People Don't Read Historicals?

By Isabel Roman

What surprises me? The fact that there are so many people who don't know about the historicals we write!

Let's face it, there are a lot of people who like romances but wouldn't pick up an historical if it was the only romance left on the shelf. Why is that? Do they think the story isn't something they'd be interested in? Do they think the hero isn't realistic? The heroine is a bumbling airhead? Do they not like history?

Looking at this blog now, I wish I'd had the time to do a survey, but alas, that didn't happen. So on the one hand we have readers who will read only contemporaries. On the other we have the historical-only readers. Ignoring the Venn Diagram of those of us who'll read just about anything, there are a great many people who know nothing about history.

I'm not talking America fought in a Civil War sometime during the 1800s. I'm talking, "Of course I know who Napoleon is--I saw Bill And Ted!" This quote is from an actual conversation I had a couple days ago. This was during my explanation about an idea I had set during the Regency Era/Napoleonic Wars--the blank look prompted me to explain Napoleonic wars = Napoleon Bonaparte and whatnot. That's when I got the indignant reply.

Forget going into the more Unusual Historicals we excel at here--Ancient Egypt? Victorian Russia? The Roaring 20s? English Civil War? China during the Tang Dynasty? And all the other places we writers love. One thing at a time.

So is that it? The fact that people aren't interested in history? They don't want to read historical romances because they're afraid it's one giant history lesson? What's the difference between that and thinking all contemporary romances are one giant political essay?

This is only a guess and I'd love to hear what others think. If you read historicals, do you stay close to what you know? Or are you up for anything so long as the subject interests you? With luck, a couple contemporary readers will let us know why they don't read historcials too.

Disasters: RMS Lusitania

By Isabel Roman

NOTICE!

TRAVELLERS intending to embark on the Atlantic voyage are reminded that a state of war exists between Germany and her allies and Great Britain and her allies; that the zone of war includes the waters adjacent to the British Isles; that, in accordance with formal notice given by the Imperial German Government, vessels flying the flag of Great Britain, or any of her allies, are liable to destruction in those waters and that travellers sailing in the war zone on the ships of Great Britain or her allies do so at their own risk.

This ominous and foreshadowing warning was printed in all the New York newspapers three weeks before what would be the RMS Lusitania's final Atlantic crossing. The torpedoing of the Lusitania became one of the major factors for the US's entrance into the WWI theater of war.

It is probably true that the RMS Lusitania was carrying munitions to aid Britain in their fight against Germany but the attack on one of the world's most luxurious cruise liners, especially with the loss of RMS Titanic so fresh in the memories of the public, was a catastrophic miscalculation on Germany's part.

Initially, the German's defended their right when in a state of war to attack any enemy vessel. However, it soon became apparent that the world was against their position and in true back-pedalling style they reversed their position and agreed on rules of engagement. The Lusitania sank in just 18 minutes. In six minutes the forecastle was underwater. Of the 1900+ passengers, 1,195 died. The ship was just 18 miles from the coast of Ireland.

Germany justified it at the time by saying the Lusitania carried weapons (which she did) but the public didn't know this and so the outcry from both Germany, Britain, and America was immense. Her cargo had included an estimated 4,200,000 rounds of rifle cartridges, 1,250 empty shell cases, and 18 cases of non-explosive fuses, all listed in the manifest, but the cartridges were not officially classed as ammunition by the Cunard Line. (Various theories have been put forward over the years that she had also carried undeclared high explosives that were detonated by the torpedo and helped to sink her, but this has never been proven.)

Eventually, the German government issued a statement describing what the ship carried and how it had warned people not to travel on luxury ships during time of war, and the tide of German sentiment turned, but only slightly. No one advocated the killing of non-combatants. German's allies, Turkey and Austria-Hungry, criticized the sinking. It did outrage America, which was not ready to enter into any kind of global conflict, and President Wilson issued three increasingly strongly worded notes to the German government, with the last saying: the US would regard any subsequent sinkings as deliberately unfriendly.

In 1967 the wreck of the Lusitania was sold by the Liverpool & London War Risks Insurance Association to former US Navy diver John Light for £1,000. Gregg Bemis became a co-owner of the wreck in 1968, and by 1982 had bought out his partners to become sole owner. He subsequently went to court in England in 1986, the US in 1995, and Ireland in 1996 to ensure that his ownership was legally in force.

News and Media: William Randolph Hearst

By Isabel Roman

You shouldn't believe everything your read. Predatory pricing, outrageous propaganda, and questionable advertising--no, I don't refer to Walmart, Target, or Amazon, but to the practices of William Randolph Hearst. He was one of the original national snake oil salesmen.

In 1896, Hearst and his New York Morning Journal later New York Journal--American went head to head with the more popular New York World newspaper. He under-priced them by selling his paper at a mere 1¢ and began a systematic alternation of the paper's news practices designed to trounce the New York World.

