tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-147508732024-03-05T23:31:01.152-05:00Periodic Pearls | Margaret Evans Porter's BlogAn author's periodic posts about life, writing, and the writing life
<br>Margaret Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16202290659191790984noreply@blogger.comBlogger1288125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14750873.post-8333933298818739972017-06-27T10:35:00.000-04:002017-06-27T11:58:22.918-04:00The ReturnI have been so neglectful...so much has happened, so many travels, since last I posted to this blog. I mean to be better. The easiest way to resume was to cross-post my latest from my Shaping The Facts blog. So here's my very recent activity....
The Historical Novel Society is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. How fitting that the 2017 HNS conference was the largest and the bestMargaret Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16202290659191790984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14750873.post-83384062220129869182016-04-26T12:55:00.001-04:002016-04-26T12:55:19.303-04:00Springtime ActivitiesAt Easter I travelled to a part of the US where spring was fully unfurled and history is alive. It was a holiday rather than a research trip, but I had opportunities for book promotion.
Beautiful Savannah!
One of Savannah's many squares.
One of the city's many historic houses
Faux bois panelling in the dining room
Bonaventure Cemetery
Camellia Margaret Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16202290659191790984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14750873.post-37307881347428816102016-02-06T12:47:00.001-05:002016-02-06T12:47:31.768-05:00Old Year, New Year
It proved difficult to carry on blogging here, in the midst of book touring, travels, and history blogging at my own Shaping the Facts as well as at the group blog English Historical Fiction Authors.
Since I last posted, I've:
Visited more bookstores.
Travelled to the UK, taking in Liverpool, Manchester, and London as I traced the Margaret Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16202290659191790984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14750873.post-72325290197146196102015-08-05T09:46:00.003-04:002015-08-05T09:46:42.093-04:00Historical Fiction & MeaningThe Layered Pages blog is hosting a series of interview on this topic. My contribution is posted today, including what I do, how I do it, as well as my thoughts about the genre and its readership.
Margaret Porter on Historical Fiction & MeaningMargaret Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16202290659191790984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14750873.post-68586411661497897222015-07-27T11:23:00.000-04:002015-07-27T11:23:43.009-04:00Back on the BlogYes, it has been quite a long time away from this blog. After the launch of A Pledge of Better Times I was extremely busy with book promotion and a blog tour that lasted about 3 weeks--great fun, but so time-consuming!
As well, I participated in several book signings:
In late June into July, I attended the triennial General Convention of the Episcopal Church as a Margaret Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16202290659191790984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14750873.post-3233696633181974942015-04-08T00:00:00.000-04:002015-04-19T10:31:39.369-04:00Authors in Bloom Blog Hop & Giveaway
++++ Winner! Congratulations to commenter cchant! Your prize, the 2 novels, will be on the way to you this week!
This has been a historically long and harsh winter in the
Northeast part of the United States. It was a similar season of snow and
hibernation that inspired my novel The Proposal, featuring a female botanical
artist and landscape designer in the late 18th century.
Usually at Margaret Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16202290659191790984noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14750873.post-16351154748809706192015-03-17T12:05:00.000-04:002015-03-17T12:05:37.120-04:00On Sale Now!Something both old and new! The re-launch of The Proposal in paperback and ebook, with a splendid new cover!
This is a tale of dark intrigue, blazing passion--and a glorious garden.
Available in trade-size paperback in the US and in the UK. And in other countries.
Available as an Ebook from
Margaret Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16202290659191790984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14750873.post-83651656898547816062015-02-26T10:08:00.001-05:002015-02-26T10:08:56.159-05:00The ProposalI'm delighted that The Proposal, previously published in hardcover, paperback, large-print, and various foreign languages, will be re-issued on March 17.
The cover design is fantastic! The photograph of the castle--my inspiration for the setting--is one I took a few months ago. The photograph of me in the castle gardens was taken by my husband.
More information to follow.
