And the Winner Is….

Thanks to everyone who left a comment here on the Slip Into Something Victorian blogsite as part of my contest to win a free e-copy of The Model Man.
Release day is finally here and my five-year-old son is all set to draw a name from the basket as we speak.
And the winner is… Delilah [...]

Last Chance to Enter!

I can hardly believe release day is almost here! This is the last excerpt I’ll be posting from The Model Man. Tomorrow I’ll draw a name from all those who have commented here for the past three weeks to see who will be the winner of a free e-copy.
~*~

For a moment he stood there, [...]

Tuesday 10 Easter!

How many sound familiar to you?
10 Victorian Easter traditions:
Decorate Easter eggs – not from a kit, more’s the pity, but by using cranberries, beets, spinach greens and orange and lemon peels.Greeting cards – bunnies, chicks, or a cross printed with a simple “Happy Easter” or spiritual greeting
Church – um…pretty self explanatory there.
Lilies – the flower [...]

The latest style

I just got my hair cut. Ok, not just, 2 weeks ago, but am still getting used to it. I donated 13 inches of hair to Locks of Love, and regret only that last inch. I’ve never had hair this short…except possibly back in the day that whole Dorothy Hamill ‘do. But it’s best not [...]

Pearson’s Soda Works

Built in 1859 Pearson’s Soda Works was used as a brewery, soda works, and ice cream parlor in the Gold Rush days. More often than not, ice blocks, beer, soda, butter and other perishables were stored in the 155 foot tunnel cut into the hill behind the place. The narrow mine tunnel [...]

Tuesday Ten—Victorian Disasters

In one of my manuscripts, my hero is haunted by a past in which he seems to be constantly surrounded by disaster (in truth, he subconsciously seeks them out). This required me to actually research disasters in the 19th century. Yes, there is actually a book about the history of disasters titled The Pessimist’s Guide [...]

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

I’d like to wish everyone a very happy St. Patrick’s Day. And since this is the Scandalous Victorians blog, I’d like to tell you a little bit about Canada’s historical connection to my favorite country in Victorian times.
During the Great Famine of 1845-1850, thousands of starving Irish refugees fled to Canada, as well as the [...]

The Model Man – excerpt

Come celebrate with me!

To celebrate my first full length contemporary release, anyone who leaves a comment on our blog site between now and my release date, March 28th, will be entered into a drawing to win a free e-copy of The Model Man. If you’ve got the late winter blahs, [...]

1860s Cosmetics

Although no respectable woman of the 1860s would be seen wearing “face paints”, they did use some form of cosmetics.
Creams and lotions were used to soften skin as well as bleaching lotions to give the desired lily white appearance.
Moisturizers also were used to combat the effects of lye soap and cleaning chemicals, as well as [...]

The Bathing Machine

I’m on vacation in Puerto Rico this week, a working vacation – seriously! I am writing! 20 poages so far! Still, I thought I’d share a short cultural history of the beach while I’m enjoying the 80 degree sun and hiding from the cold winter the Northeast is experiencing.
You may now throw tomatoes at me, [...]