Upton Sinclair, in his 1919 The Brass Check, accused Hearst's "Universal News Bureau" of re-writing the news of the London morning papers in the Hearst office in New York and then fraudulently sending it out to American afternoon newspapers under the by-lines of imaginary names of non-existent "Hearst correspondents" in London, Paris, Venice, Rome, Berlin, and so on.

He made up stories from nothing and often exaggerated the story around simple incidences. He could sensationalize a young boy scraping his knee into a horrific accident where all four limbs were lost. Remember the Maine? Hearst made sure every American did, hence the Spanish-American War.

His were not the first predatory business practices in the U.S. but they were the most defining in American media.

Today, I could name the tabloids of The Star, The Worldwide News, The National Enquire, and The Sun, but these days the more established media such as The New York Times seem to be following suit. Yellow Journalism, unfortunately, seems to be with us still today.

Arts and Music: The Roaring 20s

By Isabel Roman

Many people say that the 1960s were the 20th century's time of peaceful revolution. Free sex, drugs, and rock and roll. But have you forgotten the 1920s? The Roaring 20s. They roared in a revolution like the world hadn't before seen. An evolution of fashion, thought, politics, and most especially music.

In the 20s, hot jazz, sultry blues, and upbeat tunes such as "Puttin' on the Ritz" and "No, We Have No Bananas Today," finally found their way into mainstream society. Women's skirts rose for the first time in over 3,000 years, and their knees knocked as they danced to the Charleston.

People lined up to pay $3.50 a seat to watch such Broadway hits as the Ziegfeld Follies.

But one of the most important evolutions in music happened because of a political change that threw subversive music into a little thing called the speakeasy. Liquor had been prohibited and the rise of the gangster happened because the drug of choice was booze. Everybody wanted it, nobody could get it. More than just serving a glass of moonshine, people wanted an experience.

The smart criminal established private lounges with secret passwords and pseudonyms for drinks. And offered a venue to the struggling young musician. Alternative music was heard here, jazzy, fast, up-tempo: keep the customer happy and dancing, and they'd keep drinking. Anything and everything went, and from these crime ridden, illegal dens, popular music was born.

We have to give credit to the roots of the music, most likely a hybrid of old southern slave songs, African-American music, and Latin beats.

Bessie Smith, the Andrews Sisters, and the rise of the Big Bands drew crowds like no other. Thanks to the 1920s, and the musicians who pioneered that sound, we have the music we do today. Everyone from Fergie, to Madonna, to Prince has these 1920s musicians to thank. They were the revolutionaries of rhythm.

Love Affairs: Nicholas II & Alexandra

By Isabel Roman

Russian romance is often tragic, it's also often dramatic. The Russians do everything to excess. The old saying "live hard, play hard" seems to be triple for the Russians. Their corruption is audacious, their love affairs are no less so.

However, Nicholas and Alexandra weren't ordinary Russians. Their love was more subdued, but quiet and affectionate. When Nicholas Romanov saw Alix von Hessen und bei Rhein (Alexandra Feodorovna Romanova), it was love at first sight. Nicholas was never supposed to be Tsar, but upon his brother's death, and his ascension to the throne, he married Alexandra. The Russian people believed that a bad omen, marrying so soon after a death.

Oh, how right they were.

But until 1917, they were content in their relationship, passionate to a degree. Even though the Russian people rejected the shy Alix, Nicholas cared little for what they thought or wanted. When they were apart, he and Alix wrote many love letters, always affectionate, always missing the other.

As tsar, Nicholas could have had anyone, but he always chose his wife.

Nicholas' love for Alexandra transcended the malicious gossip of the court. When Alix's relationship with Grigori Rasputin was revealed, when rumors spread as to the intimate nature of the relationship, Nicholas stood by his wife. I don't believe she did have an affair with Rasputin, she was far too in love with her husband and used Rasputin to help her son, the heir to the Russian Empire.

When they died, they did it as they lived-tragically, dramatically, and surrounded by family.

Weekly Announcements - 06 Feb 2010

The title for Carrie Lofty's June release from Carina Press has been selected by popular vote. The winning title is SONG OF SEDUCTION. In addition, Carrie has contracted with Carina to write a sequel called PORTRAIT OF SEDUCTION. Here's the blrub:

Gifted painter Greta Zweig earns her keep by forging masterpieces, whereby wealthy families can hide the priceless originals from Napoleon's advancing armies. She yearns to be known for her own work, but her uncle, a destitute marquis, exploits her desire for an advantageous marriage. Oliver Doerger, a German duke's bastard and former soldier, poses as a valet in order to further his aristocratic half-brother's political career. He, too, longs to emerge from the shadows--to be regarded not as a spy but as a respected member of society.

When someone begins marketing Greta's forgeries as originals, Oliver is drawn into her world of art and subterfuge. She will do anything to shield her family from scandal, even if that means resisting her improper attraction to the intense, surprising valet. But the appearance of a charismatic grifter threatens to reveal a shameful debt from Oliver's past. Caught between love and duty, he must choose between honoring his loyalties and indulging in a passionate affair with Greta that could expose them both.

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Contributor Lorelie Brown will be making her debut on March 2 with the release of her 1920s-set romance, JAZZ BABY, from Samhain.