Margaret Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16202290659191790984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14750873.post-70452964546203482922015-02-14T17:41:00.001-05:002015-02-14T17:41:13.898-05:00Valentine's Day
Ruth & Jewel, the Love Dogs, somehow went shopping for Valentine's candy.
And the Duchess is appropriately decked out for the day as well!
Hope you're having a lovely and loving Valentine's Day!
Margaret Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16202290659191790984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14750873.post-18018072293879747582015-02-06T09:36:00.002-05:002015-02-06T09:36:53.377-05:00The Death of King Charles II
The precise cause of His Majesty's death, which occurred on 6 Februrary, 1685, is uncertain.
What is known is that on he suffered an apoplectic attack on the morning of 2 February. This date is considered the birthday of mistress Nell Gwyn, mother of his son Charles Beauclerk, Duke of St Albans--who at that time was nearly fifteen years old. Although the young duke spent much of his Margaret Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16202290659191790984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14750873.post-66985730168896513872015-01-26T08:55:00.001-05:002015-01-26T08:56:36.102-05:00The de Vere Family in the 17th CenturyFor information about the illustrious family of Lady Diana de Vere, female protagonist of A Pledge of Better Times, visit my blog post at English Historical Fiction Authors: The de Vere Family in the 17th Century.
Diana, 1694
Diana's father, Aubrey de Vere, 20th Earl of Oxford
Diana's mother, Countess of Oxford
Diana's grandfather, Robert, 19th Earl of Oxford
Margaret Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16202290659191790984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14750873.post-33592935791246049032015-01-10T12:20:00.000-05:002015-01-10T12:20:59.681-05:00The New Year
So far, the best description of 2015 is ... cold! Extremely frigid
temperatures and windchill in the -25F degree range overnight.
We've had ice, to coat the lavender (above) and front hedge (below)
And snow has fallen, giving my 18th century lady a white cap, tucker, and apron.
Indoors, I've filled hyacinth glasses with chilled bulbs, which will soon lend Margaret Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16202290659191790984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14750873.post-30594819783943673762014-12-24T15:19:00.002-05:002014-12-24T15:19:18.567-05:00Happy Christmas to All!
From Me
And Jewel & Ruth
And Diana the Duchess
It has been quite a long time since the last blog post. I've been
extremely busy, as usual, with book-related activities, volunteer work
with the diocese, and travel to the UK. While there I returned to Berkeley Castle, which I've visited numerous times in the past.
On this occasion my purpose was very Margaret Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16202290659191790984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14750873.post-90331386845942173272014-09-30T14:34:00.000-04:002014-09-30T14:34:15.339-04:00More About My Book: I've inaugurated a Kickstarter campaign to fund the launch and promotional campaign for A Pledge of Better Times.
There's background information about the novel, plus a little film showing the locations where I did research.
A Pledge of Better Times on Kickstarter
Margaret Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16202290659191790984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14750873.post-9664063130963744642014-09-27T14:47:00.001-04:002014-09-27T14:55:55.019-04:00The ReturnAfter a glorious summer, I now return to blogging in the autumn of the year.
I've had quite a busy time in recent months...a few batches of houseguests, additional home improvement and renovation, intermittent gardening, time at the lake, socialising with friends and neighbours and family, finishing up my novel--and preparing it for the press.
Here is the completed cover art for A Pledge of Margaret Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16202290659191790984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14750873.post-63967133452789707772014-06-15T15:10:00.003-04:002014-06-15T15:22:39.232-04:00Spring & Summer ScenesA chilly spring with below-normal temperatures allowed for lots and lots of outdoor gardening. Last week we completed our first year of ownership of the "new" house. One of the greatest joys it provides is the garden space! I enlarged several of the existing raised beds and filled them with more perennials and [peonies and roses. I've now got 50 roses, which is about two-thirds what I had at the Margaret Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16202290659191790984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14750873.post-82910913034104182622014-04-30T04:30:00.000-04:002014-04-30T04:30:02.413-04:00Blog Hop: Meet My Main Character
I was invited by the talented and gorgeous Donna Russo Morin to participate in the blog hop about main characters.
