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Fall or autumn–which reveals your poetic side?

Donna Hatch
As an American, I learned to call the season between summer and winter “fall.” Later, when I discovered the term “Autumn,” I thought it sounded so much more romantic and had a historical flair that has always appealed to me. However, both are modern terms. Anciently, the season had no name at all. It was merely a transition between summer and winter. Later, people starting calling that time of year simply “harvest,” a name that…

Condemn Me Not

Donna Hatch
*** Giveaway Closed***Congratulations to the winner, Kim Nogier! Since my last post was all about the Salem Witch Trials, I thought it fitting to give away a copy of a fantastic novel closely based on the true story of a real victim of the Salem Witch Trials, Susannah North Martin, in this award-winning novel, Condemn Me Not, Accused of Witchcraft. This gripping tale follows the story of how the witch trials started, the plot behind…

The Bewitching Salem Witch Trials

Donna Hatch
by guest blogger Audrey Blake The Salem Witch Trials is one of the most famed–and tragic–events in American History. Today, the area is a thriving tourist community filled with “witches” willing to tell fortunes and help with all kinds of ailments. But its beginnings were grim and heart-wrenching. Early in 1692, in the village of Salem, Reverend Samuel Parris’s daughter, Betty Parris age 9, and his niece Abigail Williams age 11, were stricken with a…

To Autumn, by John Keats

Donna Hatch
Autumn, also called Fall in the good old USA, is one of my favorite times of the year. To me, autumn is not a sign that nature is dying or even going dormant, it is colorful and sensory-rich and full of life. Leaves turning glorious shades of burgundy, gold, and rust set trees ablaze, and eventually flutter down to blanket lawns. Smells of cinnamon and nutmeg in apple cider and pumpkin pie, wood burning in…

Love at first sight, and other life-changing topics with guest author Jen Geigle Johnson

Donna Hatch
Today it is my pleasure to interview historical romance author Jen Geigle Johnson. What a fun interview! My first question is: Love at first sight.  Is it possible? Absolutely. There is a certain magnetism that happens between two people, and it’s magic, it can be love at first sight when this initial zing is followed by respect and a sense of humor. Then BAM. They’re both goners. I get that! What do you love about…

Lies Jane Austen Never Told Me

Donna Hatch
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single young lady desiring to secure a husband, must wear white.” Okay, I confess, that’s not a Jane Austen quote. However, a common belief is that Regency London debutantes had to wear white. It’s also wrong. First of all, the term debutante was not used in Regency England. Yes, the word existed but not in the context that we think of it now. Debutante, as it applies…

Coach Travel in Regency England: Stage and Mail Coaches

Donna Hatch
Travel in Regency England took many forms. While journeying to the nearest village, one usually walked or rode horseback, or, if wealthy, took the family coach. Travel to distant destinations, however, was different. Walking and horseback were impractical, and most family coaches had to travel slowly so as not to over-tire the horses. Wealthy people might send extra teams of horses ahead several days in advance to wait for them at various posting inns so…

Dressing the Regency Lady

Donna Hatch
If you’ve been following all my scandalous (gasp!) posts about all the underpinnings a Regency lady wore, but wished for a quick overall in one place, this post is for you. The first layer is the shift or chemise. Notice how plain and unadorned it is as well as being very shapeless. A chemise/shift provided a barrier between a woman’s body and the other layers of clothing, so the shift absorbed perspiration. I had my…

The Hierarchy of Servants

Donna Hatch
A few days ago, a friend commented that our appliances and small machines–washers, dryers, dishwashers, lawnmowers, garbage disposals–even cars–are the modern-day equivalent to servants. I had never thought of it that way, but she’s right.  In Regency England, however, people relied on manpower to run their households. Many people comment on the division of classes in those days–specifically the differences between the upper classes and the working class. However, what a lot of people don’t…

18th Century Harp, a demonstration

Donna Hatch
If you’re like me, the very thought of a harp creates a magical wistfulness inside. When I was twelve years old, I heard about an opportunity to take harp lessons, and something came alive inside me. Instantly, more than anything, I wanted–no, had–to learn to play. It’s been an ongoing love affair ever since. Playing the harp takes years to master, and a great deal of time must be devoted to technique, not just learning…