In the world of illegal speakeasies, Kate Kirkland has her life running smoother than a Model T. Maybe moving the family bar into the basement wasn't the best choice for her alcoholic brother, but Kate's making them a living--until a local gangster tries to expand his territory. Right into her bar.

Luckily Micah Trent, her handsome and too-suave bootlegger, is ready and willing to offer her a helping hand. If Kate can bring herself to accept it. Since sharing one sensual dance to seal their deal, she can’t ignore the delectably wicked way he makes her feel.

Micah is keeping secrets of his own. He's a Prohibition Agent, sworn to shut down the gin mills and distilleries that keep illegal booze flowing. Kate’s speakeasy is next on his list--right after he uses her as bait to catch the gangster hunting her.

But even if Micah and Kate can maneuver their way through the gangsters' dangerous underworld, will their love survive the trial by fire?

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Suspense Magazine's February issue focuses on Romantic Suspense with such authors as Susan Crandall, Wendi Corsi Staub, Anne Rice, Erica Spindler, and Tami Hoag, but their new author spotlight is with our own Isabel Roman! Included are a short review on her Russian-set Victorian KISS OF SCANDAL, as well as an interview.

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Michelle Styles received a lovely review for SOLD & SEDUCED from Rebecca at Enduring Romance: "I would recommend this generally to anyone interested in historical romance, and specifically (and enthusiastically) recommend it to anyone who loves classical history in their historical romance."

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The cover for the first of Zoe Archer's WARRIOR has been released--and isn't it hot?? Also, the pre-order links for the other three "Blades of the Rose" romances are now up on Amazon: SCOUNDREL, REBEL, and STRANGER. Here's the blurb for WARRIOR:

To most people, the realm of magic is the stuff of nursery rhymes and dusty libraries. But for Capt. Gabriel Huntley, it's become quite real and quite dangerous...

The vicious attack Capt. Gabriel Huntley witnesses in a dark alley sparks a chain of events that will take him to the ends of the Earth and beyond--where what is real and what is imagined become terribly confused. And frankly, Huntley couldn't be more pleased. Intrigue, danger, and a beautiful woman in distress--just what he needs.

Raised thousands of miles from England, Thalia Burgess is no typical Victorian lady. A good thing, because a proper lady would have no hope of recovering the priceless magical artifact Thalia is after. Huntley’s assistance might come in handy, though she has to keep him in the dark. But this distractingly handsome soldier isn't easy to deceive...

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Join us Sunday when Unusual Historicals will chat with contributor Jennifer Linforth. She'll be discussing the latest of her "Madrigals" series, ABENDLIED, which continues Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera! She'll also be giving away a copy. Don't miss it!

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We'll also draw the winner of Carla Capshaw's THE DUKE'S REDEMPTION, set in colonial South Carolina. You still have time to leave a comment or question for your chance to win.

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And stay with us through the coming weeks when we'll be featuring the best unusual historical authors! Amanda McCabe, Sandra Hill, Erica Ridley, and Lisa Marie Wilkinson will be our guests. We hope you'll join us!

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Have a good weekend! Remember, you don't have to be an Unusual Historicals contributor to submit good news to the weekend announcements. If it has to do with unusual historicals, we'd love to shout it out to the world! Send announcements to Carrie. See you next week...

Humor: Sarcasm

By Isabel Roman

I recently tried to write a humorous story--100,000 words of ghostly, sexy humor. I plotted the story out, I broke it all down, I even wrote little snippets of humor. And then managed 750 words, scrapped the entire thing, rethought my premise, and went back to doing what I do best. Angst.

But it did teach me something. I'm more the sarcasm type than the sitcom type. On the other hand, I did realize something about sarcasm and my sarcasm. Too much is really annoying! I stopped watching Fringe because Peter Bishop's (Joshua Jackson) constant and inappropriate sarcasm grated on my very last nerve. I enjoy sarcasm as much as the next woman (probably more so), but his went above and beyond the need for it, was often used in unsuitable places and times, and was more rude than anything.

I wanted more examples of sarcasm in books and movies, but got sidetracked with this site, thereby proving that there really are too many websites out there!

How to Have a Sarcastic Sense of Humor

When you have a sarcastic sense of humor, people can find you a real curiosity.

It can be hard for some people to tell when you are really joking. You rarely
say exactly what you mean, and there's an edge to sarcastic humor that few
people can truly appreciate. Your straight-faced delivery and dry cynicism will
either leave everyone laughing or have them wondering what they missed.

With this step-by-step guide you, too, can be sarcastic.

And then there's the site "Movies on the Theme of Sarcasm." I kid you not. There's nothing there, the page is blank, but somewhere someone thought this would make a good heading.

CENTER FOR ADVANCED SARCASM...I just really love the title. The posts are eh, but the title of the blog is hysterical!

So we're all sarcastic. We all enjoy a one liner, or a Buffy quip, or one of those looks. But in the end, it's probably best to limit what you put in, it really does get old after a while.