1. What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or a historic person?
The character I’ve chosen is Oriana Julian, professionally known as Ana St Albans. She is a fictional illegitimate daughter of a historic person—the Third Duke of St. Albans, who fathered more Margaret Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16202290659191790984noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14750873.post-74050454984009060182014-04-21T16:34:00.000-04:002014-04-21T16:34:00.867-04:00Eastertide
My beautiful jasmine plant is blooming indoors, scenting the entire second floor of the house. I've had it for many years now, the plant began as a slip of a cutting from the jasmine twining up the side of my parents' house. I re-visited that mother plant at the end of March.
It wasn't blooming at that time, but other beautiful spring blossoms were in evidence.
Margaret Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16202290659191790984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14750873.post-73655375171964855082014-03-25T15:21:00.002-04:002014-03-25T15:21:56.519-04:00Maple Sugaring--with Sheep!
I visited the farm with the sugar house that we've been going to for many years during sugaring season. The weather has been unseasonably cold and the maple syrup makers are hoping that it will run long, given that it's late. This past weekend was Maple Sugar Weekend when the sugar houses are open to the public with special events. I was otherwise occupied, so today I went up to the Ridge to Margaret Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16202290659191790984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14750873.post-120871575661055072014-03-04T10:26:00.001-05:002014-03-04T10:32:16.908-05:00March Forth! (My Birthday)
It might turn out to be the chilliest March Fourth on record in these parts, but thanks to the Chap it's springtime in the house. In addition to the lovely birthday flowers, I have other presents to delight me:
I'm also very happy to have the carpenter and a guy from the flooring company making some progress in the kitchen today. Based on their work schedule, I do Margaret Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16202290659191790984noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14750873.post-77534511792193552072014-02-28T14:45:00.002-05:002014-02-28T14:45:56.977-05:00The Shortest Month Can Seem Reeeaaaallllyyy LongAt last, the final day of February, and happily this isn't a leap year!
I'm glad to say farewell to a month of being mostly housebound, due to--
too much snow....
...endless construction
... and some extremely frigid weather.
However, I was able to enjoy my indoor garden of flowers.
Real ones.
And silk ones.
&Margaret Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16202290659191790984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14750873.post-70601914878184334912014-02-20T13:35:00.000-05:002014-02-20T13:35:04.845-05:00Studies in White
Jewel and Ruth wonder when the snow will stop falling.
Their doggie igloo (Dogloo) is truly living up to its name. I've shovelled and swept away the snow more times than I can count.
The birds rely on the feeders for sustenance. On the day I shot the photo below, we received a fresh foot...on top of all the other snow we've had.
Margaret Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16202290659191790984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14750873.post-10816223058100527862014-02-02T16:20:00.002-05:002014-02-02T16:20:55.280-05:00February & Flowers
The amaryllis was a gift from my mother at Christmastime, and it's putting on quite a show. Beside it is another, a Christmas gift from the church over a year ago, which presently has 4 buds of a very deep, dark red, and it is about to bloom. Soon I will bring out the one I've had for more than a decade--a pink/peach colour--and entice it out of dormancy.
It's the time of year when Margaret Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16202290659191790984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14750873.post-61688729335127674222014-01-15T11:45:00.001-05:002014-01-15T11:47:57.853-05:002014
This new year has already delivered a winter's worth of snow, along with some significantly frigid temperatures. Fortunately I didn't have any meetings or necessary errands during the harsh weather and could hibernate indoors! This week we're experiencing the traditional January Thaw, with temperatures well above freezing (as opposed to the below zero Fahrenheit we Margaret Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16202290659191790984noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14750873.post-79362121109248326752013-12-24T11:16:00.001-05:002013-12-24T11:16:03.235-05:00Christmas Eve 2013
Jewel and Ruth are awaiting Christmas.
Because of this snowfall last weekend, the day after our big holiday party--we'll have a white one, even though we've not had any snow since then.
The Chap and I are having a very simple and quiet Christmas Week. We'd planned it that way, after such a busy yearMargaret Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16202290659191790984noreply@blogger.com5